"Here,"Natalya held her hands out, "I will take him back. Hunter will be here any minute." Renee held Paul close to her. She didn't like Natalay, she had barged in, telling everyone what to do. Elves were that way, work, organization, a place for everything and everything in its place.
"I can take him to Lily," Renee said tight lipped.
"Renee," Natalya placed her hands on her hips. Fairies were so emotional, Natalay had always thought of them as air headed. This was Natalya job, her purpose really.
"Hey," Mercedes stepped between the two woman, "Natalya let Renee take Paul to Lily. Renee really hasn't seen her since she woke up." Natalya pursed her lips giving both ladies a long look. "Fine," she finally said waving Renee off.
"Now Renee," Mercedes took Renee gently by the shoulders, being sure she had her attention. "Remember what we agreed." Mercedes looked at Renee studying her face.
"I know," Renee whispered, adjusting the baby in her arms.
"You think you will be ok," Mercedes asked.
"Yes," Renee gave a firm head shake.
"Just for now, ok, once things settle down. Lily get hers strength back," Mercedes smiled, she hoped Renee would be able to keep her emotions at bay.
…
Lily's eyes opened hearing Paul make a small whine. "I think he is hungry," Renee let Lily sit up.
"Can't seem to keep my eyes open," Lily smiled. "Wondering when I would see you."
"I know you need rest," Renee gently handed Paul to Lily.
"Thank you," Lily took him. "You have been such a big help. But I knew you would. His clothes are so cute, I didn't know you sewed." Renee's cheeked turned red. "Thank you, I wouldn't have made it without you." Lily reached for Renee's hand. "You were really brave."
"You were really strong," Renee smiled, "I knew you could do it."
"You were always my biggest cheerleader." Lily looked down at Paul.
"He looks like Joe," Renee said. Lily nodded.
"Dwyane was here," Lily brushed the top of Paul's head. "I feel like he was telling me something." Renee sat quite. "This was supposed to be so different."
"Don't give up," Renee's voice was small. Lily studied her face.
"Renee," Lily's voice was low, "do you."
"Hunter is here," Natalay appeared in the doorway. Lily kept her eyes on Renee. There was something there, something Renee wanted to say.
"I will see you later," Renee stood watching Natalay. There was tension there, and not just over who got to do what. Something was not being said.
"Congratulations," Hunter walked in, dress in a sport coat and slacks. He always looked all business. He handed Lily a vase of flowers, "Stephanie sends her well wishes." Natalya walked over taking the vase.
"Leave them on the dress," Lily nodded her head toward it. Hunter moved next to Lily's shoulder, looking down at the baby. A smile came to his face, it made him look soft.
"May I," Hunter pointed, Lily handed Paul over. Hunter gently adjusted his arms around him. "I remember when the girls were this small, goes by fast." Lily smiled.
"Do you miss being," Lily stopped. Hunter looked up at Lily. Lily wondered if she should even ask. He was barely in the room. She wasn't sure how many people knew, that Hunter had given up being a werewolf for Stephanie. Many believed it was more for her family name.
"So, Joe told you mine secret," Paul chuckled.
"Yeah," Lily nodded. "I am sorry, I shouldn't have."
"No," Hunter shook his head, "being in your situation. I don't see Joe around."
"He is not," Lily eyes drifted down. "It has been months." Hunter took a breathe in raising his eyebrows. "But I just, Dwyane said something. And I have been thinking."
"Lily," Hunter's voice was deep, "what I did was my choice. I wanted to be with Stephaine. And I wanted this life."
"But don't you miss, being," Lily asked.
"I loved Stephaine more," Hunter smiled when he said her name. Lily saw her as harsh and ruthless. Lily was sure she knew Haymen's plan. And Lily always felt Stephaine didn't like her. But clearly Hunter saw something more. Something worth changing the very person he was.
"How did you do it," Lily asked.
"There was a witch, Lita," Hunter looked down at the baby, "I gave her money she gave me this god all full tasting stuff."
"Did Stephaine know," Lily asked.
"Yeah, we talked. I knew her father wasn't going to let us marry. Their family simply watches and rules. No magic there, it was set that way to keep them neutral. Lily I am sure your head is in a million places. Joe is an alpha, he was born for that role." Hunter handed the baby back to Lily.
"I just don't know why he won't come back. Dwyane kept talking about love and," Lily's voice filled with emotion. "It is like I can't reach him. I don't know if Joe is there anymore. And if our love is so strong, why," her voice caught in her throat. "I feel like I can't focus on being a mom."
"You are strong, that is why they sent you out. You hold nature in your hand, you can destroy and rebuild," Hunter rubbed his chin. He saw her pain, heart ache.
"I don't know what to do," Lily's closed her eyes, "I wish someone could tell me." Hunter stood his hand went to his hips. He walked to the window, walked back looking toward the door. "I know what you had to do, what Bray made you think," Hunter stopped, "that had to do something to him." Just hearing it, just hearing that no one could say out loud what had happened. That Joe made Colby mark her. It made Lily's chest tight.
"But he knew I was only doing it to save us, he convinced me. I tried to tell him, he has to know I love him." Lily almost felt light headed. "He promised after we would have us."
"You have too," Hunter head hung, "you have to convince Roman. He is protecting Joe. And while Joe could maybe make sense of it. And he knew you didn't love Colby. It is that whole alpha male thing. Roman has taken over," a look of fear came over Lily. "Protecting, with anything that happened. It is like survival. We," Hunter paused, "wolfs feel, and we feel everything and it is raw. I know how much I love my family. And I know what would do to me if I even thought I could lose that."
"Guess that part of," Lily paused thinking of the right word, "I guess that never leaves.
"Roman needs you," Hunter sat back down next to Lily.
"I don't know where he is, and honestly no one really gives me a lot of alone time," Lily hadn't even had time to realize she was almost never alone. "Why are you telling me this?"
"You should be happy, both of you should, maybe it is my apology," Hunter looked away from Lily. He knew they should have acted on Lesnar. He reeked havoc, killed, and tortured. They sat quiet for a minute.
"Did you see Scott and Kevin," Lily asked, she could hear Natalay coming toward the room. "You should say hi." Hunter smiled, standing.
"He is a cute baby," Hunter pointed, "great name."
"Why did you keep Hunter, and not Paul," Lily asked.
"Guess I wanted to keep something," Hunter shrugged.
"Thank you," Lily said low, seeing Natalay in the doorway. Hunter gave a nod, making his way to the door.
"Did you have a nice visit," Natalay asked.
"Very," Lily mind raced with all he had told her. "Maybe I could get up go down stairs." It was like she had a new energy.
"Oh," a nervous laugh came from Natalay, "not yet, plus the twins will be here." Lily watched Natalay darted around the room. Like with Renee Lily was starting to feel she was hiding something. It seemed they all were, Kevin and Scott hadn't been up. Colby, Jonathan, and the rest seemed distant. Lily pulled the covers back. Natalay move quite to caught Lily as she stood, "Natalay I am just going to the bedroom. Please take Paul and lay him in the bassinet." Natalay gave a nervous smile, and head nod.
"Twin will be here soon," she called after Lily.
….
Lily closed the bathroom door locking it. She leaned against the sink , turning it on. She wanted out of this room, she needed to find Roman. She had to find away to get through to him. It had always been Colby or Jonathan trying, Roman had to notice. Was her not being there keeping Joe away? She shut the water off, placing both hands in she splashed a handful on her face.
"Nikki and Brie are here," Natalay called.
"Be right there," Lily called back grabbing a towel patting her face. Hanging the towel she reached to empty the sink, then stopped. Water, the twins, Lily looked toward the door. Lily didn't want to ask, wasn't even sure if they could. But maybe.
...
Hunter stopped seeing Kevin with his back toward him. He stood in the barn doorway, still tall and strong. He hadn't spoken to his old pack members for years. After the war and the loses they faced, everyone seemed to spilt. Kevin spent years following Scott. Trying to keep him safe from himself. And after Hunter lost Shawn nothing was the same. He never wanted to feel that raw pain again.
"Been a long time," Kevin called not turning around. Hunter felt uncomfortable, he should have just left. To think he could just walk up, say hi. Act as if nothing happened, as if there was hurt feelings.
"I just," Hunter hung his head, "it has been too long."
"What wife couldn't make it," Kevin gave a half grin. "No hair?"
"It was to much, you know," Hunter smiled nervously. "Stephanie is with the girls."
"They must be big," Kevin said, "I mean I have never seen them ,but." Once Hunter married and he was all human. He hadn't reached out of talked to Kevin or Scott in years. It was awkward, Hunter's decision was not excepted well by Kevin or Scott. They just went their separate ways. But Hunter had missed them, when he got married when his girls were born, just the brotherhood they shared.
"I don't know why," Hunter shook his head.
"Why are you here," Kevin's arms crossed his chest. Hunter let out a deep breath he wanted I get this right.
"I just wanted to say hi," Hunter was surprised by the shakiness in his voice. "And maybe I am sorry." Kevin seemed to relax. Both man watched each other.
"I envy them," Kevin looked past Hunter toward the house. "They are trying to stay together. Been through hell, and," Kevin looked over his shoulder.
"Maybe they learned maybe they are stronger," Hunter smiled, he to admired this packs ability to stay together.
"Yeah we thought we were bad ass," Kevin said with a chuckle.
"I wish I handled it different, and I am sorry we are were we are," Paul knew it would never be the same. He was not the same.
"So, you got pictures of theses kids of yours," a smile came to Kevin's face. They were who they were now, but it meant something that Hunter reached out. It showed Kevin that Hunter still cared.
"This is Murphy," Hunter beamed, "she is her mother."
...
Lily came from the bathroom, Nikki and Brie stood hand and hand. Daniel stood next to Brie, Lily felt a hint of guilt. They were pulled into her fight, and paid a huge price. Daniel turned he holding a box in his hand, "for the baby," he held it out. Lily smiled, both girls turned.
"Lily," Brie smiled her head tilted slightly up. Her eyelids permanently closed. Nikki smiled walking guiding Brie with her. It was weird only hearing Brie. They had always talked unison. They wrapped their arms around Lily.
"Thank you for coming," Lily smiled. "Oh," she had almost forgotten Daniel standing arms out. She smiled taking it.
"Open it," Brie cheered. Lily took the top of the box off, she pulled out a mobile. The top was a hub cap, shined and folks, spoons and small pieces of mirror hung down.
"Daniel, did you make this," Lily looked up at Daniel, he nodded a smile came across his face. "It is beautiful. Paul will love it."
"Can we hold him," Brie asked.
"Of course," Lily took Paul from his bassinet. Brie and Nikki sat close to each other on the bed. Lily placed Paul in Brie arms. She wrapped them around him. She smiled placing her hand in his tiny chert. Nikki watched her smiling. Lily wondered if they found a way to communicate. What Lanser had done than to them was cruel. Taking Brie's eyes and Nikki's tongue. She hadn't seen them since the day they were attacked.
Brie handed Paul it Nikki, she smiled at Lily. "He is strong," Brie turned her head blindly toward Lily. "Daniel," Brie called. Daniel moved to Brie's side, "will you bring Nikki water." Daniel nodded, as Nikki smiled at him. Nikki watched Daniel walk out of the room. Once his footsteps faded, Nikki squeezed Brie's hand. "We don't have much time," Brie stood, Nikki slowly stood next to her.
"Time," Lily questioned.
"The bathroom," Brie answered, "we saw, and knew you wouldn't ask."
"How," Lily, stood with them. Yes, she had tjought of it while standing in the bathroom. Once she saw them she couldn't ask. "Can you."
"Yes, but we have yo hurry," they moved up the bathroom. Nikki handed Lily the baby locking the bathroom door. Nikki lead Brie to the sink. Lily squeezed next to them, she watched as their hands moved. It was dark, Lily leaned in closer trying yo make out the what was in front of her. It was a dark room, she could make out a chain. As the image moved she saw a Roman he was chained, laying ion a floor covered in hay. Panic came over Lily, she bounced in place, Paul must have sensed it. He had started to cry. Lily watched the water, Roman lifted his head, standing. His back arched fur standing, he lunged forward, the chain stopped him. Lily hoped to see who or what was there. Roman was trapped somewhere. "What," Lily hand went yo her mouth, Hunter and Kevin stood over Roman.