Chapter 14: A moment of intimacy

The sun was high in the sky for another day. But clouds were moving in to cover it soon. A well needed rain storm was coming to drench the land. It seemed those clouds had enough water for days. The family was separated in their respected fields. Brick Jr., Frost, and Elaina were in the kitchen preparing lunch for the pack. Tocar, Blossom, and Jade were in the room quizzing each other on quantum physics. Bubbles, Bunny, Brooke, and Charlie were outside in the field picking flowers to make them into crowns. Butch, Brick, Boomer, and Majin were in the training room testing out Majin's strength against the trio of them. Brett was there as well but he was merely watching. He was taking notes in case this one ever decided his sister was a punching bag. Bane also watched his grandson/ son in law fight. But he was not entirely there. Buttercup and Sean were in the infirmary trying to cover the hole.

"Are you sure this doesn't hurt?" Buttercup asked softly still not entirely convinced that she was fine.

"I've been through worst. And so have you I'm guessing." Sean nodded.

Buttercup sighed. "Butch wasn't always the nicest man on the planet. When Diablo first started to show, he had convinced him that the only way for me to stay was to torture me. Butch did unspeakable things but I forgave him. Like you should forgive Bane." She pressed a gauze pad to it gently.

Sean stared off into the distance.

Buttercup patted her arm. "Hey,"

Sean turned to her.

"You've been through worse remember."

Sean scoffed while smiling.

"Sean, I must ask."

"Anything."

"How did you break his control?" Buttercup asked wrapping the bandages around her torso.

Sean shrugged. "I don't know. But causing myself pain seemed to help clear the fog away."

Buttercup nodded. "I see. You two have met before right?"

Sean sighed heavily. "We met when were kids. Before he was put to sleep inside of Butch, he was fine. His brother, Jr., was well liked. Diablo not so much. We fought a lot. He thought he could just do and say whatever he wanted to all the time. And I wasn't having it."

"And you're still not either are you?" she chuckled cutting the bandages.

"Nah."

Buttercup laughed softly. "God, you remind me so much of myself when I was your age."

"Mom, you do realize I am a 2000 years old right?"

Buttercup shook her head still with laughter. "That maybe so but you had that same spunk and fight I did when I was… when I was myself."

Sean frowned. "Motherhood didn't take that away. I can still feel it in you. Every time you against your husbands demon I can feel it. Your sons are still going to run to you should anything ever go wrong. Not only them, but my sisters and I as well will be running to you. You showed me it's okay to be soft and let my guard down. Let me show you what that everlasting fighting spirit does for those that hold it."

The sound of thunder made itself known in the house just as the three chefs called for lunch.

Buttercup looked up at Sean.

Sean touched her face with both hands. Leaning in, she made unnerving eye contact. "Should anything ever happen to me, I want you to raise my boys like you did with yours. This isn't over yet and I will not sacrifice them with me."

Buttercup went to speak before she disappeared leaving her there to stare at the spot she had been. Shaking her head, she head to the dining room to eat lunch with her family.

…

After lunch, each family went with each other to the den. Just like before each family took their spots near the fire place in their true forms. Brick, Blossom, Jr., and Jade all sat in the corner closets to the fire. Brick had his head laid on Blossom's neck. Jr. was on her back while Jade was right next to her dozing. Their coats were pretty maroons with pink highlights. Brick had his eyes open as he watched his pups doze in peace on their mother. After yesterday, they needed more bonding time to heal. It was something the reds really enjoyed. His eyes moved to his brother's family sitting next to the wall full of family pictures.

Boomer, Bubbles and Bunny were piled on each other as they lay next to the wall full of family photos. Boomer was on the bottom of the pile. Bubbles laid her head on his neck softly snoring. Bunny was laid on her neck also slightly snoring. She had stuffed her face from lunch and was indeed tired from eating. Their coats were majestic royal blue with baby blue highlights. Boomer had his eyes open as he watched his pup and mate sleep in peace on himself. After yesterday, they needed more bonding time to heal. It was something the blues also really enjoyed. His eyes moved to his brother's family sitting next to the windows watching the storm continuing to brew.

Butch, Buttercup, both sets of triplets, Charlie, Brett, and Bane were cozying up near the windows. Butch was curled up while Buttercup rested in the middle of his curled up body. His eyes took in his brothers watchful eyes as well. The girl triplets were laid on their sides while the boys were on their bellies listening to their pups and mates heartbeats. Brett curled around a nodding off Charlie. Bane laid near his son just watching the Jojo brothers look at each other before closing their own eyes in sleep. Their coats were pretty forest green with lime highlights. The girl triplets, Brett's, and Bane coats were black with the own respective colors. Bane continued to watch as the room hushed over in sleep.

(The Next Morning)

Sean had quietly slipped away from her family. She stood by the waterfall where she was almost going to die. The rain pounded on her naked skin harshly but it didn't hurt. A scoff left her. She couldn't die… at least not yet. Someone was going to have to kill Diablo. There was no way it could have been Buttercup. No Buttercup was going to live if she had to die for her to do that than so be it. Whatever that little hellion was planning, she would do her damn best to make sure it didn't go through. Her hand touched her stomach. The boys moved to her hand. A smile crossed her face.

"You shouldn't leave on your own like that." Bane sounded in the area.

Sean let out a sigh. "I can do as I like."

"Come on Sean, talk to me. Remember? We used to talk all the time." Bane pleaded taking steps toward her.

"Yeah, I remember. Those days are long gone now."

Bane tilted his head. "I'm sorry for letting someone like Zac get his hands on you. You're right. I should have looked harder."

Sean shrugged. "It doesn't matter now."

"But it does. You lost so much because of him. I should have been there to protect you."

She clenched her fist. "I didn't need you to save me. I needed you to save them." She hissed starting to shake.

"I know. And I'm sorry I didn't save you or them. You have to understand how hard it was trying to find you. By the time that white tigers blood was out of my system and I could function, you were long gone. I figured at least till I could find you, your brother would protect you. But you were so young when your mother was killed. I doubt you could have handled your brother's immense hunger." He paused. "The point is Sean, is I am very sorry. I thought about you every night."

"Shut up." She whispered clenching her other fist.

"I mean it. I am truly sorry Sean."

"Are you?!" Sean snapped. Turning to face him, she glares at him. "Are you?! You don't know the hell I had I to live through to make sure nothing ever happened to Elaina and Brooke! The things he did to me and on me have ruined me. I don't even feel pain anymore. He killed my unborn after he sold my virginity. The tied me up and all forced their way into me. But I didn't cry. I took the brunt of all his sick punishments to shield them." She paused, feeling tears well up. "The worst was what they didn't see, Brett included. He hadn't been awakened at the time. We were kids when you and mom were killed. He tied me up to a pole in a club where men and women took turns forcing themselves on me. They injected me with drugs over and over again. Zac had fathered many of my pups only to kill them in front of me time and time again. He would dangle them in front of me telling me that what a little brat he was glad would never be a part of this world. So keep your sorry to yourself." She sobbed loudly.

Bane eyes teared up as he grabbed her and pulled her into a tight hug. She tried to push him away but he refused to let go. His hand rested on her head as she finally conceded to just cry into his chest. "I'm sorry Sean. I'm so sorry." He whispered in her ear as he kissed her forehead. Why hadn't he searched hard enough to find them? His heart was in pieces as he realized his daughter wasn't just hurt, she was gone.

Brett appeared out the woods with tears in his eyes as well. Why hadn't he awaken then? He moved to cuddle his sister as she bawled in their father's chest. He didn't know. Through all the memories he had watched he never knew his sister had been through multiple births. His heart was breaking for the hell she had endured to protect their sisters. He held her closer as the rain continued to pound on them. It didn't even matter that it was.