The Normal Life

By Didi

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters that are recognizable and I certainly don't own the show. Don't sue me cause all you're going to get is lent, and not much of that either.

Note: For those of your that has followed this story from the beginning, you know that I've always kind of kept these chapters in first person form. But for the epilogue I couldn't decide which of these fascinating characters I wanted it seen through. So I decided, just for this chapter, to do it in third person form. I hope you enjoy the final chapter to this story.

Rating: R for restricted under 17.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-Epilogue-

~~~~~~~~~~

-One week-

Donner looked up from his paperwork as the door to the station slammed shut. One look and Molly, wiser than she looks, scrambled out from behind her disk and announced that she was going to go on patrol for a while and gave Kanin a wide circle as she left. Matt had difficulties suppressing his grin.

"How's it going?" Matt asked quietly as John poured himself a healthy dose of java to fortify himself.

"The Betas are nut cases!" John threw the file under his arm onto his disk before taking a seat next to Donner's desks. "But I had to break up three fights last night alone. Why the hell weren't you there?"

"I thought it better if I absent myself for last night's meeting," he didn't add that anything he said at the meeting as to who got to leave to join Kanin and who was to stay may have caused a riot. "I take it Derek and Josh are still unhappy with the decision to Janice needs to leave but Gabby needs to stay?"

"I'd rather not separate husbands and wives..." Kanin argued again.

"But you know I'm right about this," Donner added quiet. "You're going to need a healer, Janice is the best there is in the pack. Gabby will do in a pinch but you need Janice to help you establish there first. We'll switch off after things are stable."

"It could take years," John pointed out gravely.

"Yes it could. But if we cannot get things done in less than three, I'll move Josh to you. But right now, I need him here to keep order."

"Understood." They sat there in companionable silence for a moment. "I took the job in Peak Pines."

Donner grinned unabashedly. "Sheriff of your own town. How about that?"

He didn't bother to hide his grin. The job was going to make the transition a lot easier if he could watch over what is being seen and heard. "How did you manage to pull off something like that?"

"We have our own ways. But I'm not going to take credit for that one. Ruby did it on her own."

John nodded his head. "She didn't seem the least bit surprise by it."

"The Cates have been around these parts for some time now. Four generations of Alpha males could build up some mighty powerful connections around here."

Kanin accepted this without question, as he has for many things in the week following the long and exhaustive night where the fate of the pack was decided among a group of leader and future leaders and their know-it-all Keeper. John may not have been raised with the pack, but he knew how to manage around them and their rules with ease. The only duty he truly disliked, and most Alphas disliked it, was the administering of the last rites. Unfortunately for Kanin, the risen tension had caused more than one teen to hit the threshold in the past week. Of the eight teens that attempted to cross over, only three survived. Matt had attended to three while John had attended to two and observed the first one. Both men had been sick to their stomach after each one.

"When is the move?"

"Another week. Two hundred miles due West and we're just a holler away if you need us."

"And visa-versa. We may be two packs but we're still one family." He smiled and as Sophia walked by the large window and waved cheerfully at her father. Donner then scowled as Lucas Cates suddenly came up from behind Sophia and swept her off her feet and took off with her squealing in delight. "Though sometimes I wish..."

Kanin laughed and watched with amusement as papa wolf reared its ugly head. "He's going to be good to her. You know he is."

"Doesn't mean I have to like it," he pointed out with a sigh. "Just wait until you have a little girl of your own. And then you can tell me about not worrying over the fact that she's dating the town bad boy."

That efficiently removed the smile on Kanin's face. "Speaking of children..."

Donner looked over, not the least bit surprised. "Ruby's pregnant?"

"Though how she could possibly know after only week..."

"Don't ever question a woman about these kinds of things. It's asking to be put into the doghouse."

"But so soon after we've..."

"We're a prolific breed."

"Thanks for that warning."

"Kanin," Donner advised seriously. "Have lots of children. Don't just settle for one or two."

He nodded. "The death rates are pretty high around here."

"Don't start thinking about that until you have to."

"Not much of a choice," John shook his head. "Did you know that Frank Palina's daughter started the change last night?"

"I heard."

"Ruby says she'll stop by tonight."

"May the gods be merciful."

"Amen to that."

~~~~~~~~~~

-Three Months After That-

"And Sherman is sure?" V asked again as her brows clouded with concern. "Without a Keeper than cannot officially be..."

"They're a pack, V," Matt said quietly, signing papers that he didn't particularly care to read but had to. "Keepers have their own codes and we don't interfere in those." He didn't want to mention to her that Sherman's already informed him that a Keeper has been born among those transplanted to Peak Pines. The new addition would no doubt to schooling here soon.

"Like he doesn't interfere in ours?" she replied dryly as she sat down in front of the fire. "The house was quiet, Luke having gone out with his friends and Sophia was at home in town. Donner only visits the Alpha House on occasion, and only for business. "When are you going move in here?"

"This is your home, V." He answered as he always does. The profits from the brewery were going to allow for the addition in the hospital he planned on overseeing. "I'm only a guest here."

"Could be lord and master here if you.... You are lord and master here."

"Vivian..."

"How long are you going to fight this?"

"Fight what?"

She turned, eyes of amber glowing brighter than the fires they reflected. "What has always been between us."

"Vivian..." he warned again.

"It's not natural," she responded with. "If you were seeking out another to relieve yourself, I would back off. But without woman, a female for... how long has it been? It's unnatural, Matt. You know it is. And now that you've decided to join us again," she smiled at those chosen words, "The urge is only going to grow. We are not meant to be celibate for long."

"Hum..." he made no mention that he's heard she's been keeping to herself of late, allowing no man into her bed. It both flattered and scared him. Vivian could be quite dangerous when she goes after something, or someone, she wants.

She was not a woman that likes being vulnerable. But she's waited more than sixteen years now. "All you have to do is say the word."

"I'm not ready yet, V." He pronounced without a least bit of heat though is eyes glow at her invitation. "Not yet."

She sighed and nodded her head, resign to move on to business. "I'm moving the Millers and the Brodericks next week. They should complete the first cycle. We cannot move any more without drawing attention."

"Agreed," Donner noted something on his tablet. "And Betas and I will meet with Kanin and his people next week to discuss a more viable timetable."

"Josh has been making noise about seeing his wife."

"I'll send him with the message then."

"Good," she glanced at the list in front of her. "We lost two more last week."

"I know," Donner's eyes were dark. "I was there."

"That makes a total of fifteen so far."

"Kanin's got six more to add to that."

"Have they added to the..."

"Not enough time yet," he responded with a sigh. "They've been holding the ceremonies in the basement of his home."

"Someone might hear," she warned darkly. Peak Pines were overrun with hunters in the Hunting Seasons. It was a place they've always tried to avoid. But despite her misgivings, Ruby and Kanin have managed to create a place for themselves in that hostile environment, though there was a near incident three weeks ago with a hunter. Not to put some of their own people in the right positions.

"They might." He agreed. "Let's talk transport."

"Too dangerous," she shook her head. "Two hundred miles with woods on either side. We lose them in route, we could lose them for good."

He nodded in agreement. The risks were too high. "Suggestion?"

Vivian considered it for a moment, her eyes trained on the stars outside the window. "Ruby's people are good at building fast. Let's shift the migration crowd, push our healers in. I'm sure the Cates foundation can donate some extra money for a new wing or two... and maybe something extra?" her eyes slanted back toward him, knowing well Matt's aversion to manipulation of the humans.

No matter what his feelings were on the subject, Matt knew what was important for his people. "If it can be managed, do it." He glanced down at this scribbles across his notepad. "Anything else?"

"Luke and Sophia."

That got his attention in a hurry. "What about them?"

"There's been talk," Vivian murmured quietly as she got up to pour herself three fingers of the fine brandy that Willard always loved so much. "Most members are accepting of the relationship but there has been recent activities within the younger set."

"Luke leads that set."

"I know," a hint of maternal pride lacing through her silky voice. "But you forget that Sophia is white, rare among the rare. Her standing in the pack is well above touch. Her attachment to anyone is... she's a very powerful ally. And so others court her favors. Lucas has been challenged no less than eight times now."

V playing mother hen would have been amusing if it weren't for the fact that Matt knew only too well that Sophia could get caught in the cross fires. "If Luke can't handle his people..."

"I'm asking for your consent, as the Alpha and her father, to announce their engagement."

"Luke proposed?" not a hint of emotion on his face.

She raised a brow. "He would if he didn't think you would rip his head off. He lives with a rather unfound fear of you."

"It's not unfound," he replied but decided it would be wiser not to mention the night he cornered young Cates in the woods for some serious words. No matter what V may feel for him, Luke was her son and she would protect him to the bitter end.

The warning in her eyes spoke volumes but she didn't voice them. "Sophia was very upset about the last three fights."

"When were they?" he'll have to look into it if it became too much for them to cover as just boys being boys.

"Last night," she replied dryly.

"By the lake?"

She nodded her head, toying with the pendant around her neck. "Your daughter apparently has a very protective streak in her. She took down two herself when five of them attacked at the same time."

"Pack mentality," he shook his head. He has already heard more than one rumor concerning his daughter, none of them he liked. But for all intent, she was handling herself among the younger set well. But marriage? "She's only sixteen."

"Going onto thirty with all the shit she has to put up with," Sherman said as he entered, startling the two occupants of the room. "But given what she is, that's not surprising."

"Damn it, Sherman," Donner growled darkly. "Don't you ever knock?"

"Why?" he asked, genuinely confused. "It's not like you're going to be doing anything I'd be embarrassed to find out about." Then eyed him shrewdly, "Unless you came to your senses already." When Vivian threw Donner a triumphant look and Matt refused to meet his eyes, Sherman snorted. "Thought so."

"What do you want?" Matt asked sharply.

Sherman helped himself to good wine and casually dropped himself into a chair by the fire. "Just to tell you that it would probably ease some of the tension around here if your daughter was aligned with a strong family. Don't get me wrong; there isn't any upraising on the horizon. But Sophia engaged to Luke could go a long way to settling both the minds of the pack members who are unsure what's going to happen to the pack if anything happens to their oh-so-wise leader. Bonus being that it will quiet the kiddies as well to know that the Alpha is behind the couple."

Donner was visibly torn. His duties as the leader and peacekeeper did not mesh well with his duties as a father. "She's too young."

"She's sixteen going on seventeen in three days. She'll have until eighteen to make up her mind about Luke," Sherman said reasonably. "In the meantime, she'll get some peace when the challenges die down with an actual show of commitment by Luke."

V nodded her head. "It would assure the Betas that the next generation is going to be lead wisely."

Matt glared at her. "You've already got a ring for Luke to give her, don't you?"

She didn't bother answering.

The Keeper chuckled and waited for the decision.

With a sigh, "If she says yes, I won't oppose it."

"Good," Sherman capped his hands together. "Now that we're done here."

"You on your way to see Kanin?"

"Yeah," came the reply in sober tones. "The pack from Acorn Falls have made contact with our little brothers and sisters in Peak Pines. Kanin got into it with a couple of member yesterday."

Donner's eyes glowed brightly. "You know this for sure?"

"Yeah."

"Was Ruby there?" V asked, knowing that Ruby's presence would have calm down things faster than anything else.

"No, and it didn't help that Kanin is a Diamond Black."

"One would think that the two of them would offset the reactions they get," Donner replied dryly. "Was anyone..."

"They have one dead and three wounded. Kanin came out without a scratch but we've got one lied up for a while." Sherman picked lint from his shoulder. "It's going to get ugly, Donald Worthington from Acorn Falls isn't too keen on a new pack in the neighborhood, and so close to his own."

"He's afraid of migration," V pointed out with disgust. "The man is barely hanging on to his position by a thread. His people have made it no secret that they are tired of his uncompromising streak. I'm surprised that no one has challenged him yet."

"I think they're just waiting for him to die of his own poisons," Sherman said making a gagging sound. "The man drinks like a gully fish."

Donner nodded his head in agreement. "But if he succeeds in taking Kanin's pack over, he's back on top of the food chain."

V's eyes glittered. "So you think he'll start a pack war to stay in power."

Sherman looked at her as if she's lost her bloody mind. "What are you nuts? Of course he'll do it. And if he can off his wife and take Ruby in the process..."

"Ruby would kill him first," V grinned, almost amused by the idea. "Hum..."

"The point is," Donner said firmly, drawing their attention once more. "Acorn Falls isn't just going to leave Kanin's people alone. They've been faltering for some time now. It's no secret that the Greyland pack has been slowly moving in on their territories for some time now. That there hasn't been outright bloodshed is a miracle. Peak Pines is still a fledgling pack, they're vulnerable and Donald of Acorn Falls knows it. We're looking at a potential pack war there."

Vivian nodded her head slowly. "Come what may. Kanin and Ruby knows that they've got support here if they need it."

Blackstone smiled, glad that this problem is being handled properly, but he couldn't help throwing one last thought in. "Assuming John and Ruby are going to ask for help. Smart those two may be but they are still mighty young and a little too arrogant for their own good."

Donner nodded. "Then we best keep a close eye on things. Peace isn't assured yet."

~~~~~~~~~~

-In the Stairwell-

"We don't ever get a break, do we?" Sophia whispered, unwilling to rely on her mental speech. Her father has gotten rather good a picking up on those lately. Frightening when your parent can get into your mind so easily.

"Looks like," Luke murmured, tightening his arm around her from behind as they sat on the stairs, listening on a conversation they had no business listening in on. He buried his nose in her hair, inhaling the floral fragrance of her perfume that he was seriously becoming addicted to. "Pack war. That's serious stuff."

"You think it'll come to that?" her fingers dug into his arm but he didn't make a murmur of protest.

"You dad... the Alpha seems certain that that's where it's headed," he replied, feeling the Goosebumps along her arm. "Don't worry, it'll be okay."

"John and Ruby..."

"Are not going to let Acorn Falls take over their pack," he would bet his hid that Ruby would tear in anyone that tries to destroy that little sanctuary she's created for herself in Peak Pines. For the first time since he's become friends with his sister, she was happy. Pregnant and happy.

"Would you go to them if they need us?"

He didn't even have to think about it. "Yes."

She nodded. "Then I'll be coming with you."

"You'll need to stay here."

"Luke..."

"The White has to stay to protect this pack while we're off," he explained reasonably. Plus he didn't want to think of her out there battle it out with some of the most vicious of their kind. "Don't worry, I'll be back. I promise."

She smiled, pressing her lips to the hands that she's got clasped in hers. "They war hasn't even started and you're already talking about coming home to me."

Luke's eyes flashed in the night. "And your father just consented to let us get married."

"Engaged, Luke," she reminded him gently. "He agreed not to oppose an engagement."

"Same thing," he grinned and reached into his back pocket. "It's a pink diamond, my grandmother's."

She stared at the simple solitaire set in pale yellow gold that twinkled from the nest of burgundy velvet. "Oh my god," shocked at something so beautiful.

"You like it?" he asked, suddenly unsure of himself.

"It's beautiful," turning her head to press a kiss against his lips. "I love it."

"Good," he murmured softly against her cheek and sighed. "I love you."

It was the first time he's said it and it took her breath away. "I love you too."

She took a deep breath, feeling herself swell with joy as he leaned his head against hers. They were going to be okay, she had to believe that. All this wonderful joy in her heart couldn't be for nothing. They may not have a normal life but they were going to be all right.

For now, they were safe. How long that would last was another question.

~~~~~~~~~~

The End.... (for now)

Author's Note: This story has been a joy to write cause there was just so much to play with. I'm so disappointed that the series was ended before its time. But it certainly has give us all a lot to play with in the world of fan fictions. I hope you've enjoyed this story as much as I have enjoyed writing it. And since this story kind of ended with an opening for a sequel, I may revisit it in the future. Thanks for sticking around.