Chapter Ten

August 19th, 1975

Tris grows stronger every day. Her wounds from the great wind have also healed, but have left behind scars. Her fur covers all but the worst of the cuts. I have learned that the great wind she spoke of was none other than the Pendleton tornado. I have also learned her true identity. She is Trista Jaiden Taylor, born of Helen and Henry Taylor from Pendleton, Tennessee.

I have become a kidnapper without meaning to. Yet, I fear that if I take her back, I will be prosecuted. She's adapted to being here with us at the circus, and she's happy and free. I don't want to send her back, but also feel their pain at losing their child. In these past few months, however, she has become my child as well. I have come to love her as my own. She may not call me her father, but she does call me Jeff, which is short for Jeffrey, my name. Jeffrey Thompkins, the odd snake-skinned person of the circus.

She has come to love our great animals here, too! As if she can communicate with them, there have been times when I have found her sleeping soundly in the lion or tiger cages. It scares me horribly, but she just giggles and gives them kisses.

Could she perhaps be a Vatem with the ability to communicate with them? I believe that may be it. Perhaps I will start her with animal training? I have spoken to our ringmaster and he agrees. Perhaps even acrobatics! With those odd legs of hers, I have found that she is able to leap great distances and heights, far from that of a normal bear cub.

I'm going to keep her here with me, I have decided. She will be happy and will fit in. Everyone has grown to love her. I will hide her true identity from her until she begins to ask me when she is old enough to understand. Then she can decide for herself if she wishes to remain with us at the Circus or venture out into the regular world.

.~*The Country Bears*~.

Several years and Four hours later...

Ted was sighing as he sat at the dinner table, eating his hearty meal. He seemed bothered by something or other and not that hungry, but he didn't want to upset his mother. He wanted to go home and back to Jade, but alas, he had to stay and sort things out with his father.

"Teddy, what's on your mind?" Jeanette asked, looking over at her eldest.

"Not much. I just want to go back to Jade. She sounded upset on the phone. What if something else has happened?"

"I'm sure more than just her would be contacting you if something serious has happened, Teddy," she comforted.

"Yeah... after that crash, we're all jumpy in our thoughts." He sighed, carefully eating to not spill his food with his shaky arms. He was still recovering from them being broken, but at least now he was out of the casts and able to use them again.

"We know, baby, we know. What happened was out of your control, though. Now eat and you can call her back after dinner."

He nodded and continued feeding himself until there was a knock at the door and the ring of the doorbell. Ears perking, he looked back at the front door, watching as his father got up to answer it with an annoyed expression.

She sighed, also watching her husband. "Somehow people always know when we're eating dinner, and that's when they choose to visit or call."

From the entryway, Simon's voice called for him. "Ted! You have a visitor." He wandered back inside, stepping aside for a small black bear.

Ted blinked, getting up. "Jade? What the hell are you doing here? There's a freakin blizzard outside!" He brushed her off as his father shut the door.

"Yeah, yeah, I know, but... I'm sorry, I couldn't stay there by myself."

"Jade, you drove over four hours because you didn't want to be alone?!"

"I'd have driven eight if I had to," she mumbled.

"Teddy? What's going on?" his mother called out.

Ted frowned and pulled his mate into the dining room. "We have another guest for dinner?"

Jeanette immediately got up and prepared another plate of food.

Jade gave a little wave, but was ignored.

"Yeah, don't do that, intruder," Ted teased. "You're crazy."

Simon pulled up a new chair, allowing her to sit beside Ted. "Sit. I'm going to eat in the kitchen." He picked up his plate and left.

"Pops, we have four chairs here," Ted complained. "Guess he's trying to separate us," he said to Jade. He sat back down, and watched as his mother put a fresh plate in front of Jade and fussed over her.

"What are you doing here?" Ted finally asked.

"I told you. I didn't want to be alone." Jade answered, reaching into her pocket and fingering the necklace. She looked at him oddly, as if seeing him for the first time. He was still very handsome, that was for sure, but she was also conflicted. What if those old feelings for Zeb returned?

Ted didn't seem to notice. "You had Fred and everyone else to hang out with... You look rattled. What's going on?"

Simon called his wife from the kitchen, and she picked up her own food and left, closing the dividing doors behind her.

Jade sighed. "It's... nobody was there. Most are still at the hospital. Well, Zoober's not, but he's at physical therapy a lot, and Méngméng's been with him. Tasha and James are preparing for their move... Fred's always off doing something, Henry's at that private hospital, and Beary's not discharged until tomorrow."

"Yeah, but I thought you were visiting them today? That's what Fred said in his phone call earlier... Along with a few other things." He frowned. "Honey... What about Zeus, Smores, or Sparta?"

"They are fine for the night. Their kennels have warm buildings for them."

"I see..." He frowned. "Does this have anything to do with, uh, the two new cubs?"

Simon could be over heard telling Jeanette to calm down in the kitchen as he had just whispered to her what his nose had picked up on.

Ted flicked an ear, but ignored his parents.

"No... well, maybe a little, but mostly no."

"Really? I thought you'd be angrier considering how much you hate her."

"I don't hate Méngméng! I just can't stand her sometimes!"

He blinked. "Méngméng? Why are we... Jade, I'm talking about Esmeralda and Beary!"

She blinked. "What? Oh... Oh, crap, I forgot about that." She groaned. She had just left Beary there, probably confused and hurt about being abandoned.

"How... did you forget something like that?! Ever since Fred told me, I've been shaking with anger! I hate that goddamn bitch and what she did! And you just forget?!"

"I've had a lot of stuff dropped on my shoulders today, Teddy."

"Fred only mentioned the twins... Méngméng losing her first cub, and then more twins... and you going home." He raised an eyebrow. "I suppose that is a lot..."

"Yeah, and then your sister threatened to call the police on me..."

"Oh, yeah, that. Okay, I forgot about that one. She didn't know I was dating, let alone have a mate or fiancé... So... yeah. Sorry about that."

She sighed. "And then you hung up on me as I was trying to tell you something very, very, very, very important."

"Yeah, well, Pops needed me, so..." He frowned. "What's so important?" He took a bite of his food.

"I'm pregnant."

He paused, tilting his head almost childishly as he swallowed and stared. "Pregnant, huh?"

"Uh... yeah."

"Well, that's... new. When did this happen?"

In the kitchen, Simon had to hold back Jeanette and hold her mouth closed as she wanted to throttle her eldest.

"I'm figuring after the concert, but before the wreck."

He paused, thinking. "That... does sound about right. It was quite a... passionate night." he took another bite of his food.

She blinked and frowned a bit. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. She took a bite of her food, suddenly feeling the need to keep her paws busy.

"You drove four hours to tell me that?"

Simon REALLY had to hold Jeanette back now.

"Yeah..."

"Well... That makes me feel rather... special." He frowned, brow furrowed. They fell into silence, and Ted finished his dinner and got up to clean it, and made it to the door before stopping and dropping his plate in shock, it shattering on the floor. He spun around and grabbed her shoulders. "DID YOU JUST SAY YOU'RE PREGNANT?!"

She squeaked in surprise. "Yeah, like twenty minutes ago!"

"You... you're... I'm going to be..."

Jade watched him figure it out.

"Holy... freaking... crap."

She frowned. He was so calm before. "Yeah, I know..."

"This... changes everything... I..."

She could hear Simon and Jeanette in the kitchen almost giggling like schoolgirls, which she found hilarious.

Ted flicked an ear. "Ma's talking about killing me."

"Yeah, I can hear her. Oddly enough, your Dad's on your side."

"Uh, yeah... I'd be shocked, too... Which I am. What the hell am I saying?"

"You're babbling, so I'm not sure."

"I... A dad... a dad... what the... I'm no good with cubs!"

Jade frowned, and that was when Simon unleashed the beast.

"I don't know how to take care of a cub... Fred does... I don't... I..."

Jeanette stormed out and grabbed her son by the ear. "YOU! WHAT THE HELL, TED?! YOU ARE GOING TO BE A FATHER, SO YOU BETTER CHECK OUT SOME FUDGING PARENTING BOOKS TOMORROW OR SO HELP ME I WILL SKIN YOU FOR A PELT RUG!"

Jade blinked and then began laughing while Ted looked very scared.

Simon came in and put a paw on Jade's shoulder. "Guess he really needs to fill his sister in on what's going on."

Jade looked up at Simon and then at Ted.

Jeanette wasn't finished as she tore her son a new one for doing this to his poor mate and not knowing what the hell he was doing.

Ted was very scared of his angry mother. "I... yes, ma. No, ma. I'm sorry, ma."

Jeanette huffed and released him. "When's the wedding?"

"Wedding?"

Her eyes almost seemed to burst into flames.

"We haven't set a date yet. I'm waiting for my father to come back from overseas," Jade quickly interjected while Ted hid behind his father.

Simon shook his head. "Ted, you're ridiculous."

"But she's scary!"

Jade also gave her head a shake. "Wait until you meet my Dad."

Ted looked at her oddly for a moment. "Right... still haven't met him..."

Simon frowned and sat at the table, and Jade sighed, getting a headache. Jeanette glared at her son, tapping her foot and crossing her arms.

Ted crouched down between Jade and his father. "Don't kill me?"

"Why would I kill you? You've made grandbabies."

Jade tilted her head back to look at her mate. "You're so dopey."

"Yes, but she's scary."

"Damn straight!"

Simon rolled his eyes.

Ted frowned and looked at Jade before picking her up and running for it, locking himself in the bedroom with her. "She's going to eat me and it's your fault."

"How is this my fault?!"

"You had to announce you were pregnant in the dining room?!"

"I'm pretty sure they already knew."

He blinked. "How'd they know?! Did you tell them before me?!" He looked hurt.

"What? No!"

"Then how?"

"Because my scent's changed. Surprised you didn't realize."

He blinked and leaned forward, giving her a sniff. "Oh."

"Yeah..."

His eyes widened and he suddenly gasped at the pins and needles that overtook his arms and sat down, scrunching up his face.

Her eyes widened. "Shoot! Ted, are you okay?!" She moved over to him.

"Freakin hell... I forgot that I was still recovering from the broken arms and whatnot... and I picked you up... did you put on weight?!" He couldn't even move his paws at this point.

"Yeah, I put on weight, you dolt! I'm pregnant!"

"That explains it... right..." He cursed a little more.

"What do you need? What can I do?"

"Pain killers... over on the dresser. Maybe... a massage, if you're up to it. Don't have to," he groaned. "I'm a freakin idiot..."

She got up and got him his medicine and a cup of water, waiting until he had finished and then began to gently rub his shoulders and arms.

"This is so stupid... I wish that damn crash had never happened... We'd be out there touring right now..." he muttered unhappily. "I'd be able to play again..."

"I know. Ya know, we got lucky, when you think about it."

"Lucky? Well, I guess it could have been way worse..." He sighed.

"Well, I was pregnant when it happened."

He frowned, and then nodded. "So was Méngméng."

"Yeah... She had a litter in her. One died today, though... I'm sure Fred told you."

"He did. Still a litter, though... And given her difficulties of conceiving/holding onto a pregnancy, I think we'd all be more upset about her losing the babes... You and I could try again easily, but..." His ears flattened at how horrible it sounded.

Jade shook her head. "You have no idea how terrified I am right now."

He looked at her. "Because of what happened with your mother?"

She nodded.

"Everything will work out, Jade... We have to believe in that."

"I'm still scared."

"So am I... Because if I lose you, I don't know what I'll do... You're my best friend..."

"I love you so much, Teddy," she murmured, putting her forehead against the center of his back and tried to keep herself from crying.

He smiled. "I'd hug you, but my arms betray me."

"It's ok..." She wrapped her arms around his torso. "Mine work."

He laughed and leaned his head back. "Hey... Jade? Do you think maybe we should have an elopement first, and then a makeup wedding later? I... I know what the press will do... what they're already doing to Zeb... What they did to Jewel... Calling all our cubs bastards."

"Only if we go to Vegas and get married by an Asian Elvis."

"Consider it done. Let's leave tomorrow." He grinned.

"Deal."

He smiled. "Let's get some rest, okay? Wait, do you have any pajamas?"

"No, I didn't really think about that."

"Right... Um... Go talk to Ma, then. I'm gonna try to get into some PJs."

"Do you need help?"

He sheepishly nodded.

She smiled and helped him get changed and into his PJs. " there..."

He grinned. "All snug and happy," he laughed. "But now I gotta pee, so if you'd excuse me." And he vanished.

She laughed and grabbed one of his shirts and put it on as her nightshirt.

Ted soon returned. "Don't you ever pee, woman?"

"I peed before I left "

"Five hours ago... I don't need you wetting my bed. Go piss."

She rolled her eyes and did as she was told. She came back a few minutes later.

Ted grinned and was laying back in the bed, waiting on her. "You know... I've really missed you... I'm sorry I've been gone since Christmas, but... I had to figure these things out, and I'm glad I have. Especially now."

She snuggled up to him. " I missed you more."

"Oh, you think? I have nothing of yours here... You at least have Fred with you!"

"Yes, but he's not you," she laughed.

"No... I'm better," he laughed. "Okay, that was cruel. Don't tell him I said that."

She nuzzled him. "I won't."

"We won't tell anyone about the elopement until after... It wouldn't be fair to invite my family while your dad isn't there." He frowned. "I'd say take Beary and Jewel, but..."

She remained silent almost as if she was sleeping already.

He sighed and closed his eyes. "Just us..." he yawned.

"Yeah, just us." She laid next to him, listening to him breath and then snore. She smiled. She knew that even though she might have had a crush on Zeb at one point that this bear... the one she stomped on so many years ago was just for her.

.~*~.

Two days later, Ted and Jade stood at the alter with a panda impersonating Elvis, saying their vows and slipping the rings on each other's fingers, with Ted slipping the firestone that completed Jade's dragon ring onto her finger.

She responded by wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him, careful not to hurt his shoulders and arms.

He held her the best he could, smiling and laughing as he kissed her back. "Mrs. Bedderhead," he murmured, rubbing his nose against hers.

She smiled. "I feel like I've waited forever to say that."

"Seems like it's been forever, actually... But now no more... You're now my wife, and that comes with perks."

"Like free drinks?"

He laughed. "I'm not the drinker, babe. You're thinking of Zeb."

"I know that."

"Maybe a light beer now and again, but that's about it. Gotta keep this mind sharp!" He laughed and walked with his bride out of the chapel.

She shook her head. "Yeah, yeah. Let's go waste some money."

He grinned. "I'd pick you up, but I've learned my lesson. And no, that's not a crack about your weight."

"Uh-huh."

"Oh, good, you're not at the crazy hormonal bitch state yet. Man, I don't know how Zeb handled Méngméng. She was crazy in the later months."

She frowned. "Yeah."

He frowned also. "Makes me wonder how things will be with you and your, uh... Well, your dragoness?"

"I don't even want to think about that," she muttered, looking at her paws.

"I'll have a fire extinguisher ready," he teased.

She blew a raspberry at him.

"I'm serious about this one."

"Oh, I know."

He frowned. "You know, thinking back, I remember someone else who would burn things unintentionally..."

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure that same person stomped on your foot, too."

He blinked and looked at her. "How'd you know someone stomped on my foot? Betcha even know that that same person actually burned a weird shape on my foot, too, huh?" He was just joking with her, but also wondering how she knew that someone had stomped on his foot.

"Yeah... It looks like this?" She stopped walking and showed him the sole of her foot with a laugh.

He blinked and sat on a bench, looking at his own foot. "What the... You..."

"Yup."

"But... Holy shit, I'm the one who ended up marrying you instead of..."

She shrugged. "Uh, yeah. Well, we are 'bonded', ya know." She pointed to their feet.

"So that's what that meant... I've been wondering for so long..."

"No, I just left you with an odd scar," she said, sitting next to him.

"Funny how you and I both have the same scar... like Mengmeng and Zeb do... like Helen and Henry... Beary and Jewel... Tennessee and Trixie, even. Yeah, just an odd scar."

She rolled her eyes.

"Don't you roll your eyes at me. It's like you thinking that your dragoness is normal."

"Oh, I know it's not normal."

"And it's not bound by any sort of culture, huh?" He snorted. "Then how do you explain you and Beary?"

"Do we have to get into this now?"

"Nah, just happened to come up. Say, how about we see the Strip tonight?"

"We'll see."

"I think it'd be fun, honestly. Now then, what casino do you want to hit?"

"Let's find the most gaudy one we can!"

Thanks for reading and please leave a REVIEW. I rather like reviews because they make me happy and allow me to know that people are reading, and for someone who works hard on her craft for a very small fandom, it's nice to know that her stories are actually noticed! Thanks again for reading and see you next time! Bye!