Apologies if some of the distance/locations I write up are out of sync with reality. What can I say, I'm English and haven't yet been to America!
5. Stonehaven – Present day
The study fell silent as Clay and Elena hushed their voices, as the message from Belle continued to play.
"… I'm in the shit Nick – I'm really sorry to have to call you here. I just don't know what to do …" She paused again, and gave out another sigh trying to stifle a sob. "Listen, I really, really, need you to call me back as soon as you get this." She left her cell number.
"It's important Nicky.. You told me only to use this number in an emergency, well -" Another pause, as she then quickly added. "It's your son, he needs you – we both do." And with that the line cut off.
Nick continued to stare at the phone, collapsing into a nearby chair - His face ashen white. Clay and Elena sat equally silent on the couch.
"Did… Did she just say… my Son?" Nick asked still staring at the phone.
Elena got up and walked over to him and put an arm around his shoulder, replaying the message just as Jeremy and Antonio walked in.
"Sure sounds like it hon." Elena answered, looking to Jeremy for what to do next.
Antonio went over to his son as Nick looked up into his Dad's face. "…I have a son?" Antonio nodded and pulled him into a rough supportive embrace. Clay looked from Nick to Jeremy, simply stunned.
"What do we do?" Nick asked snapping out of his shock pulling away from Antonio and getting to his feet.
Jeremy cut in. "I've already spoken to Annabelle and have arranged for her to be on the next flight here from Wisconsin. She gets in at half seven tonight."
*******
For the rest of the day Nick spent most of his time pacing up and down the back garden. "It can't be true… can it? I mean, when? How?"
"I think we're all adult enough to know how kiddo." Antonio comforted sitting on the garden wall, giving up on following his son repeat his movements. "As for being true… well, only Annabelle can prove that. That's something we need to discuss with her." He said crossing his arms against his broad chest.
Nick stopped his pacing and looked at the ground. "When did you find out?" He asked quietly.
"I was with Jeremy in the study when the call came in." Antonio admitted. "We called her back and talked to her deciding what to do before he called you inside. All we can do now is wait for her plane to get in."
Nick nodded taking in all the relevant information, and looked at his watch.
"Have you eaten?" Clay asked walking out onto the patio. Nick shook his head. "We've got some ribs on the go if you're hungry." Again, he shook his head.
Clay looked over at Antonio as the older werewolf made his way inside. Nick eventually resigned to sitting on the garden wall as Clay joined him.
"I don't know what to say man." Clay said simply, feeling the tension in the air as he dug his hands into his pockets like a chided schoolboy.
"She's Elena…" Nick muttered lost in his thoughts, Clay snapped his head to look at him accusingly. "I mean, she's like, how Elena is to you – Belle is to me." He explained.
Clay's expression told more than words could say but fought to try and offer some words for his pack brother. "I don't understand… you haven't even seen the woman in over a decade – how can you feel like that towards someone you've not spent anymore than a couple of days with?"
"You of all people should know how I feel! How much have you pined, and sulked whenever Elena took off for months at a time?" He snapped.
"But you've got a different girlfriend every week, what makes her so special?" Clay asked almost laughing.
"Don't mock me." He growled getting to his feet standing over Clay, standing a few inches taller invading his personal space. "I know what I feel for her. Nothing has even come close to it with all those other women. Belle's different." Nick swallowed hard, taking a step back. After a moments hesitation he reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, sitting back down.
"You see these?" He asked his voice softer, digging into the leather pouch and displayed a pair of peacock feather earrings. "She was wearing these the last time I saw her." Clay gave an innocent shrug as Nick swore and got to his feet. "When have you ever known me to keep mementos of women Clayton?" He demanded using Clay's full name for effect, thrusting the earrings in his face. "You know I only have them in my life for one purpose…" He smirked almost in disgust of himself.
Clay went to say something, but caught his tongue and swallowed his thoughts.
"It's just that whenever we meet up, it's like..." He chuckled, a distant look to his eyes. "It's like everything fits."
"Electricity" Clayton added. Nick bit his lower lip and gave a slow nod of the head as he over looked the earring laid in his palm.
"Everything just makes sense." He shrugged.
Clay wondered as to how often Nick had looked at the jewellery, the metal was tarnished and the colours faded, but resigned with a head shake. "I still don't get it man. All I can say is how about this time; I'll try not to kill her." Clay chortled pulling him into a rough headlock before standing up. "Got just over an hour before her plane touches down, fancy heading there early…?"
*******
Jeremy decided it was best if just Nick and Elena went to collect Belle. Elena not giving Belle a near death experience when she was sixteen seemed a much better idea than sending Clay - She might just be tempted to bolt in the other direction.
The door to the arrivals lounge opened and Elena couldn't help but keep her attention on Nick, fascinated by his strange behaviour - watching him scan through the crowd of bobbing heads and family reunions.
"That's her…" He gasped after a couple of minutes of restless people searching, Elena watched him jog over to a woman in her late thirties, possibly early forties. She had long brown hair, with a natural burgundy highlight. But what really stood out were her amber eyes, pale with weariness – but constantly scanning the crowd on alert. She exchanged a few words with Nick as he lent down to hug her - she hesitated at first, before leaning into his shoulder as he pulled her into him. Pulling away he offered to take her luggage and before she could argue had already started walking off with her back pack slung over his shoulder.
As Elena examined her face, she could see Belle still retained much of her youthful appearance but the lack of sleep and crying had taken its toll and gave her face a gaunt, washed out look. They got the introductions out of the way and made they're way to the SUV.