It had been three years since I've updated this story. Over that time, I've gotten a lot of messages asking me when I was going to continue. I just figured it all would be forgotten about, but you guys didn't let me. I've been wanting to update, but I was so writer's blocked. Thank you everyone for continuing to want to read these stories. I so appreciate it.

XIX. Straight from the Heart

Give it to me straight from the heart
Tell me we can make another start
You know I'll never go, as long as I know
It's coming straight from the heart

-Bryan Adams

It was two in the morning when Judy Danvers woke up, feeling a warm dampness between her thighs. Still half-awake, in the back of her mind the sensation was odd as she had not wet the bed since she was three years of age. Then full reality hit her and her eyes flew open.

"Caleb!" she yelped.

He startled awake. "Huh?" The urgency of his wife's voice brought him to full consciousness.

"My water broke," she said shakily.

Caleb was out of bed and on his feet immediately. His heart was pounding but he managed to keep himself in control. He helped Judy out of bed and into some dry clothes at her insistence. He hurriedly dressed in jeans and t-shirt himself; their commotion had woken their parents.

"I'll call the hospital," Evelyn exclaimed. And she hurried off to inform them that they were on their way.

"The damn snow," Judy's father grumbled, hoping that it would not hinder them so his baby girl could get to the hospital safely.

Downstairs, Caleb grabbed Judy's bag they'd packed weeks ago and ran outside to put it in the car. Then he came back to assist his wife into the vehicle. Judy's mother rode in the back with them, while Evelyn and Judy's father said they would follow.

"Breathe, honey," Judy's mother instructed. "Just like you learned."

Judy groaned through a contraction, which were picking up considerably as they made their way. Caleb peeked over at her periodically; not wanting to take his eyes off the slippery roads for too long. He winced when a cry emitted from his wife's voice.

"Squeeze my hand, sweetheart," he said, wanting, needing to do something.

"Aah!" Judy exclaimed, taking her husband's hand in a bone-crushing grasp.

"You're almost there," the doctor informed Judy four hours later.

Her brow was sweaty and she was exhausted. Her family was waiting outside and only her mother and Caleb were allowed in the room with her.

"One more big push!" the nurse said excitedly.

Judy grasped both Caleb's and her mother's hand; ground her teeth and pushed as hard as she could. Five seconds later she heard the most beautiful cry in the world.

"It's a boy!" the nurse announced.

Judy collapsed against the pillows. She willed her eyes open to see her son who was being cleaned up by the nurses, then placed in her arms. Caleb was entranced as was his mother-in-law by this tiny creature that had been brought into the world.

So, on January 26, 2018, Wesley William Danvers, fourth son of the new generation of the Covenant, was born.

"He's so cute!" Rowan exclaimed. The entire family was standing on the other side of the window observing baby Wesley in his bassinet.

"Just one more and the new generation will be all together," Pogue said, smiling at his wife.

"Christ, I feel old," Hunter said, among chuckles.

An hour later they were leaving the hospital, having gone to go in twos to see Judy and family. Hunter rode with Reid, Rowan and Lucius as he was staying with them on Rowan's quiet insistence, and Reid's overt orders. Tomorrow was Hunter's day to meet with his mother, and he had to admit that he was nervous. A planned heart-to-heart with his mother was something foreign to him. Most of his life he'd avoided in-depth conversations with her because it always brought up old resentments.

"So, what's for dinner tonight guys?" Rowan questioned as Reid drove.

"I'll cook tonight," Hunter said after making a goofy face at Luke.

Reid groaned dramatically.

"Hey, my cooking is better than yours," Hunter defended. "At least food poisoning isn't one of my side dishes."

"Hey!" Reid exclaimed. "Don't listen to him, Luke."

"Yeah, sure," Hunter replied. He playfully brushed his finger on Luke's chubby cheek. "You got your mommy to cook for you. Best grub on the planet."

"Thank you," Rowan smiled.

The ride home was quiet and uneventful. The steady drive lulled the baby off to sleep, so when they pulled up in the driveway and extricated themselves from the car Rowan carefully unbuckled her son from his car seat. Erwin, Tilly and Bruce Lee tittered around their humans' feet when they entered, just giving them enough room to take their coats off and kick off their snowy shoes.

"Swear, they act like they haven't seen us in years instead of hours," Reid commented. "What's the deal, huh?" He picked up Tilly and was given a scratchy lick on the tip of his nose. She wiggled for freedom when she saw the dog and ferret following Rowan upstairs with a still sleeping Lucius in her arms.

Hunter wandered into the living room while checking his phone. No voicemail or text message from Gabriel. This was the longest they'd ever gone without communication, not including the times when one or the other was out on a mission. He missed his boyfriend terribly, every morning he would reach over to the other side of the bed only to be reminded that Gabe wasn't there. Hunter sighed and sat on the couch.

The blond Son let his friend to his thoughts and followed his wife upstairs. It was his understanding that Hunter was going to meet with his mother the next day and have a long overdue conversation. Reid could count on his hands the number of times the Shepherd had brought up the topic of his mother of his own volition, and his tone was rarely without a bite. Reid hoped for Hunter's sake and peace of mind that he would work out whatever resentment issues he had with Lorena Smith. Perhaps it would bring about reconciliation with Gabriel, God knew Hunter needed it, Reid thought. The guy was just a wreck without his other half.

And speaking of other halves, Reid smiled at his in the nursery. "He still down?"

Rowan nodded, gently brushing Luke's ebony hair with her fingertips. "Do you think he'll be okay, Reid?" she asked quietly.

The blond sighed and wrapped his arms around Rowan's waist. "I hope so."

Hunter could not have pussy-footed around more than if he were off to the gallows instead of brunch with his mother in the home he grew up in. He barely slept a wink the previous night, going over in his head whether or not the forthcoming discussion with his mom was the best thing, though deep down he knew that it was. Besides, Hunter didn't think that Reid and Rowan would let him skip this event, even if they had to truss him up and take him forcibly.

He drove more slowly than usual, his trepidation the cause more so than the weather. The closer he got to his mother's house the more his stomach tightened in knots. Damn, he was calmer during missions, he berated himself. Hunter just didn't know what this talk would bring up. But nothing that had gone through his mind prepared him for what he encountered that early afternoon.

"Hunter!" his step-father greeted him at the door with a perfunctory hug. "You look great."

"Thanks," he replied. "You, too." He shucked his coat and hung it up. "So…"

"Your mom is waiting for you in the sitting room," he said.

The look on his step-dad's face gave Hunter pause. "Something wrong?"

Daniel swallowed, his eyes shifted. "Well…you'll see. It's best if your mom tells you." He led his step-son into the family room. His wife was seated comfortably among pillows, the sun shining through the large bay windows lit her eyes, but it could not diminish the ravages of months of chemotherapy and radiation treatment wreaked upon her, or the double mastectomy.

Hunter was shocked into silence. His mother, his usual quite vibrant mother was a skeleton. Her designer clothes could not conceal the lack of meat on her bones, or the wan look on her skin. And she was clearly wearing a wig.

"I'll leave you two alone," Daniel said. "Sweetheart, do you need anything?"

"No, thank you, dear," Lorena replied. "Please, come sit next to me, Hunter." She patted the empty space next to her on the couch. "Are you hungry?"

He shook his head silently. He didn't think he'd ever be hungry again. Hunter sat like a block next to her. "Mom…?" He had so many questions. She was sick, that was obvious, but how sick? For how long?

She took his hands in his. "It's not as bad as it looks." Lorena put on a brave smile.

"I don't understand."

She took a breath. "Well, about six months ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer; hence, our trip to Sweden with the best oncologists and surgeons available."

Hunter shook his head. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to worry you, Hunter. You have such a stressful job and I didn't want to put anything extra on your plate."

How could she be so calm? So nonchalant about all this? This was a blow to the chest for Hunter. "How can you be so…calm?" his thoughts gave words.

She smiled ruefully at her only son. "I've had a lot of time to come to terms with this, sweetie. A lot of days and nights of anger, grief, sadness, and eventually acceptance. Daniel was an amazing comfort."

His green eyes alighted on her. In that one sentence he heard something, a recrimination, but not from his mother to him, but to himself. He was her son; he should have been a part of that comfort. But when have you ever shown those kinds of emotions to your mom? He mentally castigated himself.

"How have you been, sweetheart?" Lorena asked. She leaned slightly and put a skeletal hand upon his.

He was quiet for a moment. How has he been? His mother stared at him intently, wanting to know the ins and outs of his life while she wasted away from cancer. Hunter licked his lips, making a sound that could've been a clearing of throat or an admission of complete loss.

"Hunter?" his mother prompted.

He shook his head. Looked at her, looked away. "Uh…me and Gabe are separated."

Lorena's brow creased. "I am so sorry, sweetie." She squeezed his hand. "What happened?"

Hunter swallowed. "He wants kids, for a while now."

"Well, that's not so bad. You two would make wonderful fathers."

He peered at her. "Any kids we would have had would have come to hate us when they figured out what we were."

Lorena was shaking her head. "Never."

"You did," he blurted, and instantly regretted it. Now was not the time to be bringing up his demons with his dying mother. There would never be a time for that. Not now.

Tears clouded her eyes. She sniffled and procured a tissue from the table behind her. "I know…I know I did not handle your powers well, at all. I know that. But I always loved you. Never hated you, ever. I am so proud of you."

His jaw clenched. "You couldn't even look at me sometimes." The words came unbidden. The proverbial Pandora's Box of confessions was open.

"I was only ever afraid for you, Hunter. I know you don't believe that, but my actions came from pure fear for you fate. Keeping you away from your uncles – fear. If I could go back I would handle it so differently, but…" She wiped away a fallen tear. "I am not now, nor have I been ashamed of you."

"Then…why…?" A lump rose in his throat, and hot tears threatened to escape.

"I was young, honey. The man I loved was dead because of what he did with his power, and then I found myself alone with a little boy, the light of my life. And I knew I could never survive losing you. So I discouraged your power, and your want of knowledge of it. I was wrong."

"I just…" He stood up abruptly, running a furtive hand through his hair, not gently. "I felt wrong…with you."

She nodded. "I will never forgive myself for making you feel this way." Lorena coughed. "But I hope that, in time, you will believe that I love you, more than anything."

Hunter looked at his mother. Her eyes were clear with truth and meaning.

"I am so proud of you. Rowan has told me all the amazing things you have done-"

"You talked to Rowan about me?" he interrupted.

"Yes. I just…wanted to know you better."

He wasn't angry. It didn't surprise him that Rowan was trying bridge the gap between mother and son any way she could. "What did she say?"

Lorena smiled. "She told me about the people you save, even risking your own life to do so. She always tells me how you've taken such good care of her, with and without your power. I could not be more proud that you are my son."

And then, his tears fell from his jade eyes. It was the only thing he'd ever wanted to hear from his mother – acceptance, of him and what he was, what he could do. Hunter went to her open arms and let her embrace him for the first time in years. She was so frail, but warm.

"You mean it?" he asked, feeling as if he were five years old again.

"With all my heart," she replied.