Gray hated seeing Maria so withdrawn. She looked as if all the life had left her body. Her glow was gone and he had no idea how to recapture it. He still blamed himself for not being there. He blamed himself for letting her go. It had been a month since it happened to her and she was like a zombie. When her dads found out they wanted to take legal action but once they caught wind of the news they knew it wasn't necessary. Justice had been done but like Gray feared; there was nothing he could do to prevent her nightmares, her panic attacks and claustrophobia. There was nothing he could do about her waiting and worry to find out in six months if he'd given her any diseases. She was a shadow of her former self but she was still his Maria and no matter what, he was staying with her until she knew that happiness could be hers again.

"You need to eat something." He said.

"I'm not hungry." He said as she lay curled up on the bed.

"Even if it's just a bite or two Maria, you have to eat. Please? Do it for me and the babies?"

"The babies aren't even here."

"Yeah but if they were they wouldn't want you to starve."

She gave him a slight chuckle and nodded her head. He gave her the chicken sandwich he'd gotten on the way. She took a few bites.

"Can I stop now?"

"Well… I'd rather you eat it all but I guess I'm satisfied with your intake."

"Gray?"

"Yes?"

"I'm angry."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"I just…I wish he hadn't died so that he could have gone to jail and really paid for what he did."

"Trust me… he did pay. He probably died looking into the eyes of somebody he hurt. The last facial expression he probably made was one of guilt before his soul was sucked from his body by demons."

"Gray?"

"Yes?"

"I wasn't asleep that night…"

"What night?"

"The night it happened. When you came back to my room and washed your hands I wasn't really sleeping. I saw you appear out of thin air and I saw your bloody hands."

"Shit! I um…"

"Please don't lie to me."

"Okay."

"What are you?"

"How are your secret keeping skills?"

"I'd never tell anybody anything. I swear it. I…wouldn't tell your secrets anyway."

"I'm a werewolf."

"Like…from the horror movies?"

"Sort of."'

"Can I see?"

"No. it would be way too dangerous."

"How'd you become that way?"

"I was born that way…"

"So your whole family is that way?"

"Yes."

"That's kinda cool…here I was thinking I was special because I two dads. You have werewolf parents."

"Really, it's less thrilling than it sounds. There's a lot of growling during arguments and a lot of arguments when it comes close to the full moon."

"Ha… So how'd you get in here?"

"I transported."

"Like…teleporting?"

"Yes. Except it's mental for me. I just think of where I want to go and I go there."

"Wow…Did you…did you kill him?"

"Yes. I did it for you."

"Do you kill people often?"

"No... not people. He was the first person I've ever murdered."

"Thank you."

She kissed him and he found himself blushing.

"Oh and I swear… I'll never tell anyone. Say…are vampires real too?"

"We have time to talk about all that. Wanna go for a walk?"

He knew she was thinking about it. Their walks had been cut short since her incident. She didn't like being outside but he was trying to get her back to her former self, if possible.

"Sure… I guess."

She put on her coat and they linked hands as they strolled across campus. She didn't seem fazed by her new knowledge at all and she wasn't scared either. Gray knew he could trust her to keep his family's secrets. If he couldn't trust her then no other human was trustworthy either.

Lucas went into his father's office and he sat down. His dad had a look on his face that said "business."

"Dad?"

"Son… do you know why I bought you here?"

"No."

"Well…a week ago you turned eighteen."

"Is this about the party I wouldn't let you guys throw? I just wanted a modest get together."

"No…this isn't about that son. It's about income and it's about time you started making money and pulling your weight like everyone else in this family."

"Okay…what are you talking about?"

Declan gave Lucas a gun, and an envelope.

"Welcome to the family business son…you are to kill this person. After you get through drop the gun off at the blacksmith's for it to be melted down and recycled and burn that picture and that address. Got it?"

"Are you telling me to be an assassin?"

"Yes and you better get going. There's a million dollars riding on this. If you pull this off a quarter of that is yours. You wanted to be treated like a grown up well this is what we do…me, Jay, you mom and even Fiona. It's not a big deal. These are bad people that other bad people have bumped off."

Lucas was shocked…totally and completely shocked. He'd been living here all his life yet he never knew that he was staying with a bunch of contract killers! He went to the address and waited in a tree that gave him a perfect view of the front windows. He happened to see his target force a girl into the room. He was taking off his robe and she was crying. He smacked her and kicked her before ripping off her panties. Lucas was disgusted by the rapist. The girl looked no older than thirteen and he was at least sixty. Lucas felt no remorse when he pulled the trigger. The bullet went straight through the man's skull and onto the floor before he could even place his grubby hands to the poor child again. His blood was splattered all across the wall and the door. The girl ran out of the room screaming, he knew that was his cue to go. When the target was taken out Lucas ran to the blacksmith's, dropped off the gun and burned the envelope before going back home.

He found himself feeling better and somewhat exhilarated. He never knew murder could provide this much refreshment. He went into the house and Jay was waiting there.

"Little britches…welcome to the club." Said Jay as the patted him on the back.

"Thanks?"

While Lucas figured he wouldn't mind killing people there was one issue he had to take up with his father.

"Dad?"

"Yes son… I heard everything went well. Here's your cut."

Declan threw a duffel bag at Lucas' feet. He picked it up and sat before his father.

"Scarlett won't have to do this will she?"

"She'd be a skilled honey pot but no… It's complicated enough having her be a part of the coven. Making her do this would likely spark a war with the wolves and that wouldn't benefit anyone. Don't worry."

"Phew."

"So how's my grandchild? Growing strong?"

"Yes…Wuzzy is doing great."

"I was under the impression that the new nickname was captain chubby pants?"

"Oh yeah… I forgot I just liked Wuzzy so much as a nickname. I wonder what the baby will be like?"

"Well…it will be three parts vampire and one part werewolf so who knows?"

Lucas retired to his room with his money in hand. He knew he'd have to take it to his vault soon. He was surprised to see Scarlett curled up in his bed sleeping with the pregnancy pillow he'd gotten her. She was taking up all the space so he just lay on the floor so that he wouldn't disturb her.

It was a boring day for Clare. The baby was flopping around but not much else was going on. Todd was drawing, Gray and the babies were out and about and Scarlett was at Coyne Manor…as always. Even Eli was too busy for her. He was working on the new part of the house. She decided to visit Fiona. Surely she'd have time for her.

She transported to Fiona's. Fiona was sitting down a gun and plopping down on the couch.

"Long day at work?" Asked Clare.

"You have no idea! It's like the guy knew there was a number on his head. He kept putting his concubines in the way. I was tempted to shoot one just to prove that he couldn't hide from me."

"What was this guy?"

"A human trafficker…his concubines weren't his victims though. Sadly…honestly who'd take pride in being a fifth or sixth wife?"

"No clue. So I'm presuming that Lucas first kill went well?"

"Yes…he doesn't even seem emotionally phased. So far he's made a million dollars. If he keeps this up then Scarlett will never have to worry about money."

"She'd never have to worry about it anyway. Fiona, how would life be if we were poor?"

"I have no clue. I've never been…but you've been kind of poor before. Remember?'

"Yeah but never with kids and grandkids."

"You know what I imagine?"

"What?'

"If you hadn't died and never got changed…how would your life be? Remember your column in the paper?"

"Of course I do. For a while I missed that job but writing books is much more fulfilling."

"You're still using the pseudonym aren't you?"

"Of course. Nobody can find out who I am. How are you?"

"Clare…honestly I don't know. I'm a little numb and a little pissed. I'll never have a baby and my bonehead nephew is having one before he even graduates. Sometimes I wish I was human just for the medical procedures like invetro fertilization but there's nothing like that for vamps."

"Fiona… I'm not giving up. I think you and Adam will be the odds and have the loveliest love child ever."

"I hope you're right Clare. I hope you're right."

Clare enjoyed talking to her friend and gossiping with her. It was good to just sit back and relax.

Eli sanded until he couldn't sand anymore. He was conditioning the hardwood on the new floor and it was a more daunting task than he'd originally given it credit for.

Working on this was somewhat therapeutic to him. If he was mad now he'd just go and hammer a nail into something or sand something and he felt better. He'd gotten all of the bedrooms done including a classroom/ playroom. He'd leave the décor up to Clare of course. He was also considering fixing up another two floors. One for Gray and one for Scarlett. They wouldn't always want to live in the same complex but if they had their own spaces maybe they'd consider sticking around.

When he felt like he'd done enough for the day he went back to their level and as he was walking through the door, Gray was too. Gray was virtually his twin so he could read him like a book. Eli could tell that he was worried about something.

"Son…what's up?"

"Nothing."

"You look distressed."

"I told her."

"Told who what?"

"I told Maria about our family."

"Our…second nature?"
"Yes."

"Gray! Why'd you go and do that?"

"She saw me that night when I transported into her room to wash the blood off my hands. I wasn't thinking straight and I thought she was asleep. She said she wouldn't tell and soul."

"You trust her?"

"Of course I do."

"Well then…that's all that matters I guess. You really love her don't you?"

"It's like when I'm with her… I don't feel bad about having two babies, I don't feel stupid or trashy and I feel normal and happy."

"Well…that certainly is something. Just be careful okay… with the life we live it would be easy for Maria to get hurt. Now just make sure you tell her enough to keep her informed but keep her in the dark enough to keep her safe."

"Got ya dad."

The more Eli thought about it the more he had to admit that Maria and Gray did make a nice couple. She seemed to balance him out. Just like Clare had done with him. Eli just hoped Gray could be lucky like he was and still be fortunate enough to have his other half and still be in love ions from now.

When he thought of Clare she appeared, like she'd been summoned.

"That was creepy." Said Eli with a chuckle

"What?" Asked Clare.

"I was thinking about you and you appeared."

"That is weird. Stop summoning me Goldsworthy."

"I can summon you all I want to Edwards. I'm the alpha, remember?"

"Yeah yeah yeah…go shower. You have sawdust in your hair."

"This isn't over."

"I know." Said Clare with a giggle and a mischievous smile.

Eli kissed her on the cheek and went to shower. The water turned black as it went down the drain. Man was he dirty.

Hey guys thanks for reading! Now, if you would be kind and leave a review that would be awsome as well!