Previously in "A Soldier's Coming Home", Brady gets caught in a blast and is rescued by Grayson Gilbert. A few years later, she goes into labor with their son.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Mikaelson Mansion – That Same Moment…
"Nathaniel Jasper Mikaelson, I want you to apologize for hitting your cousin, now," Sage said with a firm tone.
Nathaniel pouted. "Why should I be the one to apologize? Sebastian started it!"
"I did not," he replied. "You started it, Nathaniel!"
"Enough out of you two; if you cannot apologize, neither of you will get the toy back," Caroline said as she moved over to where they were.
Sebastian, not wanting to lose the toy they were playing with, looked at Nathaniel. "I'm sorry for hitting you."
Nathaniel hugged him. "I'm sorry too."
"Thank you. Can you two promise to be nice from now on?" Sage asked as she looked at her nephew and youngest son, both 2 years old.
Both boys looked at each other and then at Sage before saying in unison, "We promise!"
Sage smiled as she reached out and ruffled her son's brown hair, which he'd gotten from his father. She smiled over at her sister in law as Caroline did the same thing to Sebastian before the redhead picked up Nathaniel then carried him to where the rest of their family was gathered.
The women were still hugging the children when Klaus and Finn came in, seeing what was going on and smiling at each other. "We see you two," Sage said with a grin over at her husband, setting Nathaniel down so he could run over to where Finn stood.
Caroline smiled toward her husband. "Did you and Finn enjoy your brotherly excursion, Nik?"
Klaus nodded. "Yes." He kissed her. "Though, coming home to you is even better."
Sage wandered over to her husband as well, and he greeted her with a soft kiss, still holding Nathaniel. "And what about you, my handsome Prince; did you enjoy the brotherly excursion as well?"
Finn returned her kiss. "I did. Though, I couldn't wait to come home to you."
"I bet not," she said with a grin, laying her head on his shoulder as his arm wrapped around her waist and back.
Finn smiled as he held his wife to him. "I love you so much, Sage."
"Not as much as I love you," she said softly. She watched as Nathaniel squirmed to be let down before running over to his now almost 11-year-old sister.
Klaus smiled at his brother. "If you two want some privacy, we could take the children back to our place."
Finn looks at Sage, who shakes her head. "No, brother, that's alright. We want to continue celebrating Father and Eleanor's anniversary," he replied.
Klaus nodded. "All right, but the offer still stands if you change your mind."
Finn nodded. "Thank you, brother." He gently kissed the top of his wife's head then held her close to him as she wrapped her arms around his waist.
Caroline watched this and then kissed her husband softly. "You're such a good brother, Nik."
"It's the best I could do, since he all but raised us after we came here," Klaus said as he gathered her close, also kissing the top of her head.
Caroline smiled. "He's done a good job."
"That he has," Klaus said as he looked over at his brother before 9 year old Liam came running up to them. Klaus smiled at his son. "Yes, my son? Is there something you needed?"
"I did want to know if the present you're making for Grandfather and Nana Ellie is finished yet."
He was referring to the painting his father had been working on for the past several weeks. Klaus nodded and said, "It's almost finished. I just need to put some finishing touches on it."
Liam nodded then turned to rejoin his other cousins in the living room. Caroline looked at her husband then grinned at him while she said, "You're also a good father, Niklaus."
"Thank you, Caroline," her husband replied. "I want to give my children, as well as my wife, nothing but the best."
"You've done nothing if not that," Caroline said with another grin.
Klaus kissed her softly. "I love you, Caroline."
"And I love you too," she told him.
Finn watched this and smiled. "Now, who's the one that needs privacy?" Sage pinched his arm then smirked at him when he glared at her in a playful manner. Finn looked at Sage, a playful scowl on his face. "I was teasing him."
The smirk on her face remained before she turned and ran up the stairs. Finn immediately ran after her, following the soft, melodious laughter into his former room.
When he got to his room, he shut and locked the door so that Sage couldn't get away. He followed her giggles toward his bed and before she could run, Finn grabbed her and threw her down on the bed, climbing on top of her and holding her hands down. "You're at my mercy now, my Irish Rose."
"And just what will you do to me, my British Prince?" she asked with a smirk.
"I will think of something, surely," he grinned back, leaning down to kiss her softly. Finn relinquished her hands then wrapped his around her while she wrapped hers around his neck.
Sage ran her fingers through her husband's hair and then felt him leave her lips to kiss her neck. "They're going to wonder where we are, you know."
"Let them wonder," he replied. "You're more important right now."
"How so, my love?" she asked softly as she arched her back when she felt his hand begin to slid up underneath the material of her dress, the callous fingers moving over the smooth silk of her thighs.
Her husband shifted until he was nestled firmly against her, his mouth pressing open-mouthed kisses along her throat and collarbone. Finn smirked. "It may be Father and Eleanor's anniversary, but you're my present."
"Oh yeah, and how is that, my handsome husband?" she asked as her fingers played with the hair at the nape of his neck.
Finn smiled. "I get to open you over and over again."
"I like the sound of that, actually," she said before the knock came on the door, followed by his father's voice.
"Finnegan, Sage, are you all right in there?" Mikael said. "We're about to have dinner."
"We're fine, Father," Finn said. "I was just…helping Sage with something."
Eleanor, who was standing next to her husband, hid her soft snickers, knowing that her eldest stepson hadn't really been helping Sage with something. Mikael nodded. "Well, when you're done, come downstairs. We'll save some food for you."
"We'll be right there, Father," Finn replied. He waited until his father and stepmother's footsteps had retreated before turning to look at his wife. "You and I will finish this later, my love. For now, we must go back down and join the rest of our family.
"Of course, my love," she said in a mocking British accent, kissing Finn softly before he rolled off of her then helped her out of the bed.
Finn placed her hand on his arm as he escorted her down the stairs toward the kitchen, where the rest of the family was waiting for them.
Later…
After a little bit of persuasion, Finn allowed his four children to spend the night with their cousins at Elijah's mansion before he took Sage home, where she immediately ran inside and he went after her, not finding her a few minutes. Once he found her, Finn smiled as he pulled his wife into his arms. "Now then, my Irish Rose, where were we?"
"Right about…here," she said in a soft murmur, connecting their lips while walking backward toward their bed, her hands tangling in his hair when he turned his head to an angle and deepened the kiss, turning it carnal and just a little desperate.
Finn growled playfully as the kisses got more heated and passionate, just like the redheaded goddess in his arms. Bringing his hands away from her waist, he brought them up then began to unbutton her blouse, his lips moving away from hers to kiss down her cheek and down into her neck, open-mouthed kisses littered along the fair skin in front of him. Sage moaned as she felt his hands on her. "Give me everything you've got, Finn. Show me no mercy."
"No mercy; I like that," he said with a smirk. He concentrated on unbuttoning her blouse then all but shoved it aside, tossing it onto the floor while watching as she returned the favor, pushing his jacket off his shoulders hastily. Their kiss resumed as they fell onto the bed in a tangle of limbs and desire.
Sage panted and then ripped his shirt open, sending the buttons all over the place. The heat rose around them, rising with every passing second. Finn, in the meantime, removed her bra, his hands gently cupping the mounds before leaning down to kiss and caressing them more with his hands.
It wasn't long before they were completely naked and Finn wrapped Sage's legs around his waist as he drove his throbbing member into her core, groaning as he felt her wet heat all around him.
He thrust in and out, in and out; in a rhythm they had been calling their own for many years. Joining their hands, he brought them up above her head then kissed her softly, picking up speed.
Two Hours Later…
Finn held Sage close as they snuggled in bed together. "That was amazing."
"It definitely was," she replied. "You know, I think we've outdone ourselves this time. Not that we could ever outdo ourselves before, but I think we did this time."
She moved until she could leave the bed and Finn immediately followed her, his arms wrapping around her waist, open-mouthed kisses getting scattered along her shoulder and neck until she turned her head, kissing him softly and passionately.
Sage trembled against her husband's touch, thoroughly enjoying what was happening between them.
Meanwhile…
April was watching Matt chase little Fiona and Torrance when she heard the doorbell ring. Matt went to the door and gave a startled look when he saw a woman he had never met before standing there. "Hello, can I help you with anything?"
"Yes, I was hoping I could talk to an April Young. She is my sister," the dark brown-haired woman replied.
Matt nodded. "Of course; come on in."
The other woman nodded and stepped inside, where she was greeted by April holding Torrance on her hip. "Hello, April; I was hoping I could talk to you."
April smiled. "Sure, we can talk in private. Matt, would you mind…?"
Matt shook his head then took Torrance from her, taking her into the other room with Fiona following after her daddy. "I know this may come as a shock, April, but we are sisters," the mysterious woman said quietly. "My father, who is your father, he is the pastor here in Mystic Falls, correct?"
April frowned then nodded before she replied, "He is indeed. What is this about?"
"He had an affair with my mother, Carmen, years ago, but he never told his wife, not wanting to hurt her." She sighed. "My name is Abigail."
"So, that would make you my…half-sister?" April asked, still confused.
Abigail nodded. "Yes, April, it does."
"Do my Dad and Mom know?" the darker haired girl asked.
Abigail shook her head. "No, that's why I thought I'd talk to you first."
The younger woman nodded before Matt rejoined her, saying softly, "Andrea is keeping an eye on the younger two." April smiled and nodded then laid her head on his shoulder as his arms wrapped around her.
"Abigail, this is my husband Matthew Donovan. Matt, this is my…half-sister, Abigail. I'm sorry; I didn't catch your last name."
"Abigail Valentine," Abigail replied.
Matt smiled. "It's nice to finally meet you, Abigail."
"And you as well, Matthew," she said with a courteous smile.
"Does Pastor Young know you're here?"
Abigail shook her head. "No, he doesn't. I wanted to see April first before I went to see him."
"We can go see him later. I'm overdue for a visit anyway," April said with a soft smile.
Abigail smiled. "That sounds like a great idea to me."
Later…
Andrew was preparing a sermon in his home office when he heard his wife's soft voice talking to someone in the next room and he left the office, heading toward where he'd heard her. He suddenly stopped when he saw who was in the doorway with April. "Abigail," he said breathlessly.
Abigail smiled at her father. "Hello, Daddy. I hope I'm not interrupting anything."
Andrew shook his head. "No, but I am surprised to see you."
"It's because you haven't talked to me or my mother in years, isn't it?" she asked him softly.
Andrew nodded. "Yes, but that doesn't mean I didn't want to see you. I did, it was just complicated."
"Oh, its okay, Daddy; I forgive you," she said softly, stepping up to him and hugging him fiercely.
Andrew hugged her back. "Thank you, Abigail. I love you so much. I always have."
"I love you too, Daddy," she said after stepping back from their hug. She then turned to her stepmother and smiled at her. "And it's wonderful that you love me as well, Theresa. You are an amazing woman to accept me so easily."
"You are family, Abigail. That is all that matters," Theresa said before hugging Abigail gently but fiercely.
Andrew nodded. "How has your mother been since the last time I spoke to her?"
"She hasn't been too well, I'm afraid," she replied. "True, she's strong, but the doctors have told her that there's nothing they can do for her."
"She's dying?"
"Its terminal," Abigail replied softly. "She was diagnosed last year, close to Christmas."
Andrew hugged his eldest daughter. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart."
"It's okay," she replied. "I've accepted it, even though it hasn't been easy."
"Still, you and your mother were close. I saw it when I would get the chance to visit," Andrew said softly.
Abigail nodded sadly. "I know; which is why it's not going to be easy when the time comes. I know I said I accepted it, but the fact is that, that was a lie I kept telling myself and everyone else."
"You did the best you could, taking care of her all these months," Andrew said.
Abigail nodded. "I kept her comfortable, like a good daughter should." She got an idea. "She'd like to see you, at least one more time before she passes."
"We can do that. When would be good for you?" her father asked.
Abigail thought about it and said, "How's tonight sound to you? I know you have a sermon to write…"
"Tonight is good for me."
"Alright, tonight it is," Abigail said with a smile, the same expression similar to April's.
Theresa nodded. "And I will definitely come with you. No reason why a dying woman should not have a whole lot of people around her, right?"
"Of course not," Abigail said as she hugged her stepmother gently.
April nodded. "It's settled then. Tonight, we'll visit Abigail's mother."
Author's Note: And the next chapter will be a visit what all the other couples are up to. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, see you soon!