7. Plan of Action
It was nearing mid afternoon and being late in the year, the shadows stretched the full length of the hall as Elena made her way to Jeremy's study as she spotted Belle walking down the stairs. She'd had a shower and was now in a change of clothes consisting of some jeans, boots and v-neck jumper under an open cardigan.
"Did you have a good sleep?" Elena asked pausing in mid stride.
"Yes, thanks. Is um – anyone else around?" Belle asked cautiously giving the hall a fresh look around in the daylight.
"Nick and Clay are taking a run; Jeremy and Antonio have gone into town." Elena explained. She took a moment to think, and smiled "You look like you could do with some caffeine." She sympathised.
Belle relaxed her shoulders returning the smile. "Coffee would be good." She said and followed Elena to the kitchen.
After Elena gave Belle some pickings of food – guessing under her stress she wouldn't be too hungry, they went for a walk around the house. Coffees still in hand as the last rays of sun sunk behind the tree tops. They talked about lots of topics, including Belle's business.
"So, you have your own photography studio set up?" Elena asked, for once enjoying some female companionship.
"Yeah, it's only a small company – doing all the local Weddings, Christenings, school portraits; that sort of thing… still, my freelance work comes in from my contacts in New York, so I have enough work to keep me going." She explained as they sat down on the lawn chairs. "Nick said you did some freelance journalism…?"
"Oh, only minor things. But on a bit of a break at the moment from work." Elena took a sip of her drink. "I'm sure Nick's told you everything else." Elena said as Belle shrugged getting herself settled. She took a moment to pause thinking over what she was going to say next.
"So, how did you and Nick meet?" Elena asked.
Belle couldn't help but smile briefly. "It was on a summers break from high school." She replied. "My parent's idea of a 'Birthday' present." She smirked.
"You don't sound too happy about it?" Elena asked intuitively.
Belle shook her head. "I think they booked the holiday more for themselves, than my birthday. My parents were never as involved as they could have been. They just thought a couple of weeks holed up in the back end of nowhere and a credit card is what every Sixteen year old wants." She sighed impatiently with the memory. "Buying me some happiness I expect. Hardly saw them most of the time; they didn't want me around much, even going to the extreme of renting me my own condo for three weeks."
With Belle's explanation, Elena felt the pit of her stomach grow cold and heavy. "Some people just don't know how lucky they are… makes me sick." She growled.
Belle sighed savouring the coffee. "Some good came from it though. I met Nick at least." She shrugged, as Elena saw her eyes glaze over, and a small smile tweak at her lips.
"You really feel for him don't you?" Elena asked casually taking another sip of her drink.
"I'm sorry?" Belle apologised, coming out from her reverie.
"Nick – You like him a lot, I can see that."
"Oh, yeah, well – no one has ever been quite like Nicky." Belle chortled wistfully looking into her cup.
"I'm glad." Elena replied, looking over her mug at the other woman. "It's just a shame it took you so long to realise it." She continued, but held out her hand gently as Belle went to protest. "I know it hasn't been the easiest of situations, what with you 'being a threat to the pack' yadda yadda." She abbreviated.
"I don't consider myself a threat to you guys, if you think –"
"Relax." Elena smiled cutting her off again. "Trust me, we don't think that now. Not after so many years. You've obviously shown your worth, not even any mutts have come after you or the boy." She said. "I'm impressed. You've done really well for yourself."
Belle raised her brows. "Is this the part where I say I'm grateful… and what are Mutts?" She added.
"Non pack werewolves, or to put it simply: Human killers." From the reaction to Elena's bluntness, there was no talk between the two for a while. Complete silence until there was a crashing of twigs and branches coming from the woods.
Both the women turned round to see Nick and Clay walk out. Belle's heart gave a flutter as Nick had yet to put his shirt back on from his change. Sweat glistened against his dark olive skin, as a few drops ran down over his smooth muscular stomach. He gave Belle his trademark smile, with a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Is that dinner I smell darling?" Clay grinned at his wife, turning to his usual cold glare as his gaze swept over Belle.
Elena scoffed. "No, but if your willing to start cooking it, I'm willing to eat it." She smiled widely. Just then the baby monitor clipped to Elena's waist that Belle had failed to see, started to crackle and a slight whimpering could be heard, and then turned into an all out wail.
"Sounds like baby girls awake." She sighed. Clay made a move to go inside with her but she waved him down, and nodded in Belle's direction.
"You've got kids here?" Belle asked looking up at Nick as he sat down on another chair, still trying to catch his breath, his eyes still alive with the adrenalin from his change.
"Oh that's right – Elena and Clay's… You were asleep when we brought them down for breakfast." Nick looked over at Clay as he pulled his t-shirt back on.
"Twins," He said awkwardly having a conversation aimed at him. "They're called Katherine and Logan." He added.
"Oh, how old are they?" She asked.
"They'll be two next month."
"And how are you finding fatherhood?" Belle continued to create an interaction with him regardless if he was keeping his answers as short as possible.
Clay shifted his gaze away from her face and shrugged. "It's okay I guess."
"Once you get past all the vomit and poop." Belle smiled. Clay let out the slightest of smirks as they decided to head in for the night. Their issues seemingly now resolved.