Still no copyright, I would have answered more questions than they did.
Song for this chapter is 'Heal It Up' by Concrete Blonde
The next few days were a blur of constant motion. Getting used to having kids, healing, fixing up the addition and dealing with the extended family left them little room to think- which was probably exactly what they'd needed to begin with. An escape from their thoughts.
They sat in a rocking chair with the baby as Mara tried to teach Audrey the finer points of creating.
'It's not as simple as thinking, "Hey, I want a blanket!". Like anything connected to Aether or our abilities, Intent is everything. You have to be specific. You have to consider the type of fibers, the color, the texture. How it's woven. If it feels new and stiff or well-worn and loved. You can see, when I considered the weaving I had the image of actually weaving. Those things I learned how to do so that I could learn to master my Intent. It's hard to fully picture or consider something you know nothing about. Everything I've learned, every skill I have I learned in order to hone my Intent.'
'Did you have no childhood at all?'
Mara smiled and stroked Ren's cheek.
'I did. In a way. Special time with Daddy. But it was still an experience where I was able to and expected to learn something. Swimming, for instance, was special time with Daddy, but I had to learn the specific anatomy; which muscles and organs was I using to swim and hold my breath? What was the chemical composition of the water around us? Especially after the cure, when I was learning to use the Aether. I had to learn how to ask it questions, how to run tests and scans. I couldn't afford a normal childhood because I wasn't a normal child.'
Mara's hand shifted and she hummed quietly, eyeing the new quilt she'd just finished for their specially-made bed. The dark turquoise and navy reminded her of the tides at twilight. It was heavy and thick and most importantly, actually fit the bed.
'So what do we need to think of for Nathan's shelves?'
'You consider size and shape. How big must the tree the boards came from have been? Were they cut with or against the grain? For this set, we're doing knotty pine, so you also want to think about which boards have the best knots, the best-looking side to be on the outer edge. Once you have all of that in mind, it's like putting a puzzle together. Which piece to which piece?'
She nodded, putting the shelves together in her head step by step to show Audrey before humming the music of Creation, when shelves appeared on the wall as if by magic.
'There. Now Nathan has a place to put all the books he keeps badgering Duke about having stacked on the floor.'
'I am never going to learn this stuff. Even in 500 years I won't be half as good as you. There's too much involved!'
'You're looking at it the wrong way. That's not how you go into Trouble cases, is it? One big bad Trouble that has to just go away? No, you start thinking how the Trouble works, what ways it's hurting and what ways it's helping- remember, all of them have a beneficial side, they were Gifts originally- and then you consider who the person is and what's motivating them. You deconstruct the Trouble in order to solve it. People may think I just fling Aether around and look pretty, but it's not just my freak genetics that make this happen. I still direct the Aether. It takes time and training to learn to do that properly.'
'Well, I think I prefer the badge and gun, myself. Giving a Gift or taking a Trouble I can manage, but all of the other stuff- the scanning and creation- it just seems impossible.'
'Give it time. People tend to manifest what they need when they need it. We know you have the ability, so if you ever really need it, you can do it. And handling the Troubles is most of what we do lately anyway,'
'Will you make it snow? I always wanted snow on Christmas.'
'Happy to.'
Rolling her neck and raising Ren to burp her, Mara stretched her abilities outward, calling the thick clouds that would give them a good snowfall. She took Ren to the nursery, changed her and laid her down in the crib, setting a sentinel orb above her.
When the baby was down, they went to the kitchen to play with Duke, who seemed to be cooking enough to feed half the town.
"I'm starting to think we should have had dinner at the Gull." Mara teased, stealing an olive.
"Hey, leave those alone. Nathan will be very cross with you if I have to send his happy ass out in the snow to get more."
"Eh, Nathan hasn't been cross with me in awhile. It might be fun."
"Someone's feeling feisty this afternoon."
"Mm. Audrey is getting frustrated with her lessons."
"Ah, but what level of frustration?" Duke handed her a glass of tea. "Is it 'complaining' or is it 'throwing shit to see if she can make it stick in the wall'? There is a world of nuance there."
"That's fair, you're right. She's just complaining. She probably would have stomped her foot once, but that's all. She just prefers her specialties to mine. It doesn't bother me, I just want her to be able to do everything I can do."
"Just be glad you're not on Nathan-duty. This transporting thing is rapidly going from 'awesome Gift' to 'possible Trouble'. It's constant, he'll move shit just to see if he can. I swear to god, he's gonna go all Darth Vader and start using his powers for evil."
"The draw of the Dark Side is strong." Mara agreed, sipping her tea.
"Don't tell me you're not at all worried about how this is going to end up."
"Duke, you're just afraid that he'll decide that his practical jokes are more important than his good sense and he'll use it to embarrass you. You don't actually believe Nathan will turn evil."
"Maybe I just have a different interpretation of the word evil! Have you really stopped to consider the things he could do?"
"Of course I have, and yes, some have the potential to be absolutely hilarious. But I'll tell you the same thing I told him- We have kids in the house and we have to be good role models. So no, I am not worried, because Nathan knows the rules and he really doesn't want to make us mad."
Four large paper sacks full of presents appeared on the table the moment Mara shut her mouth, and Duke raised an eyebrow at her. "Nate's home."
"We're going to assume his hands are just full and he's helping Alec."
Duke smirked and shrugged as Nathan herded Alec in ahead of him, His arms were indeed full of bags. Mara hurried to help him unload.
"These are from Gloria, the ones in the green paper are Charlotte. Pink is Laverne, funny pages is Vince and Dave, burlap and butcher wrap is Jacob. I don't suggest asking him about wrapping paper. He's got... loud opinions about it."
Mara chuckled, putting the wrapped packages under the tree. "A lot of things we take for granted seem insanely frivolous to someone from 500 years ago. Paper was expensive and hard to get. It's culture shock. I think you'd have had a much harder time adapting to life 500 years ago. You couldn't just put on a dapper hat and jacket and sail through life."
Nathan held his hands to his chest, groaning. "Ohh, aww, you wound me. But you liked that hat and jacket. And I was a boy scout. I could have survived in the past."
Mara laughed, sitting close enough to the kitchen to include Duke in the conversation. "I did like that hat and jacket, it's true. But dropping you into Haven 500 years ago would be hilarious. You wouldn't know how to speak without drawing attention, how and where the toilets worked, how to make yourself a mattress to sleep on- No, you're a creature of this generation and that's nothing to be ashamed of. But the difference between survival then and survival now is like the difference between DOS and Windows. One you had to know how to do everything step by step, the other is convenient, you point and click.
"You can go online and have groceries delivered, buy movies, shoes and furniture all at the same time, from your home. In the bathroom, even. If I wanted a dress and a new pair of shoes, I would have to go to the general store or the weaver to pick cloth, then take that to the seamstress to get measured and have the dress sewn, then I'd have to spend hours at the cobbler's getting more measurements and choosing the things I want the shoes made of. Every few months, we had to harvest new rushes to fill our sleeping mats. Water came from the well and had to be heated on the wood stove. It was a little easier for me, but still. Ask Audrey, she hates the amount of things she's having to learn just to make things. Oh, your shelves are up in the bedroom, by the way."
Nathan grabbed her face, kissing her soundly. "You are amazing. Thank you so much. I can put those books up and quit tripping."
Duke shook his head, stirring a pot. "You could always go around."
"And what do you suggest when Ren starts crawling? I doubt you'll want her teething on first editions, Duke."
"Whatever makes our princess happy."
"Wrong." Mara intoned. "Unless I'm the princess. But no, she will not be gumming up your books. Kids need to know what's off limits, for their own sake. Kind of like husbands."
"Hey! Watch it, woman. I'm cooking for people who are technically my in-laws. I'm already being a perfect husband."
Mara grinned deviously. "If Alec takes a nap, I'll make it up to you."
He looked interested. "How?"
"You'll see. I'll go see if I can get him to take a nap." She stood, kissing Duke as Nathan started moving books.
She went down to the bedrooms, poking her head into Alec's room.
"Alec? You in here?"
His head popped out of the fort. "I'm here, Mama. Abba took me all over to pick up presents. It's snowing now, though! Is it your snow? It feels like it."
Mara walked into the room, setting a few books back on the shelf. "It is my snow, yep. Amma wanted snow for Christmas. We're going to have company this evening, so I think you should take a nap. What do you say?"
His little face pouted. "Do I have to?"
"I don't know, do you want to have fun tonight with your family or do you want to be cranky and tired when you try and open presents?"
He sighed dramatically and climbed up into his bed. When he opened the high door, Mara leaned in to kiss his face. "Sweet dreams, little man. You'll have fun tonight, I promise."
"I love you, Mama. Tell Amma too, please." Alec yawned despite his resolve and Mara replied, "She heard you and loves you too. Nap. Then we'll put you to work when you're up."
Setting an orb to give them warning when he got up, she closed the door and went back to the kitchen. Duke was still stirring.
"Alec is down. I assume you need to watch whatever it is your're cooking."
"I do, why? Did you want to go out?"
She smiled with dark eyes. "Not out, no. Just something I wanted to do." She pressed herself against his back, wrapping her arms around his stomach.
"What do you want to do?"
She bit his shoulder blade gently through the cotton of his shirt, her deft hands unbuckling his belt and fly, sliding a hand down to wrap around him. He was hard in seconds, breathing rapidly.
"Uh, aren't you still off limits for a few weeks?" His voice squeaked a little.
"Not my whole body." She came around to face him, trailing her lips down his face before she sank to her knees.
As she wrapped her lips around him, she was certain she heard Duke mutter, "Christmas is my very favorite holiday."
Mara dug her fingers into the skin of his hips, sucking harder to force out the sounds that she loved so much. It didn't matter that she wasn't going to get sex herself. The noises would keep her warm enough.
The whisk fell and Duke's hands wrapped in her hair. He gazed down at her and groaned, his body going taut. "That feels so good, and you look so unbelievably beautiful."
She swirled her tongue, scraping her teeth gently against him. Oh yes, there- that ragged inhalation, the slight tightening of his hands in her hair. That's what she was looking for. She sucked harder and Duke's head dropped back, strain obvious in the muscles on his thighs and hips.
Mara scratched Duke, taking in as much of him as she could.
No, sex didn't cure everything. But it sure helped.
Focused, head bobbing, she felt when he was close and she picked up speed, holding him tighter. Duke's eyes rolled and he gripped the counter behind him as he panted and cursed, his body shaking. "Mara, I..."
She continued, letting his moans wash over her, swallowing when his muscles went slack. She gazed up at him, pressing a kiss against him as she re-buttoned his fly. Mara took Duke's hand when he reached to help her up. "What was that for? Have I been exceptionally good?" He kissed her lips and she wrapped her arms around him.
"Don't need a reason. You're sexy when you're cooking and I have gone too damn long without sex."
"I know, five days is an eternity, isn't it?"
"Mock if you like, but there are two of us in here. That makes it ten days. And since we have two of you guys, it's more like 20 days."
"I had sex with Nathan!"
"Yes, but I didn't get to take part."
Duke laughed, trying to catch his breath as he started whisking again. "I love the way your brain works."
Mara shrugged, stealing another olive. "Somebody has to. I'm underrated. An acquired taste, if you will."
"Oh, I like the way you taste."
"Watch it, Duke. I'm about one innuendo to throwing the rules out the window and seducing you. I heal quickly. In fact, if we were careful, I bet we could throw the rule book out the window."
Nathan came back in, jacket put away and little drops of water in his hair from melted snowflakes. "Who's throwing out what rule book now?"
Smiling, Mara stepped up to Nathan, winking at Duke before she kissed Nathan. "The sex rule book. If nobody tries to break me, I think that's what I want. I'm not bleeding, the six-week rule was made for humans. I miss you both so much."
Nathan kissed her deeper, chuckling after a moment. "You taste like Duke."
She grinned. "Good thing we like the same things. Ren is down for a nap, Alec is down for a nap- with a sentinel to warn us if he wakes up."
"But you've still been having pain, Mara. I'm afraid you'll get hurt."
"The pain is fading, and though you might have to be a little more gentle than I usually beg for, I feel like being alone with you two will make us feel better than anything."
Sweet Nathan took her hands, looking at her seriously. "I know how strong you are and I want you so bad I can hardly stand it. But I know how badly you were injured. I don't want to make it worse."
Mara wrapped her arms around Nathan's neck. "You don't make things worse, Nathan. You and Duke make things better. "
Duke turned off what he was whisking on the stove top, adjusted the oven, and said, "Woman wants a Christmas present, Nate. So do I. I trust her judgement." He scooped her up and headed for the bedroom. "I have been absolutely dying to break in that amazing new bed."
"That's the spirit!" Mara kissed his cheek. "Not sure why you're carrying me, though. We know I can walk."
"I'm carrying you to our new marital bed. I think that's like a threshold thing after you get married. Certain things are tradition."
Nathan followed them into the bedroom and both men noticed the new quilt immediately. "Holy crap! That wasn't there this morning!" Duke sounded shocked as he and Nathan paused together and Nathan traced his fingers up Duke's spine.
"They put together shelves, too." The shelves were packed with books and atlases- Nathan never did a job halfway- and they looked beautiful.
"You're amazing, did you know that?" Duke's voice was almost as admiring as his eyes.
"This is what was frustrating Audrey during lessons. She has the ability, but hasn't mastered the patience. Do you like the blanket?"
"I don't know, let's find out." His smile was wicked as Duke set Mara down. She wiggled out of her pants and panties, but got a warning growl when she reached to pull her shirt off.
"They're rules for a reason, beautiful. Nate, why don't you do the honors of taking off her shirt." Duke was smiling, his eyes dark and glittering. Nathan happily complied. Ignoring the bruises, Mara leaned back against her elbows, crossing her ankles.
"So, any closer to liking the blanket?"
Duke's voice was rough and scratchy as he stared at her. "Most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life."
A slow smile crossed her face. "You like that, you should see how nice it is in the bed, under the covers." She scooted up to free the sheets and pull them down, patting the bed.
"Of course, you've both been working, so you'll have to take off your clothes. Don't want to get the sheets dirty, do we?"
Duke jumped as Nathan slid his hands up the hem of Duke's shirt, pulling it up and over his head, pressing against him to kiss him until Duke was dizzy and breathless.
Duke pulled off Nathan's shirt too, leaning in to gently bite at his nipples, making Nathan groan. Then they were both fumbling at each other's waistbands, kissing ardently. Once they were both bare, they joined Mara in the new bed, murmuring compliments that she just wasn't paying attention to. "Nathan, lie down. You're so worried about breaking me, I'm on top." She pulled Duke to kneel behind her; his strong, gentle arms wrapping around her as she adjusted herself over Nathan, slowly pushing down onto him. Her eyes slipped closed as Nathan filled her and she leaned back into Duke's chest, tilting her head so he could nibble her neck.
She rocked slowly, letting her body adjust to being loved again.
It was strange; the amount of tissue damage they had sustained had caused so much pain, but even just a few days later, there was no pain, only joy where Nathan pressed against her and where Duke held her up. There was a lesson here- pain caused by an enemy wasn't nearly as strong as the touch of someone who loved her. It reminded her vaguely of the pain from cutting off her toe. It had been worth it when Duke triggered, when she knew he would live.
Love was stronger than hate, pain or fear.
Blissful, Mara smiled, one hand spread out on Nathan's chest, right over his heart, the other holding Duke's arm where it crossed her chest. Duke's facial hair gave her goose bumps, shivers running up her spine. They were exactly what they were meant to be, four people who loved each other and their town.
Watching Nathan's face and feeling the kisses on her neck and shoulders, she experienced a sense of belonging. Of having a place where she was wanted and perhaps needed- somewhere she wanted to be.
She pushed down harder, moaning. Nathan raised a hand to trace his fingers over her face and down her throat, cupping her breast. Mara moaned, rocking faster, each movement tightening her body and making her breath speed up.
A few minutes later, her entire body went rigid and her mouth opened like she was screaming, but no sound left her. Duke held her upright, one arm across her chest, the other pressing against her abdomen. Nathan groaned, jerking up into her as he came. For the first time in days, she felt worthy of being treasured.
She rose to pull off of Nathan and he put his arm out for Mara to cuddle in, but Duke stopped them.
"Mara, are you in too much pain, or do you think you can handle being loved again? Because I have missed you so much it physically hurts."
She smiled lazily. "I'm never to tired or busy for you, you know that. I missed you, too."
"Don't move. I want Nathan to see you. Hold his hands."
Heart pounding erratically, Mara took Nathan's hands, holding herself up. As Duke shifted, she bent to kiss Nathan and rub her cheek against his, trailing more kisses over his jaw.
"Do you promise you'll tell me if I hurt you?" Duke asked the question in a serious voice as his long, strong fingers kneaded the flesh of her hips.
"I promise, Duke. I promise, please. I've missed you so much."
He placed kisses up her spine, making her tremble. She felt him against her, held her breath in anticipation, and he pushed in slowly. Mara's eyes never left Nathan's but her mouth opened slightly, panting as Duke filled her.
Again, there was no pain, only the sense of completion, of homecoming. She gripped Nathan's hands as she pushed back. Duke had one arm wrapped around her, bracing himself with the other. His voice was like velvet when he spoke in her ear.
"You feel so good. Never mind the boat, you and Nate are my home." He sucked and nibbled on her earlobe, thrusting in and out, their bodies drawn together like magnets. Mara leaned forward to kiss Nathan, wanting him to know how vital he was, how much they needed him.
"Please, harder. You two are healing me. Just love me. I want to hear you, Duke."
He groaned deep in his chest, moving a little harder. "I'm afraid I'll hurt you, Mara."
"You won't. I know you won't. Don't be afraid. I need you."
His arm held her tight against him. For a moment in time, there was no fear or anxiety. There was only love, enough for the entire state, all in one boat.
Duke thrust harder and Mara gasped, her fingers digging into Nathan's and gripping his hands hard.
"You won't hurt me. I- oh, yes, Duke, I can't..." She lost the ability to speak and Nathan squeezed her hands tighter, raising his head to capture her lips with his own, and she wailed from her chest and throat as she climaxed again, the sound of Duke's moans making her chest feel too full. Nathan's eyes roamed over both of them and the sound Duke was making was making it hard to breathe. He bit her shoulder as he came, his arm still around her, his chest pressed tight against her back as his hips jerked against her.
When he parted from her, Duke and Nathan cuddled into her sides the way they had before Ren was born. Mara closed her eyes, trying to catch her breath. For the first time in days she felt complete; not like the terrified, broken shell she'd been since William hurt her.
Audrey's voice was blissful and sleepy. 'See, everything is better with teamwork.'
'I don't know how, but you've managed to make insufferable idiocy kind of endearing. Thank you for your help, especially the last few days. I promise William will die for this, for hurting you. I won't live with him as a constant threat to our kids.'
'As soon as we're able. We're safe here, he doesn't know about the kids and he can't see in. Let's enjoy the time we have. We'll go after him when we're ready.'
'At least Vince's girlfriend is above-board. One thing we don't need to worry about."
'No, nothing to worry about now but psychopathic stalkers. Things are finally getting back to normal'
'Thank the Gods, I thought you were getting soft and sappy. When you go back you work you'll have to start beating people up again. I was concerned that you wouldn't be able to.'
"What are you two talking about?" Nathan kissed her temple as he spoke.
"Police brutality." Mara answered instantly.
Duke laughed, kissing her arm. "Are you in favor of or against?" His smile was contagious and she smirked.
"Depends on the situation. Here in Haven? In favor of, unequivocally. A few cattle prods would keep them in line."
Nathan tickled her side. "You could have just given me the laser-beam eyes."
She snickered. "Not a chance. Duke's already afraid you're going to go mad with power."
"Why don't you two take a nap while the kids are asleep? I still have some cooking to finish for tonight." Duke kissed her shoulder as he murmured the words.
"You aren't telling me you can't take half an hour to rest with us. The food will be perfect, it's just our friends and family, you don't have to go crazy. Stay with us."
"She's right, Duke. All the big stuff is done. Let's just rest for a little bit."
"It's really hard to say no to you guys." Duke grumbled.
She turned her head to press a kiss to his arm. "Then don't."
"Okay, fine. Half an hour."
They cuddled tight together under the new blanket, and Mara slipped into Nathan's dream, since he was the first to fall asleep. They lay together, dreaming as the snow fell outside, and Audrey's happiness washed over Mara as they fell asleep with the men they loved.
