CH7

Rick didn't know what to do about Halloween this year since it was their first one in Wyoming. In New York he would have taken Alexis to a mall and made the rounds. It was safe and they would dress up. However out here they didn't have a mall and there wasn't another house close to them except for the elderly couple across from them off of US85. He had been told by Vicki that they were elderly and not getting around that well anymore.

Rick had decided that he would take it upon himself to look in on them from time to time. He left the dogs at home and loaded up Alexis. They went across the highway, down their dirt road, and parked out front. It was a nice looking house. It was a light blue, it had grass and there would probably be lots of flowers come spring and summer. It even had a white picket fence that didn't actually enclose anything, though it bordered the patio that had a table and chairs out front.

"Be nice," he warned Alexis one more time. She wasn't used to elderly people and he wanted her to be on her best behavior. "Yes?" an elderly lady answered the door. "Good afternoon, I'm Richard Rodgers and this is my daughter Alexis. I built and we live in the house directly across 85 from you. I thought we should introduce ourselves to our only neighbors," he told her. "OH! Well you should come in young man and bring that child out of the cold." She opened the door wide and stepped aside.

The living room was large and appeared to have two separate seating areas. One had a sofa and two plush chairs with a coffee table in front of a fireplace. The other, to the right, had a loveseat, coffee table, and an antique roll-top desk. In front of him was the breakfast bar of the open kitchen. From here he could see the kitchen sink under a window and that was about it. "Please come in. Have a seat and take your coats off, it's already getting cold out. …Lyle, we have company," she yelled.

"Where are my manners? I'm Celia and my husband, who should be here in a moment, is Lyle," she said as they saw an older man using a walker enter from another part of the house. "Dear, these are our neighbors from across the road. You know, the one where that mansion you liked so much was being built," she reminded him.

"That's quite the house Mr. …" he trailed off. "Richard Rodgers, you can call me Rick and this is Alexis," Rick told him. Lyle shuffled a little closer. "And how old are you sweetie? I love that hair of yours. I'll bet you keep your father on his toes," Lyle said. "I'm six." Alexis was shy. "Actually I sometimes think she's bringing up me. Alexis is a very active reader," Rick remarked. "It's fun," she said quietly. She liked to get lost in the book and hear stories.

"We moved here from New York and don't know what to do for Halloween," Rick told them as he guided Alexis over to the sofa in front of the fireplace. "There aren't any children this far out I'm afraid. Mostly just us and we don't have any candy. We don't often eat it. I do have cookies though. I'm a good cookie baker," Celia said proudly and got up from her chair just as Lyle sat down in his. She headed into the kitchen and disappeared a short time, returning with a plate that had two different types of cookies. "One is peanut butter with a Hershey's kiss in the middle and the other is chocolate fudge with walnuts. I hope you're not allergic to walnuts." Celia put the plate on the coffee table near Alexis.

"It's alright dear you can have one. Mostly I made them for Paige though she doesn't come over as often anymore." Celia missed having company. "I'm afraid that would likely be my fault. Alexis had a birthday a little while back and 4 girls about her age showed up for her party. And not long ago Alexis had a sleep over with Paige and…" Rick forgot her name and looked at Alexis. "Jenny," Alexis responded just before biting into a peanut butter cookie.

"Jenny! Those two are probably the nicest of the children in this town. You have good taste child. Now I know why they have been missing," Celia said. "Sorry," Alexis murmured. "Oh, don't be sorry child. You need friends. You have all of your life in front of you. Good friends are important to have at your age. You keep them," Celia said.

"Perhaps I can get Alexis over here more often. Maybe bring the others if we have another sleep over. Besides it looks like your cookies are a hit!" Rick pointed out as Alexis had a cookie in each hand. Celia and Lyle chuckled at Alexis's expense. "In that case I'll always have cookies ready just for you," Celia offered.

"So what do you do Mr. Rodgers?" Lyle asked. "It's Rick, please, and I'm a writer. I've got a book that I've almost finished and will be trying to get published. It allows me to work from home and be there for Alexis when she needs me," he told them, hoping they'd never heard of Castle. "Sounds exciting, we've never met a writer before, I don't think. Have we dear?" Celia asked her husband. "I don't remember ever meeting anyone famous," Lyle stated. "Well, I'm not exactly famous, but maybe one day," he replied. Thankfully they dropped it and didn't ask how he could afford a house of that size if he wasn't famous.

"I'd like you two to come over for Thanksgiving if you don't have any plans. I'll do all the cooking," Rick offered. "Dad's a good cook," Alexis said. She was very proud of her dad since she liked what he cooked. "Our daughter, her husband, and our grandchildren are scheduled to fly up if weather permits," Celia told him. "We get an average of 7 inches of snow in November and it can all show up in two days," Lyle related giving Rick a clue of what was to come.

"Christmas maybe?" Rick offered instead. "That would be nice." Celia was interested."Another 7 inches of snow. We'll likely have a white Christmas," Lyle stated. "You can't have Christmas without snow. It's just not the same," Rick offered his opinion. "You get snow in New York?" Lyle asked. "Not usually for Christmas, but yes, New York City can get snow. Just a few inches will paralyze the city, close the airport, and leave people stranded in their homes," Rick remarked. "Not out here. Not unless it's 12 inches or more. Even then the schools don't close. Everyone has 4x4s out here; it takes a lot to stop people in Wyoming," Lyle said. "Good thing I have a big Ford F-350 then," Rick replied, getting a nod from Lyle. "I don't want to keep you, I just wanted to introduce ourselves," Rick said and got up taking Alexis's hand - the one empty of a cookie.

"Please, if your daughter and her family can't make it, let me know and you can join us for Thanksgiving. It's just going to be me and Alexis," Rick said again. "We'll keep it in mind," Celia replied as she escorted them to the door and watched them put their coats back on.

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Rick had the stuffing ready, the casserole was ready, the rolls were in the oven, the salad was ready and waiting in the refrigerator, the gravy was just about ready and the 22 pound turkey that he had injected spices into was sitting there waiting for him to carve it. Then the doorbell rang and suddenly he was hoping that Celia and Lyle had made it across the road. True to Lyle's prediction there was 7 inches of snow on the ground and they were expecting a little more tonight. "Can you get that pumpkin and let them in?" Rick called.

"DAD!" Alexis yelled, alerting him to the fact that it wasn't who he thought. Rick came to the door and found a woman who appeared to be in her mid 40s at his door. "Can I help you?" Rick had never seen her before. "My name is Rose. I'm Celia and Lyle's daughter from across the way," she said, introducing herself. "Oh yes, I've heard about you. It's nice to meet you. They told me you might make it out for Thanksgiving. If you and your family want to join us, you would be quite welcome. I cooked way too much," Rick offered with a wave of his arm.

"No, I'm over here…I mean Mom had a small stroke yesterday and I'm making arrangements to move them to Dallas where we live," Rose told him. "Oh no! I hope it wasn't too bad. She's so nice." Rick and Alexis had been over to visit twice since Halloween. "It wasn't too bad; it mostly scared her is all. She needs to be watched from now on though and Dad…he already doesn't get around that well these days. So it's best if they aren't on their own anymore," she explained.

"You must be Alexis. I've heard a lot about you," Rose suddenly mentioned as Rick noticed that Alexis was still standing next to him. "I think these are for you." And she handed her a plate covered in plastic wrap that had cookies on it. "You can keep the plate."

"What do you say?" Rick prompted. "Thank you," Alexis said shyly while holding her plate of cookies. "You're sure you don't want to…" He was interrupted. "No, I'm sure. I really need to get back. I still have a lot of things to work out, but thank you. And thank you for … just thank you." Rose's tears started forming again. "Come here," Rick gently said and enveloped her in a hug that would last her a lifetime. Rose simply melted into him and let him hug her. 'My god this man knows how to give hugs!' she thought. All she wanted to do was get lost in him. Take the pain away just for a moment. He eventually let go of her. "I should get going. We're leaving in a couple of days. I'll figure out what to do with the house after we get to Dallas," Rose told him.

"I'll be happy to look in on the place in the meantime," Rick offered. "That's not necessary," she protested. He had done a lot already given that her parents always mentioned them in their phone calls. "It's not a problem. I drive Alexis to and from school so all I have to do is turn left instead of right on the way home. It's no bother, truly." Rick thought it would help ease her mind and it really was no hardship. "Well thanks. It's been a pleasure to finally meet you. Enjoy the cookies honey. I'm sorry there won't be any more of them." Rose walked back to her car.

Rick was just closing the door when Midas and Maggie finally showed up. He had only just put down their food which had kept them busy while he and Rose talked. "Too late you two." He petted both of them. "Let's put your cookies away since they're the last of them," he said to Alexis. "They're moving?" Alexis didn't want them to move. "Yes, their daughter is taking them home with her so we won't see them again," he explained as they walked to the kitchen. All Alexis really understood was that she was losing two friends who were nice to her. The cookies only helped solidify that thought.

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Rick kept his word and every other day he drove to the Sanders' house where he eventually found a For Sale sign out front. Since they had received more snow he could tell that someone had driven to the house. Each visit he checked to make sure the doors were still locked and the windows weren't broken. "Still gone?" Alexis asked one visit. "I'm sorry pumpkin, I know you miss them, but yeah, they're still gone." His only prayer was that Celia hadn't had an even bigger stroke after the first one.

He had spent the last week, with a little help from Alexis, putting up Christmas decorations inside the house. Since he came from New York he didn't have any outdoor decorations and it had slipped his mind to actually buy any. 'Next year,' he thought to himself. He actually had two Christmas trees set up. The biggest real tree he could get into the truck by himself and into the house went up in the living room in front of his wall of windows. The other was his artificial tree which was downstairs. He had garland lining the rails across the top and down the staircase all the way to the basement.

His winter village was set up under the heavily decorated tree in the living room, complete with a Christmas-themed train set that circled the tree. Midas and Maggie were doing their very best to help by knocking over his village and chasing the train as it went around the tree. It took some work but he finally got them to leave it alone, or so he hoped. There were nutcracker figurines all over the place, snowflakes hanging from almost everything. He had Alexis help him pop popcorn and string it on a line. It was definitely up high enough that the dogs couldn't reach it.

There were even presents for Alexis under the tree. He had promised to take her into town today because she wanted to go shopping. She was busy putting vinyl Christmas stickers on the windows that led out to the backyard patio area downstairs when the doorbell rang, which caused the dogs to launch themselves up the stairs and bark at the door. Whoever was on the other side could only think that when the door opened, they would be dog food.

Rick got them to stop barking though they were still crowding him to find out who was at the front door. "MOTHER!?" He was shocked. They had talked but he hadn't seen her in years. Midas and Maggie naturally made it past Rick with no trouble since he was frozen, staring at his mother. Martha meanwhile was getting the royal treatment. The dogs finally decided she wasn't a threat though she did smell funny so they didn't back off very far as Rick pulled them away.

"Are you going to let me in dear?" Martha asked. "Of course," he replied and opened the door wider. He looked out past her to see if there was anyone else with her which he thought was highly unlikely. "Please sit down, can I get you anything? Water, wine, or beer perhaps? I have a microbrew out of Wyoming that I found that's rather tasty. Or something stronger?" he offered and waited to sit across from her. "It's a little too early even for me, but thanks," Martha replied. "So what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" Rick got to the point.

"Can't a mother come visit her son?" Martha asked. "You never cared to visit when I was in New York, why change now? Or are you here on orders from Father?" he questioned since he wouldn't put it past his father to send her just to gain intel. Note to self: Have Grey send a bug detector so I can sweep the house clean.

"How you lived in that filthy place escapes me and don't pretend to tell me that you enjoyed that city," Martha warned him. "New York has its moments. You're just too used to the wide open spaces to appreciate what the city has to offer," he said, defending living there. "So why move if you loved it so much?" Martha challenged. "There was a matter with my publisher and publicist that caused me to break from them. I'll leave it at that." Rick was done with those two and New York.

"Well, at least you're closer to home now. You really should come see the place. We've done wonders. I think even you would be impressed," Martha suggested. "And run the risk of running into Father? I'd rather step in an active volcano." Rick didn't even try to hide his distaste of speaking about his father. "He's your father, show some respect," Martha countered, not happy with his demeanor. "Like the respect my father showed me when I was growing up? Perhaps your memory needs some work. What I remember is the task master that whipped me when I didn't meet his requirements. The beast that berated me every chance he got, which was daily by the way. The ass that turned his back on me when I finally grew a spine that he tried to beat out of me daily. He may be your fated mate and husband, but he's no father and never will be," Rick stated with disdain for the thing that was his father.

"You ran away from him - from us - to that filthy place. And then you had the gall to marry that woman and have a child with her! Honestly son, you could have done so much better." Martha still hadn't gotten over Meredith and never would.

"YOU LEAVE ALEXIS OUT OF THIS MOTHER!" Rick was up on his feet and towering over his mother who just sat there. "Alexis is the one blessed thing I have in my life and I'm not subjecting her to Father, and since you have no interest in your own granddaughter, I believe it's time for you to leave. You can report back to his majesty that nothing has changed. Unless he wants to be a rug on my floor, he and his slaves will stay off my property. And yes, I know he was near here a few weeks ago, spying." Rick tried to calm down and stepped away from his mother.

"He was not spying, he was…" Rick interrupted her. "Concerned? Father isn't concerned about anyone save perhaps you and of course, himself, so don't lie Mother. I'll see you to the door," he said and gestured for her to leave. "If you hate your own kind so much, why did you move closer to us?" Martha inquired when she reached the door that he was holding open. "Why do you care? So you can provide ammunition for Father to use? Why I'm here is my own affair and does not concern him or the slaves in his clan." Rick still had venom in his voice.

"They are not slaves Richard," Martha countered. "Oh really? And when was the last time anyone questioned Father about anything? Has anyone, even you, ever been allowed to look at the books? I saw pictures of that mansion you and he live in. My entire house would fit in your living room, and don't try and tell me that Father worked for that money. His slaves worked, or are working, their fingers to the bone for that money. And what do they live in? Travel trailers the size of the one I have out front?" he demanded.

"They're not slaves," she reiterated. "And everyone has very nice homes in a community. We have a grocery store, theater, any number of small businesses, and schools. A school that your daughter should be in, not that Human school in town. She doesn't belong there Richard. One day you're going wake up and see that. I just hope it isn't already too late for that child," she commented. "Does she even know that she and her father are shifters?" Martha challenged. "My daughter doesn't concern you Mother, you've made that quite clear in the past. And it concerns Father even less. It's time for you to leave, you've gathered enough intelligence. Go back and report to his majesty and tell him to stay out of my life and the life of my daughter. Just because I live closer to him now doesn't change anything." Rick watched Martha go out the door, never having seen Alexis in her visit. She didn't even have a picture of her. "And remind Father to stay off my property unless he wants to be a permanent fixture on the floor of my bedroom!" He slammed the door and locked it. He even got a growl out of Midas and Maggie.

"Good dogs. That was a bad person. I'd let you bite her but you might catch something that my father planted on her in the hopes that you would." He was still fuming from her visit. Rick knew his father and that her visit wasn't one of her own making. His father obviously sent her. It was time to call Grey for that equipment just in case. Still she only made it as far as the living room; the rest of the house should be safe for now.

He also knew that she didn't really need to report back to his father. She likely had already told him every word he said using the bond that fated mates had. Rick wasn't really sure he believed in such nonsense but he couldn't discount it. Still he did believe in the thought of there being one special mate, a fated mate, for each shifter. His only fear, and it wasn't really a fear since he was fine with maybe never finding his, was that his fated mate was another shifter already under his father's thumb.

He also had no doubt that the Hunters that wanted his kind exterminated were also out there. They were yet another reason to get those devices from Grey into the ground as soon as possible.

"Daddy?" Alexis had heard the front door slam shut plus Midas and Maggie had come back downstairs and were acting funny. "Hey pumpkin. We still have more Christmas decorations. What do you say we hang our stockings? Oh, did you write your letter to Santa yet? You know, you only have one more week to mail it or he won't know what you want," he reminded her and they headed to one of the Christmas decoration storage boxes to search for their stockings to hang from the mantle.