No pairing

The Loft, Algiers

Home of Josh, Aiden, and Sara

Late May, 2011

When Aiden woke up the next morning, Josh was in the bed beside him sleeping. He got up, went to the bathroom, and then looked in on Sara. She was on her floor in her pjs playing with Wolfie.

"Hey baby, whatcha doing up so early?" Aiden asked quietly. He sat and Sara came and sat on his lap.

"Playin. You and Papa were sweeping," Sara lisped.

"Yep, it's early. We were sleeping. You can wake us up if you are scared," Aiden said.

"Oh, I wasn't scared. I had Wolfie to protect me," Sara explained. "Am I going to school today?"

"No, sweetie. Remember, I got my diploma so I can stay home with you. Papa Josh worked some of his magic. You don't have to go back there," Aiden reported. He felt a little guilty about letting Josh magically get him his GED with his connections and vampire powers. But Sara was getting bitten by another kid there and hadn't wanted to go back. Now Aiden wondered if they had been too hasty. He hadn't mentioned any of this to Marcel or even Tommy. He didn't think Mary would care, but the last thing he wanted was to be a bad influence on his little brother.

"But I want to play with the kitchen and the play clothes," Sara said suddenly. When Sara spoke, she left out the l's and r's, so it sounded like 'pway.'

Aiden smiled and spoke with sudden enthusiasm, "Sara Philomena Stone, you are a young genius! How about we get you a nice kitchen and play clothes for here. Papa doesn't know this, but I can sew. I could make you a gown."

"And one for you?" Sara turned and asked, looking in Aiden's eyes.

He hugged her, "If that makes you happy, little one."

Josh appeared in the doorway, yawning. "Morning, Fam. How's everyone doing?"

Josh stooped to kiss Aiden and pick up Sara. "I missed you guys."

Aiden didn't respond and Sara squealed and reached for Wolfie, which Aiden handed to her.

"I'm sorry about last night. Something happened. How about I make us breakfast?" Josh attempted.

"I'm not hungry," Aiden said dryly. He looked at Josh and got up. "But I could use some coffee." It was not like they had never had a tiff before, but this time, Aiden was just hurt that Josh hadn't even called.

Josh asked Sara if she had been a good girl last night.

"Noooo, I wasn't wery good," Sara confessed. "I throwed food on the floor."

Josh looked at Aiden, "Yeah, did I miss a food fight?"

"No," Aiden snarked. "Someone had to be the parent. We cleaned it up together. It happens. I guess I'm not that good of a cook."

"Papa, Daddy is maddd. Where were you?" Sara pressed. She touched his face with her small hand and he melted.

Josh's voice caught, "Work, baby. Something came up and I had to go see Father Sean. Remember him?"

"Yeah, he's a peast," Sara attempted. Her chocolate brown eyes lit up as she remembered the nice man who helped her when her mommy left.

Aiden couldn't help but smile.

"Yep, he's a priest where we found you," Aiden said. Sara laughed and they took her in the kitchen. They had a booster chair for her.

Josh's vampire senses could smell the remnants of the thrown tomato sauce from the night before. He put Sara in her chair.

"Aiden, I'm sorry. I'll tell you about it later, okay?" Josh tried again.

Aiden nodded and said, "That's fine. We were okay. It was just a long day."

Aiden grabbed a sippy cup full of juice for Sara and together they fixed her breakfast.

As soon as she was ready to eat, she announced loudly, "I have to go potty."

"I'll take her," Josh said. But Sara insisted she could go herself. They had put a step stool by the sink for her. Once she was gone, Josh took a deep breath.

"Sean called. They found two dead vampires in the Mississippi last night. Foul play. He took care of it. But that on top of the string of dead tourists might mean trouble. I might need to call Marcel in," Josh admitted wearily.

"But they just got triplets and you know, he will get his family involved," Aiden protested.

"I know. But I need more help. I've been trying to do everything by myself and I'm failing," Josh said quietly.

Aiden stood up and put his arms around Josh. "I'm sorry. I'm not really mad. I just wish you would have called me."

Josh turned, "I should have. I will next time. Are you okay with Sara here? Did she really try to redecorate this kitchen with spaghetti?"

"Yeah, she saw a kid at school do that. I mean, this kitchen could use a little redecorating... I think she thought it was funny. I really didn't even raise my voice that much, but I think I scared her. Lesson learned. Josh, I felt awful. She was crying and then...we cleaned it up together. I mean, she's just so little," Aiden pointed out. "I should have handled it better."

Josh gripped his hand, "You handled it well. This is new to all of us."

Sara came back in proudly and Aiden lifted her back in her chair. He looked at Josh.

"Go to work. We're going to be okay here. But we are going to need some money for...a few things," Aiden said, winking at the small blond girl. She giggled and tried to wink back.

Louisiana Bayou

Mary's House

When Eve came to pay Mary a visit, she was surprised to see the small boy playing on the porch.

"Hiya, sir, what's your name?" Eve, pushing back her long blond hair, asked.

Christopher scooted back and held up the action toy he had been playing with.

"Oh, he looks like fun. I'm going to go see Miss Mary," Eve reported, stepping through the screen door.

Mary and Emily were all the table with tea in front of them.

"There you are. Eve, this is Emily. She and her little brother, Christopher, almost got in the way of a mama bear and her cubs last night. Did you brung your med kit?" Mary said, in her deep voice.

Eve reached over and shook the petite girl's slender hand. She looked thin and pale.

"H-Helllo," Emily drawled.

"Hello. Yes, Mary, I got it in the truck. What's wrong?" Eve asked.

Mary explained that the kids were covered in bug bites and someone them may be infected. Eve got her kit and spoke to Christopher again on the porch. She invited him in the house. He followed her wordlessly.

"Chris don't talk," Mary said bluntly.

Eve looked at Emily and Chris in surprise.

"H-he u-used to," Emily stammered. "But our folks...a-are g-gone."

"Oh, I'm real sorry to hear that," Eve said calmly. "Now, show me the damage. I have a real nice tincture that works good on all kinds of trouble out here."

Eve was concerned about the children's condition. They were both too thin and anemic.

"I want you two to eat a lot of meat. You need iron. Don't plenty of water. How long were you out there?" Eve inquired, as she put her tincture on an ugly bruise on Emily's calf.

"I-I d-don't r-r-really know," Emily shared. "There w-was a f-fire. I w-was a-afraid they would t-take C-Chris so w-we r-ran away. W-Weeks."

Eve briefly shared a look with Mary. It was one thing for wolves to survive out here. Triggered wolves healed fast and all had sharpen instincts, but if these kids were human, that was quite a feat.

"Well, there's a shelter at the church. I could drive ya," Eve offered.

Mary shook her gray head. "No, they are gonna stay here for a while. Hayley is almost getting her school off the ground. I'm started to think we all ought to move there to help her."

Eve was astonished, "Mary, you ain't never left this Bayou. You would do that?"

"I know this is Crescent land and it's in our blood," Mary begun. She got up and got Christopher a glass of her sun tea with slices of lemon and some sugar. He seemed to like it. She told the kids they could go in the other room and watch t.v. Emily took her brother by the hand and led him out. "But, it's hard living. I ain't no use out here like I used to be. I can't do the things I want to, so I got to change. This kids here may be a sign. There's more out there that need help and Hayley can't do it alone. She's just a girl."

Eve nodded as she accepted a glass of Mary's tea. Then, said, "Remember how we used to think she was our queen? A royal Labonair set to unite us and make us strong. But maybe she is leading us in a new direction? Taking care of our young in a way we can't, cause we don't know how."

"We'll need ya, too, Eve. You can talk some of the youngins who are in tents to join the school. And your cousin? Don't he teach in the city? Maybe he would come and join the staff. She's gonna need teachers who are wolves to help out," Mary proposed.

"Oh, he's all the way in Monroe, but I could reach out. Wolves out to help wolves," Eve agreed.

Mary looked down at her tea. "Full disclosure. You know it ain't just wolves who need some help right now. Nor can wolves fund this. I know a lot of Crescents hate them, but vampires are mostly funding this. Witches will be welcome, too, as well as humans. Do you have a problem with that?"

Eve frowned, "I shoulda guessed, it's the Mikaelson Foundation, ain't it? No, I got no beef with them. But those who had their dead burned on a pyre at the last battle might. Maybe Hayley ought to call it some kind of Faction charity?"

"I don't know. Since the curse was lifted, Marcel Gerard has helped me out plenty. I know he wronged us, but Eve, we wolves were at each other's throats for decades," Mary begun.

"Mary, dear, you're preaching to the choir. I'm just saying what other wolves are going to be thinking. If the Mikaelsons are involved, many are gonna turn up their noses. But if it was something else, a New Orleans Faction school, it would open doors and even get some different donors," Eve proposed.

"I reckon you are right. I'll bring it up to Hayley and maybe even Joshua," Mary conceded. She pointed out to the porch so they could have more privacy. Eve followed.

"I never knew any little ones who stopped talking like that, even with all our people have been through," Mary whispered. "What do you think?"

Eve looked into the water. "Me, either, Mary. The marks on their bodies looked fresh so I don't think they were abused beforehand. Poor kids, must have been through hell. The look in their eyes...they are scared. I'm assuming they don't know about werewolves. Best mention that before the full moon."

Mary grimaced. "The next full moon is June 15th, the strawberry moon. I'm hoping we will be out of here by then. I think these kids are going to need folks around who know about things like this...They are just babies."

Eve put a hand on Mary's arm, "If anyone can help them heal, it is you, my friend."

Mary put her hand over Eve's, but wondered if she had the energy left to help these kids. She hoped, but could not say for sure.

High School

Same Day

"Aiden what?" Hayley almost yelled at Ollie. They were having lunch outside at a table on the edge of the quad.

"He quit. I mean, he got his GED," Ollie finished. He was keeping an eye out for Jean Ann, but Hayley grabbed his face and squeeze it.

"Why?" Hayley demanded.

Ollie pried her hands off his face. "Take it easy, Hayley. He's done. He's got the paperwork. Didn't you realize that the day they picked you up to skip?"

Hayley dropped her hands, she had been so caught up in her school that she hadn't even wondered. "I thought he took a couple of days off. Marcel and Rebekah will freak!"

Jackson came behind her and put a soft pretzel in her hands. He had a small cup of cheese, and set it on the table. Hayley pulled off a little and ate it. She had been so worked up about everything, if Jackson didn't remind her, she'd forget to eat.

"They just had triplets...somehow. I don't really think they will care,"

Jackson finished. "So why do you?"

Hayley blinked. Why was she so upset?

"I don't know. I just thought we would graduate together...," Hayley trailed off. "But I guess Aiden has a kid now."

Ollie guffawed, "Then maybe I'll just drop out?"

Jackson growled, "Try it and see what happens. Me and the whole team will tackle you. Hey, there she is." Jackson nodded his head towards Jean Ann.

Ollie laughed louder and then bee-lined for Jean Ann, who was walking across the quad.

Hayley pulled a piece from the pretzel and fed it to Jackson. She then looked at her watch.

"Oh, I made an appointment to talk to Coach. I wanted to ask her about Christopher not talking. Maybe she'll let us use her computer to see if we can find anything about a house fire?" Hayley suggested. "Grab the cheese!"

Jackson went back and got the plastic cup of cheese and then followed Hayley.