"You girls don't kill each other now." Randal laughed a little as he followed up towards Hamish. "You sure they are safe to be alone together?"
Lilith pushed Randal a little, "Nichole is with them, they will be fine." Jack was back with Alyssa holding her hands and talking to her as Randal and Gabrielle took lead, dropping their robes and turning into their wolf forms before dashing off. Lilith followed behind them before Hamish looked back to Jack.
"Jack." He watched him kiss Alyssa and run towards him dropping his robes and letting Silverback out so Hamish was the only one left. Following up after Jack Hamish turned to Tundra and ran off with the rest of the pack.
It was good to see Hamish take off with them, she felt for so much of the year she'd had him leashed to her side, it was time for him to take lead again and get the wolves all together again, a single group. They had to bring Lilith back into the pack, functioning so by next year she didn't become a problem. As Vera turned to look towards the cabin however she did see one problem, a problem that wasn't just going away. Vera sighed a little watching Alyssa head over to the campfire with Nichole and asking her if she felt like going for a swim. Today was not the day to deal with Ms. Drake. Besides she'd promised Hamish she would leave her alone.
While Nichole and Alyssa got ready to go swimming off the dock Vera laid out a blanket under the trees and brought Theo outside. Sitting down with her legs crossed one over the other she leaned back and supported her weight on the heels of her hands as she watched Theo lay on her back chewing on her little colorful cloth puppy or seal looking toy. Really it was kind of hard to figure which it was since it didn't have any back legs, or a fin for that matter. Theo gurgled as she sucked on the plastic ring it was attached to before pulling it out of her mouth and smacking it into her mother's arm. "Ouch, that hurts."
There was a distant howl, hopefully the wolves had only found a deer. The sound had startled Theo though making her roll over to her belly and look around with wide eyes. "Oooooooo." She said with a bit of a serious look on her face.
"Are you howling too?" Vera laughed at Theo sniffed really hard and put her face into the blanket with mouth wide open like she was about to eat it. "Oh, no, no, we don't eat the ground Theo." She picked her up and set her in her lap looking over to the direction Theo was so entranced by. There were a few squirrels scuffling with each other, bouncing around and attacking each other before partially running up the tree and scampering back down. "Yeah, you don't see a lot of those at home because daddy keeps them all away." Hamish hanging around the house kept most living things away from their home which was a little sad since she didn't get birds at the feeders anymore.
"Ooooooo." Theo said again sticking her fingers into her mouth.
"You like animals don't you, I'm going to have to tell your father we should take you to the zoo." She ran her fingers through Theo's blond waves making the baby lean forward into her hand before trying to fall over to her side. "What are you doing? Trying to go back on the ground?" For a three month old Theo was active, hyperactive almost. Vera feared the day she discovered the ability to move on her own. She was just thankful right now she lacked the upper body strength to crawl. Unfortunately Theo did know how to roll over and she used that as her most advanced methods of transportation. All the more reason you couldn't leave her on any furniture unsupervised. Vera could overhear chatting down by the docks and looked up to see Alyssa and Nichole talking.
"Theo." She sat the baby up again holding a hand in front of her so she didn't fall over. "Let's talk about a lesson in loyalty. You may not understand it right now but I want you to know you should always listen to those with experience, never make assumptions about others motives, and never blindly follow orders because loyalty is earned not freely given, especially in the Order. Most importantly grow up and have a heart too good for revenge. If I ask anything of you it's be better than me because I'm giving you that chance. I don't care what others say is inside you, you are never a monster. Never let them make you a monster." She picked her daughter up and kissed her on the cheek seeing Theo smile and stick her tongue out. "Stay this sweet and precious forever."
Reaching for Vera's face she touched her mother's cheek making Vera's heart melt a little. "I went through a lot of hell to have my little piece of heaven and don't you ever ever tell anyone but I'd consider you my greatest accomplishment, even more than being Grand Magus." That was something even Coventry hadn't really understood. In the end his personal ambition of power came at the risk of sacrificing his own son. If she had the choice between the Order and her powers and Theo she'd pick Theo every time.
Nichole came running up to Vera startling Theo and making her grey eyes flash a quick blue as her whole body shook. "Oh, sorry Grand Magus." She hadn't meant to frighten Theo. "Alyssa and I are going to take the boat out and wanted to let you know you have to come with us."
"I'm sorry, did you say I have to come with you?" Vera raised a brow, was she being ordered to do something by a medicum and a traitor?"
"Yeah." She took a step back. "See, Alyssa kind of promised Jack…"
"What did she promise Mr. Morton?"
"Actually it was more that the Magus had Jack ask her to not leave you anywhere just to be safe."
Vera narrowed her eyes. "You do know I'm the Grand Magus right?"
"I know but Hamish is also the Temple Magus."
"I outrank him."
"And he's a werewolf."
"Point taken."
"Alyssa doesn't like it but she promised Jack and we wanted to go out on the lake in the boat so I guess you have to come with us unless we all want to get in trouble from the Magus."
"Fine." Vera paused. "But, only because I don't want to hear Hamish complain about my life being in constant danger." She was being partially sarcastic because on one hand she had been the target of a lot of attacks this past year but she was more than capable of handling herself. "And I'm driving the boat."
"Yes Grand Magnus Captain ma'am." Nichole gave her a little salute. "I'll let Alyssa know you are coming then." Nichole sprinted back towards the dock to get Alyssa up to date before Vera got up and picked up the blanket. Giving it a few shakes she figured she better change and get Theo's little teddy bear sweater since it could be cold out on the water. That and you couldn't leave anywhere with a baby without also having a bag full of emergency supplies like diapers, wipes, and a bunch of toys to keep them occupied. She changed into her own swimsuit before Tying on a wrap and throwing on a Belgrave t-shirt. There were a lot of benefits to not having to pay for formula and worry about washing bottles or going places but at the same time Vera couldn't trust any bra or swimsuit top. The main downfall of being a mom. She grabbed a sunhat and a pair of glasses along with extra sunblock just in case Theo would need it.
This was going to be Theo's first boat ride and it could go two ways, either Theo would love it and have a blast or the motor would freak her out and Vera would have to drive slowly with a screaming baby on her lap. Vera packed the diaper bag away under one of the seats so it wouldn't slid around the boat. Nichole had brought a cooler on board with drinks and a few snacks, luckily she was thinking ahead for the adults, Vera on the other hand was really just concerned about Theo. Once the cooler was strapped down Vera pulled up Theo's little hood sporting the tiny bear ears on top of her head. "So, who's holding Theo while I drive?"
"I'll take her." The speed in which Alyssa volunteered made Vera a little nervous. She took in a deep breath looking at Theo with her keyring in her mouth thinking for a moment that Alyssa couldn't be trusted with what was the most valuable thing in her life. Then again Alyssa Drake was not the sort to harm a baby, even if she could be petty.
"Alright, just hold her up, she prefers to sit up and look around but she can't actually support herself yet." Vera set Theo on Alyssa's lap holding onto the baby's hand for a moment as she gummed on her keyring and then threw it onto the deck. Vera grabbed Theo's pacifier and put it in the baby's mouth before picking up her keyring and giving it back to her. "Also if her hood falls down put it back up for her because I don't want the wind to give her an ear infection or for her to get a sunburn. Sun goes right through her blond hair but she's got too much of it to put sunblock on her head." Talk about thick locks like her father. Here Vera thought when she had started losing her newborn hair that Theo would be bald for a while but nope, her hair had just come back twice as thick and very wavy.
"So, who's boat is this anyway? Does Hamish own this too?" Nichole joked. After all, he owned the Den and a whole apartment building.
"Nope." Vera sat down and started up the boat. "His parents own it, it's actually a family cabin."
"Oh." What the hell, was his family loaded? Apparently they were, was Hamish loaded? Vera went slow at first turning out of the private little bay. She glanced over at Theo a few times who was still sucking on her pacifier and shaking her keys until throwing them on the deck again. Luckily Alyssa was kind enough to give them back to her. She kicked up the speed of the boat once they got out into the larger portion of the lake, the boat was a bit faster, more speed boat than anything though she wasn't going to go too fast. Especially once she noticed Theo was closing her eyes and blinking hard from the wind as it was. Again Alyssa was kind enough to actually put a hand on Theo's head so her hood didn't fly off either.
They cruised around for a while until they found a sandbar and Nichole had the idea to pull up by it and hang out there. Vera slowed down and came up to the sandbar just hardly tapping the front end of the boat into it before turning off the engine and letting Nichole put down anchor. It had been a good choice to pull over and hang out too since Theo had reached her threshold of letting Alyssa hold her and just wanted Vera back. Theo whined and looked up at Vera throwing her keys back to the ground and kicking her legs.
"Mmmmm." Theo whined as Vera grabbed her and held her close making Theo smile behind her pacifier.
"Wow, she's close to talking almost." At least from what Alyssa thought, seemed like she had the first part of mom or ma down.
"Not really, she makes that noise for everything she wants, even Hamish." Though Theo was pretty 'talkative' She would babble your ear off despite the fact her skills of speech didn't go beyond extending a single letter out for a long time, mostly just vowels too. Reaching up at Vera's sunglasses Theo grabbed them getting her fingerprints all over them and letting out another excited "mmmm" "No Theo those are mine." Theo kicked her legs letting out a more frustrated "mmmm" until Vera took them off and gave them to her. "Okay then, they can be yours."
Alyssa laughed a little seeing the big scary cold robotic Grand Magus get bossed around by a baby. If someone would have told her that Vera would have taken orders from a baby she would have told them to get their head checked a year ago. Now she thought not only was it funny but it was irony. Here Vera thought she was the boss over all the werewolves and yet the youngest werewolf was absolutely her boss. Theo spit out her pacifier making Vera move with the speed of lightning so she could catch it before it hit the deck. "OOOOOOOOooooooo." Theo cried out sticking the sunglasses in her mouth.
"Is that your new favorite sound?" Go figure, she just learned how to make that noise today and now it would be overused until it got old and tired like all the other sounds and she discovered a new fun noise she could make.
Nichole got out the cooler asking if anyone wanted something to drink. Alyssa opted for a beer while Vera just did a water, after all she was the boat driver, sober boat driver? "You know I have to admire you for one thing still." Vera looked over to Alyssa, distracted from Theo for a second but not a second long enough to not notice Theo almost poke herself in the eye with the sunglasses. She was quick taking them away from the baby again and setting them down on the dash of the boat only to have Theo grab at her sunhat next. Thank god her arms were too short to actually get it.
"Hmmm?" Vera sat down on one of the benches holding Theo in her lap so she could sit up and look around.
"You are brave enough to live with one of the wolves." Alyssa smirked. "I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like living with Jack."
"It's a little like living with any man I'd suppose, they slowly creep into your life, take over everything, and before you know it they forget to put the toilet seat down so you nearly go for a swim in the middle of the night when you go to use the bathroom. Also lots of hair, Hamish sheds like a sheep dog."
"Well, and from what Jack has said he drinks like a fish too."
Vera shook her head, "Not really, well not anymore. He used to drink a lot more but after I got pregnant he cut back a lot." It was a strange solidarity he'd taken up with her, since she couldn't drink he didn't drink either. Not unless they had two hours to kill before Theo needed to eat again anyways.
"Seems like he's a little overly protective too."
Vera rolled her eyes at that comment, "It's hard to tolerate but yes and it's annoying."
Suddenly Alyssa had something she could agree on with Vera. "I know, Jack acts like I can't look after myself. I was a magistratus way before him. I am more than capable of defending myself."
"Welcome to my life, I'm the Grand Magus and Hamish still thinks I need him to protect me though I'll say he's good about backing off when I ask him to." That was one thing Vera could appreciate. Did Hamish like it? Absolutely not, he would argue with her but he also trusted her judgment. Granted that judgment had faded a little when she got pregnant and his more wolfy instincts kicked in over safeguarding her. "I'm honestly just happy Tundra stopped bringing me dead rabbits on my patio."
"Ewww." Alyssa furrowed her brow. "Why would he do that?" Silverback hadn't brought her any dead or living gifts for that matter and now she was kind of happy he hadn't.
"From what Hamish assumed, providing ample sources of protein for their mate and unborn offspring." Vera shrugged her shoulders. "Worst part is half the time he wouldn't even remember Tundra brought a dead animal to the house and in the middle of winter they would get buried in snow drifts so in the spring it looked like I had a wildlife butcher scene in my backyard."
"At least you knew what you were getting involved with when you started...seeing Hamish." That was a delicate phrase to dance around. "Jack kept it a secret until I witnessed him do Silverback and rip out someone's heart."
"See you'd think knowing would make it easier but I was still terrified when Hamish turned into Tundra and threw Angus through the door. Mostly because I didn't know if Tundra would turn on me."
"Silverback still unnerves me." Alyssa admitted, maybe more now than before. Salvador had made her feel comfortable around a werewolf, making her realize they were not just monsters but after the incident with Midnight she knew better. There was a point that they were the champions who wore them and then there was a point where the wolf was a separate personality. The champion and the wolf didn't always have to agree with each other.
"Trust me, if Silverback didn't agree with Jack on the fact that you are both their mate then you'd be dead Alyssa Drake. Werewolves don't hide their intentions very well." Like Hamish, she really knew he wanted to sleep with her simply by the fact he'd stand around her for longer than most acolyte's dared and then the fact he had always tried to agree with her on everything even when she knew he was full of it. The final hint had been his being so particular on fixing her a drink, even if it had been to break into her vault nobody tries that hard just for a charade. She'd proved it too the next time she'd asked him for a 'drink'.
"Sometimes I feel that Jack's charm and his affection for me is borderline smothering, I hate it."
Vera could relate to that, sometimes she just wanted Hamish gone but then at the same time she needed him far too much as well. "And yet you also love it."
"I know, it's so annoying."
"That double edged sword that makes you feel like you might go right off the deep end. Damned if you do, damned if you don't."
"I don't feel like Lilith and my relationship is that complicated." Nichole added listening to the two talk back and forth about the burdens of their werewolf boyfriends.
"Lucky." Vera and Alyssa both answered in tandem making them both glare at each other for a moment. Nichole was kind of enjoying this, nobody was being murdered or fighting, this was really good for them.
Vera tried to ignore Alyssa again, she'd gotten a bit too close and it left her feeling a bit gross. "It's okay if your daddy drives me crazy sometimes, we love him. He can stay right Theo?" The baby gave a half smirk looking a little tired, her eyes were pretty heavy and she was sucking on her fingers more and throwing things around far less.
There was something else Alyssa had to ask, something that had been bothering her a bit. "So, when I tried to kill you." Alyssa mentally did the math again, she'd done it maybe eight times since Jack told her that Vera and Hamish were having a baby. Something she actually thought Jack was lying about to screw with her at first. "Were you?"
"Are you asking if at the time you were going to murder me for the sake of revenge would you have possibly murdered Theo as well?" Vera looked down at the now sleeping baby girl in her arms, a little smile crossing her face as she twitched a little, just a small smile crossing her face while she dreamed. "Do you want the honest truth or what you think would make you feel better?"
"Be honest."
"Well then, if I am perfectly honest I don't know but yes, if you must know when I found out I was going to have her in November I was six weeks along so that does put her in October. Right around the time you were very hellbent on murdering me." Vera raised Theo up a little and crossed her legs. "Does that make a great difference to you and the choices you made at the time?"
Alyssa seemed to go a little pale, as much as she thought Vera deserved what she was going to get she had to look at Theo and realize that she couldn't inherit the sin's of her mother. Besides being completely innocent she was Hamish's too and Hamish didn't deserve that sort of heartache. "I'm not a monster."
"Yet funny how you started with that statement Ms. Drake." Vera picked up her water and took a sip. "Not on your morally high ground anymore are you." She paused setting the water back down. "You told me once you wanted to be Grand Magus someday, rather ambitious. Consider that a very important lesson as a leader. There's no such thing as good or evil, right or wrong. Those are your choices, choices you make and have to live with forever. Remember for every 'bad' person you put down you kill just as many innocent lives. Your actions could have completely erased everything good Theo may grow up to do, could have destroyed Hamish and made him a monster hellbent on revenge and a continuation of a vicious cycle. That's why as far as I see revenge and personal gain should be dead to a good leader."
Alyssa was quiet for a moment, thinking over the implications of her actions. Surely Vera lived with consequences like this. Her actions had caused deaths, sometimes innocent and sometimes deserving. How did she live with herself then? "I'll be honest Alyssa, I could have killed you in the temple even without my powers but I didn't because I've learned to understand what my actions mean in the long term. I know I killed Salvador but that was self defense. We all do what we must to survive, it's human nature. But I didn't kill you because I knew what it meant to Jack. He pretty much put his heart out to you and doing something so stupid would have caused far more harm than all the good in the world. It's the same reason that if someone hadn't taken my powers I would have saved your life. It's the reason I didn't stop Jack from taking the Vade Maecum. I knew what he'd try to do but I knew not letting him would have destroyed more innocent lives than I cared to gamble with."
There was a whole new level to being Grand Magus that Alyssa could appreciate, something beyond the power and control of it all. There was a weight, a heavy one that you were burdened with. It wasn't about just doing good but keeping balance. How could you do anything if there was no right answer to your problems? "That's a little wisdom for an aspiring grand leader such as yourself Ms. Drake. Sacrifice is all you'll ever know and time is precious. Use it wisely and for the right reasons, think through every option, keep personal feelings out of it and maybe just maybe one day you'll leave behind the world far better than you found it for someone else."
She remained quiet for a little longer before looking back up at Vera, "Thank you Magus, for that." Curious, Alyssa hadn't called her Magus since, well since before she had to go and betray her with the Vade Maecum. "I'll remember this."
Vera smirked, "And next time you try to kill me, make sure you really have me alone in a room with my back against the wall because I can promise you I won't go quietly into the night my dear girl."