Chapter 73: Needlepoint

Normal POV

"Well here we are . . ." mumbled the Viper as he drove the Hummer into the parking lot of a familiar building that he hadn't seen since months' prior. "Here's the clinic . . . We haven't been here since you gave birth to the twins 'Manda."

"Oh yeah . . . all those months ago . . ." said Amanda as she shook her head. "I still remember that day well . . . Especially the part where I had to go through the painful process of childbirth, twice."

"I remember that day too . . . You practically broke my hand in that death grip of yours," said Randy as he parked the car in a spot next to a shiny black Mercedes. "I had one long crack along my hand thanks to you."

"You healed, didn't you?" Amanda asked him sarcastically as Randy turned off the engine. Randy shot her a small grimace for an answer as he undid his seatbelt, gaining an eye-roll from his fiancée for his troubles. "Anyway, are you ready to go inside?"

"Well . . . maybe," said the Viper as he exited the car. "I just don't know what to expect. Anything could have happened to afflict my mother for crying out. We may be vampires, but we're not absolutely impervious to everything around us."

"You've been silent for practically the whole ride here Ran . . ." said Amanda as she quickly slid out of the backseat and exited the car, careful to not disturb the now-sleeping twins as she did so. "Were you thinking about your mom the entire time?"

"Well that's a stupid question. Of course I was thinking about my mom . . ." Randy told her with a small roll of his eyes, a little agitation showing through. "Who wouldn't be thinking about their mom after getting a call from their sister telling them to get to the clinic immediately due to something concerning their mother?"

"Sorry I asked then . . ." grumbled the Anaconda as she walked over to the Hummer's trunk. "You just seemed so deep in thought during the drive . . . You were just so unreadable. It really got me curious as to what you were thinking, that's all."

"And you didn't even bother to use your telepathy to look?" Randy asked with an eyebrow raised as he used his keys to unlock the car trunk.

"The mind is a private area Ran. Your thoughts are meant to be yours and yours alone . . ." Amanda said with a shrug as she opened the trunk and retrieved the girls' stroller before reclosing the door. "If you want me to look into them, then I'll look into them, but most of the time, I don't bother with it. I may be a psychic, but that doesn't mean I have to invade your mental privacy 24/7."

"I'm sorry if my words had offended you, well, if they had . . ." the Viper said out of the blue as he took out Dani's car seat while Amanda unfolded the stroller. "As you can probably tell, I'm not really in a good mood. I haven't been since Becky called earlier."

"I understand baby . . ." said the woman as she watched her mate quickly fasten the older twin's car seat into place on the stroller. "I would probably be feeling the same things you are feeling right now if it was my mom in this situation."

"I'm just hoping nothing too bad happened to her . . ." said the Viper as he pulled Gabi's car seat out of the back before closing the door with his foot. "I don't know how I would react if I found out something absolutely terrible happened to her."

"I'm guessing you would react negatively to the news, very negatively might I add . . ." said Amanda as Randy quickly fastened Gabi's seat onto the stroller. "Let's just hope that it's not the case okay? C'mon, we better get inside before the others start wondering what's taking us so long."

Randy slowly nodded his head at her statement. He quickly set the alarm on his Hummer before following after 'Manda, him pushing the stroller along as they made their way to the building. As soon as they entered the building, they caught sight of Nate leaning against the wall right by the entrance to the gift shop, his eyes looking focused as he kept his arms crossed over his chest.

"Nate!" Randy called out to get his younger brother's attention. As soon as he heard his name, Nate looked up to see the snake family walking over to his position, a relieved look spreading across his face as he unfolded his arms. "What happened to Mom Nate? Is she alright?"

"She's going to be fine Ran . . ." said Nate as he put a comforting hand on his older brother's shoulder. "Mom was a little out of it for a good few hours, but she'll be fine. Becky, Dad, and his parents are with her right now. They should be making their way out here any minute now."

"Nate, what exactly happened to Elaine anyway?" Amanda asked him curiously as she raised an eyebrow. "Becky called us a while ago telling us to get here as soon as possible, but she wouldn't elaborate on why?"

"She didn't elaborate because she figured Randy would go into road rage mode, now didn't she?" Nate asked with a knowing look on his face as they both snuck a look Randy's way, which the Viper managed to notice, much to his chagrin.

"Am I really that predictable?" Randy asked with narrowed eyes as he turned to both his brother and his mate. Both of them immediately shook their heads yes for an answer. "Well that's nice to know . . ."

"Hey! Don't blame Becky . . . Knowing you as long as we all have, she was just being careful that's all . . ." said Nate as he shrugged. "I figured it would take you guys a little longer to get here though . . ."

"We weren't home when Becky called. We were at our future wedding venue to settle some final details . . ." Amanda quickly said as she combed her fingers through her curly black hair. "So, what happened to Elaine that it resulted in her being brought here?"

"I was at Mom and Dad's place all by my lonesome when I got the call from Becky on what happened. Everyone else was at the Country Club at a meeting where they were going over the different events they had planned for the Coven for the summer when all of a sudden some kind of shot crashed through the window and got Mom straight in the back of her shoulder. . ." said Nate as he trailed off in the instance his brother's intense Viper like glare started to come across his face.

"You mean . . . like a gunshot?" Amanda asked the question as she placed a hand over one of Randy's own in an effort to calm him. Randy's expression softened just a fraction at the contact of his mate, but it wasn't enough to fully lessen the impact of his intense gaze. "For both mine, and especially Randy's, sakes, please tell us it wasn't a freaking gunshot."

"It wasn't a gunshot . . ." said Nate, gaining a sigh of relief from Amanda in return. "It was more like a needle."

"Mom got shot in the shoulder with a needle?" Randy asked as he narrowed his eyes even further. "How is that possible?"

"That's what I'm trying to wrap my head around," said Nate as he shook his head. "The needle that she got hit with is the same size as a needle you would see at the end of a syringe you'd find in a doctor's office, or a druggie's room."

"If it's that small, it shouldn't have been able to travel long before hitting Elaine," said Amanda as an intuitive look came across her face. "Whoever shot that needle had to be close."

"You mean, like a close range shooter?" grumbled Randy as he turned to his fiancée.

"If you wanted the needle to break through solid glass and still be able to hit your target after entry, then yes, you would have to be either in close range, or really strong to pull off that feat," said Amanda as she shook her head. "What I don't get is why would anyone want to shoot Elaine with a needle? She's not one for making enemies. That's usually Randy's and Bob's department, and Nate's, occasionally . . ."

"Well, you got me there on that one . . . grumbles the Viper as a disgruntled look came across his brother's face. "What's wrong Nate?"

"What Amanda said just now . . . ? About us and Dad having a habit of making enemies, it makes a little sense . . ." grumbled the younger Orton as he shook his head. "Some of the other people at the meeting think that the needle was meant for Dad instead of Mom, to tell you the truth."

"Wait a minute . . ." mumbled Amanda as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "Are you saying that we have a case of your Mom being a victim of the classic 'wrong place, wrong time' scenario?"

"That's exactly what I was leading into . . ." said Nate as he shook his head. "The people at the meeting remember very clearly that Dad was standing in the spot Mom was occupying when she was hit a couple of minutes before the attack happened. It could have been for him, but he just moved out of the way just in time."

". . . And Mom unknowingly stepped right into the crossfire . . ." the Viper said as he held back a curse word. "Do they have any idea on who could have fired that needle?"

"No clue yet . . . Guards were searching around the entire property, but they didn't find a single trace of the person that did it or any resemblance of a weapon," said Nate as he put his hands on his hips. "There was a scent, but it died away quickly. Whoever did this really knows how to not leave any tracks."

"Well, the quicker the guy that did this is found, the better . . ." the Viper grumbled; his body tense as he held onto the handles of the stroller. Amanda was about to say some soothing words to her disgruntled mate when the sounds of Bob's hoarse voice got all of their attention. The three turned their heads to see the rest of the Orton clan walking toward them from somewhere down the hallway. Rita and Bob Sr. were in the lead while Bob and Elaine were in the middle while Becky and Marvin brought up the rear. All of them walking with various emotions displayed on their faces, from the one of relief on Bob Jr. and Rita's faces, to the look of contained anger on Becky's.

"I think Becky there is giving Randy a run for his money in the angry look department," said Nate in a small attempt to lighten the tense mood surrounding them. "She's been a foil mood ever since the incident."

"I don't blame her . . ." was all Randy said as the rest of the family finally reached them, his eyes now set squarely on his mother. "How are you feeling Mom?"

"Better now . . ." said Elaine as she checked her left shoulder, lifting her shirt to reveal the top of a white bandage that lay across a small section of her skin. "The vervain laced in that needle was some strong stuff."

"A vervain-laced needle you say?" Amanda asked in slight shock as she noticed Randy holding in a tense breath. "It wasn't . . . It wasn't Scarlett Vervain was it?"

"No . . . Thank heavens it wasn't Scarlett Vervain or else we would be hearing both Randy and Becky yelling up a storm . . ." said Elaine as she shot glances at her oldest and youngest child. "You two have a bit of a tendency to react without hearing all the facts first."

"Well what do you know? Mom just called you two out on your habit for overreacting . . ." said Nate as he let out a small chuckle. He quickly stopped as soon as Randy and Becky turned their gazes on him. "I'll shut up now."

"Anyway . . ." said Amanda as she tried to steer the conversation back to the actual situation at hand. "What kind of vervain was the needle laced with exactly?"

"A paralysis type . . ." said Rita as she shook her head. "You should have seen it in action for yourselves. One moment everything is going fine at the meeting, and the next thing you know the wife of the Coven's leader is down on the ground as stiff as a wooden board."

"It was like someone froze me from the inside out," said Elaine as she shook her head. "My body just froze up completely. I couldn't move. I couldn't talk. I couldn't even blink. I was completely stuck until the good doctor gave me an antidote for the vervain's effects."

"Why would someone go through all the trouble to do this though?" asked Nate as he brought a hand to his chin. "I don't get it."

"My best guess is that the needle was meant for me and not Elaine . . ." said Bob as he shook his head. "I was standing in the spot Elaine was at when the needle hit. I wouldn't be surprised if it was discovered that I was indeed the intended target."

"Which irritates me just the same . . ." grumbled the Viper as he watched as Amanda adjusted the small caps that their twins' were wearing on their heads.

"Well, we could worry about who is responsible for this and why he or she did it later . . ." said Elaine as she shook her head. "What's done is done. I just don't want to think about it anymore. Besides, I would rather we focus on something positive than on something negative that we all know that some members of the family will be bitter about in the long run."

"I feel that that last statement was directed toward me and Randy," Becky said rather bluntly as she and Randy shared a knowing look. "But anyway, we will try to comply with your wish. Do you have anything positive in particular you want us to talk about instead then mother?"

"I do have something in mind," said Elaine as her gaze went to Amanda, everyone else's eyes following suit. "Amanda, how is the wedding planning going?"

"Way to change the direction of the conversation Elaine . . ." said Amanda, which gained her a long-awaited laugh from the rest of the group. "Anyway, Randy and I were actually coming from the wedding venue when we got Becky's call a while back."

"Ah, so the location is settled then. That's good to hear . . ." said Elaine as she shook her head. "How's the dress hunting going then?"

"I'm still hunting . . ." said Amanda as she shook her head. "Wedding dress, maid of honor's dress, the bridesmaids' dresses . . . Yeah, I'm still searching."

"Good, then you won't mind us girls going on a little excursion today," said Elaine as she clapped her hands together. "There are a couple of boutiques downtown that we could check out. And while we do that, the boys could go looking for tuxedos for the big day."

"Uh Mom, shouldn't you rest first before you do anything else?" asked Randy as he raised an eyebrow. "You were just paralyzed for a good while after all."

"Yes, I was paralyzed for a good while, but I am fine now," said Elaine as she turned to her eldest son. "And right now, I feel like perusing a whole bunch of wedding dress boutiques, and I'm not going to have my eldest child tell me otherwise, alright Randall?"

"Yes mother . . ." said Randy, feeling like a little child getting a tongue-lashing from his mother as everyone else tried to hold back a laugh. "But I think you're going to have to ask 'Manda here if she's willing to go looking for dresses today. She is the future bride after all."

"I'm fine with it . . ." said Amanda as she shook her head. "While I go with the girls to look at dresses, you can go with the guys to pick out tuxedos. Maybe they can help you finally decide on who should be your best man at the wedding."

"Bro!" said Nate as he looked at his elder sibling in shock while a bemused expression came across the Viper's own façade. "You still haven't decided on your official number two for the big day yet?"

"Uh . . ." said Randy as he shook his head. ". . . No, no I haven't. I'm still stuck on that."

"Hmm . . . maybe some time with the guys will help you think a little clearly on your whole best man issue . . ." said Bob Sr. as he shook his head. "How about we all meet up at the house after we're finished our . . . excursions hmm?"

"That sounds like a plan . . ." said Amanda as she shook her head. "The girls and I can take Randy's Hummer and the boys could drive in whatever car the rest of you arrived in."

"Do we have to take Randy's gas guzzler?" asked Becky as Amanda actually put her hand into the Viper's pocket to retrieve the Hummer keys herself.

"Sis, don't you dare talk bad about my Hummer . . ." said the Viper as he narrowed his eyes at his little sister.

"We all know it's true though . . ." said Becky as she began walking toward the front door. "Bye boys! We'll see you all later!"

"Babe, please make sure you look at some nice suits, or suits in general, while you guys are out okay?" said Amanda as she took over Randy's position behind the stroller. "I don't want to hear anything along the lines of you guys deciding to skip looking for tuxedos in favor of going to the Cardinals game or something okay?"

"I promise we'll look at tuxedos, like you want us to okay?" said Randy as pecked her forehead. "But if we end up finding tuxedos that you approve of, I make no promises on what happens afterward okay?"

"Fair enough . . ." said Amanda as she pecked him on the cheek. "Elaine, do you happen to know what my mom is up to now?"

"She's probably at home trying to finish up the last of that big self-help book she's been reading for the past few weeks now. She's been driving your father crazy with it ever since she got it from a coworker of hers . . ." said Elaine as she took out her phone from her pocket. "I'll call Calypso now to tell her of our plans. We'll probably meet at the first boutique though."

"First boutique?" Amanda asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Of course . . ." said Elaine as she shook her head. "Searching for one's wedding dress is a timely affair. It's going to take a while until you find the dress."

"Oh joy . . ." said Amanda as she watched as Elaine and Rita walked toward the exit. "We'll see you guys later then."

"Have fun!" said Randy as the boys waved her away as she pushed the stroller out the building. Once she was out of view, Randy turned to face his brother, father, grandfather, and sister's mate with a grimace on his face. "Okay then, where should we start?"

"You know what I say? When in doubt, go to the nearest Men's Warehouse!" said Nate as he pat his brother on the shoulder before heading for the doorway. Randy looked at Marvin, Bob, and Bob Jr. before following after his brother, the three of them bringing up the rear as they made their way out of the clinic.

Randy's POV; A few hours later

"I still think the gray suit suited you better bro!" Nate tells me with a grin on his face as we walk into Mom and Dad's house after going through who knows how many suits at Men's Warehouse. "Gray and silver have always been a good color on you."

"No they don't . . . They make me look like I'm walking tinsel," I tell him bluntly as I closed the door behind us. "Why do you think I barely wear my gray wrestling trunks in matches?"

"Because you have no idea how to do laundry?" my brother asks for a suggestion. Grandpa lets out a loud chuckle as he and Dad make their way to the kitchen while Marvin stays behind us. "C'mon, you know you never really got the hang of it through your teenage years, no matter how many times mom showed you. I bet 'Manda does the laundry more in your house than you do."

"I'm going to forget you ever said that . . ." I tell him in a deadpan as I walk into the living room. "Sorry bro, but I'm going to go with the classic black and white tux for the wedding. Besides, 'Manda didn't like the gray suit you suggested when I sent her a photo of me trying it on."

"I still can't believe you even went through with his suggestion in the first place though . . ." Marvin says with a shake of his head as he finally gives his input.

"Well, I had to give him one freebie Marvin . . ." I say with a shake of my head as I drop my ass onto the couch. "Anyway, my wardrobe is all figured out. My groomsmen's tuxedos are all figured out . . . We just don't know what's happening on the girls' side just yet."

"I'm sure we'll hear from them once they get here . . ." says Nate as he sits down in the Laz-y-boy right next to the couch. "Well . . . they'll probably be tight-lipped in regards to the wedding dress."

"Now why would they be so tight-lipped on the wedding dress hmm?" I ask with a sarcastic look on my face as I turn to my brother.

"Well isn't it obvious big bro?" he asks me with a sarcastic look of his own. "The bride always keeps her wedding dress a secret from her groom until she walks down the aisle. Brides love the moment when there groom sees them in their gown for the first time. For them, the grooms' reactions are always the best part."

"When you put it that way, it does make sense . . ." I say with a shrug. "When Sam came down the aisle at our wedding, I cried. Then I noticed the slight hint of smugness in her eyes when she finally came down the aisle. "

"Well, she did say that she wanted to wear a dress that would either knock your socks off, or make you cry," says Nate as Marvin shakes his head. "I guess she pulled off the latter."

"That she did . . . That she did." I say as I shake my head in agreement, vividly remembering the day that Sam made that wedding day declaration all those years ago.

"C'mon Randy, you must be a little curious as to what kind of dress 'Manda could wear come the big day," Marvin says with a slightly smug look on his face. "Is it not eating you up inside just a little bit?"

"I'm curious, but it's not going to drive me crazy for the next few months . . ." I say with a smirk. "I'm perfectly fine with waiting until the wedding day to see my baby in her dress alright?"

"Uh huh . . ." says Nate as he turns to Marvin. "I bet he cries."

"My money's on him going a bit jelly-kneed and having trouble to stand . . ." Marvin offers as a grin comes across his face.

"My bet is that he actually faints . . ." says Grandpa as he and Dad walk into the room. "What do you think Bob?"

"Uh . . . All three?" my dad says with a grin, and I couldn't help but shoot him a narrow-eyed look in return. "Oh come on son, its' possible! If it does happen to you, you would be the second Orton to ever have that happen."

"Second?" I ask with an eyebrow raised.

"Yeah, your great-grandfather cried, then went jelly-kneed, and then fainted as soon as he saw your great-grandmother walk down the aisle. Mom said that moment made her day," says Grandpa as he sits down next to me. "Anyway, how much are we wagering?"

"The losers pay $100 each to the winner," says Nate as we hear the door close in the front. "Oh, the girls are home. I wonder if they want to join in the bet."

"I'm sure Rita would. She loves herself a good bet. . ." Grandpa says with a chuckle as they walk into the room. "Ladies, we're betting on what kind of reaction Randy here would have when he first sees 'Manda walking down the aisle on their wedding day. Care to join the wager?"

"Yes!" my sister instantly says with a grin. "Randy goes speechless! That's what I'm betting on."

"You've got to serious . . ." I say with a shake of my head as Amanda wheels the stroller over to me.

"C'mon babe; what's the harm?" Amanda asks me with a grin as she greets e with a kiss. "Besides, it'll be fun to see how you would react when I finally walk down the aisle."

"I figured you were going to say that . . ." I say with a shake of my head, my family chuckling a little at my expense.

Please review!