Hmm… I can't help but think people have lost interest in this story. If anyone's views differ from my own, feel free to change my mind lol also apologies in advance for the slight soppiness at the end :o)

13. Aftermath

Belle awoke with a sharp intake of breath, fighting off the hands that tried to bind her to the bed. "Matthew!" She gasped.

"Shh… He's alright, calm down." Nick's voice floated to her, pushing her back down to the softness of the bed.

"What happened?" She stuttered, trying to sit back up, but a wave of nausea forced her back down.

Nick scolded her, explaining how stupid she was to attempt such an attack being in a hostage situation, even if all turned out well – she could have been seriously hurt. However, and luckily so, all was well and Matthew was resting in his room.

"I want to see him." She demanded once the queasiness had subsided enough for her to get to her feet. Nick supported her weight to the doorway of Matthew's room.

"Hey sweetie, you're awake." She whispered as he stirred from his sleep whilst she washed down his face with a damp cloth. She tried hard not to concentrate too hard on the cuts and bruises; already the werewolf gene healing factor was taking care of his more minor cuts. She put the cloth down to the side on the table.

"Mom…" He greeted huskily, as she lent over to kiss his forehead.

"Sorry, I know you're too old for that sort of thing…" She apologised, he seemed not to have noticed as he examined her face, his eyes lingering on the six inch red line adorning her neck from where the needle scratched at her skin. "Here, take these…" She instructed passing him two extra strength aspirin.

"Are you alright? You were hurt." He said, dropping the pills into his mouth and following them with some water.

"I'm fine baby, how are you feeling?" She asked, looking over his face in turn - His olive skin having an unhealthy pallor to it.

He shrugged in response. "Beat and sore. But… can I ask you something?" He asked leaning his head back against the pillow, forcing his eyes to focus, rubbing at them with the palms of his hands.

"Of course baby…" She whispered stroking down his black hair as she sat on the edge of the bed.

He hesitated, looking at the door as it was still open. Belle squeezed his hand and got up to close it. She gave a shy smile to Antonio and Nick who waited outside. She got a brief nod in reply from Antonio as Nick anxiously paced the length of the hallway before she closed the door.

"Those people… they're like me, aren't they?" He asked his voice still croaky.

Belle lifted a glass of water to his lips and helped him take a sip through a straw. She paused deliberately, dabbing his mouth with a tissue and putting the glass back down on the bedside table. "They call themselves The Pack." She explained studying his reaction. "They're a pack of Werewolves, baby."

Matthew furrowed his brow in concentration, and nodded solemnly relaxing back into the bed, wincing as some of his bruised muscles tensed.

"Did you want to get some more sleep?" She asked - he nodded. "Take as long as you want… Love you." She gave him another peck on the forehead and left him alone.

*******

Belle let her son fall asleep. Some of the drugs still circled his blood and according to Clay's past experience and Jeremy's advice would take a couple of days to leave his system entirely. Right now the best thing for him was bed rest.

Pulling his blanket up under his chin, she fussed with tucking it in at the sides, making sure that he was warm enough. Aware that she was being watched, she turned to see Antonio standing in the doorway.

He stood with his hands in his pockets, his face relaxed, wearing an expression alike to relief. "He's a good kid." He murmured, leading Belle away from the door as she closed it too, leaving a slither of a gap.

"I know." She sighed. "How's your arm by the way?" She asked glancing over the bandage on his upper arm.

He smiled at her. "I'll live." He replied.

"Maybe you should sleep – you look exhausted." Belle suggested, to which Antonio shook his head.

"No, you go. I'll keep watch over him for tonight." He said sternly walking her up the hall to her own room. "You've been through enough lately."

"I don't know what I would have done if I couldn't call on you guys." She admitted and before he had a chance to return the compliment she swung up and gave him a strong heartfelt hug, placing a kiss on his stubbly cheek.

A little shocked by the motion, Antonio none the less embraced it, if not a little awkward at first, but soon relaxed into the woman's touch.

"Go on, get to bed." He huffed gruffly, as his cheeks flushed, trying to get over his embarrassment. "Go – I know where to find you when he wakes up."

"'Night then." She smiled, and opened the door to her bedroom.

She paused as she heard a scuffle of furniture from the guest room, and a whimper from within. Curiosity held her attention for a split second realising what Clay and Elena were up to, as she hastily made her way back to her own bedroom.

*********

She sat down on her chaise lounge, resting her head in her hands. She was aware Nick was in the room as he knelt down in front of her, taking her hands from her, cupping them in his own as he looked up into her eyes.

"How could he do that to him…?" She whispered her eyes wide in disbelief, unseeing.

Nick tucked some of her hair behind her ear. "Who was he?" He asked his voice equally as quiet, waiting patiently for her to answer.

"Apart from being the biggest mistake of my life…?" She laughed bitterly sitting back. She pulled up the bottom of her shirt to reveal the side of her stomach, where she stroked her hand over a thin cluster of white lines.

Nick growled angrily snatching her hand away as he examined the scars for himself. He looked up at her, fury glowing in his eyes, as he struggled for words.

"It's okay…" She whispered, stroking her free hand down his jaw, and resting there with her hand on his cheek. "I had my vengeance today."

"What else did he do to you?" Nick asked, finally finding his voice, as Belle let her shirt drop back down, kissing him as a distraction. As she pulled away, she kept her eyes locked with his. "Does it matter?"

"Yes." He replied curtly. "Of course it fucking does!" He exclaimed. "I mean, jesus Belle – I thought he was going to kill you!"

"But he didn't." She snapped back, getting to her feet. "Call it karmic payback. The guy was a sick fuck, and deserved nothing less." She growled.

"I'm not saying he didn't." Nick walked after her, taking hold of her arm firmly.

"Then what are you saying?!" She demanded of him as her eyes brimmed with tears.

Taking her by surprise Nick tangled his hands in her hair, pulling her too him, kissing her hungrily. He felt her relax into him, bringing her arms around his neck, crushing her lips harder against his own reciprocating the hunger, before pulling away.

"I was just scared, okay." He admitted, as she leaned against him – resting his chin on her head.

Keeping her eyes closed, Belle stayed where she stood – listening to the shortened breath coming from the man she embraced, his pulse racing under his skin, and she smiled.

********

As they went to sleep, instead of keeping to her side of the bed - as she had done the previous nights, Belle curled herself up against his chest, drifting off to sleep. He kissed the crown of her head; her hair splayed over his shoulder onto the mattress below.

He breathed a heavy sigh, as she mumbled something in her sleep and rolled over away from him, taking the covers with her. Nick silently laughed to himself, rolling his eyes. He never went looking for anything serious in relationships. In a way he was like Clay – a mate for life, and all that.

He would never admit to it – but he needn't wait for that special one person. He knew he had already found her, but, like his father before him and for the sake of the Pack he had sacrificed his potential happiness, and had substituted relationships based on sex to curb his desires. Any mutual comfort and companionship he placed, was with his Pack.

And now Belle was back in his life once more. Yes, back. He had to keep saying it in his head to remind him that his life had a new existence. He could once again see his future before him – and she had brought him a son. A son! He couldn't help but hope Antonio will be proud for him.

Seeing Matthew for the first time in that cage had surged so many feelings to the surface he thought he would never be capable of feeling. Being fiercely protective over his own flesh and blood, now came with a brand new meaning. And for that, he forgave her completely and whole heartedly. The only resonating thought that swirled in his mind was 'Never again, don't leave, please don't leave.'

"Don't -" He stopped himself realising what he had said out loud, and rather louder than expected.

He felt Belle move, shifting her weight. "Don't what?" She yawned.

Nick blushed. "Nothing – its okay, go back to sleep." He whispered and promptly turned over and feigned his own sleep to avoid any further conversation.