Wolves of the Pacific

by greenpeach20

In 1902, Renesmee Cullen grew tired of the tedious life of moving around with her family and decided to make the journey west as a mail order bride. Yet a chance encounter with a reddish brown wolf would change her life forever.

108. Chapter 108

Chapter 108

Their new apartment on the Upper East Side was breathtaking. By the time Amber arrived in New York with Heather in tow, Kevin had met her at the train station and embraced her as though he'd not seen her in months. It had certainly felt like it. While California had been beautiful, she missed Kevin while she waited for his call to confirm their apartment in New York was ready. Kevin took care of all Amber's luggage so she could carry Heather while they went to the taxi and when they arrived at the large apartment building, Amber was overwhelmed by the height of it. The front desk manager welcomed them – by name no less – as they walked by to the elevator. They didn't go to the penthouse floor, but they were extremely close at one of the top floors. When they'd reached their apartment, Kevin handed Amber her key and stepped aside so she could unlock the door.

"How do you like it?" Kevin asked when they'd stepped inside and she looked around.

"Kevin, it's beautiful," Amber smiled. It still needed some decorating, but the kitchen was spectacular, the view was second to none with a view of Central Park, and the living room was cozy with a big fireplace. There was enough space between the kitchen and the fireplace that Amber could easily see a nice dining table being put between the spots. There was an island to the kitchen that made sure the area felt spacious and open.

"I made sure Heather's room was ready for her. We have a mattress and frame I thought you'd like, but otherwise I haven't done a lot with regards to furnishing."

"Show me Heather's room so I can put her down," Amber said and followed Kevin into the apartment.

There was a guest room that was nearly empty but beside that was Heather's room. It was painted white with pale lilac and yellow for blankets with a deep colored wood crib, matching changing table and rocking chair. The mobile above the crib had little black and white animals that gently turned and swayed from side to side and there were toys everywhere. Amber smiled and stepped inside going straight to Heather's crib and putting her in. Heather grumbled but fell asleep near the instant her little head was laid down of the tiny bed. Amber put some toys on either side of Heather to make sure she didn't turn and then faced Kevin.

"Let's go see the master bedroom," Kevin said, extremely eager.

Amber blushed a little and accepted his hand so he could lead her. Amber had been feeling better for months, but she and Kevin had still not been intimate again. While they were in California, their days had been so busy with her parents being there and spending time with David and Carol that even when they did have a moment alone, everything combined with looking after Heather had tired them out. As Kevin had warned, their bedroom wasn't fully furnished save for a large bed with white sheets and a black iron frame, but what caught her attention was their view. One wall of their bedroom was almost entirely a window. They could see the park and all the skylines of the city. The entirety of the apartment was hardwood flooring save for the bathrooms. She glanced to her left to see a large mirror with his and hers sinks. To the right of the sinks was a large closet space and to the left of the sinks was a large bathroom with a big tub and shower and toilet, all in pristine condition. Some of Kevin's things were already there and there was a desk in one corner of their bedroom that held all of Kevin's work he'd brought home.

"I know it's sparse for now, but we can take the weekend to pick out new furniture," Kevin said.

"Over the weekend," Amber affirmed. "It's wonderful, Kevin."

"I'm glad you like it," Kevin said and took Amber into his arms. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," Amber said as she wrapped her arms around Kevin's neck. "Carol and David were so kind and Heather keeps me busy, but I was still lonely."

"Me too," Kevin said and kissed Amber's forehead. "This place is too big for one person. You should see Alphonse's penthouse. It's a monstrosity."

"I'll bet he loves all that space to himself," Amber smiled.

"Loves it," Kevin chuckled. "I have a key if you wanted to see it. It's two floors above us."

"Later," Amber said and rubbed her nose against Kevin's. "We finally have a moment alone together. I thought perhaps we could enjoy it."

Kevin grinned and pressed his lips against hers before reaching down her legs so he could lift her up to his level. She wrapped her legs around his hips and returned the kiss while he walked them over to their bed. He laid Amber down on the comforter and ran his hands over her nude nylon covered legs that tickled them both from the touch. Amber pushed off Kevin's suit jacket and started unbuttoning his shirt when they heard the doorbell go off. More appropriately a loud buzzer and Kevin lifted his head to stare in the direction of the front door.

"Couldn't give us ten fucking minutes," Kevin grumbled under his breath as he stood up from the bed.

"Who is it?" Amber asked.

"I'd wager Mrs. Hamilton down the hall," Kevin said. "She's been poking around since I bought the place eager to introduce herself. I'll warn you now: she's a bit of a busy body."

"I suppose it's good she got here now," Amber said as she got off the bed and started re-buttoning Kevin's shirt. "Ten minutes from now, we'd have just started getting serious."

"Mhm," Kevin grumbled and stood still while Amber readjusted his shirt.

"You said her name is Mrs. Hamilton?"

"Yeah," Kevin said.

"Go ahead and answer the door and I'll check on Heather and see if she's up for a visitor."

Reluctantly, Kevin went to the door while Amber went to Heather's room. She was already sound asleep, so Amber decided to leave her alone and by the time she got to the front door, Kevin had already opened it and was smiling his charming smile to an older woman.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Hamilton," Kevin said. "To what do I owe the courtesy of your visit?"

"Oh, stop your teasing you," Mrs. Hamilton smiled. "I overheard you and a young lady come in here. Do I finally get to meet Mrs. Black and little Heather?"

"Heather's asleep right now, but I'm Mrs. Black," Amber smiled as she came over and extended her hand to shake Mrs. Hamilton's. "You can just call me Amber."

"My, my," Mrs. Hamilton said. "I had thought you said your wife is French."

"She was born in France," Kevin said. "She was adopted by a German couple and she was raised in Munich and Berlin."

"I see," Mrs. Hamilton said. "Well, it's a pleasure to finally meet you, Amber. The way your husband speaks of you, I half expected to be introduced to Audrey Hepburn. I can say my assumption wasn't too far from the truth. She's a gorgeous young woman, Mr. Black."

"Thank you, Mrs. Hamilton," Amber smiled. "Kevin, do we have anything in the pantry right now? Coffee, tea, anything like that?"

"He has coffee," Mrs. Hamilton said. "I gave him some the other day."

"In that case," Amber smiled, "would you like to come in for some coffee?"

"I wouldn't want to impose," Mrs. Hamilton said and Kevin had to make sure he didn't role his eyes.

"Not at all, Mrs. Hamilton, I insist," Amber said.

"I'm trapped; you've talked me into it," Mrs. Hamilton joked and stepped inside and looked around. "It's a good thing you've arrived, Amber. This place is in dire need of a woman's touch."

"I'll do my best to bring it up to standard," Amber smiled and went to the kitchen to get the coffee ready. She checked the fridge but there was no milk. "I'm very sorry, Mrs. Hamilton, but we don't have any cream or milk at the moment. Is black coffee alright?"

"That's just fine, my dear," Mrs. Hamilton said. "And please, feel free to call me Candice. Now, you may hear my husband call me Candy from time to time, but only my Howie can call me that."

"Candice it is," Amber smiled. "So what does your husband do?"

"He's a stalk broker," Mrs. Hamilton smiled proudly. "Our son Edmund, he's seventeen, will be graduating soon and he's going to go to Colombia University. We're extremely proud."

"I can imagine," Amber smiled. "Heather just discovered her feet. We're very proud."

"Oh, that's marvelous, Amber!" Mrs. Hamilton giggled and played along. "Once that's brewing, do you suppose I could meet little Heather?"

"I don't see why not," Amber nodded. She got the coffee brewing and led Mrs. Hamilton to Heather's room. They tiptoed to the crib and Heather was still sound asleep with her foot wiggling.

"Oh, she's just precious," Mrs. Hamilton whispered with a smile. "I love her pajamas. She looks like a little gumdrop! She's beautiful like her mother."

"She is," Kevin said from the head of the crib looking down at his little girl with a smile.

"How old is she?"

"She's four months now," Amber said. "She's already trying to sit up, but she's not having much success. She's settled for being on her belly for now."

"So eager to grow up," Mrs. Hamilton giggled. "Don't be too eager, little one. Being a grown up's not all it's cracked up to be." Almost as if to answer, Amber squirmed in her sleep and kicked her foot, making them all smile. "I tried to warn her."

"It's kind of you to try," Amber smiled. "How about we check on that coffee and leave Heather be for now? I'm sure she'll wake up in another hour."

They left Heather's room and went to the kitchen to enjoy some coffee together while getting to know one another. They learned Mrs. Candice Hamilton was once a professional dancer and even danced on Broadway during the latter part of the twenties and met her husband just before the Crash of '29. They married in 1932 after Howard had recovered financially enough and had their first son in 1933 who they named Howard Jr. After which they had two more children: another son they named Charles – or Charlie as he was nicknamed – who was 15 and a little girl named Rita who was 13 now. It was during the later years of the thirties when things improved much more for them but it was shortly after the start of the war when they had 'made it' so to speak and Howard was making enough to give them a high end home like an apartment in the Upper East Side. She was very proud of that fact.

They relayed to her whatever they were able, omitting any details that were unnecessary or that she shouldn't know. Of course, Kevin and Amber admitting their age was an inevitability given how they'd met though it warranted a compliment from Mrs. Hamilton of how gracefully they were aging. She insisted that Kevin and Amber join her and her family one evening for dinner and they agreed on Friday evening. Heather had woken up within an hour as Amber had predicted and Mrs. Hamilton was finally able to have a chance to hold Heather and shower her with coos and compliments and toe tickling. After they finally said goodbye to Mrs. Hamilton Kevin sat at the island in their kitchen and drank more of his coffee.

"She's a very nice lady," Amber smiled.

"She could have waited ten minutes," Kevin grumbled and Amber giggled. She approached Kevin and handed Heather over to Kevin.

"Do something cute, Heather. Make daddy feel better," Amber smiled and tickled Heather's belly making the baby smile. Kevin smiled and started bouncing his knee up and down to amuse Heather and she started to giggle. "There we go; that's better." Kevin looked at Amber with a mildly annoyed but humored smile and then kissed Heather's head. She reached her little hands up trying to grab Kevin's face, so he lifted her up so their cheeks met.

"I'll need to go into the office tomorrow," Kevin said. "Did you want to see it?"

"I would," Amber said. "I can do some grocery shopping afterwards. That fridge is inexcusably barren."

"I was living like a bachelor for a few weeks. So sue me," Kevin joked and they laughed.

"That's explains why there's whiskey in the cabinet."

"That was a gift from the leasing office," Kevin said.

"Sure it is," Amber smiled.

"I promise it is," Kevin said. "When I signed the lease, they gave me a bottle of whiskey as a welcoming present. The family that manages this place is Scottish."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah," Kevin said. "Ralph and Henrietta Campbell. The bourbon, on the other hand, I did buy." Amber sighed a little with a smile and then gave Kevin a quick kiss.

Since they didn't have any food in the apartment, Kevin left and went down the street to a little shop to get something while Amber fed Heather. Amber was helping Heather get the bubbles out of her tummy with gentle pats to her back so she was comfortable and gave Heather a quick bath before getting her in bed for the night. By the time she was done, Kevin had already retreated to their room for the night and Amber got herself dressed in a nightgown she'd packed.

"Heather sleeping alright?" Kevin asked.

"She's out," Amber smiled. She was about to get into bed in her nightgown but stopped. "We don't have any night owls for neighbors that might want to visit do we?"

"If we do, they're not getting in," Kevin said.

"That's good," Amber said and brought her hands up to the straps of her nightgown. "Heather's asleep and we finally have a moment to ourselves," she said as she pulled at the straps and made her gown fall. She reached behind and undid the claps of her bra and let that fall. "Unless you wanted to get to sleep?"

"Come here," Kevin practically ordered. Amber smiled and went to the bed as Kevin asked and got into bed.

Amber got her knee on the bed when Kevin reached over, grabbed her by the waist and pulled her so she was beneath him lying in the bed. Amber was giggling but was silenced when Kevin kissed her and her humor fled to be replaced with eagerness. Kevin pressed his tongue against her lips to deepen the kiss and delved in when her lips parted. While they kissed, Kevin forced the covers out from under Amber so there was nothing but their underwear separating them. Kevin positioned himself between Amber's legs and she lifted her knees to cradle him.

Amber moaned when she could already feel Kevin hard between them. She had known she missed him, but she'd not quite realized how much until she could feel him near her core. While they continued to kiss, Amber ran her hands over Kevin's body into his hair, over his shoulders and on his chest and back until she felt him tremble a little under her fingers. Eventually Kevin started kissing her cheek to her jaw and then to her ear down her neck making her shiver. Kevin began touching her breast with his right hand while his elbow kept him hovering above her while he tasted her. He made sure to remain tender and massaged her breast gently while he kissed her neck. He sucked and nipped at her skin as he got himself on his knees for support so he could bring his left hand between them to touch her. Kevin started kissing down her chest to kiss her breasts tenderly while his fingers pressed against the fabric of her panties.

Amber sighed from the pleasure and ran her fingers through his hair as he started kissing down her midriff. Kevin pulled off her panties and started rubbing her clitoris and pushing his fingers inside her to make Amber moan and whimper. She licked her lips savoring every kiss to her skin as Kevin kept working his way further and further down her body. She was tempted to beg him to forgo any additional foreplay and just make love to her, but she stayed silent and enjoyed his touch. He finally kissed his way to her thighs and continued to move his fingers inside her while his tongue pressed against her sensitive nub. She cried out a little from the touch and she could feel Kevin's triumphant smile against her. Kevin's free hand trailed up her body touching her skin gently and enjoying the feel of her skin against his hand until he reached her breast again. He massaged her breast tenderly until Amber grabbed his hand in both of hers and held his hand between her breasts while she savored the feel of Kevin's tongue.

She moaned his name as he brought her closer and closer to her release. Kevin didn't relent and touched her with such fervor that she reached her climax in mere minutes. Once she'd reached her climax, Kevin kissed his way back up her body and pulled off his briefs so he could slip inside her. He put forward all his effort to go slow when he slipped inside her, but she was so tight and warm and that couldn't bear to hold back. Does it hurt? Kevin pushed the thought into her mind and Amber shook her head.

"Kevin, please," was all Amber said with a whimper and a kiss to his ear. The encouragement was all he needed and he began to thrust into her with a tender yet simultaneously hard rhythm.

Amber wrapped her arms around Kevin's neck while he thrust into her over and over. The pleasure was intensified from the aftermath of her orgasm still lingering. Kevin lifted his head and started kissing her as he continued to thrust. Amber fell into the kiss wrapping her legs around his hips making his movements more limited, but he kept up his movement despite the pressure. Kevin adjusted so he could lift Amber's legs up so the inside of her knees were resting against his shoulders.

With the new position, Amber felt a renewed climb beginning at her core. He continued to kiss her despite being slightly farther from her given their position, but rather than try to keep her arms around Kevin's neck, Amber laid her hands down and held onto his forearms. Even being on her back Amber felt as though she was getting dizzy. With each thrust, the pleasure was so sharp and consistent that she kept climbing higher and higher. When she felt as though she was moments from the edge, Kevin gently pushed Amber's legs aside and lifted her into his arms while he sat up on the bed. He held Amber close to him and kissed her before bringing his hands to her hips to start guiding her movements. Soon Amber took over so Kevin was able to move his hands over her body until he brought a thumb between them to pleasure her directly. The new touch made Amber whimper and hold onto him tighter while she moved up and down on his erection.

Soon, Amber felt her whole body implode with her orgasm and it was difficult to continue moving. Kevin wrapped an arm around her, continuing to rub her clitoris, and helped her up and down through her orgasm and bringing him closer to his. He followed shortly after and held onto her waist tightly when he reached his climax, pressing his lips more firmly against hers while they groaned and moaned with pleasure. While he continued to grip onto her, Kevin fell forward so they were lying in bed together again. Then he started kissing her all over her neck and shoulder while Amber was petting his hair.

"I love you," Kevin moaned into her neck.

"I love you too," Amber said back to him and kissed his head.

They fell asleep after that but were awoken a few hours later by Heather's cries. Amber was about to get up, but Kevin insisted she sleep and he'd come get her if Heather was hungry. Kevin got himself in some night clothes before going to Heather's room where she was wiggling and crying in her crib. Kevin spoke to her and that soothed her a little but she was still crying while she reached out to him to be picked up. Kevin lifted her up and, as he figured, she just needed to be changed so he got her cleaned and in a fresh diaper. She wasn't crying anymore once he'd cleaned her up, but she started to whimper when he tried to put her back in her crib.

Since she wasn't ready to be put back to bed, Kevin went to the rocking chair and sat down rocking back and forth while Heather was on his bare chest, her ear right against his heartbeat. Since she was where she wanted to be, Heather went right to sleep on Kevin's chest. Occasionally kicking her foot or twitching her hand while she slept. Kevin hadn't meant to, but his lids got heavy and he'd closed his eyes. Next thing he knew, he felt Heather being lifted from his arms and started opening his eyes to see Amber holding their now crying daughter. She smiled at him.

"Might I steal your seat?" Amber asked.

"Sure," Kevin said and stood. "What time is it?"

"It's 6," Amber said.

"Shit," Kevin mumbled, "I need to get ready. Was she crying and I didn't hear her?"

"No, I didn't hear her cry so I came to check on her and when I got here, she was still sleeping. She's only just started to cry. I think she finally realized she's hungry."

"Okay," Kevin said and leaned down to give Amber a quick kiss before leaving Heather's room to get ready. He had to be quick so he managed a shower and got dressed in all of ten minutes. Heather was still having breakfast by the time Kevin was coming back down the hall. He walked into Heather's room and kissed Amber while she sat in the rocking chair. "I'll come back around noon to get you to see the office. You relax for now."

"I'll see you at noon," Amber smiled and kissed him back.

Several hours later of getting the apartment cleaned up a little and keeping an eye on Heather, Amber made sure she was dressed by the time Kevin came back home to get her. She got Heather in a fancy little blue dress with a blue flower headband on her little head and white shoes that Heather still hadn't quite grown into just yet. Since their apartment and the office were so close together, Kevin and Amber walked to the office together and once they arrived, the receptionist at the front desk of the building welcomed him and Amber. They took the elevator up to their floor and the doors of the elevator opened in front of a large desk where a young blonde woman sat. When she saw Kevin, she stood up and smiled.

"Welcome back Mr. Black," the young woman smiled.

"Thank you, Liz," Kevin smiled. "This is my wife Amber. Amber, this is Liz King. She's our receptionist at the New York office."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Black," Liz smiled and Amber smiled back.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Miss King," Amber said.

"That must be Heather," Liz smiled and came around her desk to see Heather. "Oh, Mr. Black, she's beautiful," Liz said and took Heather's little hands in hers and shook them gently as a means of playing. "You look just like your daddy," she said and got a little closer but not too close.

"Liz, please, don't insult the poor girl," Kevin said.

"Don't be silly, sir," Liz smiled. "By the way, Mr. Davis called while you were out. I have him penciled in for Monday morning. He insisted you see him first thing."

"Alright, thank you," Kevin said. Liz heard the phone ring, so she ran back to her desk to answer it. She smiled and waved at them while she spoke with the caller. "I'll show you where my office is," Kevin said and led Amber down the hall to one of the offices with a city view.

There were three offices in that area and Kevin's was in one of the corners where there were windows on two sides with a breathtaking view of the city. It was spacious and his desk was organized but covered with papers and two chairs on the other side of his chair. His desk had a copy of their wedding picture and a picture of Amber with Heather when she'd first been born. There was another picture on the wall that Alice had taken in which Heather had been in a little white dress. She was eating her toe in that picture, but she was smiling the brightest little smile and under it in the glass of the frame Daddy's Girl was written across the bottom of the picture.

"Alphonse let you have this view?" Amber joked.

"His is the other corner office," Kevin smiled. "Harold got stuck with the one in the middle, so he only has the one view."

"That makes sense," Amber smiled and went to the window to look out. "It's almost scary."

"Just don't look down," Kevin chuckled. "The military never really got me accustomed to heights."

"I don't imagine so since you were a ground troop," Amber said and went to the desk. "So where do you keep the bourbon?" Amber teased.

"Alphonse's office," Kevin chuckled. "And we have a hidden cubby in the conference room. That's only for special occasions though. We'll be here through the holidays, but Alphonse, Harold and Anastasia are coming to New York for New Year's."

"How often will we be coming and going from New York?" Amber asked.

"We're going to keep up a rotation for now," Kevin said. "Alphonse is looking into potentially flying here rather than taking the train. It'll be much faster, but I don't know how comfortable I am with flying just yet."

"Me either," Amber said. Heather started squirming a little and whimpering. "Oh no," Amber said. "Kevin, where's the restrooms?"

"They're down the hall," Kevin said and showed her where it was so Amber could change Heather and get her cleaned up and in a fresh diaper. When she came back out, she went to Kevin's office again and but this time, there was another man there with him. He turned to look at her and smiled.

"You must be Amber Black," the man said and went to her. "I'm Gerald MacArthur."

"You must be one of the lawyers that works here permanently," Amber smiled.

"Indeed I am," Gerald smiled. "Between you and me, of my two bosses, your husband is by far my favorite."

Amber giggled, "He's certainly more patient than Alphonse is. Is Harold not one of the bosses?"

"He's a partner, but not an owner," Kevin said. "Gerald's not a graduate of Yale, but he compensates by being top of his class from Harvard."

"It's a better school anyway," Gerald whispered and Amber giggled.

"I should warn you, Gerald. My husband has impeccable hearing."

"Oh, I'm quite aware," Gerald chuckled and finally looked at Heather. "I assume this is Heather?"

"Yes, she is," Amber smiled.

"Kevin has so many pictures in here and Heather's in one of them, but she already grew up so much since that picture was taken. How old is she now?"

"She's four months," Amber smiled. "Do you have children?"

"Two boys," Gerald said. "They're two and one. We had us some Irish twins as they're called."

"Sounds like a handful," Amber said.

"Marianna makes it easier," Gerald said. "She's our nanny."

"What's your wife's name?"

"Carrie," Gerald said. "We married right out of high school, but we weren't planning to have children until after I earned my law degree. Tommy, our eldest, was sooner than we expected, but by then I had about a year left in school and I was able to do some work on the side to make some extra money. When I got the job here, we were elated. A few months later, Carrie tells me she's expecting our second child."

"You know what," Amber said, "when we get the apartment furnished properly, we should have everyone over for dinner."

"When the apartment's furnished," Kevin smiled.

"Carrie will love that," Gerald smiled. "I'll make sure Dan is aware."

"Is Dan one of the other lawyers here?" Amber asked.

"Yeah, he specializes in family law," Gerald said. "To my knowledge, the office in Seattle specializes in business and we do business law here, but we're expanding on our specialties."

"Do you specialize in business?"

"I do, yes, but I can take on anything," Gerald smiled and Amber giggled. "Anyway, Kevin, I'll have that case on your desk by the end of the day. I'm getting statements from the bank in an hour."

"Good, thank you Gerald," Kevin said.

"I'm off to the trenches again, but it was a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Black," Gerald said.

"It was a pleasure to meet you too Mr. MacArthur," Amber said and Gerald left the office. "He seems nice."

"He's a good kid," Kevin said. The phone beeped and Kevin answered it.

"Mr. Black, I have James Townsend on the phone for you."

"Thank you, Liz. I'll take him in a moment. Put him on hold. Line 1."

"Yes, sir," Liz said and put the person on the phone on hold.

"I have to take this, but did you want to wait for me and show you around more?"

"No, I need to get grocery shopping done, so I'll leave you to it. I'll see you tonight," Amber said and leaned over the desk to give Kevin a kiss.

"I love you. I'll see you tonight," Kevin said and then looked at Heather to kiss her cheek. "Be a good girl, Heather."

Amber left the office and took a taxi to the nearest grocery store. There was an attendant that fetched a cart for her and she got all her grocery shopping down while carrying Heather in one arm. Shopping took much longer since she was being stopped so frequently by people that wanted to see the baby. When she did finally get her grocery shopping done, an attendant helped her with the bags and hailed a taxi for her and helped pack away the groceries. When she got to the apartment, the bell boy and doorman helped her retrieve her groceries and even helped her carry everything up to the apartment. She got Heather in some pajamas and in a little carrier she kept on the kitchen table so she could put the groceries away.

Around six, Kevin made it home just in time for them to be due to go to Mrs. Hamilton's apartment for dinner. She and her husband were very sociable and Mrs. Hamilton insisted on holding Heather whenever possible. They stayed for cake and coffee until finally returning to their unit, getting Heather ready for bed and then falling into bed themselves. They did all the furniture shopping they needed to that weekend with Heather in arm. Most of it was delivered and set up that Monday while Kevin was at work and she directed where everything needed to go. She was able to do some decorating when everything was set up and put their things away in the new dresser.

She put their wedding pictures and other pictures that Alice was kind enough to send them on the shelves of their new bookshelves. Amber would need to put candles and books there, but that would come later. She sighed with a smile looking around the now fully furnished apartment feeling very proud. They had all their appliances, the fridge was full and it finally felt like a home. When she was done, she got to work on making dinner with Heather in her little rocker in the kitchen with her. She even had dinner on the table and ready by the time Kevin got home. He looked around after Amber welcomed him home and smiled.

"It looks like we've always lived here," Kevin said.

"Not quite," Amber said. "I'll still need to put up some paintings and put some candles on the bookshelves but that can wait. How was work today?"

"Busy," Kevin smiled and kissed her. "I'm going to put my things away and I'll be right out." Kevin walked to their room and saw all the new furniture. As though she'd already know he'd ask, Amber called out to him.

"I'll show you where your clothes go once you've finished dinner," Amber called from the kitchen. "And I'll do laundry tomorrow."

"Okay," Kevin said and put his briefcase on his desk before coming back out to their new dining room where there was now a large dining table that could, if needed, be pulled out to lengthen and accommodate more guests. For now, Kevin's plate was made up at the head of the table and Amber sat to his right with Heather in her arms. "So how was Heather?"

"She was fussy today," Amber said. "She didn't much like all the commotion."

"Oh no," Kevin smiled and reached over the rub Heather's belly. "My poor baby. Did you have a hard day?"

"She did, but she's okay now," Amber smiled back and patted Heather's butt while Kevin rubbed her belly. "I think she feels much better now that daddy's home."

That made Kevin smile a silly smile before he took Heather in his arms so he was holding her while he ate dinner. After dinner, he continued to keep Heather busy while Amber got things cleaned up and put away. She'd frequently look over her shoulder past the island in their kitchen to the living room where there were now two huge couches on either side of the fireplace with a new coffee table with Heather on her blanket on the floor with Kevin hovering above her playing with her feet and making the little girl giggle. Every time Amber saw Kevin with their daughter, her heart fluttered as though she were falling in love all over again.

In that moment, she felt her eyes water. How long had they dreamed of this very scenario? How many years had he promised, had she promised this and that and so forth? It was finally, in that moment, so many years later that they finally made it come true. There was a time, even if only five years of it, that she feared none of this would ever come to fruition. She still remembered the gates of Auschwitz. The beatings, the starving, the terror in the eyes of young and old. She remembered thinking her father was almost certainly dead and doing anything she could to save her mother. Absolutely anything. It still made her skin crawl and made her sick to her stomach to think about it. When she'd been dragged from Auschwitz to Dachau, she'd been sure her days were numbered. She'd been sure she'd never see her parents again and she was sure she'd have died a painful death. Kevin never knowing what happened to her.

Watching Kevin on the floor with their daughter – THEIR daughter – she could finally feel as though she could put the past behind her, really and truly. No matter what had been done to her or her parents or the hell on earth they went through, the point was that they'd lived. Somehow, that was the greatest victory of all. Even the crude number forcefully tattooed into her skin didn't bother her anymore, because it was proof that she'd beaten the odds. She didn't care if Kevin was quite literally the only reason she'd made it out alive. The point was that she had. And now, she was looking at the reward for it. She was looking at everything she ever wanted, right before her eyes. The man she'd loved as far back as she remembered; the man that was now her doting, loving husband playing with the baby they'd said for years they'd wanted so badly. She hadn't even realized she was actually crying until Kevin looked up and appeared alarmed.

"Amber? What's wrong?" Kevin asked, sitting on his knees with their daughter still on her little blanket, making little coos and whines for her daddy's attention.

"Nothing," Amber smiled. "Everything's perfect," she said. Kevin looked as though he might stand, but Amber shook her head. "No, don't. Keep playing with Heather. I like watching."

After a brief hesitation, Kevin smiled at her before returning his attention the Heather. He grabbed a toy and held it above Heather's head saying nonsensical sentences to her about the toy in question and smiling when Heather would kick and squirmed with excitement. Amber could watch for an eternity.

The upcoming weekend, they had several people over to the apartment for dinner as Amber had suggested getting to know the lawyers that worked at the law and their wives and kids. Mrs. Hamilton and her husband joined them with their children in tow as well. The next day, Kevin and Amber just enjoyed a lonely Sunday together with Heather. Monday came and Kevin left for work giving Amber a tender kissed before leaving. Later during midday, Amber was doing some cleaning and prepping for dinner when she heard the intercom at the door buzz. Amber went to it and pressed the button to answer.

"Hello?" Amber said.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Black. This is Henry at the front desk. We have a man here saying he's a friend of your husband's and is asking for permission to come up to your unit."

"What's his name?" Amber asked.

"He's a Mr. Emmery,"

"Embry you cuss, for the third time!" Amber heard Embry's voice and it was all she needed.

"Yes, Embry Call! He's welcome here. Please escort him upstairs," Amber said.

"Yes, Mrs. Black," the young man at the front desk said. While she waited, Amber went to retrieve Heather from her bed. She was taking a nap, but Amber knew she'd be a happy little baby if she woke up to Embry. The poor thing hadn't seen Embry in months. Soon a knock came at the door and Amber went straight to it and opened the door to Embry.

"Embry!" Amber smiled. "Thank you Lucas," she said to the young man that bowed his head and left while Embry walked in.

"Christ almighty; does the President live here or something?" Embry said.

"Not recently, sir," the man said before Amber closed the door and Embry rolled his eyes.

"This is a swanky place," Embry said and then saw Heather, perking up immediately. "How's my little Heather doing?"

"She's been asleep for the past half hour," Amber said and handed Heather over to him. "I think she missed you so she'll be happy to see you when she wakes up."

"I missed her too," Embry said and swayed soothingly from side to side acting like a rocking chair. Heather grumbled and squirmed in his arms, kicking her feet a little in her sleep and Embry chuckled a little. "She's turning into a little worm isn't she?"

"Seems that way," Amber smiled. "When did you get here? Did you fly?"

"As a matter of fact, I did," Embry said. "Took about four hours too. I changed when I saw the outskirts of the city but shit did it take a while to find this place. So how was California?"

"Relaxing," Amber smiled. "I can't wait for you to see the house in LA. It's a seaside property so we would wake up to the ocean every morning as if we were back home, but there's no overcast to be seen."

"Sounds lovely," Embry said while he rocked Heather.

"Did you want something to drink? We have beer in the fridge. We hosted a bunch of people from our building and the law firm for a little house warming party."

"I'd love a beer actually," Embry agreed and walked with Amber to the kitchen while she retrieved the beer, twisted off the cap with her bare hand and give it to Embry.

"So how long can you stay?" Amber asked.

"Just for the week I'm afraid," Embry said. "Then I need to fly back. But giving flying here only takes a few hours, I'm planning to fly here for a weekend every week. How long are you two planning to stay here?"

"Six months," Amber answered. "You're welcome every weekend the whole time we're here. We'll make sure the front desk knows who you are."

"Please do," Embry said and took a sip of his beer. "I was barely able to get the doorman to let me in and when I told them Kevin and I are friends and I'm visiting, they act like I'm walking into the building with a damn bomb or something. I'm shocked they didn't call Kevin at work to double check with him."

"Well," Amber smiled, "I'm relieved no one gets in without permission at least. Security's certainly not an issue in the building. We're going to be here through Hanukah and Christmas. Do you think you'll be able to visit for Christmas?"

"I'll be here for Hanukah too. Wouldn't miss this little worm's first Hanukah and Christmas for the world." Embry took another sip of beer and went to the living room. "How have you liked it here?"

"It's a little lonely when Kevin's at work. Mrs. Hamilton's very nice, but most days it's just me and Heather. I'm actually relieved to see you. It's not to have someone to talk to besides Heather during the day."

"Glad to be of service," Embry said as he sat on the couch with Heather still sleeping in his arms. She woke up at last about twenty minutes later and she was smirking. Embry kept Heather busy for most of the afternoon save for when she got hungry and Amber had to feed her. Otherwise, Embry was keeping her occupied and even changing her so Amber could focus on making dinner. Dinner was ready by the time Kevin got home and he smiled when he saw Embry.

"Nice to see you," Kevin said to Embry.

"Aren't you surprised to see me?" Embry asked.

"No, I'm afraid not. I got a call earlier from the front desk telling me a man claiming to be a friend of mine just got permission from my wife to come into the building and they wanted to 'warn me'. I think they thought you were Amber's lover or something."

"You told them off I hope," Embry said.

"I let them know you're indeed a close friend of mine and you're welcome to our unit," Kevin said. "So I told the same thing Amber did."

"Good," Embry grumbled and looked at Heather, mumbling something about the front desk. They all had dinner together and afterwards sat together in the living room catching up. Embry told them about Natalie and Suerro and how they were starting to get really close and told them about a kid Scarlet had brought home named Kai.

"Christ," Kevin said. "I'm gone for one summer and I feel like I've been gone for years. How're the kids liking Suerro?"

"Salem and Nesia are warming up to him," Embry said. "JJ's another matter. He doesn't like Suerro and isn't really making an effort to like him either. But I expected that."

"He just needs time," Kevin said but he thought of Jae while he looked at Heather who was napping on his shoulder. He started rubbing her back and kissed her little head. "I think once he sees how happy Suerro makes Natalie, he'll warm up to him."

"I hope so," Embry said. "I'll give the man credit: he's been patient as a saint. But JJ's refusing to be cooperative really and it's upsetting Natalie."

"Has anyone talked to him?" Amber asked.

"Most of us have," Embry said. "We're trying to be understanding with him but he's trying all our patience. And it seems like no matter what Suerro does, JJ just snubs him at the best of times and avoids him most other times. One night, Suerro made dinner for everyone and when JJ found out he'd cooked dinner, JJ refused to sit with them for dinner and just went on patrol. Chewed his ass out for that, but he wouldn't budge."

"If I can extend any advice to Suerro, tell him to keep being patient. JJ's being stubborn because he doesn't want another father figure in his life. Eventually, he'll realize Suerro makes Natalie happy and that'll be enough."

"I hope so," Embry said.

As promised, Embry stayed with them in New York for the week. It was the first time he'd been to New York and actually really enjoyed himself. He went out and about on the town with them on Sunday and during the week, Embry helped Amber out around the apartment keeping Heather busy unless she needed to eat and helping with grocery shopping when she needed it. He returned on Sunday but as he promised, he returned every weekend for a visit. Soon the front desk get more relaxed with letting him into the building the more they got to know him. A few more weeks went by until it was midway through August. Embry returned to Washington one weekend and returned again the next weekend, but he didn't arrive until much later in the day than would be normal.

"Embry, there you are," Kevin said after they'd been buzzed telling them that Embry had arrived and letting him upstairs. "Everything okay? What kept you?"

"Let's just say it's been a long week," Embry said and walked in going straight to Heather and taking the little baby in his arms to relax. "JJ joined the army."

"Wait, what?" Kevin said.

"Yeah," Embry said. "He and Suerro had a bit of…well not a bit. It was a really bad fight. Suerro finally lost all patience with JJ and…..well, one thing led to another and Thursday morning, we find out JJ joined the army and is being deployed for basic training this morning and then they're shipping him off to Korea."

"What the fuck happened?" Kevin asked and, after Amber gave Embry a beer, they all sat down together while Embry explained what happened.

1 Week Earlier

"I'll miss you," Scarlet said to Kai the morning he was leaving. Their two months together had really been incredible. They'd seen movies together, gone into the city, gone hiking and truly enjoyed being together. Kai had tried convincing Scarlet to come with him, but she didn't want to be away from her family for as long as Kai said they would be. Instead, he promised to keep his trip short back to Hawaii short and then he'd come back in a few more months.

"I'll miss you too," Kai said and gave her a kiss. "I'll just go home to Hawaii, but I'll be back here right after; I promise."

"Okay," Scarlet said and kissed him again.

"It was good meeting you, Kai," Nathan said and they shook hands. Nathan had grown fond of Kai in the two months he'd stayed with them. Despite his initial apprehension about the man, he made Scarlet happy and she did the same for him. "We all look forward to seeing you again."

"Thanks Nathan," Kai smiled.

"And no hard feelings about threatening to torture you to death," Nathan joked and Kai laughed while Scarlet looked slightly mortified having never heard about this.

"None whatsoever," Kai said. "Truth be told, if I ever have a daughter one day, I might steal that story for myself."

"You're welcome to," Nathan said. "So when do we get to meet your mother?"

"I'll bring her with me next I come," Kai promised. He said his goodbyes to the whole family that had gathered to see him off, but his final goodbye was to Scarlet whom he gave one last big kiss before getting on his boat and waving goodbye to them as he sailed away. Were it not for the fact she knew he'd come back, she'd be heartbroken to see him go, but she knew he'd return. He was an adventurer. Just like her father in fact. Maybe it was one of the things she loved most about him. She would miss him until he returned.

"I can't believe you threatened to torture him to death," Scarlet grumbled so Nathan could hear and he smiled.

"I was just being protective of my little girl," Nathan said and kissed Scarlet's head. "All that aside, he's a nice kid."

"He was very nice," Renesmee agreed and looked at JJ. "Hailey won't be upset if you're a little late for work?"

"He'll be fine," JJ said trying to be pleasant. He was still in a rather bad mood this morning.

As per Quileute traditions, Suerro was doing all he could to prove himself a worthy and able provider for Natalie and her children. Were it Jacob he were trying to impress, he and Natalie would have likely had a moon ceremony and been married by now, but it wasn't Jacob he was trying to win. It was JJ. Suerro had suggested to Kai, seeing as he was trying to win over Nathan, that they catch fish together and Kai could cook it. Show off his cooking skills and Suerro would clean the fish. While Suerro had not actually cooked dinner, he'd had a hand in making it and JJ wouldn't eat dinner that night. He had a plate of food and never verbally said he'd not eat anything, but he poked at his food all night, even if he wasn't eating any fish, and wouldn't eat it.

"Mom," JJ said to Natalie and kissed her cheek. "I'm going to work. I'll be going to the bar after work so I'll see you then."

"Okay, JJ," Natalie smiled gently and gave JJ a hug. "Have a good day, okay."

"Thanks mom," JJ said and then said goodbye to his siblings but didn't say a word to Suerro which made him take a deep and unneeded breath.

He stayed quiet until Renesmee took Salem and Nesia for the day for some extra schooling while Suerro and Natalie went back to her house. He'd practically moved in since he'd given Taha Aki's tooth back to his sister. He'd felt like a weight was lifted after he'd done so. Had he known he'd feel so much better, he'd have swallowed his pride and done it years ago. But even with that newfound freedom, it did little to improve his mood where JJ was concerned.

"Natalie," Suerro said when they got to her house. She turned to look at him. "I'm trying. I really am. But I don't know what more I can do." Natalie sighed knowingly.

"I'm sorry," Natalie said. "I know you're trying and you've been great. Just be patient with JJ. I know I keep saying that, but you said yourself you know exactly how he feels. Jae…..there was no one like him. I guess I shouldn't say something like that, but it's true. He and JJ were so close and it killed JJ when his father died. I haven't been the best of help over the years, so it'll take time for him to finally feel comfortable letting you in our lives."

"I know," Suerro said and took another unneeded breath. He approached Natalie wanting to enjoy one of their moments alone. Suerro had held Natalie, sure, but he'd barely kissed her let alone gone further than that. He was treading on thin ice and he knew it but it didn't stop him from wanting her. "What more can I do? I try inviting him to fish or do other things, but he won't let me in. The boy's making me realize how Taha Aki must have felt and I can't say I like it."

"Just keep trying," Natalie said and looked up at him. "He'll come around eventually. I promise."

"Alright," Suerro finally said and leaned down to give Natalie a gentle kiss. "You haven't had breakfast yet have you?"

"I had some coffee with sugar," Natalie said.

"How about I make you pancakes or something?"

"No," Natalie gently shook her head, "too heavy for the morning. I've gone a few apples, so I'll have some of those."

"Alright," Suerro relented.

Since Suerro entered Natalie's life, she'd really been improving leaps and bounds. She was still thin, but she was finally eating regularly like she had when Jae was alive. She was looking healthy again and she even had a glow about her. This alone had Nesia and Salem adoring Suerro. When they saw the improvement to Natalie, they bent over backwards to make him feel welcome and Suerro was grateful for their support. They'd talk to him, ask him questions, he'd ask them about their day and so one. Everyone except JJ.

"I've been thinking," Natalie said as she started carving pieces of apple and bringing it to her mouth with the knife. "It's not right have all of Jae's pictures in my bedroom. I think I'll start slow and start arranging his pictures above the fireplace. That's where they belong. He would want to be in the living room and see his children."

"I think that's a great idea," Suerro smiled. He'd mentioned this on the island, but Natalie had been understandably apprehensive about it, but she'd been thinking about it more and more. Now that she'd finally come to the conclusion, she seemed almost relieved.

"I'll keep one of his pictures, though," Natalie said. "The one he took right before he was deployed. That's my favorite."

"I'm sure the kids will be alright with that," Suerro smiled encouragingly. "Maybe you can even put his flag in the living room. And his medals."

"Not his medals," Natalie gently shook her head. "Those are JJ's."

"You're right; never mind," Suerro said. "Also, while I'm thinking of it. I'm planning to go back to the east coast for a bit to find Ray and Romney and bring them here to visit. Maybe around December, I'll go get them and invite them here for Christmas. Assuming your relatives don't mind the extra company."

"Not at all," Natalie smiled. "I can't wait to meet them. After hearing of all the misadventures, I'd love to finally meet your coven."

"They'll be dying to meet you too," Suerro said and then chuckled. "Ray used to tell me he'd be shocked if I could get a tree to love me."

"I like to think I'm more than a tree," Natalie giggled. It was a laugh Suerro adored and, as had been confirmed for him by several relatives, it was a laugh no one had heard in years. "You're not so terrible as they think you are."

"I'm nicer to you is the difference," Suerro said. About that time, Nesia returned home rather suddenly going straight to Suerro.

"Suerro," she said, "grandpa's making me do a Quileute lesson. Grandma asked if you'd be willing to come over and help."

"I don't see why not," Suerro agreed and followed Nesia to Natalie's parent's house. She waived at them with a smile on her face and promised to catch up with them later. "In fact," Suerro said as they made their way to Renesmee's and Jacob's house, "we can finally get around to teaching me the written language your grandma's been teaching."

"It's really easy," Nesia reassured as they walked together.

Natalie eventually caught up with them and stayed at her parent's house with everyone until she and Ada María needed to leave for the bar. JJ was there when they arrived as he'd said he'd be and was already drinking a beer sitting with a few other patrons. Natalie switched sections with another waitress so she could visit with JJ periodically.

"I must say, JJ," one man said, "You're mother's been looking great. She seems like she's been doing much better lately."

"Anything to do with that man that's been walking her home every now and then?" another asked and JJ shrugged indifferently.

"I guess so," JJ said.

"What's this guy's name?"

"Suerro," JJ nearly spat. "Some asshole from the east coast."

"Something wrong with him," one asked after hearing JJ's tone.

"Plenty," JJ said and swigged his beer. "Can we not talk about him?"

"Yeah, sure," another said and that guy changed the topic to hunting. An hour went by and the guys JJ was sitting with decided they needed to get home or suffer their wives' wrath. They said goodnight to JJ and he ordered another beer. Natalie refused to get him one, so he went straight to the bar and told Ariel to give him one which he complied with.

"Everything alright?" Ariel asked after handing over the beer.

"Fine," JJ said. "Thanks for the beer, kid." JJ went back to his table and took any and all scolding Natalie had for him when she saw he'd grabbed another beer but eventually let him be making him promise this would be his last one to which he eventually complied. JJ nursed the beer he was drinking until an pungent sweet smell entered the room and he nearly growled. He ignored it until that familiar smell sat at the table with him.

"Night JJ," Suerro said. "How was work today?"

"Fine," JJ said. "Can I help you with something?"

"I just came to see you and Natalie. She's singing tonight she said."

"I think she's on in ten minutes," JJ said.

"I look forward to it," Suerro said. "Your mother has a lovely singing voice. Did she used to sing to you when you and the others were kids?"

"I would assume so," JJ said and sipped his beer again. Suerro tried brushing past the awkwardness and continued.

"Anything interesting happen at work today?"

"Not really," JJ said. "Same shit as always."

"Hailey's leaving the store to you right? That's definitely exciting."

"As exciting as running a General Store can be," JJ said. Again, Suerro moved past it.

"Hailey's married to a cousin of yours right? No kids?"

"Look, Suerro, you already know the answer to everything you're asking me, so cut the shit and enjoy mom singing."

Suerro took a moment to close his eyes and calm down before continuing at last. "Just making small talk, JJ."

"You can take your 'small talk' and shove it up your ass," JJ said and stood from his chair tossing money on the table. "I'm going home. I expect mom home in one piece."

"I'll bring her home after work," Suerro said as patiently as possible. "You're not working tomorrow right?"

"It's Sunday," JJ said.

"I'll make something for you, Salem and Nesia for breakfast," Suerro said. "Coffee isn't enough in the morning."

"Suerro, if I wanted you nagging me, I'd ask," JJ said and walked away from the table leaving the bar. Suerro groaned and rubbed his face in frustration. He was about ready to strangle the kid.

"What happened?" Natalie asked stepped next to the table only having seen JJ pay and leave.

"I tried talking to him and he left," Suerro said with a groan. Natalie placed her hand on Suerro's shoulder trying to comfort him and it cooled his temper but only heightened his frustration.

Natalie eventually went to the back to change for her song and sang for the crowd in the bar but always looked at Suerro. As he promised he would, Suerro walked Natalie home after she was done for the night. He held her hand the whole way back. She'd gotten used to the cold of his hands and it didn't bother her. He was softer to the touch to her than he would be to others and while his scent was sweet, it wasn't painful to her. When they reached her house, Suerro kissed her hand, kissed her lips gently before she went inside. JJ was awake on the couch when she came in.

"Good, you're home," JJ said seeming relieved and put the paper down. "Did you want some-"

"Sit," Natalie said in a commanding tone. Knowing what was coming, JJ took a deep breath making sure he kept his eyes still and sat back down on the couch. Natalie went over and sat on the coffee table so they were facing one another. "What did you say to Suerro?"

"Nothing," JJ said. "Why? What's he saying I said?"

"Suerro said he made small talk and you left," Natalie left.

"Okay, fine. Yes, that was the long and short of it. Why?"

"Jay Jacob Dauer, you're being rude to him when he's trying to be nice," Natalie scolded.

"No need for full names, mom," JJ said and leaned back in the cushions of the couch and looked up at his father's picture. One that had been in Natalie's room for years and yet had suddenly made an appearance downstairs. "Why's dad's picture down here?"

"I decided it wasn't right to have all your father's pictures in my room, so I'm bring most of them down. It's harder than I thought it would be, so I'm doing it one at a time but it's better to have his pictures here. Honestly, save for some pictures your grandparents have, I don't think any of you have really seen your father since I stole all his pictures. I thought it was the right thing to do."

"Ahuh," JJ mumbled. "Who's idea was that exactly?"

"Mine," Natalie said with her arms crossed. They stared at one another a moment before Natalie sighed. "JJ, please. I know this isn't easy for you, but Suerro's trying and I think the least you can do is try too."

"Just because he's your imprint doesn't mean I have to like him," JJ said.

"You could at least be courteous," Natalie said. "Honestly, JJ, Salem and Nesia are making an effort. Why can't you?"

"Good for them," JJ said and stood from the couch.

"JJ!" Natalie scolded.

"I'm going on patrol," JJ said. "I'll see you in the morning."

"JJ, I'm not done talking to you!"

"Well I am!" JJ said and left the house slamming the door shut behind him.

He didn't bother fazing. The last thing he wanted were a bunch of voices in his head yelling at him for 'disrespecting his mother'. He'd been getting scolded for that a lot lately. Normally he intensely disagreed seeing as his ire was usually saved for Suerro, but tonight he'd actually yelled at his mom. He'd not meant to. It was the whole reason he'd walked out of the house. He knew if he didn't, he'd just get more upset and then he'd really be yelling. JJ went straight to the General Store and let himself in going upstairs to the long not used bedrooms to sleep for the night. It was a habit he'd developed as of late. Often times, he'd not go home unless Hailey forced him to.

Suerro, having overheard the argument, was torn between going after JJ and giving him a piece of his mind and going to Natalie to make sure she was alright. He chose the latter and saw Natalie still in the living room sitting on the coffee table staring off into the distance. He went to her and sat on the couch so he was across from her.

"Are you alright?" Suerro asked.

"No," Natalie said and brushed a stray tear from her eye. "Am I being too pushy?"

"No," Suerro said firmly and moved to the edge of the couch so he was closer. "It's one thing for him to act this way with me but he has no business acting that way with you. I'll go get him and-"

"No, Suerro, don't. You'll make it worse," Natalie said and rubbed away another tear. "I think I'm losing him, Suerro."

"Because of me?"

"I think….Suerro," Natalie cried and rested her head against his shoulder. "It's my fault. I wasn't what my children needed when their father died. JJ had to take care of me and his siblings when I should have been taking care of them."

"Natalie, this isn't your fault. Don't dare think it," Suerro said.

"It is my fault," Natalie whimpered. "I swore I'd never love anyone again after Jae died and JJ enabled me. I enabled him by letting him take care of me. Now that I'm moving on….I think he doesn't know how to handle it because I never prepared him for the possibility. We were both severely depressed and we never did anything to actually help one another."

"That doesn't give him any right to speak to you that way," Suerro said, still feeling a seething feeling in his gut. Were JJ his own son, the boy would have suffered a good beating for speaking that way to his mother, regardless of his age. His own father would have done no less Suerro was confident. But he respected Natalie's request and kept his composure focusing on her. "Do you want me to leave for the east coast early?"

"No," Natalie said and lifted his head back up, rubbing her eyes. "I'll try talking to him again when we're both calmer. We're both exhausted and that's not helped either of us."

"Then get some sleep," Suerro said and gave Natalie a quick kiss.

Natalie smiled a little at Suerro before seeing him out and then going to bed. Suerro returned in the morning and made the kids breakfast. He was hoping JJ would come home, but he hadn't meaning he'd stayed at the General Store for the night again. Suerro pushed his fury between his toes and just talked to Nesia and Salem. He was relieved they didn't ask about JJ, though he feared the reason was because they might have potentially overheard Natalie and JJ argue the night before. JJ eventually came home around one when Natalie finally came downstairs.

"JJ, are you just getting home? Where were you?" Natalie asked still slightly tired.

"I went into town for a while," JJ said and went to the kitchen for some coffee.

"Can you pour me some, JJ?" Natalie asked.

"Sure, mom," JJ said and poured her a cup, continuing to ignore Suerro. While JJ poured Natalie a cup of coffee, she went upstairs to retrieve another one of Jae's pictures and placed it on the mantle of the fireplace with the first one. This picture she placed in the center. It was an old family picture of her, Jae and JJ shortly after he was born. He saw the picture and felt a chock hold on his throat at the happier times. "Mom," JJ said holding out the mug and Natalie came and accepted it.

"Thank you, honey," Natalie said and took a sip. JJ drank more of his coffee in a silence that was awkward. "I'm sorry about last night, JJ." Suerro felt slightly rigid. He wanted to ask what the living hell Natalie was apologizing for, but held his tongue.

"No, mom, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you," JJ said sincerely. And Suerro could tell the boy was being sincere. "We were both tired."

"Yeah," Natalie said and hugged JJ who hugged her back. JJ finally looked at Suerro but there was a hateful glare in his eyes that didn't linger before JJ hugged Natalie tighter. "Really, JJ, I know this is hard on you. I'm sorry this happening so quickly, but I don't want you to be unhappy with this. Just because Suerro is my imprint doesn't mean I stopped loving your father. I'll never stop loving your father."

"I know mom," JJ said. "I just think you deserve someone at least near dad's level."

"JJ," Natalie said firmly.

"Sorry, mom. Forget I said anything," JJ said.

"Can you at least apologize to Suerro for being so rude?" Natalie asked. JJ looked at her and then looked at Suerro. He saw the boy's eye twitch with irritation.

"Sorry about last night, Suerro," JJ finally said but it was forced.

"It's alright, JJ," Suerro said. "There's some lunch left over if you're hungry. Salem made it."

"Just coffee for now," JJ said and poured another cup before going to the couch and turning on the radio to listen to the news. Natalie was about to say something but Suerro silently told her to just let it go.

"JJ," Salem's voice came from upstairs as he came down with his clock in hand. "Can you help me? It stopped ticking."

"Sure," JJ said and went upstairs to Natalie's room, grabbed his dad's little clock tools Hailey had given him when he'd been just a boy, and started fixing Salem's clock.

"I didn't know you knew how to fix clocks," Suerro said.

"Yeah, it's something Uncle Hailey taught dad and dad taught me," JJ said dismissively. "Mom, where's Nesia?"

"She's at your Uncle Nathan's house," Suerro answered. "How'd Hailey learn to fix clocks?"

"His dad I think," JJ said with the same previous tone. "Damn it, Salem, did you drop this in water?"

"I spilled my water on it the other night."

"No wonder it stopped. It's all water logged," JJ grumbled as he went about fixing the problem.

"I'm sorry, JJ," Salem said, getting irritated. "I didn't think it would be such a problem. I thought this clock was more durable than that."

"Should've just let me build you a clock," JJ said.

"Wait, you can build clocks?" Suerro asked, still rather surprised.

"Yeah," JJ said and continued to work. "It's not that hard. Just put pieces together and you're done."

"Well that goes for most things I'd think," Suerro said. "Doesn't mean everyone knows how to do it."

"Well, I do," JJ said. He did a few more things before saying, "There. It's working now."

"Thanks JJ," Salem said and took his clock back upstairs and then returned downstairs to the kitchen. "Did you have any of the beans? I made them."

"I'll have some later," JJ said returning to listening to the radio trying to relax.

"Why don't you have some now? I'm sure you haven't eaten since yesterday," Natalie said.

"It's fine, mom. I'm not hungry but thank you Salem," JJ insisted.

Later that day when it was around dinner, knowing full well JJ wouldn't eat anything if Suerro made it, they reheated the beans and some rice that Salem had made earlier and they all ate together save Suerro who sat at the table with them. JJ tolerated it but he didn't like it. First time Suerro tried sitting down with them, he near burst a blood vessel and left claiming he was going on patrol early. He hated it even more when he watched his little brother and sister being so welcoming and so nice to Suerro. As though their father had never existed. JJ stopped eating and Natalie noticed.

"JJ, is something the matter?" Natalie asked.

"No, I'm fine," JJ said and stood. "I'm going to go out for a bit."

"JJ, at least finish your dinner. You barely ate anything today."

"I'm aware, mom, but really it's fine. I just need some air," JJ said and took his plate to the sink before walking out of the house to go for a walk along the beach. Natalie tried not to show her frustration, but Salem noticed and looked at Suerro.

"We're really sorry about him," Salem said.

"It's fine, Salem. It's not your fault," Suerro reassured. "So tell me Salem, comment êtes-vous et votre soeur dans vos cours de français?"

Salem smiled a little at Suerro's teasing. "It's alright," Salem said.

"Pardon?" Suerro said in French and made Salem chuckle a little.

"J'apprends," Salem said.

"Meilleur," Suerro praised and Natalie smiled. "Now on to more important things. Like Quileute," Suerro continued in his Native tongue and kept them talking in it for the remainder of dinner.

JJ stayed out on the beach well into the evening when normally he'd have either gone on patrol or to bed. He found a spot on the beach and just sat there for hours trying to relax. Eventually he got tired, but he didn't return home. He went straight to the General Store and slept in the guest bedroom. He awoke the next morning to Hailey nudging him awake.

"You know, JJ, this is technically breaking and entering," Hailey said.

"Hardly," JJ grumbled and sat up. "I'm an employee with a key aren't I?" JJ got out of bed and grabbed some fresh clothes that had started appearing in the closet over the weeks since Suerro arrived.

"Good thing I woke you or you'd have been late for work," Hailey said. "I'm making coffee and Leah made coffee cake."

"I'll take the coffee."

"And the cake," Hailey said.

"That has eggs in it," JJ said.

"No it doesn't. Leah made sure of it."

"Probably has milk in it."

"No it doesn't," Hailey persisted.

"Lard?"

"No."

"Butter?"

"No," Hailey said. "No excuses, JJ. You're eating cake or you're going home for the day. I had a little last night. You'll like it. It's good."

"Fine, Uncle Hailey," JJ grumbled while Hailey went downstairs. They ate breakfast together before opening up the shop and started their usual Monday rush. Leah came by and brought lunch for them and lingered at the store to help out a little and eat with them.

"How's Natalie feeling?" Leah asked.

"Fine," JJ said.

"I don't think I've had a chance to meet Suerro yet," Leah said. "Hailey, maybe we should go to the tribe Saturday afternoon and have dinner with them. Finally meet this guy we keep hearing so much about."

"He's nothing to sneeze at. You're not missing anything," JJ said meanly and poked at his soup, losing his appetite.

"I take it you're still not warming up to him," Leah said.

"Nothing to warm up to," JJ said. Just then, the door to the kitchen opened and Salem walked in with Nesia, Natalie and Suerro. JJ felt his skin crawl.

"Natalie!" Leah smiled and got up from her chair going straight to Natalie to give her a hug and kiss on the cheek. "I feel like I haven't seen you in forever. How are you?"

"I'm doing very well," Natalie smiled. "I realized I'm out of cinnamon and I figured I'd bring everyone along and get some. Suerro, this is my cousin Leah. She's Hailey's wife."

"It's a pleasure, Leah," Suerro smiled warmly and shook Leah's hand. She didn't even flinch at the cool touch.

"I didn't realize you were a vampire when I'd heard about you," Leah said. "I've heard quite a bit about you so it's nice to finally meet you."

"It's long overdue," Suerro said.

"Oh, Natalie, there's still some left. I made coffee cake. No eggs or dairy of any kind just how you like it."

"I'd love some," Natalie smiled and then went to JJ while Leah platted a small slice of coffee cake for Natalie. "How's work, JJ?"

"Fine," JJ said. "Go ahead and grab some cinnamon from the shelf and I'll comp it."

"No need, I'll pay for it," Suerro said.

"It's on the house," JJ said firmly, staring daggers at Suerro. "If it's for mom, it's always on the house."

"Come on, JJ, let the man buy something," Hailey said.

"He doesn't need to. It's 25 cents and nothing I can't just put back in the register myself."

"JJ," Hailey started but Suerro interrupted.

"My apologies, I didn't realize Natalie got things free here. I should have figured," Suerro said trying to calm the situation. Natalie went to grab the cinnamon and Salem and Nesia got themselves a slice of cake too so they could all sit together. Suerro sat beside Natalie.

"So, Suerro, I hear you're Quileute," Leah said.

"Indeed I am," Suerro said.

What had been intended to be a quick errand turned into an afternoon of Leah sitting with Natalie, Suerro and the kids getting to know him while Hailey and JJ returned to work. Having Suerro in the shop made JJ more on edge, but he kept himself quiet through the afternoon. Leah suggested they all go back to hers and Hailey's place for dinner which JJ attempted to decline but Hailey practically dragged JJ to his house by the ear. They all stayed at Hailey's and Leah's house for dinner but JJ didn't talk and barely touched his food before insisting he needed to go on patrol and shifted to a wolf. The following day, JJ went to work like always and came home after work, but what he arrived home to was enough to make his blood boil.

Suerro was on the couch with Nesia and Salem helping them practice their French while Natalie made dinner. More of his dad's pictures were on the mantle of the fireplace as if he were watching another man come into his house and raise his family when he had no business being there. Natalie turned to look at JJ and smiled at him welcoming him home from work. JJ said a brief hello back to Natalie but said he was going out and left without another word. He'd thought he was alone until he'd gotten to a part of the beach where he'd been before and Salem had followed him.

"What the hell was that?" Salem asked when they'd met on the beach.

"What?"

"You know what," Salem barked. "Damn it, JJ, mom welcomes you home and you bolt out like a bat out of hell. What's the matter with you?"

"I wanted some air," JJ said. "I needed it. Mom put more of dad's pictures on the mantle."

"Yeah," Salem said baffled that JJ evidently thought that was a bad thing. "She's healing. We all are. You should be too."

"You call letting him walk into the house like he fucking owns the place 'healing'?"

"He's not walking around like he owns the place, JJ. He was helping me and Nesia with our French and mom was making dinner. It was nice," Salem said. There was a brief silence before he said, "it's the first time in a long time we've felt like a family."

"A family?" JJ said, his eyes flaring. "That son of a bitch isn't family."

"Yes he is, JJ," Salem said.

"No, he isn't," JJ said. "He's not half the man dad was and to put his pictures on the mantle watching the lot of you forget about him is a fucking disgrace."

"Forget about him?!" Salem said with a fury. "I miss dad every day and so does Nesia! It was months before she wasn't crying herself to sleep after dad died! When mom took those pictures of the mantle it was like rubbing salt in our wounds because we couldn't even look back on dad's memory! Do you know how I felt when mom starting putting those pictures back? It felt like I could finally see dad again. If anything, dad's the one that brought Suerro and mom together and he's doing mom a lot of good."

"Horseshit," JJ sneered.

"No, JJ, you're just being an asshole," Salem said. "Why can't you just let mom move on? Why can't you move on? I miss dad too, JJ, but you're not making things easier by being so damn negative. He's making mom happy. That should be good enough for you."

"He's not my dad," JJ said.

"No, he's not," Salem said. "No one will be dad but it's not fair to put that kind of expectation on him. You can't keep pushing him away forever."

"Fucking watch me," JJ said.

"Do you hear yourself? JJ, mom finally has a chance to be happy, but instead of going to Uncle Kyle for a moon ceremony and getting married, they're waiting for your approval! And you're making this harder and for what? Because you're intimidated by him?"

"Intimidated?!" JJ yelled.

"That's what it is, isn't it? You've been Rooster of the roost for so long and now that another rooster's come along, you're clucking and crowing trying to start a cock fight." JJ said nothing and started trying to walk away. "Okay, right, just walk away! That's all you ever do these days!"

"Better to walk away than knock your fucking teeth out!" JJ yelled back and continued down the coast, but Salem followed.

"Fine, do it then," Salem said. "If it'll make you feel better, then just get it over with."

"It won't make me feel better, Salem. Now go home. I want to be alone."

"You keep this shit up and you will be," Salem said and finally turned around to go back home. Salem finally returned feeling frustrated and that intensified when he saw the worried look on Natalie's face.

"JJ didn't come home with you?" Natalie asked.

"No, mom, he said he wanted to be alone," Salem said remorsefully.

"That's it," Suerro said and stood from the couch.

"Suerro, what are you doing?"

"I'm sick of this," Suerro said. "If he's going to disrespect me, fine, but he's not getting away with doing that to you."

"Suerro, please, just leave him be," Natalie pleaded.

"Leave him be? Natalie-"

"Salem, honey, can you and Nesia give us a moment please?" Natalie interrupted and Salem went straight to Nesia taking her with and hurrying to their grandparents' house. Once they were alone, Suerro continued but much more calmly than he'd been about to.

"Natalie, you can't just let him off like that," Suerro said. "If I spoke to my mother that way, my father would beat me within an inch of my life!"

"You will do no such thing," Natalie said and trembled a little when she saw the frustration in Suerro's eyes.

"Natalie," Suerro said gently as possible, "this isn't helping. I get it. I really do. He misses his father. Hell, I still miss my father, but he's just making the same mistake I did. Natalie, I love you and I understand this isn't easy for you. I'm willing to be patient and I'm willing to work with him even if it means taking a few jabs from him but he will not, and I mean will not, show you such disrespect. You're his mother."

"You're right, Suerro, I'm his mother," Natalie said and walked closer to Suerro trying to keep her eyes calm and loving. "If you go after him, it'll just make him more upset. If anything, I should go after him."

"No," Suerro said. "If he's going to insist on behaving this way, fine. Don't waste your efforts when he's not going to give an inch."

"Suerro," Natalie said with pleading eyes. She went to him and hugged him and he hugged her back. "At least let him breath another night. I'll talk to him first thing in the morning. I'll make sure of it."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Suerro, I'm sure. I think it would be best if I do it alone, okay?"

"Alright," Suerro finally said. "I'll let you handle it," he continued and kissed her head.

"Thank you, Suerro," Natalie answered and went on her toes to give Suerro a kiss.

He wanted her so badly. Longed for her. In their moment alone, Suerro dared to let his fingers trail into the long hair he so adored, but the kiss didn't last long. Natalie eventually pulled away, kissed the tip of his nose and thanked him again for his patience. If Romney and Ray heard about this, they'd never believe it. Suerro had given a swift and firm response to hundreds of others over the centuries for far less than what he was taking from JJ. It was all for Natalie's sake. He'd take anything the stubborn kid threw at him if only to make Natalie happy. He'd make JJ see eye to eye with him even if it killed him.

"I love you, Natalie," Suerro said to her.

"I love you too Suerro," Natalie said.

JJ was at the bottom of the steps of the porch when he overheard Natalie and Suerro tell one another they loved each other. It was like a knife to his gut. He remembered vividly when he was a kid seeing his mother and father together. He remembered every morning seeing Jae give Natalie a tender kiss and whisper 'I love you' to her and Natalie whispering the same back just before Jae went to JJ, Salem and Nesia telling them each he loved them too before going off to work for the day. He felt a lump in his throat forming and his fist balled up. He wanted nothing more than to barge in and tell Suerro exactly what he thought about his little threat from earlier. Son of a bitch isn't my father JJ thought. If the man wanted a fight, JJ would give him something to threaten him over. He turned to leave, happy to just sleep at the General Store again tonight when the front door opened and Suerro stepped outside.

"JJ," Suerro said. Natalie saw him and stepped outside.

"JJ," Natalie said, "there's still dinner cooking if you're hungry."

"I don't want any dinner," JJ said and started walking away.

"Stop!" Suerro barked at him, startling Natalie and making JJ face him. "You're mother offered you dinner that she made, so I suggest you get inside and-"

"You're not my fucking dad, Suerro. Don't talk to me like I'm a fucking child."

"JJ," Natalie started but Suerro intervened.

"I wouldn't speak to you like a child if you didn't behave like one," Suerro said. "Now go inside and eat something. Apologize to your mother while you're at it."

"You've got some nerve," JJ growled. By then, Salem and Nesia had looked outside and everyone in Jacob's and Renesmee's house were poking their heads out too having heard Suerro yell. "Who the hell are you to tell me what to do? I'm the one that dad entrusted to take care of mom, Salem and Nesia. ME. Not you! And you think you can just waltz in here like you've been here this whole time. Well, you can't! I'm saying you can't!"

"Jay Jacob Dauer!" Natalie yelled. "That's enough! Suerro was going to go ahead and leave for tonight, so just come inside and we'll eat."

"I already said I don't want anything, mom," JJ said, his voice softening but not enough for Suerro's taste.

"Get inside," Suerro commanded.

"Get fucked."

"JJ!" Natalie yelled.

"Enough!" Jacob commanding voice came as he stepped outside and approached from across the beach. "What's going on?"

"Nothing," JJ said.

"If it's nothing, then you can go inside like your mother is asking you to," Jacob said in his alpha's commanding voice. JJ's jaw clenched, but he finally complied and walked past Natalie and Suerro about to approach.

"Apologize to your mother, JJ," Suerro said again but this time JJ just ignored him. He'd take orders from his grandpa but he wasn't taking orders from Suerro. "I said apologize to your mother!"

"You're not my fucking dad!" JJ turned and screamed. "And you never will be! Salem and Nesia might be falling for you but I'm not! If you're going to marry my mom, then fine! See if I care!"

"JJ," Natalie said, tears forming as she tried to approach but Suerro had really lost his temper then and started approaching JJ. "Suerro, stop!" Natalie yelled.

"JJ, that's enough," Jacob ordered. "And you WILL apologize to your mother."

"I'm sorry mom," JJ said and turned to approach the house again but that wasn't good enough.

"Jacob told you to apologize, boy, so do it properly." That was it. He'd had it. JJ turned and looked daggers at Suerro.

"What did you fucking call me?"

"You heard me," Suerro said. "Now you will-"

"No! Don't you talk to me like you have any authority in my house!"

"It's your mother's house," Suerro said.

"Bullshit! Who kept the lights on and food on the table all these years since dad died? Me! You're just some asshole that crawled out from the swaps the walking dead!"

"JJ!" Jacob yelled, but he wasn't stopping.

"You mark my words Suerro that you will never marry my mother. Over my dead body! If you so much as try, I will burn you alive and send you back to your watery grave where you should have stayed! I will do to you what my ancestor failed to!"

"JJ, stop it!" Natalie yelled.

"No, mom, I won't!" JJ yelled.

"Yes you will," Jacob ordered again.

"No," JJ said again, using all the strength he had to defy Jacob and it certainly took a lot. "You will never have my blessing, Suerro. Not now, not ever."

"JJ," Natalie went to JJ hoping she might calm him down, desperate to calm the situation. "Honey, please, just calm down. We'll go inside and we'll talk, okay?"

"Talk about what? Maybe we can talk about you taking his side or maybe we can talk about you letting him take dad's place."

"He's not taking your dad's place!" Natalie insisted.

"Isn't he? Why are you putting dad's pictures downstairs? You kept them because you missed dad!"

"I still miss him," Natalie insisted.

"Clearly not," JJ said. "If you really missed dad, you wouldn't be casting dad from your room because you don't want an audience!" The sound of Natalie slapping JJ clear across the face sounded and took JJ by surprise. He couldn't even remember the last time Natalie had hit him. It had been when he was a little boy and he'd been doing something bad, but he didn't remember what. He held his hand to his cheek where he felt the sting and looked at Natalie. She was trembling both from fury and being stunned at what she'd just done.

"Don't speak to me that way, JJ," Natalie said.

"How? Truthfully?" This time, Suerro was the one to step in. Suerro was before them in a heart and had grabbed JJ by the back of the neck like a vice.

"You watch it," Suerro growled. "Don't you ever, EVER, speak to your mother that way in or out of my presence. Do you understand?"

Rather than say anything, JJ balled a fist and was quick enough to punch Suerro square in the face, cracking the man's marble nose. JJ heard his mother screaming, but he didn't care. She just started wailing on Suerro, or at least attempted to. JJ landed one more punch before Suerro kicked JJ off him and stood taking a moment to fix his nose. He didn't come after JJ however and, somehow, that just made JJ angrier. This time he made a mad dash for Suerro and Natalie screamed again, but this time, his Uncle Embry and Uncle Nathan were there to take a firm hold of him and stopping him.

"That's enough, JJ!" Embry said but JJ shoved both his uncles off him.

"You know what? You're right. That is enough," JJ said. "You clearly don't need me anymore," he finished as though to hit it home to Natalie and walked away.

"JJ!" Natalie said and tried going after him. "JJ!" Natalie screamed again but JJ wouldn't stop. Suerro started going after him, ready to teach JJ another much needed lesson, but Natalie stepped in front of him. "No, Suerro, stop!" Natalie said. She was crying now. "Just stop."

Suerro looked down at Natalie and saw the tears falling down her cheeks. He tried to take her in his arms but she pushed him away and went back into the house, right up the stairs to her room and shut the door. Suerro was furious. JJ had gone too far and rather than letting him defend her, Natalie wouldn't let him do anything. He felt powerless on top of it.

"Suerro?" Salem spoke up and he looked at the young man. "I'll see if I can't talk to mom, okay?"

"Thank you, Salem," Suerro finally managed. Then, suddenly, he felt arms around his waist and looked down to see Nesia and he was touched.

"It's okay, Suerro," Nesia said. "JJ will come around eventually."

It was wishful thinking, Suerro thought. Nesia saw what happened, but she was trying her best to be optimistic. A trait she'd gotten from her father he knew. Truly he admired the man, but he hated constantly being put in his shadow. JJ was the only one who kept doing it if only to attempt to prove him inadequate by comparison and it hurt. It infuriated him, but it hurt. Salem went up to his mother's room and gently knocked before letting himself in. She was sitting on Jae's side of the bed holding a picture of him holding a toddler JJ.

"Mom?" Natalie looked up at Salem and he felt a tug at his heart when he saw her crying.

"I love you father," Natalie said through the tears. "I never stopped. Just because I imprinted on Suerro and found love again doesn't mean I stopped loving your father."

"I know, mom," Salem reassured and sat down next to Natalie, hugging her shoulders.

"I'm so sorry," Natalie cried. "I didn't do for the three of you what I should have and now JJ won't move on. I'm the reason JJ won't let himself be happy."

"Mom, that's not true."

"Yes it is," Natalie cried and clutched the picture to her chest. "I should have been there for you. I should have realized JJ needed me to comfort him and tell him I was here and still loved him. Instead, I just wallowed in my own self pity."

"Mom, it's not your fault JJ's wallowing in his own," Salem said. "Besides, he still shouldn't have done what he did tonight."

"I shouldn't have let Suerro yell at him."

"No, mom, Suerro had every reason to yell at him," Salem said. "Suerro's been a damn saint and JJ keeps spiting in his face."

"Still," Natalie whimpered. "I hate this."

"I know, mom," Salem said and rocked Natalie back and forth. "Suerro makes you happy, mom, and that's good enough for me. Nesia and I really like him. If JJ wants to act this way then let him."

Salem kept rocking Natalie back and forth until he smelled Suerro enter the home and standing before the doorway of the room. Salem looked at him and saw a look of defeat. He appeared as though he were about to do something he didn't want to do.

"Mom, I'm going to talk to Suerro a minute," Salem said.

"It's alright, Salem. I need to speak with Natalie," Suerro said.

"I'd rather you spoke to me first," Salem said pleadingly. Suerro finally nodded in compliance and Salem kissed Natalie's head before going downstairs and then outside. "Mom's still upset, but I think give her the night to rest and you and she can talk in the morning."

"I really should probably do this now," Suerro said scratching the back of his head and appearing as though, were he able, he might just throw up. "Your mother understandably doesn't want to move forward with anything until JJ gives his consent. He's never going to. And I refuse to keep putting your mother in this position of having to get between me and JJ. It would probably be best if I left."

"No! You can't leave!" Salem pleaded. "Suerro, you don't get it! Mom's happy again because of you! She's finally starting to be herself again. You're not going anywhere and I mean it."

Suerro smiled sadly, "I appreciate the sentiment, Salem, but this isn't helping her or JJ. I can't keep forcing your mother to choose between me and her son."

"You aren't the one making her choose. JJ is," Salem said. "If anyone needs a good kick in the ass, it's JJ. Please, Suerro, I know what happened with JJ tonight went way too far, but I'm begging you. Please don't leave. Mom will be crushed if you do." Suerro stared at Salem a moment. He wasn't a carbon copy of his father like JJ was, but he certainly had his father's features. But he had Natalie's eyes and they were pleading, begging him to stay. He wanted to believe Natalie wanted him to, but t the moment he wasn't so sure.

"I'll talk to Natalie," Suerro said.

"Suerro-"

"It's alright, Salem," Suerro said. "I just need to talk to your mother."

Finally, Suerro walked past Salem and back into the house. He went up to Natalie's room. She wasn't balling anymore but she was still staring at JJ's and Jae's picture. Suerro approached quietly. She knew he was there, so he wasn't worried he'd startle her. Suerro looked at the picture and saw Jae holding his and Natalie's eldest son when he was just a toddler. JJ and Jae were staring into the camera, the exact same smile on their faces.

"This was from JJ's third birthday," Natalie said suddenly. Suerro sat next to her on the bed.

"Is it?" Suerro asked and Natalie nodded.

"A bunch of people from town knew and had thrown JJ a little birthday party. He was so happy," Natalie smiled at the memory. "He got a toy train and more liquorish candy than he and his father could eat. They tried, though. Jae convinced me to let JJ have the candy for dinner and they ate it while sitting on the porch together."

"He was a good father," Suerro said. Natalie nodded again as a tear fell. Suerro gently brushed it away and Natalie closed her eyes and leaned into his touch.

"Jae was a wonderful father," Natalie said. "He loved being a father. No matter what any of them needed, Jae would go above and beyond for them. JJ idolized Jae. When he had to go off to war, JJ was so proud of him. Used to tell everyone his daddy was a hero."

"He is a hero," Suerro said, repeating the sentiment.

"JJ," Natalie whimpered. "I'll never forget when they brought Jae's ashes home." She was silent a moment. "JJ wouldn't believe it. He didn't want to. He saw me cry over Jae's ashes and refused to believe his father was dead. When we tried to comfort him, he pushed us away. He found me crying on the floor and he told me he'd make everything okay. He promised he'd do exactly as Jae told him to and he has." Natalie cried more. "He worked so hard while I just cried myself to sleep every night."

"Natalie," Suerro said softly and she looked at him. "I don't want to make you choose between me and your son. I love you, but JJ's more important than me. If you want me to leave, I will." She looked at him a moment wrapping her mind around what he was suggesting. She even contemplated it for a moment, but she wasn't sure it would solve anything.

"No," Natalie whimpered.

"Natalie."

"No," Natalie said again. "If you left, it would hurt too much. I'd miss you. I think it would form an even bigger wedge between me and JJ. I don't want that." Natalie started crying and clutched the picture to her chest again. "I want my son back, Suerro."

"I know," Suerro said and took her in his arms to comfort her while she cried. He'd never been so angry with JJ, but he was livid. He'd be civil, but he fully intended to give JJ a piece of his mind. He'd drag the little brat back home if he had to.

JJ initially thought to go to the General Store, but then he veered off. He wasn't sure where he was going. Just away. By the time it was dawn, he'd walked up to Port Angeles. Or he'd ran there more appropriately. He walked through the streets feeling more alone than ever. He felt alone and he felt unwanted. He found a bunch in the park when he reached it, pulled out his dad's picture and sat down to stare at it. He'd stolen it from his grandma years ago and carried it with him all the time. He stared into the picture and felt himself choke up.

"Dad," JJ mumbled and felt tears burning his eyes. He whipped them away and put his dad's picture away. Crying wouldn't solve anything.

He stood from the bench after a while and kept walking around. There were mothers or nannies with children all playing on the playground. One family even had their dad with them. Strange for a weekday. Then JJ realized the man was a soldier. A soldier who'd lost his arm in combat. He played with four kids, smiling and laughing with them while his wife joined. His missing arm clearly a small price to pay when he at least still had his life and could return home. JJ felt the sting in his eyes again. His dad hadn't come home. He'd saved a man's life but at the cost of his own. At the cost of those that loved him most.

JJ rubbed his eyes again and hurried to get out of the park and away from the families. He got back on the street and was completely lost by midday. He'd wandered around aimlessly not sure where he was going or what he was even doing. He wondered if he could get a job in the city. It wouldn't be quite what he'd had with Hailey, sure, but he'd make enough to keep a roof over his head and clothes on his back and that's really all he needed. He even started going through the city looking for work but then a building caught his eye. Specifically, one with a sign outside asking for men to sign up for the American Military.

That's it! JJ thought. The army. He'd be sent to basic training at bare minimum. He'd be able to get away. He'd join the army just like his dad! Finally having a renewed sense of purpose and hope, JJ went into the building and followed the signs until he reached the office. There were two men signing up recruits and when one looked up at JJ, he gawked, appearing as though he'd seen a ghost.

"Jae?" the man asked.

"His son, actually. JJ Dauer," he answered.

"What brings you in?"

"What else? I'm signing up. Just tell me where to sign."

Natalie was frantic, pacing the house back and forth worrying herself sick. She'd figured he'd be gone for most of Wednesday and even at night, but when she'd gone to the bar, she found out no one had seen JJ that day at the General Store. Natalie requested to leave early explaining what she could to her boss and then ducked out to go to Hailey's and Leah's house. They told her they'd not seen him and were wondering if she knew where he was. She didn't. She shifted hoping she might hear him, but he wasn't there. She sniffed for him and followed his trail into the city. So she changed back and looked all over. Once in the city, he scent was difficult to follow. She eventually lost it without ever finding him. She returned to the house and asked Suerro if he could search for JJ, so he left to look for him. It was Thursday morning now and neither Suerro nor JJ had returned home.

"Don't worry, Natalie, I'm sure we'll find him," Embry said trying to be reassuring.

"I hope so," Natalie said. "Oh God, where could he be?"

Embry patted Natalie's shoulder trying to calm her down. Another hour of the morning passed without any word and Natalie was prepared to go out and look for herself when the door opened. JJ walked in the door whistling a little and trying to walk past like nothing happened.

"Where were you!" Natalie yelled, frantic. "We've been searching all over for you!"

"I went up to Port Angeles for a bit," JJ said. Suerro came into the house having caught JJ's scent miles prior and had followed him home. "Oh, Suerro. Nice to see you."

"Nice to see you? You run off without a word, no one knows where you are, you worry your mother sick and all you have to say is nice to see you?!"

"JJ," Jacob said standing tall and staring down his grandson. "You will never pull a stunt like what you just did again. This ends here."

"I agree," JJ said. "Great news mom. I joined the army."

"You what!" Natalie screeched and the whole room went silent.

"I said I joined the army. Figured I should make better use of myself elsewhere. I get sent to Basic Training Saturday morning and after that, it's off to Korea."

"You..what…JJ," Natalie was shivering and Suerro's cold blood boiled.

"It's okay mom, really. I'll write and I'll call, all that good stuff."

"You ungrateful fucking brat!" Suerro yelled and caught everyone's attention. "What the hell is wrong with you?! You walk off without a word and you come back never telling anyone where you are and you tell us you joined the army?! Like that's nothing?!"

"JJ, please tell us you're joking," Embry stood up.

"Nope, dead serious," JJ said. "I should probably pack a few things. If there's one thing I do know, they don't tolerate tardiness."

"JJ, stop," Natalie started whimpering, still trying to grasp what was happening. "JJ, I'll ask grandpa to see what he can do. We'll revoke the enlistment somehow-"

"Natalie, we can't do that," Embry said.

"Mom, it'll be okay. I'll go somewhere that needs me. You can never have enough men to fight off the communists, right?"

"JJ, just because you're upset with me doesn't mean you should just sign up for the army!" Natalie said. "Honey, I know you're upset, but pleas-"

"Mom, there's no please about it. I signed up, I'm shipping out, and that's that."

"That's that?" Suerro said with a near hiss.

"Exactly," JJ said. "You think you're so damn high and mighty, fine. Since I'm not needed anymore, I'll leave."

"JJ, that's not true!" Natalie pleaded. "JJ-"

"Mom, it's done, okay? We have today and Friday before I have to go, so let's just enjoy it okay?"

"JJ, please," Natalie cried. "I already lost your father. I can't lose you too."

"Don't worry," JJ said, "You replaced dad. You can replace me too."

"What did you just say you little shit?!" Suerro screamed and it took three of them to hold him back.

"Is that really what you think? That I replaced your father?"

"Sure feels that way," JJ said and walked upstairs to his room, slamming the door behind him so he could pack.

The remainder of the afternoon was what one might consider a bloodbath. Suerro wouldn't relent no matter who held him back. JJ decided he may as well just leave despite Natalie begging him not to. He retreated to the General Store where Hailey was at the front of the shop. When he saw the luggage, he made quick work to finish with the customer he'd been assisting and closed shop for lunch before running upstairs.

"What the hell is this?" Hailey asked.

"I joined the army," JJ said matter-of-factly.

"What!?" Hailey yelled. "Why? What the hell is wrong with you? Where the hell were you yesterday?"

"I was enlisting," JJ said. "Suerro and I got into a fight, so I left."

"You two had a fight so you join the army? JJ, you fucking idiot!"

"You can kick and scream all you want, Uncle Hailey. It's done. I deploy on Saturday morning." Hailey's eye was twitching with a bitter fury. "Mom doesn't need me anymore, so I'm leaving."

"Coward," Hailey said and caught JJ's attention.

"What?"

"Coward!" Hailey yelled. "You heard me loud and clear."

"I'm fighting for my country, Uncle Hailey. That's hardly cowardice."

"No," Hailey said. "Your father fought for his country and for all of you. Even died for you. You? You're just running away."

"What if I am?" JJ said bitterly.

"Have you thought for a second what this will do to your mother? What happens if you don't come home?"

"Then I don't come home," JJ said bluntly. "It's the risk you take."

"So that's it? Your mother is moving on with her life at last, so you'd rather run away from it than face it head on?"

"I'd rather be dead than live under that bastard's heel," JJ growled and finished packing a few other things. "I guess this means I'm fired?"

"You bet your God damned ass you're fucking fired," Hailey snarled.

"Fine," JJ said and closed his suitcase. "I'll stay in the city. My train leaves at seven in case you care." Hailey stood there motionless a moment as JJ walked past him, feeling a loss greater than he could explain.

"JJ!" Hailey yelled and made JJ stop in his tracks while going down the stairs.

He couldn't think of anything to say. When he'd seen Jae off, there were high hopes for him, but he'd felt his heart ripped from him when he was killed as though he'd lost a son. Now, he felt like he was losing a grandson. He looked at the boy who so much resembled his father. The boy that used to hold onto Jae's leg and try to eat his hand. The boy that wasn't a boy anymore no matter how much they'd all wished he were. Finally, Hailey brought JJ into his arms to hug him.

"I love you, kid," Hailey finally forced out. "You're like the grandson I never had."

He felt JJ shake and slump a little against Hailey's shoulder and then JJ started crying silent tears. It was sinking in for JJ. Really sinking in. The magnitude of what he'd just done and how he'd left things. He'd been so angry that he'd signed up to the army so he could escape to anywhere else. Anywhere in the world. Now, he regretted it. Purely, bitterly regretted it. And yet there was no taking it back. He couldn't take back the horrible things he said to his mother that, now, he might never see again. He couldn't take back his enlistment or take back the inexcusable way he'd told everyone. The hope and sense of purpose was gone almost as swiftly as it came and now, all he felt was terror.

"Dad told me to take care of them," JJ forced out. "I failed him, Uncle Hailey."

"No you didn't," Hailey said firmly. "You listen to me Jay Jacob Dauer. You were everything your father could have hoped for and more. You stepped up and took care of business without hesitation. It takes a strong young man to do that, JJ, and that's what you are."

"No I'm not," JJ cried.

"Yes you are," Hailey said. "Now you listen to me JJ and you listen good. You WILL come home. Do you hear me? No excuses. You come home. Don't think for a minute we don't need you. I need you."

"But you fired me," JJ said.

"Oh, shush," Hailey said, patting JJ's back. "People say lots of things in the heat of the moment. I'd never fire my own grandson."

"Uncle Hailey," JJ whimpered and hugged Hailey tighter, feeling a sense of security he'd not felt in years.

"Come on you. Get a hold of yourself. You've still got a full day of work. I won't even dock you for your missed hours."

JJ finally chuckled a little and lifted his head so he could rub his eyes. He felt ridiculous, but he'd needed it. He finished out the day as Hailey said but he did go straight to the city getting himself a hotel for the night so he was within convenient walking distance to the train station. He pulled out his dad's picture when he'd gotten settled in and looked at it for a long time. If Jae had seen how JJ had acted. His spine shuddered. Jae was a patient and extremely caring man, but he would and had disciplined them when they acted out of line. If Jae had seen how JJ had spoken to Natalie, JJ wouldn't be able to walk for a week. Of course, he'd gladly take it at this moment. He'd take anything if it meant he could see his dad again. JJ felt his eye lids going heavy when he heard a hard tap on the window that startled him.

When he looked at the window, he saw a little blue bird. It was Blu! Jae couldn't believe it. He went to the window slowly wondering if maybe he was dreaming. Once he reached the window and opened it, the little bird poked something toward JJ with his little beak. A wolf's tooth of a piece of leather. Taha Aki's tooth. It had to be. He looked at the little bird confused but Blu kept poking the tooth towards JJ. He finally accepted it and put the tooth around his neck like the bird wanted. The bird flew into the room and then perched on the little dresser beside the bed and JJ partially closed the window, leaving just enough room for the bird to leave when he wanted.

"Just don't let the cleaning ladies find you," JJ mumbled to the bird like a crazy person before falling into bed.

"Keep that tooth and I'll be with you," a voice came and JJ sat up in a fright, looking around the room. There was no one except the little bird. JJ took a second to look around the room to make sure he was alone. When he found no one, JJ went back to bed and tried to sleep. "It is the tooth of your ancestor that he has granted to you and it will protect you." JJ jolted up again at the voice. A cold sweat came over him when he realized he recognized the voice.

"Dad?" JJ said looking around the room as though he might find him, but there was only the little blue bird. "No," JJ shook his head gently. He was being ridiculous. He was tired and probably dreaming or hallucinating from lack of sleep. He tried falling asleep again, but it was no use.

"I'll always be with you, JJ," the voice came again. "You'll never be alone."

This time, JJ didn't get up or investigate. He stayed down trying to force away whatever was wrong with him. He was finally able to fall asleep and was awoken by the alarm clock. When he woke, the bird was not there, but the tooth was around his neck. Figuring he had nothing to lose from it, JJ kept the tooth on and wore it until his new uniform he'd received when he'd signed on. He checked the time and once he was dressed and ready, he went straight to the train station. There were a few others there that were mostly freshly turned eighteen kids that had joined the army young and fresh. JJ felt so old compared to them as ridiculous as it sounded. He stood on the platform for a while until he heard footsteps behind him.

"JJ?" Natalie's voice came and JJ turned to look at her. She was a wreck, but she was putting on a brave face. Everyone was there. His siblings, his cousins, his uncles except Kevin, and all his grandparents. Hailey and Leah were there too. But he was looking right at Natalie.

"Mom?"

"We came to see you off," Natalie said and went to JJ to hug him. He hugged her back. She started crying and JJ cradled her to sooth her.

"It's okay, mom. I'll be okay," JJ said.

"It feels like just yesterday when you were just a little boy scrapping your knee after a tumble down the hill," Natalie whimpered.

"I might get a few knee scraps, but I'll be fine," JJ said. "I'm sorry about what I said, mom."

"That really hurt, JJ, that you would ever think I could or would even try to replace you," Natalie whimpered.

"I know," JJ said. "I'm so sorry, mom. I was just angry and I wasn't thinking straight. It what got me into this. But I'll be okay."

"Come home," Natalie said. "I meant it. I lost your father. I can't lose you too."

"You won't lose me mom," JJ reassured. "I promise."

"I love you, JJ," Natalie whimpered. "You'll always be my little boy."

"I love you too, mom," JJ said and hugged Natalie tighter. Everyone else took their turn saying goodbye to JJ. All anger and frustration from the other day put completely aside so they could see him off and remind him he had a home to return to. Eventually he needed to get on the train. So he kissed his mom goodbye and got on the train looking out the window at her. He waved to her as the train moved away and she waved back until they couldn't see one another anymore.

Natalie felt like she was being stomped on watching her little boy on a train to be shipped off to war. It had hurt when she watched Jae ride away on that train so many years ago. Had it really been 9 years? It felt like far less. But seeing JJ ride off was worse. So much worse. While she stared after the train even after it had gone, she cried. Suerro, who'd kept a safe distance if only to ensure that absolutely nothing got in the way of Natalie and JJ saying goodbye, walked up to the platform and stood behind Natalie.

"He'll come home, Natalie," Suerro reassured.

"What if he doesn't?" Natalie asked.

"He will," Suerro said firmly. "You mark my words he will. I don't care if I have to bring him back to life myself. He will come home." Natalie whipped the tears from her cheeks.

"I love him so much," Natalie whimpered and Suerro finally took her in his arms.

"I know, Natalie," Suerro said. "And he knows it too."

Natalie accepted the comfort Suerro offered as she cried some more. Even when Jae had left, she'd not cried this much. She was just happy they could reconcile before he left. Suerro petted Natalie's hair and rocked her back at forth gently. It was all he could do to calm her. Suerro looked after the train for a moment and then looked up seeing exactly what he'd hoped. A little blue bird and raven. You better have given him that tooth, Suerro thought to himself. It was a long shot. Probably a useless good luck charm. But Suerro had felt firsthand how that tooth had haunted him Now that it had been returned to its rightful owner, he'd thought it long gone until he looked into the water the evening JJ stormed out and saw Jae's reflection begging him to retrieve the tooth. So he had and the raven and blue bird had taken it and flown away. He'd done what he could for JJ. The rest was up to him.