He had to admit, he was very impressed with Vera being able to smile and look away from his mother every time the thought crossed her mind to hurt her. She just swallowed hard like she had with Edward and the Gnostic Council. It didn't mean she wasn't feeling very tender right now and easy to snap, even at him. With each deep breath though she caught herself and reminded him that she wasn't angry at him. At least Miranda was a half decent human being when it came to Theo and that was what should matter most to her. Miranda was hard pressed to put her granddaughter down even when Luci finally arrived and wanted to hold the baby for a while. The excuse was just that Theo was fussy and currently content. "That shirt is so stupid."

Hamish acted like he was a little insulted. Putting his hands on his chest he gasped, "How dare you Vera, I was just trying to be casual today. It's my birthday, I deserve to have a day off."

"You look like that embarrassing dad who wears socks with sandals." Hamish sat down in one of the patio chairs and pulled Vera down into his lap almost making her spill her tea.

"And yet you are still so attracted to me."

She smirked a little resting an arm on his shoulder. "Well." She paused and took a sip. "I wouldn't go that far." She flicked at his bangs with mild annoyance. How could someone annoy her and also make her feel light headed at the same time?

"Attracted to me enough then?" He leaned in closer to her as she smiled at him.

"Maybe just a little." Vera leaned in and kissed him. Hamish was such a charming devil, she wondered how much of his charm had been a ploy at the start to gain her trust and lower her guard so they could rob her. At least she knew afterwards all of it had been Hamish both feeling bad about what he'd done and actual attraction since he'd worked so hard to impress her and win her trust back.

"Well, if it's any consolation I think you are absolutely breathtaking." She smiled back at her watching Vera look away so he didn't catch her blushing. She tried to pretend that she was watching something in the yard even if they both knew there was nothing there. The Future Mrs. Duke couldn't take compliments, especially from him. "I was very attracted to you the first time we met. I just didn't like the fact I was." Who wouldn't have looked at Vera Stone walking into their Den surrounded by her enemies, werewolves and yet she still was utterly sassy and fierce. As the leader of the pack he felt like Tundra had claimed her then and there. All it took was seeing her kick some serious ass in that fight to realize he had a crush on the then Temple Magus.

"Hmmm, I thought you were."

"Dashing?"

"Dangerous and obnoxious."

"So are you." He paused, "But in a good way."

"Awww, you two are so cute." Emma walked over and sat down in another chair looking over at them as Hamish put his arms around her. "You guys still have that new relationship glow, can't keep your hands off each other."

Hamish smirked, "Can you blame me?" Vera was stunning and oddly soft. You'd have to be threatened to keep your hands off her and he was threatened often but it still didn't stop him because at the end of the day Vera wasn't about to kill her baby's daddy. It might be a cheap shield but he'd take it.

"I wish my husband was still that happy to be around me, I guess that is what two kids does to you." She looked over to Maddox playing with her boys and they seemed to be getting along. Maddox seemed like a very sweet and well behaved boy. He was polite and outgoing and he's been so happy to tell her that Vera wasn't making him do fencing anymore or go to the stupid school. He got to be on the soccer team and was happy to be in public school where he already had a bunch of new friends. Right now he was trying to teach Gavin how to bounce a soccer ball from his head and down to his knee before switching over knees. Maddox was pretty good at the sport.

Lucas came running over to his mother jumping up onto her lap and curling up in her arms. "Mommy, Gavin said I can't play."

"Gavin, your brother can play with you two." He didn't seem too interested in their game now anyways as he rested his head on her chest and looked over at his uncle Hamish who was making goofy faces at him. It made him smirk and hide his face so he could keep being sad.

"Stop it uncle Hamy." He partially covered his face only to peek back at him and stick his tongue out at Hamish to mimic him.

"What's he doing?" Emma asked as her son pulled his nose up to make it look like a pig nose.

"He's being silly."

"He does that a lot." Vera looked back at him making another face at Lucas before being caught by her. Hamish pretended to be yawning before smiling at her. She covered his eyes leaning closer to him, "You think you are so funny."

"According to you I am, I always make you laugh don't I?' He pulled her hand back. "Theo thinks I'm funny too."

"Theo thinks everything is funny." Vera could hear crying from inside the house, "Speaking of our cranky little angle."

Hamish looked down at his watch, "You could set a clock to her consistency. She keeps a tighter schedule than you do." He helped Vera off his lap so she could go feed Theo. "Maybe you can sneak her away from my mom now too." He watched Vera walk into the house before turning back to his sister. "She's very possessive of that baby." Try being him and convincing Vera to let her go for five minutes so you could cuddle your own daughter.

"She's a mom Hamish, of course she is." She hugged Lucas looking down at the little boy who was looking a bit sleepy. For the best, if he could take a nap before he got sugared up on cake then it would be a nicer drive back to the hotel.

After Theo was fed and sleepy Vera put her down for a nap. It was nice to have such an easy going predictable baby who'd decided to keep a tight schedule. Vera could easily plan her day around it Closing the bedroom door behind her she nearly startled seeing Gregory standing there waiting for her. "Ms. Stone." He had his usual cold tone.

"Mr. Duke." Vera went to scoot by him but he stepped in her way.

"You know I'd have expected a woman of your class to have a bit better taste."

"Sorry, I haven't had an interior decorator through here for some time, I've been rather busy." You know, raising a baby and trying to run a secret organization.

"I mean Hamish." He sighed. "You are a very successful woman, you worked hard at a young age and from what I tracked back on you, you came from nothing. Now you run one of the most successful universities in the United States and you chose to go after a boy who after two years dropped his law school degree and went into what?"

"Philosophy."

"Astonishing."

"He really is, if you gave him a chance to see that."

"The boy is a screw up and a disappointment, he loses sight of his goals too easily, got distracted by a girl and now what? Distracted by another one, luckily this one can at least take care of him when he's cut from the will."

"You'd be surprised by how driven he actually is and the things he's accomplished these past 9 years. He doesn't need to be a lawyer or a doctor to be somebody. As for your will, damn it, we don't need your money."

"And since your daughter is illegitimate neither does she."

Vera shrugged her shoulders. "I'm sure she's sad about that." If this was a threat it was the worst possible threat. "Children don't want money or things, they just want love and so does Hamish." Vera stepped aside from him walking back down the stairs before turning to him again. "And never ever call my daughter illegitimate or a bastard to me or anyone else ever again. We both know you are the only bastard here, not Theo." Vera didn't care if that man hated her until the end of time, she didn't need his money or his approval. Neither did Hamish.