AN: Thank you all for being patient. I promise I haven't forgotten about you. Thanks to Annette Curtis Klause for her original story. And if you can, listen to the track "Long, Long Time Ago" by Javier Navarrete. Also note, this is a three part chapter, as I feel the need to post an update, but at the same time, I need to work on the next part(s) some more.

Chapter 12: Part One

A beautifully tragic song reverberated through the walls and doors of the inn. Those who were still awake at two a.m. did not mind hearing the gentle humming. Gabriel opened the door to his room just slightly, and so quietly Vivian wouldn't realize he was there at all. The moon shone through the white lace curtains, showering the child and the mother in its pearly glow. When the song finished, and the child was back asleep, Vivian placed Delilah in her crib and climbed back into bed. Gabriel took that as his cue to walk into the room, and close the door behind him.

"Where did you hear that?" he whispered, leaning over and giving his mate a kiss on the forehead.

"I don't know. I think it was on TV or something. I really liked it, so I thought I'd try it on Delilah."

"It looks like she liked it too."

Vivian offered no response, but looked out at the darkness of her room, holding her stomach and breathing out slowly. Any day now she would be giving birth to her first child, to Delilah's little brother, and to Gabriel's son. "What time is it?"

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"Two. You should go back to sleep." Her golden eyes stayed transfixed on his for moments until she nodded and lay down as best as she could. "G'night, my queen." Vivian smiled, and went back to sleep. They would have to have the serious talk when she was more prepared.

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The next morning, the Five were outside with their newest recruits, the triplets and Adam. Adam needed their company, since no one knew the whereabouts of his older brother. The worst part of the whole incident was that Adam wasn't sure if he missed his brother entirely. Part of him was glad his brother wasn't around to ruin what little friendships he had, while the other part of him wished none of this had ever happened. But he wasn't in that part of the woods with that particular Wendigo. Only Gabriel was, and he didn't remember a lot of things. The young man sighed and shook out his messy black hair, and answered when one of the triplets, Mercedes, called him to join the group.

"Gabe, you have to focus."
"I'm trying."

The fumes wafting all around the room weren't helping his lightheadedness. Gabriel's eyes darted around the room for a second, taking in the herbs hanging from the rafters, and the endless rows of jars on cabinets. It seemed ridiculous that in a few weeks Vivian had already accumulated this many jars and bouquets of healing supplies. He looked once more at his mate, with the wisps of golden hair sticking to bright red cheeks, and then noticed her steely glance. She had warned him time and time again that she could only stay in his visions for a short time. He had tried to tell her he couldn't see anything in the earthenware bowl expect for the silvery liquid.

"This is getting us nowhere, Viv."

"Well, it's the only way."

Vivian was right. Trying to explore his visions was the only way to figure out where Nathan was, if he was still alive. And it was the only way they could be sure the Wendigo was out of the picture. Oh moon goddess, maybe I'm not strong enough for this… she looked at the bright blue orbs struggling to get a vision out of the silvery liquid… and then she had an idea. I may not be strong enough, but I know someone who is.

"Okay, we're going to try something else."

"No more incense."

She smirked, but took deep breaths of the air in her room. Impulsively, she labeled the scents around her while she focused on the task ahead. Wood BetonyRosemaryGotu KolaGingko Biloba, and Ginger… for mental clarity. The couple found themselves in a rather large shed, which had been converted into her healer's quarters. None of the human inhabitants of the inn would venture out this far, so she rarely had to keep it locked.

"What do you think our child is going to look like?" For a second, a look flashed across his face, like he didn't understand what their child had to do with visions. But he didn't ask questions.

"…Hold on… You've told me this. He has… your eyes. Gold. And, my black hair. And he's got curls, like the triplets. And… he's tan skinned, like me." Her smile was warm.

"Good. Now focus on Jacob. Focus on what he looks like, and then try seeing, again." Gabriel focused on the child's cherub face in his mind, then looked down into the silvery liquid, and was extremely surprised at the actual visions before him.

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Jacob was six. His features were just like those in the vision in his mind. And he could speak. Gabriel remembered Vivian telling him it took a lot of power to speak aloud in someone else's visions. A tiny swell of pride grew at this child Gabriel hadn't even met yet.

"We don't have a lot of time, papa. Come with me." Gabriel took his son's hand and followed the child into the forest which all of a sudden seemed so familiar.

There was a smell of blood everywhere; and the smell of fresh meat, and decay. The Wendigo lurked behind the shadows, waiting for Gabriel. Jacob took a step forward, and the scene changed. This time he was fighting the Wendigo. It felt strange to be holding onto the hand of his child, and watching himself fighting with Nathan and a Wendigo.

"I was such a fool, to think I could take the both of them."

"No papa, look." He noticed he was fighting Nathan, but Nathan wasn't fighting back. He was helping Gabriel take down the Wendigo. A surge of hatred welled up inside Gabriel unlike anything he had ever felt before. With every misguided blow he watched himself make against Nathan, he hated himself that much more. "Why was Nathan there?"

"The Wendigo was a friend of his. He wanted to trick you. But he felt sorry after." Gabriel nodded, and then the scene in front of him started getting brutal. He couldn't tell from the blood spilt which was his, or the Wendigo's, or Nathan's. There were vicious growls and howling. The Wendigo was calling out in its mutilated voice, a sort of cross between a human scream and a howl. The paternal part of Gabriel knew better than to expose his son to the rest of this scene.

"That's enough Jacob. We can go now. I just need to know one more thing."
"Huh?"
"Where's Nathan now?"

"Over there," he said, taking another step and changing the scene once more. Gabriel hadn't been to this part of the forest before. It looked like an abandoned camping ground. There was rain. Nathan had made some makeshift bandages, but needed some help.

"Is he still alive?" Jacob nodded.

"Gabriel, you have to leave now." Vivian's voice was a lot smaller than Jacob's. It was as if the wind had said it in passing. Gabriel looked down at his son, wanting more time to talk to him, to look at his face. Then Jacob smiled. And he had a glint in his eye when he smile, just like his dad.

"I'll see you soon, mi hijo."

"Very soon, papa."

His eyes cleared, and the smell of incense flooded his nostrils. He looked up at Vivian, and then suddenly got up from his seat, grasping her face in his firm hands and giving her an ardent kiss, placing his hands on her belly. "I'm so proud right now." Vivian glowed, and held her stomach. She knew he had seen what he had needed to see. Jacob had already proven his strength.

"I have to go, Viv."

"I understand."

As he walked back to the inn, his mind raced. Nathan's still alive. Jacob called me papa. I never even called my old man that. I have to right what I did to Nathan. We'll need a search party. Not a lot of people, because there need to be men here, just in case. Just in case of what? Vivian!

He couldn't dare leave his mate now. Jacob's birth was so close. He was just about to turn back around, and explain to Vivian that he might have to be gone for a day or two, when he saw the door to the shed open. Vivian stepped out, fanning her face and holding her waist. A ray of sunlight caught the moon pendant around her neck, and the next thing he knew, she was slowly slipping against the door towards the floor.

"Viv!" Gabriel ran to her side. "What's wrong?"

Her eyes were wide, and dilated. She tried to say words, but no sound came out, only a short gasp for air. The smell from inside the shed wafted outside. He knelt down beside her, and pushed all of her hair back. He reached for his walky-talky, to call all of the women necessary. He managed to push the red signal button when Vivian's water broke…

AN: This is all I have so far. I'm sorry if this doesn't even count as a decent part one of a chapter, but I will try to be more prompt on the next part. As always, I'd really appreciate your reviews!