Annabelle, such a random name really. Well to me at the time it was but when he yelled that out it made perfect sense to both him and two others in that courtroom. But while to me it was random I did like it so when my little Omega was born it was the name I gave her. She was born with a little crown of white hair and her eyes were as deep crimson as her father's. It nearly brought me to tears seeing how much my little angel reminded me of my mate.

"My little Annabelle." I cooed softly as I kissed her head. Her Uncle watched from the doorway, "You can come in Ludwig. Not like you haven't seen this before." It wasn't hard to tease him about it and his face turned a soft shade of red.

After a moment he recovered as he sat by my bed, "True but I'd rather forget that…"

"Well I didn't know it was labor when it started." She let out a whimper as I said it, "So do you want to hold her?"

After a moment of hesitation he took her into his arms as a soft smile grew on his face, "She looks just like him."

"Yeah she does…" I said quietly as I touched her leg, "Ludwig, who was Annabelle?" I had asked him a few times before but he would change the subject but now I had him trapped and he wasn't going to get away from my question.

After a deep sigh he looked at me, "She was our sister."

"Sister?" I racked my brain before remembering a conversation years ago when I first met them. It was a random conversation but it was the reason why Gil would call Abel a bastard. "What happened to her?"

When he shook his head I knew what he was going to say, "She died just before the war. She was actually Abel's mate."

"What? Why didn't he ever tell me he was mated?" I said as I sat up as some of the pieces started to fall into place. "And that he was my brother in law?"

Ludwig handed me my daughter back as she started to cry, "Because he was only mated to her for a few weeks before she died." He sighed as he ran a hand through his hair, "It was sudden and it was easier not to talk about it but it crushed Abel."

"Is that why he didn't stay behind or leave?"

He nodded, "It was easier since we were his family at the time."

"Yeah…" I nodded, "Did you ever meet his family?"

He shook his head a Feli poked his head in, "Gil did but I never met them. I knew he had a few brothers though." He said as Feli took his hand. "Yes Feli?"

My soon to be new brother in law smiled, "I'm sorry but can I steal you away for a moment?" He had a twinkle in his eye that I knew all too well.

"Go for it Dude." I said with a warm smile, thankful that at least one of my Alpha brothers was going to be mated. Once they were gone I looked down at my daughter and smiled, "Well my little Annabelle looks like it's just you and me for the moment."

She stared up at me before she gave me a yawn that made me chuckle, "I'm sorry am I keeping you up?" I held her close to my heart, it was still broken but it was slowly mending itself back together. I was already thinking that I would take her to see her father the moment she was old enough and he would wrap his arms around her and kiss her little nose. So as a small tear fell and she closed her eyes I started to hum my mother's song to her.

That song got me through a lot of months than years. Slowly I added to the song to make it my own. Just like the garden I had started growing since we moved in. At first it only had Iris and two rose bushes both for my mother and slowly but surely a whole colorful garden burst to life. Queen Anne's lace for my Uncle, Carnations for my two brothers in law, Lilies for the Omega that would be my sister in law and large sunflowers for a man I never knew. More would be added including forget-me-nots that clung to ivy that wrapped around my porch always reminded me of Abel.

In fact I was trimming a section of it one day in early summer when a young man walked up on my porch. He was slightly older than me with short blonde hair and blue eyes, "Mr. Jones?" He asked as I stopped and turned my head, "Um…my name is Emil."

I pulled off my glove and shook his hand, "Hey Emil you can just call me Alfred." I gave him a smile thinking that he was another lawyer or aide that was working on Gilbert's case. "Do you want a glass of ice tea or something?"

He shook his head as he looked at the growing ivy around us, "But can I talk to you about my brother?"

"Brother?" I asked my mind going to Toris who was inside cleaning at the time. "I didn't know Toris had a brother."

He blinked confused, "No my brother's name was Abel."

"Oh you're Emil." I answered crossing my arms as I leaned on the door frame. "So did Berwald send you?" It was three years since I saw the man but I still had a burning hatred for him at that point. "Because I told him to find the grave himself."

"No." He answered as he shook his head, "No one sent me, but he did tell me you were…with him when he died." Emil looked away as he continued, "And…did he suffer?"

I knew at that moment why he was here so I sat down on my swing and motioned for him to do the same, "No he didn't suffer. He knew when it was his time and I was there so he didn't die alone either."

Slowly he joined me on the swing, "Did he say anything about…me? Or any of us?"

"Yeah he actually did." I smiled softly at the beta man, "His last thoughts were of you and all of his brothers. He told me about when he'd collect fireflies in jars for you and how much he loved you." I reached out and squeezed his hand, "Abel hoped that one day you guys would be together again."

He squeezed my hand back tightly as he nodded, "I remember that day…" He said quietly, "He got in so much trouble."

"But he said he'd do it again just for you." I could tell while he might not have wanted a hug I gave him one anyway. "He was a good Alpha. He was a damn good friend and a wonderful brother."

After a moment he returned my hug, "Thank you Alfred." He muttered softly, "He was a good brother…he was loud but…"

"He always meant well." I finished. "And I know I'm not the only one that misses him." He nodded before he stood up to leave, "Come back any time Emil." I said as I watched him go, knowing deep down that he only wanted answers and that I was the only one that had them, "We can swap stories."

"Thank you Alfred. I might be back." He called back before he was gone.

Sadly he didn't come back nor did any of his brother come either but one day three weeks later someone else came to see me while I was in the garden. I was watching Annabelle as a butterfly fluttered around her before it would land on her head, she would giggle wildly and it would fly off only to return a few minutes later. "Friend, Mama."

"Yeah he is." I laughed as a shadow appeared behind me, "Oh hey Ludwig. Quick go grab the camera this is adorable."

Suddenly the shadow wrapped it's arms around me and the scent hit me, "After I hug you my awesome little mate."

"Gilbert!" I yelled as I swung around as I embraced him as hard as I could. "What the hell? What are you doing here? How did you get out? My god did you escape?"

He laughed as Annabella raced over to him, "I'm too awesome to say behind those bars forever." He said as he kissed me, "I thought it would be a nice surprise though so."

"You still didn't answer me." I said but really I didn't care. "How?"

"How, there'll be time for that my blue bird." He picked up our youngest as he pulled me up to my feet. "I'll tell you all about it tonight after I well show you how much I missed you."

I opened the door as I kissed him again still in disbelief, "I missed you too but,"

"I'll tell you everything I promise. Hell I'll go back to the beginning if I have to." He said as he closed the door behind us. "I'll even tell you about my Mama's favorite flowers if you want."

I grinned as I hugged him, "And I'll tell you about mine."