I slept as well as I could, awaking every so often to feed my son. He was a good little boy with a damn good set of lungs. But eventually I would return back to my spot in bed still slightly warm as Gil would once again wrap his arms around my chest.

Slowly the sun's rays peeked into our room as I laid there watching Cain sleep in his bassinet just below the window. Out of all the hell that had happened in the past few years I felt like it made up for much of it and I was happy. It was then that I noticed Gabi asleep next to the wooden crib. She was curled up around it and as Cain would whimper she'd raise her head and bump it with her nose making the bassinet rock slightly drifting Cain back to sleep. I smiled warmly as Gilbert chuckled as he kissed the nap of my neck, "Well we found ourselves a pretty good babysitter."

That German Shepard loved my little boy and was never far from him whether it be napping, bath time or sharing dinner with each other they did it together. I think it's one of the reasons why Ludwig never moved out. It would mean he would either have to leave Gabi behind or take Gabi away from Cain, both he could never do. But then I doubt he'd want to leave his young nephew either, he like his canine companion adored Cain. He'd hold my son every chance he could and when I went into heat he'd offer to take off to watch my baby.

Cain had the brightest blue eyes I had ever seen and his hair turned into a little mess of dirty blonde hair by the time he was sixteen months old. He would 'talk' nonstop and most he said was Doggie this or Doggie that. His little world was perfect in his eyes as long as he had us and of course his little doggie.

Little did he know that his world was going to get a bit bigger, in fact the day I found out I was pregnant again was the day the war ended. It came on the news as we all sat around the living room as Cain played in Gilbert's lap. The reporter smiled at the camera before simply saying, "The war is over."

It wasn't this grand thing like in years past when news like this arrived. We didn't hug or kiss but simply sighed in relief that maybe things would get back to normal. What we got was a new surge of people mostly Alpha and Beta men into the city. Most if not all of them were ex-soldiers trying to find jobs or family after finding their homes gone. Others were wounded men and women that had nowhere else to go; many were missing a leg or arm from the fighting while others suffered from the hell they witnessed. They would sit at the corners and just stare but I could tell they weren't really there, they were damaged people and what was worse was no one cared. Most would simply walk past and ignore them while others would be little them. But actions made me sick to my stomach to see, it wasn't their faults and to know that my brother might be among them would bring tears to my eyes.

I still looked for him every chance I could take. I'd leave Cain with Eliza or Ludwig on his day off and search for my brother in one of the many missions popping up around the city. I'd be told the same things, that if they'd see him they'd let me know or that he wasn't there so try another. I never received a single call so by the time I was four months along I had all but given up hope.

It was a chilly day and I had hoped it wasn't going to snow since I had not only Cain with me but Gabi as well. It had been a long day for me since both men had been at work I had to do a bit of the shopping but Cain wouldn't stop screaming since I told him Gabi couldn't go. So like a good Mother I let the dog come too. Thankfully I knew the shop owner so it wasn't too much of a hassle but going home was another story as I held a few bags in my hand as Cain sat on my arm as I had Gabi's leash wrapped around the other. Cain was talking my ear off about this and that while Gabi won't stop pulling at her leash. I'd pull her back and glare down at her like Ludwig would do in hopes getting her to behave only to receive a cry from the dog. "Mommy mean." Cain said with a nasty glare at me after watching me pull her back.

"What? Mommy's not mean." I answered back as I prayed for the bus to appear soon.

His little gaze sharpened and I was instantly reminded of his uncle, "Mean to Gabi. Mean Mommy."

While today I know it wasn't personal and he didn't say it to hurt me but at the time it stung. "Baby Mommy's not mean." I forced a smile as I kissed his forehead before nearly losing my balance as Gabi tugged at my arm. "Damn it, now stop!" I yelled down at her before Cain burst into tears. Instantly I regretted it as I tried to calm him down only to have him scream louder.

I didn't know what to do and with everyone staring at me I decided to walk towards home instead. It was the way Gabi had been pulling anyway and I thought by the time we made it home Cain would either have calmed down or been so exhausted that he would just fall asleep. Soon his screams turned to a hiccupped sniffle so with still a dozen blocks to go I started to hum to him. When I got half way I stopped to let Gabi pee on a sign so I started to sing a song I knew all too well, "Hush my sweet child, darling boy. I'll always be with you until I'm no more. The angels smile down at you and on me. And until we're united again you will see. That I love you as you love me."

Finally Cain laid his head on my shoulder as I kissed his tiny nose. "Sorry Mommy…" He said quietly as he snuggled up to my chest.

I chuckled quietly as laid my cheek on top of his head, "Mommy's sorry too baby."

What I heard next nearly made me drop all my bags, "A-Alfred?"

My head whipped around so fast I'm sure I nearly gave myself whiplash, "Matthew!?" I cried out as I nearly startled Cain again. My eyes widened at what I saw. Matthew was sitting alone on the sidewalk in nothing but what I'm sure he was discharged with. His jacket was worn and barely kept him warm against the late fall chill, his shoes were caked in mud and his hair was wildly long but what shocked me the most were his eyes. They were wrapped in blood incrusted gauze and it was clear from where I was standing that they hadn't been changed in weeks if not months. "Mattie? Is that you?" I asked while I was certain it was I didn't know if he was the same Alpha that was dragged from our home over four years before.

Instantly he gave me a smile I had never forgotten. "Yeah it's me." Slowly he reached out for my hand and I quickly gave him the one that held Gabi's leash.

I felt the tears welling up in my eyes as I hugged him the best I could. "God damn it, I missed you Bro." I held him tighter as I kissed his cheek, "Dude I looked everywhere for you!"

He laughed as he smiled, "I missed you too." He said as he sniffed the air, "Did you mate?"

"Yeah I did and it's kinda a long story." I looked to Cain who stared at the man before him in pure confusion in fact it was the most quiet he had ever been, "I have my first in my arms and he's a little boy named Cain."

"First?" He said in shock before he reached out feeling my slightly swollen stomach, "Is that?"

I rested my hand on his as I smiled, "Yep that's my second and she'll be here in about five months." After a moment I took his hand again and helped him to his feet knowing instantly that he was coming with me. "Do you want help with your things?"

He shook his head as he felt for his brown backpack by his feet. "I have it but…"

"They won't mind. Hell they know I've been looking for you." I said as I took his hand again and started to walk. We were nearly home before I dared to ask, "Are you…"

"Yeah." He answered quietly, "I'm blind."