Seven months and about thirty-pounds stood between the woman who'd slept in this room and the person she was now. She mused at how easy it was imagine it was just any other night in Aspen Creek, her unpregnant and still pining for Bran. the illusion dissolved pretty quickly when the baby started dancing on her bladder.
Van had booked the adjoining room and promptly taken Brady on a run to the store to buy raw meat. The baby, she still wasn't sure what the sex was, started to kick...harder.
In fact, when the knock at the door came, she hadn't been sure whether it was physical or internal. A second wrap from the ugly orange door proved it to be the former.
Her mouth watered in anticipation. She swung open the door, "You better have gotten the bloody stuff!" Unfortunately, the piece of meat standing on her step was not raw and wrapped in paper.
Bran stood there, as beautiful as she remembered him. The stubble across his jaw and his disarrayed hair, called out to her, dissolving her resolve. Her stomach dropped at the sight of him. Knots quickly formed. Piper attempted to cover up her shock.
"What are you doing here, Bran."
She watched as his pale eyes roamed her face and then dropped to her stomach. Some kind of grim awe stood on his features. His child answered his gaze with a kick to her bladder again.
He cleared his throat, "I needed to talk to you."
His voice alone was enough to melt her knees. Piper was eight months pregnant, as large as a whale and unbelievably horny. And Bran looked like the same delectable Squint, all muscle and fierce lines and blue eyes.
Piper wasn't sure what mojo her hormones was working on her, but for some reason she let him enter. With a sigh, she plopped herself down on the bed, waiting for whatever he had to say.
He stood in the doorway for a moment, some look taking over his face, a shiver of desire worked its way up her arms. The baby moved, upset with her churning emotions.
He sighed deeply, drawing Piper back to the situation at hand. Since hearing of his return she had expected him to come. To apologize and admit that he led her on, to say he wanted a part in his child's life.
Tag had already mentioned that he'd let the proverbial beans out of the bag, when Bran called. He knew she was pregnant. It's the only reason he's here, she reminded her traitorous heart. He doesn't love you.
He came toward her, but instead of sitting beside her or sitting in the chair across from her, Bran dropped to his knees, directly in front of her place on the bed. She was too shocked to notice as he gathered her hands in his own. with him closer, she saw the stubble across his face, the deep sunken shaddows under his eyes. Bran looked... terrible, she realized. The thought didn't make her as happy as she thought it would.
His grip tightened, "I have never made a worse decision in my life than leaving you that day." It was the last thing she'd expected.
"I thought I was doing the right thing... I thought the spirits," he scowled, "it doesn't matter. It was my decision and I've regretted it since the second I left. These last few months, I've barely even lived without you." Her blood rushed to her ears. Some foreign object began to choke within her throat. Bran continued, "I tried ignoring the pain, I tried running away, I even called you trying to figure out what to say..."
Stupidly, she asked, "You did?"
He winced, "Mostly I'd hang up or the kid would answer and chew me out."
"Brady spoke to you?"
He nodded, "And he's right. I don't deserve you. I didn't have any right calling, but I just can't be without you." Piper was fairly sure she was experiencing shock. Tears formed in Bran's eyes, making the blue look even paler. "The man and the wolf were miserable. We'd hunt and breathe and sleep, but It meant nothing without. I need you Piper." His breathing hitched, two tears fell down his cheeks.
"I've know I messed everything up. I know it's selfish to come back, now, when everything's going right for you. I just can't give up on us." He lifted a hand, wiping away tears of her own, tears she hadn't even realized she'd shed.
"I want to spend as much time with you as I can, in any way I can. I'll be your friend, or your Alpha or a godfather," he glanced down toward her stomach. Godfather? "If you can't trust me with your heart, I'll stay anyway, I'll prove to you I'm worthy of another chance. You're my mate Piper and more than that, you're my best friend." She felt herself smiling, leaning into him. Something broke loose inside of her. The hurt and the anger still stayed, but a trickle of hope began.
"I'm so sorry I did that to you, I just- I can't even believe why, I don't know what I was thinking."
She wasn't going to lie to him, to tell him it was okay. Instead she leaned forward, brushing away some of his tears. This was her Bran. The same man who'd kissed her, who'd pushed her away, the one who'd lied, betrayed and belittled her, even who left her. It all mattered, she realized. His past mistakes made him more real, more valuable, and despite it all, Piper loved him, every good and bad part.
He leaned back, again taking her hands, "Give me another chance, Piper. I love you more than I have ever loved anyone. Sharp tounge and all." His hands dropped, hesitantly touching her stomach. "I'll love your child."
She chuckled, "You do understand I'm not virigin Mary, right?"
"What?"
"Squints, I'm not claiming Virgin birth over here, it's not just my child."
He frowned, "I know, and," Bran cleared his throat, "I understand wanting to raise the child with it's father, but I'm a good dad. I'll love it like it's my own."
The pieces fell together. Godfather, your child, like it's my own. Bran didn't know he was the father. She realized Tag had helpfully left out that part. Van and Brady's conspiratorial whispers also came to mind. This was a set up.
Piper took a deep breath and then stopped, "You really would?" she asked, "Even if- Even though I'm carrying another man's baby, you'd want to be with me?"
He nodded and Piper saw he meant it. Bran, the ultimate control freak, would actually raise another man's child, if it meant being with her. The idea solidified her decision. Bran was who she wanted to spend her life with. The baby kicked, most likely in approval.
"And what about Brady?"
Bran looked confused.
"I'm going to adopt him, whether he agrees to it or not. He's not getting rid of me."
He smiled, "I kind of figured he was staying around when he promised to nueter me."
"When?"
Bran looked sheepish, "When he called me earlier, telling me Van and him were conveniently leaving you alone."
Piper snorted, "that kid thinks he knows everything. It's getting pretty annoying to those of us who do."
He laughed and the sound made it impossible to not lean forward and kiss him.
He responded more than enthusiastically, trapping her face with his hands. This tounge stroked her, explored her. It felt wonderful, like live sparks left his mouth and traveled into her own. She was breathless when she pulled away.
"Does this mean you're giving me another chance."
Piper smirked, "I might need some more convincing, but I'm pretty sure I can't live without you either."
He kissed her again, erasing away all logical thought. It wasn't until a few minutes of heavy petting later that Piper finally remembered.
"One more thing Squints," she managed in betwee the assult he was making on her mouth. As she spoke, he moved down to her neck, unbuttoning her blouse with a hand.
When one button gave him trouble, he got all growly and popped it off the shirt.
"About the baby, OAH!" his tounge found a particular sensitive spot on her collarbone. Piper swallowed the moan.
"The- my- Our baby, It's," He yanked off her pants, making happy noises in the back of his throat as he licked another sensitive spot.
"Oh, jesus, oh, yes... Squints..."
He pulled away, a moment later with a smirk, "What were you saying?"
She smiled lazily, "Just that Tag lied to you. You're the father."
She watched a Bran's face filled with shock. And then complete happiness.
"You didn't sleep with Van?"
Piper laughed this time, "That's disgusting, that's like you slipping some tongue to Tag."
His smile grew murderous, "Oh, I'm going to do something much less romantic to Taggart when I see him."
"Bran," she scolded, "Focus, here. We're having a baby."
The thousand-watt smile lit his entire face, "We're having a baby?"
She leaned up, nipping his lower lip, "You just gained two kids and three pains-in-the asses all in one day, Whatareyagoingtodonow."
The overwhelming love and happiness on his face nearly drowned her, his eyes were so earnest, as he leaned down, tracing a finger across her cheek. "I'm going to love my mate and our children," he said, "for the rest of our lives."
Sigh.
Did you like it? You better have.
It's not over yet, though.