21. December

On a day where December hadn't yet settled to make up its mind whether to be cold or not – the sun shone brilliantly down on the garden of Stonehaven. The peace however, was somewhat disrupted by shouts and laughing from its residents and guests playing on the grounds.

"You look positively content Jeremy." Belle commented bouncing Kate on her knee, as the toddler laughed with every motion.

Jeremy had Logan sitting on his lap, as they sat at a garden table. A spread of paper and crayons adorned its surface with various paperweights as Logan furrowed his brows in creating his scribbles.

"I am." He replied smiling as he looked down at his grandson, giving a kiss to the crown of his blonde head, before sharply looking up. Belle followed his gaze over to Elena, Clay, Antonio and Nick. Mathew was laughing as he stole the ball from Clay, pushing him over and ran off at top speed in the other direction with the rest of the Pack at his heels. His cunning speed and agility to turn corners swifter than the others put them at a slight disadvantage, until Clay caught up with him – forcing Matthew to jump up into a tree. Clay refused to let him come back down, much to the amusement of everyone else.

Belle chuckled, watching Clay pace at the base of the tree. "I'm indebted to you Jeremy." She said as Jeremy waved a hand down in her direction knowing what was coming.

"I won't hear of it." He said. "You've brought the future of this Pack with you, and I feel it is I who is indebted to you."

Belle shook her head getting to her feet, placing Katherine on the floor as the toddler ran inside. "Let's just call it even then?" She asked. Jeremy joined her, bringing Logan inside with him in one arm, and his artwork in the other.

Settling Logan down in the hallway to follow his sister, Jeremy literally followed his nose into the kitchen where Belle was struggling to pull a large tray from the oven.

"Here – let me…" He instructed deftly taking the tray from her and settled it on the worktop, where Belle inspected the roasted beef.

"Lunch is ready!" She called out the window as Jeremy started cutting off strips of meat with an electric carving knife.

Belle was placing the dishes of vegetables and assortment of sauces on the table in the dining room as Nick came in squeezing his Son's shoulder, congratulating him on his plays. "How are you feeling?" He asked pulling Belle into his arms and kissing her.

"Urgh, get a room." Matthew scoffed, spinning the football on his fingertips.

Belle swatted him on the arm when she pulled back from the kiss, and frowned. "No toys at the table." She stated, he rolled his eyes and threw the football out the nearest open window.

Once the dinner was finished, Nick examined the leftovers on Belle's plate, as everybody else's was picked clean.

"Sorry, I'm just not very hungry." She huffed rubbing her stomach.

"Feeling sick again?" Nick asked concerned. She nodded taking a sip of her water. "Don't worry, I got this last time – I found most food was just too rich." She explained, pulling her shirt tight over the small mound on her belly. "I think I survived on just cheese and biscuits." She chuckled. "And maybe the odd pickle." She smiled dozily.

"Don't worry; we'll find something more to your palette." Jeremy added to the conversation as he cleaned the plates away, he couldn't hide the concerned look flitter across his face from Nick.

"You have to be careful babe – remember what the doctor said." Nick worried.

"I know what the doctor said… I see him twice a week remember?" She shushed him. "Anyway, I think I may be able to handle some fruit, possibly a strawberry or two?" She hinted, as Nick chuckled and got to his feet, returning a couple of minutes later with a small bowl of fruits consisting of strawberries, peaches, grapes and half a mango.

Settling herself in the large comfy armchair by the fire in the study, Nick say down by her feet massaging at her swollen ankles as she picked at the bowl.

"'Love you." He said, looking up at her as she blew him a kiss. They were distracted by Elena and Matthew sticking their fingers in their mouths imitating to be sick.

"Oh, shut up. I'm allowed to kiss my husband however I please!" Belle laughed throwing a playful scowl at them and kissed Nick roughly as he sat up.

The wedding happened in late August, it had only been a small affair - the garden had been decorated with hundreds upon hundreds of fairy-lights strung through the trees, Belle wore a simple white strapless dress, as Nick wore a matching ivory suit. After finally selling her house in Wisconsin; Belle had taken up Nick's offer at sharing the house his father owned. The training Antonio afforded Matt in defence was invaluable as he was an active member of the Pack now, and Clay seemed to have taken him under his wing somewhat and was constantly keeping a personal eye on him whenever they went after any Mutts.

"I'll tell you what…" Belle decided pulling apart from the kiss. "When Savannah gets in next week - we'll just all pack up and leave the two of you alone." His face paled and he scowled at her. As similar in age the two teens were, they had a complete personality clash and lots of bickering was always present whenever the two of them stayed in each others company for more than a few hours.

"Or we could just tell her he's attracted to her…" Nick mused, to which he just laughed seeing the look on Matt's face - A look of sheer terror.

"Dad, you suck!" Was the only thing Matthew could retort before storming from the study.

Belle giggled pulling him to her ear where she whispered. "Isn't that my job?" He looked at her hungrily and kissed her again.

End

And so there we have it… done, finished, all gone. How sad. Thank you for all who have stayed with me through this story – it was great to write, and it's nice to know I'm not the only person with a fixation on Nick (Ahh, Nick – one sexy wolf lol).

Anyway, take care y'all – I may even be tempted to write some other Otherworld stuff – I love it!

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