So sorry for the delay! Leah's point of view:
"I'm nearly done, Aria," I said, running a wash cloth over my daughter's delicate skin.
Out of the three babies, she was the most vocal about things she didn't like, and she loathed bathes. "My fussy girl," I cooed down at her as she cried loudly.
"Are you sure she doesn't want Daddy?" Demetri asked as he stood behind me, feeding Alonzo (our first born) his bottle of milk mixed with blood.
"She's just being fussy," I said, pouring water over her body, washing away the last of the last of the suds.
"You could take him while I finish her bath," Demetri said protectively.
"Your dad is silly," I told Aria, wrapping her in a warm towel.
"I couldn't be more protective of my baby girl," Demetri said. "Especially since Elijah fell asleep."
I fell silent, praying that Elijah wouldn't wake up from his usual light sleep.
"That's daddy's girl," Demetri whispered as he took Aria and started to dry her with a towel. She smiled up at him as he talked to her in Italian.
After I took Alonzo and started to burp him as he looked over my shoulder, making his little grunting noises. Slowly, I moved over to the couch, enjoying holding my son in my arms. After he was burped, I laid him across my forearm while smiling down at him.
"Are you feeling better, Alonzo?" I asked, earning a yawn in return. "Mommy's sleepy boy."
Rocking my body, I stared at my son's face as he drifted off to sleep, feeling so in love with my three children.
"My baby," I whispered, kissing his forehead. "Mommy loves you."
Alonzo smacked his lips as he slept, making me laugh. I glanced at my husband, who sat with closed eyes as Aria was cradled against his chest. A contented smile covered his face as his hand ran down Aria's back. His eyes sprang open while he looked at me, causing me to feel the imprinting I had toward him. One of the hugest changes since I met him (and a cause of our romance) was the caramel color his eyes were now instead of the bright red. They were the eyes of the man I now loved instead of the killer he used to be.
"What are you thinking, amore?" he asked.
"I love that your eye color has changed," I admitted.
His lips pulled back, showing me his perfect, white teeth. "Did I ever tell you how much I love you?" he asked.
"It's been awhile," I said teasingly.
"Well then," he said, leaning forward, careful not to wake the babies in our arms. "I love you."
His lips caressed mine, making me feel light headed, much like he always did. Loud grunting from Aria caused us to pull away.
"Is that gross, my darling?" Demetri asked, smiling at our daughter as she cooed up at him. "Daddy loves you too, baby girl."
I sighed as I leaned my head back on the couch, and rested my head against Demetri's arm. What seemed like a moment later, I jolted awake by Aria's loud cries.
"What happened?" I asked, rubbing my eyes.
"You fell asleep, so I took Alonzo so you could get proper rest," Demetri explained as he handed me the screaming Aria. "You were out for a couple of hours."
"I guess I'm more tired than I thought," I said as I opened my blouse to breast feed our daughter. "Did you feed the boys?"
"You needed rest," Demetri commented. "When you didn't wake when the boys started to cry, I didn't want to bother you."
I hummed quietly while staring at my little girl. She pulled on my heart as I nursed her. Since she was the only one who seemed to enjoy human food, I felt as if we had a deeper bond through me breast feeding her.
"Your mom and Charlie are coming over soon. She called while you were asleep and she said she has dinner for you," Demetri said.
"Good. I hate cooking, and you need a break from it," I said.
"I knew you hated my cooking," Demetri said, giving me the evil eye.
I rolled my eyes. "If you could taste her food …" I muttered.
"I suppose."
"I love it that you cook for me," I told him. "And I appreciated it, my love."
"Thank you, amore." Demetri leaned forward and kissed me just as there was a knock on the door.
Demetri moved at his quick, vampire speed to answer the door.
"Hello, Demetri," Mom said as she leaned up and kissed his cheek.
"Hello," he replied politely. He stuck out his hand for Charlie. "Sir."
"It's nice to see you again," Charlie said, shaking Demetri's hand.
"You too," Demetri said. "Can I take that from you, Sue?"
"Yes, please," Mom said, handing him her large basket of food. I could smell my favorite foods; pie, biscuits, corn, and steak. "I want to see my grandbabies."
Demetri took the food into the kitchen while Mom picked up the squirming Elijah from his blanket on the floor.
"Would you like Grandpa to burp you?" I asked Aria as I buttoned up my blouse.
"Hello, Aria," Charlie said as I handed the baby over to him. My heart ached for a moment; I loved having Charlie be in my life as a stepfather and a grandfather of my children, but he wasn't my dad. "Did you eat? I bet it was good."
I smiled to myself as I picked up Alonzo since he smelled like he needed a diaper change.
"Is that diaper stinky?" I asked as I laid him on the table in the boys' room. He cooed up at me, making me smile down at him. "I thought so. That's Mommy's good boy."
As I threw a diaper into the trash can, Mom came into the room. "How's this handsome young man today?" she asked me as she as she talked to Alonzo. He smiled and cooed at her, making us laugh. "Really?"
"He sure does love to talk," I said as I handed him over to his grandmother. "I think I'd like to take a bath; I feel filthy."
"Alright." Mom didn't take his eyes off of the baby. "And Grandma will get you to herself. Isn't that right?"
She walked out of the room, caring him out of the room as she talked down to him. I rolled my eyes. Peeling off my sweats and tank top and threw them into the hamper, I went into our bathroom with the large sunk in tub. I made the water as hot as it could go and I didn't bother to add bubble bath; with my wolf sense of smell, I hated the stuff now. Sighing, I sank into the hot water.
"Hey," Demetri said, knocking gently on the frame of the door after about fifteen minutes.
"Hello." I smiled up at him as he sat on the edge of the tub.
"Are you feeling better?" he asked.
"A lot better," I replied. "Just needed to get clean; I've felt so grimy."
"Hmmm." He leaned forward and gave me a kiss. I laughed when he fell into the tub, fully clothed.
"So much for getting clean and some to myself," I laughed again.
"Couldn't help but get some time alone with you, my love." Demetri gave me a quick kiss before getting out, dripping water all over the floor.
I shook my head at my husband, as I drained the tub, deciding to take a shower instead. After taking a hot shower, I took extra time rinsing my hair and body. As I turned off the shower, I caught the Jacob's scent. We hadn't talked since I'd returned, and I'd been avoiding it. I didn't want anything to do with him if he couldn't support me or my family. After dressing, I went into the living room to find the babies sleeping in Charlie and Mom's arms as they sat close together on the couch. Mom held both boys as Charlie talked to Aria. He adored her.
"He wants to talk to you, Leah," Mom said as she looked up at me. "And I think you should, Leah. I know you miss him."
I sighed and rounded my shoulders. I grumbled as I walked outside to find Jacob leaning against one of the beams of the porch.
"Hey," I said.
"Hey," Jacob replied, eyeing me. "I wasn't sure you'd come out."
"I guess I couldn't avoid you forever," I muttered, crossing my arms. "What do you want?"
Jacob sighed. "I just wanted to apologize to you. I was …" He swallowed hard. "I got mad that you chose him over me."
"Chose him," I started angrily, but he cut me off with a gesture.
"I was mad that you left," he said a little harshly. "You were gone suddenly, Leah. We didn't have a clue where you were and why you left. Then you come back with a vampire imprint and you were pregnant. Try to see it from my point of view, Lee."
I pressed my lips together as I stared at him, shocked by his words. I mulled them over as we remained silent. "I guess I can understand," I whispered eventually. "I just wish you told me."
"You know me," Jacob said.
"You're stubborn." I crossed my arms at him.
"And you aren't?" he asked.
I rolled my eyes at him.
"I'm just sorry that I took my anger out on you," Jacob muttered. When I looked at him, he stared at the ground while his eyes were folded across his chest, making me soften.
"I'm sorry too, Jacob," I replied. "I guess … I guess I was so focused on healing from Sam and my dad's death that I didn't think about you or the pack. I had to get away for a while." His eyes looked into mine. "You're one of my best friends too, Jake."
"And I need my beta," he said, nodding at me.
I snorted, but smiled at him. "As if you ever needed me."
He raised his eyebrows. "You'd be surprised."
"Would you want to meet the kids?" I asked.
He opened and closed his mouth several times. "I guess so," he said slowly.
"They need to know their uncle Jacob anyway," I said, turning to go into the house.
I opened the door and closed it after Jacob stepped through the house. "And I want you to meet him properly, Jacob. Please. It'll mean a lot to me," I said, looking up at him.
"I guess I could," he said.
"Thank you, Jacob." I gave him a tense smile.
Demetri sat on the loveseat as he held Elijah, who slept sprawled out on his lap with his mouth wide open. "Boy he's sleeping well," I said, smiling at my husband.
Demetri laughed softly. "He is. Having Grandma and Grandpa over is too much excitement."
"Demetri, I wanted you to meet Jacob properly," I said softly.
Demetri handed me Elijah carefully. He stirred in his sleep, but didn't wake, and continued to sleep with his mouth open.
"It's nice to meet you," Demetri said, holding out his hand.
Jacob slowly held out his hand and shook it. I couldn't help but notice the shutter that ran through Jacob's body, no doubt reacting to the coolness of Demetri's skin.
"You too," Jacob replied, making an effort for me. "And who's this?" He asked, turning to me.
"This is Elijah," I said, smiling at him.
"He looks like your dad," Jacob muttered as I carefully handed him the baby.
"He really does," I replied just as Alonzo opened his eyes. "Are you awake now, little one?"
He gave us a large smile, making me laugh gently. "You're really happy with them, aren't you?" Jacob asked a little surprised.
"I couldn't be any happier, Jacob," I replied, knowing it was true.
My family was different from what it was two years ago or what I thought I wanted two years ago. I thought back of all of the pain I'd gone through to get to this point, I knew I wouldn't change a thing. It had brought me to this point, and my children and Demetri were my multiple blessings in my life.
Reviews are lovely!