It's Complicated - 05
By: I Should Be Sleeping (AKA: Moar Sleep)
Simply called Joy's, the cozy Bed and Breakfast was actually a large house that also served as the family home to the Ateara family. Quil Ateara the III, the tribal elder that reminded her of her late grandfather, lived here with his daughter-in-law and grandson. It was a beautiful two-story home painted a cheery shade of yellow with white trim.
Hermione found it absolutely charming.
Ever since arriving in this small community, her magic had felt settled for the first time in years. It was as if she was breathing for the first time and the erratic excess of energy that had always left her feeling somewhat shaky, suddenly drained away. Feeling her magical core center itself, she was renewed with a sense of hope.
"Mione?"
Hermione smiled at her first friend and nodded her head, indicating she was fine. Always the worry wart that one. "I feel good Harry. Better than I have in quite some time honestly."
"You'll feel better with a full stomach," said Ron from her other side as he draped his arm over her shoulder and pulled her in for a hug. "You know mum always said food calms the soul."
The witch grinned as she thought of the Weasley matriarch. "Food does sound amazing right about now."
"See?"
Green eyes watched the two with a small quirk of his lips as they all made their way into the warm interior of Joy's.
"Well look who's back and stylin' bro!"
Hermione was startled slightly by the booming voice, and it took the firm hold of both Harry and Ron to ensure she not draw her wand on instinct.
"You brought a friend too. 'Ello poppet," he said with a slight tilt to his head and toothy smile.
Honeyed eyes started incredulously at the lumbering male before her as she slowly released the tension in her shoulders and arms. Blinking in absolute stupor, she shook her head. "Did you just quote Pirates of the Caribbean to me?"
A loud whoop almost deafened the three as the male swiftly jumped over the counter and landed before them with all the grace of a large jungle cat. It was impressive given his size.
"Finally. Someone with class," he said with a broad grin. "Quil Ateara V at your service lovely."
"Oh, you must be the grandson of Quil Ateara III. I met him earlier today. He was wonderful," Hermione said with a soft smile.
Quil's lips twisted in a strange way. Wonderful and his grandfather were not words he would usually put together in the same sentence. "You sure we talking about the same old man?"
An indignant huff escaped her lips, and it took all of Quil not to reach out and pat her on her head.
"He was very kind along with the rest of the tribal council," Hermione said challengingly.
"Woah there pretty kitty. Retract the claws. I'm just surprised because grandpa is usually an old-"
"An old what boy?"
Both Harry and Ron let out a soft breath. Unbeknownst to Quil Ateara V, his grandfather had just saved him and ensured there be a Quil Ateara VI judging from Hermione's livid expression at being called 'pretty kitty.'
The distraction was quite effective, because Hermione whirled around on the spot and a beautiful smile graced her features. "Elder Ateara!"
Old Quil smiled in pleasure. Elder. That is how you respect someone! "Hello dear. I see you found your way to my Joy's joy."
Quil blinked at his grandfather. Dear!? Didn't he just meet this chick?
"Well? Why are you standing there gaping boy? Did you not offer them drinks? What kind of host are you?"
Standing at attention, Quil scrambled into the kitchen and began rustling around for the kettle and cups.
"Oh it really is no problem Elder. We are checking in and will probably retire for the rest of the day. Goodness, how rude of me! Excuse me Elder. These are my best friends. Lord Harry James Potter and Ronald Weasley."
Old Quil squinted at the two. "A Lord? Kinda skinny for such a title aren't you boy?"
Harry flushed slightly. He thought he had been putting on decent muscle the past few years, but perhaps he needed to up his cardio?
"Oh Elder. He really is lovely, don't tease him," said Hermione with a charming smile.
"Bah," said Old Quil with a soft huff.
Hermione looked at the two expectantly and gestured to Old Quil.
"Oh! Hello Elder," Ron said hastily. Harry followed suit.
Old Quil eyed the two boys. One redhead and the other with dark hair that needed a good comb. They looked to be alright and what was the redhead wearing!? Was he having a stroke?
"Where did you get that shirt?" He demanded.
Ron looked down at his shirt and beamed proudly. "Do you like it sir? Your grandson threw it in as a free gift when I bought a few magnets and mugs!"
Old Quil's left eye twitched slightly before he opened his mouth and bellowed. "BOY!"
The crash of pots and pans followed by the shattering of something glass met their ears and the Golden Trio winced in sympathy.
Joy Ateara was aptly named because she truly was a joy. She was also a fantastic chef.
Harry was in heaven as he happily assisted the woman in the kitchen and was able to snag a few local recipes. He was currently in the kitchen with the female, shucking corn and talking about his apprenticeship in Japan that was currently on hold.
"You are such a good friend Harry," said Joy as she continued to peel potatoes.
A blush played across his features, and he waved off the compliment. "Hermione is my sister. Of course, I would be there for her. She, Ron and I are a unit, and we always support one another."
Joy's answering smile was telling as the two continued on in their tasks.
"Are you fucking kidding me!?"
"You're absolute bollocks at this mate! You sure this is your game?"
Quil narrowed his eyes at the redhead, affronted at the question. "This is my game Ron! You're just having a stroke of beginner's luck!"
"Or you're just bollocks," countered the redhead as he, once again, surpassed Quil on the track and watched his character cross the finish line in first place. "My kids could probably beat you, and the oldest is one."
"Them's fighting words Weasley!"
Ron simply lifted a brow and gestured towards the screen. "Maybe you don't pick a shit character this time?"
"Wario is gold bro!"
Ron shrugged and continued on with his winning choice, Princess Peach as their epic battle in Mario Kart continued.
La Push was lovely. The sky was painted in shades gold and rose, the view from Joy's large porch overlooking the thick towering tress of the lush forest. Sunset was upon them, and she breathed in the calming scent of pine and cedar. There was something about this native land that had called to her magic, and she felt it resonate through her entire being. It brought a sense of peace she had not experienced in ages.
Hermione smiled around her warmed cup of tea, savoring the unique blend of herbs and looked to the elderly man sitting beside her. "This is lovely. I can taste of a bit of lavender, cardamom and is that rosemary?"
Old Quil quirked a greying brow at the young woman and nodded. "You have a good sense of taste. Do you cook?"
"Oh no, I leave the cooking to Harry. I studied chemistry and botany a fair bit in school. I like to blend my own homeopathic remedies," she said with a blush.
He really did not need to know that by chemistry and botany she meant potions and herbology. He also did not need to know about the potions lab she planned to build in the basement of her rented cabin.
She, Harry and Ron did not quite trust the quality of potions bought off the shelves, so Hermione took it upon herself to brew for her and them. This extended to Ron's family as she would never allow her Godchildren or the rest of the Weasley family to consume some unknown swill brewed by some half-wit.
Old Quil found it a bit odd that a young person would find an interest in such things, but the youth of today really did confuse him at times. Wasn't Kim going on about zero waste or something like that? He really could not keep up with their hobbies.
"Our tribe has a history of creating our own medicines and tea blends from plants found locally. I am sure Julia would be more than happy to have the help to create more. It requires a specific touch, but if you already have experience, she would be more than appreciative for the help," he said.
"You'd allow me access to tribal knowledge?" Hermione asked, her honeyed eyes wide with shock.
Old Quil laughed. He definitely had her pinned. This one was a bit of a bookworm if he ever saw one. He did admit that he had some reservations about welcoming an outsider, but upon meeting the young woman he felt that this was the place she belonged.
Hermione Jean Granger was home.
"Of course, it's no problem."
A woman in her mid 40's smiled into the cordless phone pressed against her shoulder and ear. Her long onyx tresses fell in a smooth waterfall down her back and cascaded over that same shoulder, causing her to blow out a bit of hair that would annoyingly fall into her mouth as she chatted.
Hazel eyes looked to the left as she heard the sound of heavy footfalls at the front entrance of the house followed by the heavy thud of a bag hitting the floor. "I have to go. Paul just returned from patrol. Take care Old Quil. Bye."
"Ma. I'm home."
Julia Lahote smiled softly as she placed the phone back on its cradle. "In the kitchen Paul."
Paul Lahote, named after her father, was incredibly handsome. Perhaps she was biased as she was his mother, but he really was a beautiful young man. With his birthright, came the increased muscle mass and towering height that only added to his allure. He had inherited her hazel eyes, but they were usually creased with stress and worry.
She ached for her boy. Still so young and already weighed down with the responsibilities of his position within the tribe and pack. It was not easy balancing everything and unfortunately, he had taken to releasing that stress in ways that she did not approve of.
Julia was neither blind nor death. She knew her Paul tended to sleep around, not caring who he spent his time with. For a young man of eighteen, he had far more notches on his bedpost than she cared to admit. She supposed she could be thankful he at least never brought any of his company home, but her Paul had always been intensely private.
She doubted any of them offered him any sort of actual comfort, no matter how momentary the release their bodies offered. It was all physical and she had tried time and time again to deter him from being so free with himself, but he was a bit obstinate. Unfortunately, a trait he inherited from her.
Julia worried that he would one day imprint and come to regret his actions, but Paul raged against the thought. He hated the idea of being tied down and having his destiny predetermined for him. She supposed he was like her in that respect as well. She too did not like the idea of something being decided for her, but when it came to the Spirits, even she could appreciate the gift of a soulmate. She could only hope that the person her son was paired with was patient. That boy was as stubborn as a mule!
"Hey Ma," Paul said as he pressed a kiss to her offered check and began rummaging around in their refrigerator for a snack.
"There's some leftover fried chicken in the Cool Whip container," Julia said absently as she organized some bills.
Paul pulled out the large blue plastic container, he opened it to reveal at least 13 drumsticks. He licked his lips and smiled widely. "Do you want any Ma?"
"Darling no. Those are for you," she said with a soft smile.
"I'll warm these up and eat here with you if you don't mind."
Julia blinked. "Mind? You know I love when you have time to spend at home."
"Sam's been on us with patrols."
She bit her lip and decided on not questioning his usual course of action of finding another warm body for the night and working off his stress that way.
"Ma. Go ahead and say it," Paul said as he laid out the drumsticks on a tray evenly, ready to pop them in the oven to reheat them.
"Paul. I love you, but I do wish you would stop going around with those girls," she said the last part with a frown as she did not think the word 'girls' aptly described his usual choice of partners.
Paul sighed. This was a common topic of dissension between the two and he had to admit he would not really call the women he slept around with girls, but they were there and willing. Plus, it was far better than beating in the face of a random douchebag at a club in Port Angeles.
To him, this alternative of expelling the pent of stress through a good fuck was the lesser of two evils. He knew his mother did not approve and that was part of the reason why he never brought them home. The other reason was that they did not deserve to be brought to his home.
Even among his pack, it was only Jared that had visited his house. His home was his sanctuary and held the most precious thing to him: his mother. He did not want anyone coming in and tainting their haven. He also could not imagine getting the smell out of the sheets.
Although he enjoyed the actual act of sex, the aftermath was something to be left desired. He absolutely hated the stench of a woman lingering on his skin, so he usually made up some excuse and left to find a creek to wash off in. The last thing he needed was some rank perfume sticking to his skin.
His wolf was constantly on his ass about the female company he kept and would howl at him in rage for rolling around with random bodies, but there was little his spirit animal could do about it. Paul, the man, was in control 70% of the time.
However, there was one thing they did agree on: Julia Lahote. His mother was the center of his world and he hated that she knew exactly what he was doing in his free time. It was the main source of conflict between man and beast and looking at his mother now did not help ease his guilt.
Fuck. He felt like a complete douche when his mom looked at him like that. "Ma? Can we just drop it?"
Julia sighed and continued to frown.
Paul felt even worse. Fucking hell! He would have to tell her! "Fuck Ma! I tried and it felt wrong!"
A slipper connected with his head and he winced slightly. It did not cause him any actual pain, but he hated it when his mother slapped him with her slipper.
Isabella Maria Lahote, Paul's grandmother, was an immigrant from Mexico and she had quite a deadly aim. The old lady could clock a person with the precision of a sniper with a slipper – or chancla as abuela called them. Apparently, she passed that trait down to his mother because she too struck with pinpoint accuracy.
"Do not use profanity Paul Oberon Lahote!"
Fucking shit that woman was scary and he knew she meant business when she used his pansy assed middle name! "I'm sorry!"
Julia scowled fiercely. "Now what do you mean it felt wrong?" She demanded of her son.
Paul rubbed the back of his neck in nervousness. He did not want to talk about this, but knew that she would not leave it until he gave her the truth. "Well, I tried earlier but I was having performance issues..."
Julia blinked, her brows raised high. "Oh."
"Yea," Paul said with an embarrassed blush across his tanned features. This was awkward as fuck.
Seeing her son's discomfort over the situation, Julia also did not want to discuss it further. "Well, I see."
"Look Ma. I don't know, but I have been feeling angsty all day today. My wolf is also unsettled, and I tried running it off before coming here, but I don't know!"
Julia stood up and gently took his tall frame into her arms. Despite everything, he was still her baby. "Oh my darling boy."
Paul just stood there, holding his mother. For the first time in a while, he felt incredibly insecure and wary about the unknown and he did not like it at all.
AN:
And the worlds have finally collided! This chapter was longer than usual, but I am not really taking into account lengths. I just write and stop where I think it appropriate. I thought about stopping at the point where Hermione and Old Quil talked, but decided to add in Paul because Paul!
He is still volatile and angry, but I liked to add his mother into the mix. There is nothing written about her, so I added my own spin. I also like the idea of him having a soft spot for his mother. I love their relationship and I think Hermione will add a bit of something – if you remember, Hermione is going to help Julia with medicinal recipes as Old Quil thought she could help out there! It will be nice for her to meet her future mother-in-law first. That will be fun!
Quil is Quil and I think he and Ron will be really good friends. He is the comic relief of sorts and now, still has not imprinted! I do not like the idea of him with Claire as she is sooooo young, but no. Nothing yet. Maybe I will give him an imprint from the Wizarding World (Ginny?) I don't know. We shall see. I already have other unconventional pairings from the Wizarding World and the tribe in mind
Again, thank you for the kind words. Reading your reviews give me so much joy and I do try to take what you say into account. I also reply via private messages and such, so check that out!
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