"Do you think this will last, auntie?" Mackenzie asked, her eyes closed at the feeling of Cora gently playing with her hair. They were sitting in the living room of the hotel they were in, facing the fire Cora had built.

MACkenzie had taken to speaking out loud, but only with the Hales. Out in public, she would only speak if she was incredibly excited.

"I don't know, babe. Maybe. But with our lifestyle, things seem so go bad, no matter how hard we try." cora told her sadly, running the brush through her long hair. She knew better than to sugercoat thing for Mackenzie. "I think one day, we will have to put all of this on hold, and swoop in to save the day. But, hopefully, we can come back to this."

"I don't want this to go away." Mackenzie sighed as she leaned further back onto her aunt's legs. "You, me, Daddy, and uncle Boyd, always having movie nights, and going to the beach. And You guys teaching me to track, and hunt, and fight. And being a part of a real family." Mackenzie told her, not once opening her eyes.

Cora quickly put the brush down, and pulled Mackenzie around so she could look her in the eyes as she spoke. Mackenzie gave her her undevided attention.

"We will ALWAYS be family, Mackenzie." Cora told her strongly."Even if we can't have as much fun for a little while, we will always be there for each other. I know you understand that one of us could get hurt, and not be with us anymore. But that doesn't make us any less of a family." Cora told her, gently easing them back into their former positions and picking up the brush once more. "And if we go back to beacon Hills, and have to face a few more dangers, then we will find time to be together, jut the four of us. Okay, Mac?" When Mackenzie noded Cora spoke again.

"And if you don't want to, we wont go back. You are our priority, Mac. And if you want us to move all the way to spain and change our names, that's exactly what we will do. So don't worry about this now. Just enjoy the calm, and if problems ever arise, we will speak with you before we make any decisions." Cora told her, putting her hair into a french braid so that it wouldn't get messy as she slept.

"Will Daddy and uncle Boyd be home soon?" Mackenzie asked as her eyes grew heavy. "I want Daddy to tuck me in. And they have the best story telling voices." Mac bragged to her aunt, as her head started falling to the side. Cora chuckled, tying off the end of the girls hair.

Cora gently lifted the girl up, and carried her to her room.

"I hear them in the hall now." Cora told mac, just before the door opened and the sound of footstepps and the rustling of jackets being removed could be heard. Cora quickly went out there to welcome them home and tell them Mac wanted them to tuck her in and tell her a story. They quickly wwent to her room, making Cora laugh. She was their little princess. It was funny watching two giant men, fawn over an eith year old girl. Not that she was any better.

Cora walked in just as Mackenzie started to get under he covers.

"Hey, Mac?" Coar asked, making the girl in question look at her. "Your birthday's coming up in a week. Is there anything you want to do to celebrate?" Cora asked her, moving to si on the bed with her, getting comfortable for Boyd's story. This was their tradition of sorts. Cora would hold Mackenzie and they would listen to Derek, and Boyd read whatever story Mackenzie chose. And when Mackenzie fell asleep, Derek would tuck her in, and they would each give her a kiss on the foreheard, before leaving the room.

"You guys don't hae to get me anything!" Mackenzie protested.

"Sweetie, We have a ton of money that we don't know what to do with." Derek tried to reason with her. "And we love having you with us so much. Let us spoil you a bit. Please." Derek told her softly, brushing a small stand of hair out of her face, and back into her braid. She sighed, and pouted. she couldn't refuse Derek anything.

"I don't want anything though. Everyday is amazing with you guys. I can't think of something want that you haven't already given me." Mackenzie said, slightly frustrated. Cora rubbed the girl's upper arms gently.

"The sky is the limit, Mac. Name anything, even something totally insane, and we will see." Cora tried to help. Mackenzie seemed to think for a minute.

"I..." She started, thinking. "I don't know. Maybe learning another language? I really want to learn Latin." Mackenzie offered.

"Sweetie, we will get youthat, but that's not a birthday gift. It's a 'just because we love you' gift. Come on. Anything you want." Derek encouraged. Mackenzie closed her eyes and thought for a minute.

"Could..." She trailed off, thinking. She seemed to light up as an idea came to her. "I know! I know!" She jumped in excitement, making the others laugh. "We can go to a fair! And we can eat cotton candy! And go on rides! And win toys! OH!" another idea struck her. "Or we could go to a water park! Oh, that would be so much fun!" She squeled, bouncing in her seat. The older Hales laughed at her adorable excitement.

"How about..." Derek trailed off, pretending to think for a moment. Mackenzie watched, growing impatient. When he continued to stare into space, she let out a cry of frustration, making Derek laugh and turn to her. "How about, we do BOTH." He said, making her eyes go wide. He jumped up and hugged him, claiming he was the best Daddy in the whole world, before standing up and jumping on the bed, dancing in excitement. Cora laughed before joining her, as the males watched in fond amusement.

Things were finally looking up for the Hales. All of them had struggled with loss, guilt, and greif, believing they would never be happy again. Then this little girl, Mackenzie, shoots into their life, and sudenly there is brilliancy. A happy ending doesn't seem so impossible anymore.

Maybe the Hale Pack could rise again, as long as they had Mackenzie at the heart of it.