Chapter 134
For the remainder of their time in Paris, Anatoli joined them through the city as if he'd always been there. For the last week of the visit, Caleb's and Evalynn's grandparents and great grandparents came to Paris to visit. While they were introduced to Anatoli, it was a brief introduction before their focus shifted entirely to Caleb and Evalynn as well as Heather and Levi. Giving everyone else a chance to relax, Dante, Amadora and Alfonse took the kids with them with Dmitri, Heidi, Afton and Chelsea following under the cover of shadows to whatever destination while the remainder of the party stayed at the hotel or did their own thing within the immediate vicinity of the hotel. Since Caleb and Evalynn had left with their grandparents, it rendered Amber's and Anatoli's communication limited again, but he did his best even resorting to poorly rendered drawings on a napkin if he had to.
Since their reintroduction, Amber learned so much about Anatoli as did the remainder of the group. While he'd not been involved with the war himself, they learned how Anatoli had remembered vividly the Gorilla war waged against the Soviets in his youth only to have the rebellion snuffed out despite the efforts. They learned more about the relationship he and Niele had; how, despite Niele's efforts, their relationship was strained from the beginning and how a huge fight between the two of them wound up being Anatoli's last straw before he left for good and went to Vilnius. Mykolas was considerably better with Anatoli than Niele had been but there was always that black cloud that was Niele. Yet despite any animosity or hurt feelings Anatoli had towards Niele, Amber couldn't help but notice how he was always quick to defend Niele, even when he said she'd once hit him so hard with a rolling pin that it had broken on his arm.
"To be fair," Caleb had translated, "I came home late after drinking and after the two of us had argued. She had every reason to be furious with me."
Despite not really wanting to know the answer, Kevin couldn't help but ask Anatoli about his father. Anatoli's answer was to say that he never knew his father; not even knowing his name. He didn't even remember his father's face and what little Niele ever told Anatoli of his father was only to say the man had been a monster, a criminal and that he'd been dealt with as he'd deserved: set ablaze just as he'd tried to do to Niele. While when he'd been young Anatoli had wondered about his father, knowing what he'd done – not just to Niele or to Amber, but to thousands of others in their position – Anatoli always felt only anger towards his birth father and had even suffered what Carlisle had explained to be clinical depression going so far as to have suicidal thoughts exacerbated by heavy drinking. Knowing that had hurt Amber more than anything, but Anatoli explained, with Caleb's and Evalynn's help, that his depression improved considerably as he got older and with support. While it was support he only received when he was living with Boris and Baba Nadeshka, it had been help he desperately needed. He managed to joke that he still drank a lot, but it shifted from drinking due to depression and instead drinking because it was the end of the day and he and Boris wanted to bond.
Anatoli explained that Boris had been like a brother to him and Baba Nadeshka, while a very stern and religious woman that took no nonsense, had been the first woman Anatoli had really been able to look to as a mother figure, though she was more of a grandmother. He talked about how she taught Anatoli how to cook, albeit mostly Russian dishes, and would even sing to Anatoli when he wasn't feeling good or had a hangover. Amber giggled a little at how Anatoli laughed at himself when he relayed a story that Caleb eventually managed to translate. It was a story of how, when he'd first started living with Boris and the other people in that house block, he'd gone out drinking and by morning, he could barely stand and there was Baba Nadeshka at his bedside petting his head serving him hot tea and singing to him but always making sure to make time to scold him for his drunkenness.
"Растущий мальчик не должен пить так много!" (Rastushchiy mal'chik ne dolzhen pit' tak mnogo!/ A growing boy should not drink so much!) Anatoli said, even trying to speak in Baba Nadeshka's voice. "Я говорю ей: «Я не мальчик»," (YA govoryu yey: «YA ne mal'chik» / I say to her 'I am not a boy') he continued and then went on in Baba Nadeshka's voice, "Для меня ты мальчик." (Dlya menya ty mal'chik / to me, you are a boy).
It was clear to Amber that she owed a great deal of thanks to Nadeshka Aleyev for her kindness to Anatoli. The way he spoke of the woman, Amber was shocked Anatoli had not latched onto the woman as a mother. Anatoli spoke of Boris and how the man had been one of many that had defended Stalingrad from Nazi invasion before the town had been victorious following two long years of slow starvation. He talked about how Boris had lost his wife, his young son and, as Anatoli found out for him later, his unborn child to Nazi aggression and had left Russia for Lithuania with his mother hoping to escape what happened. So in Boris, Anatoli had found a kindred spirit of sorts. He talked about how he hardly saw Boris crack over anything. When he described Boris, he described a man that took whatever life threw at him head on with his head held high, but there would be times when he was alone – or thought he was alone – when he would cry over a picture of his wife and son. Anatoli remembered how Boris hardly ever smiled. He was a man that was rather stone faced even when inebriated which was frequently, but when Anatoli had brought back Illyana and Sergei: that had been the first time he'd seen Boris really smile. When he held his newborn son he'd never realized he lost, that had been the second time Anatoli saw Boris smile.
Amber had Anatoli talk about his interests as well. She found out he had not inherited hers or Anna's creative nature. He could barely draw stick figures and seemed baffled when Amber described that she carved candles for a living. "Why would you do that?" Anatoli had asked and Caleb translated. "Doesn't carving them render them useless?" Amber had smiled and shown on paper to Anatoli what the candles generally looked like and how the process worked. Anatoli's interests fell more in reading however it was a pastime he rarely got to indulge in. When he was asked to elaborate, he explained that all literature that was available to the public were, all in all, purely propaganda pieces that were favorable to communism. Authors hand no room to explore any topics of interest or social matters that did not fall in line with the communist agenda and, naturally, portraying the communists or officials in a poor light was punishable by the Goulogs. The few times Anatoli was ever able to read anything that wasn't state approved - such as Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky and, of course, Lithuanian authors or old tales that had kept the Lithuanian language alive during the book exchanges – it was always underground with a group of people he wasn't even always sure he could trust.
"He says they used to wear masks when they would meet," Caleb explained. "There was such a high risk of one of the people that came being a spy for the state so they needed to stay anonymous with people in the group. He couldn't go anymore when the location was reprimanded and burned. Apparently two people were taken in for book smuggling."
During the time Caleb and Evalynn were with their grandparents and unable to translate, Amber talked with Anatoli as best she could using German and while communication slowed down, they still managed to learn more and more about one another. By the time it was time to leave Paris, Amber felt as though she'd known her son all his life.
As Jasper had promised, he was already taking care of the task of forging documentation for Anatoli. While it would take some time for those documents to be ready, Jasper confirmed once they were ready, Jasper would retrieve and deliver them. He also took care of the task of getting him out of France as an American citizen. The day before they were set to leave, Jasper gave Anatoli a passport with a picture Anatoli had let Jasper take beforehand as well as other forged information. To everyone, it appeared flawless. Kevin was shocked Jasper had managed it. His name was listed as being Anatoli Dymek, his nationality was listed as United States of America, the issue date listed 1963 and expiration listed as 1973, gender male with his birth date listed as June 11, 1944 and his birthplace listed as Germany.
"So Anatoli," Jasper said to him, "as far as anyone is to be concerned, you were born in Munich, Germany and that's where you were raised. Make no mention of being raised in Lithuania." Amber translated for him.
"Ich habe Akzent," (I have accent) Anatoli pointed out.
"Versuche so wenig wie möglich zu sprechen," (Try to speak as little as possible) Kevin said. "Zumindest für jetzt." (At least for now)
On the final day, everyone was awake bright and early to go to the airport and Anatoli was with them. The few things he had fit in Amber's luggage and they made sure it was all tucked away somewhere safe so anything questionable wouldn't be found such as his remaining rubles and, more importantly, the picture he had of him with Boris and Baba Nadeshka. Jasper had also taken care of getting Anatoli an airline ticket, so once they arrived and Anatoli showed his passport (that Jasper had already ensured had a stamp in it from America), he was able to get on the plane with the family no problem. Not wanting to risk trouble, Kevin made a point to inform Caleb, Evalynn and Anatoli that, until they were in America and out of the airport, they were not to speak any Russian. German or English only.
The plane ride lasted hours with a stop in New York before they got on a plane again to make the remainder of the trip back to Seattle. Once they finally arrived, everyone was exhausted so the Cullens took over ensuring everyone made it home safely. Despite his intrigue at all the new sites, Anatoli couldn't stay awake once they were in the car and slept the whole way home. Levi, Caleb, Heather and Evalynn were also asleep leaning against Anatoli in the back seat. They dropped off Levi Sr. and Anna home first. Kevin helped get their things inside while everyone else stayed in the car and slept. He said goodnight to them and promised they'd all get together again once the Jet lag wore off.
By the time they were home, Amber was asleep in the front seat, so Kevin took care of getting everyone's things into the house. The kids had so many souvenirs that they needed to sort through, but that could wait until morning. While Kevin was getting everyone's bags in their rooms, the question of where Anatoli would stay popped into his mind. Embry had offered to let Anatoli stay with him, though Amber hadn't been keen on it. They would need to talk about it later. For the time being, Kevin put Anatoli's few belongings on the coffee table or one of the smaller chairs and got a spare pillow and some blankets for Anatoli to use on the couch. Once set up, Kevin went back outside and gently woke the kids first.
"We're home," Kevin said to the kids, starting with rubbing Levi's shoulder and then moving on to the others. They eventually woke up and got out of the car. Anatoli followed but looked at Amber.
"Was ist mit Mama?" (What about mom?) he asked.
"Lass sie schlafen," (Let her sleep) Kevin said. "Ich werde sie bekommen, sobald die Kinder im Bett sind." (I'll get her once the kids are in bed.)
"Ich werde bei ihr bleiben," (I'll stay with her) Anatoli said back.
While Anatoli stayed outside, Kevin went in and get the kids in bed which thankfully didn't take much. They went to their spots in each other's rooms and were out the instant their heads landed on their pillows. Caleb and Evalynn would be staying the night at least. When they would go home was either up to them or up to Kyle and Evalina. When Kevin returned outside, Anatoli was leaning against the car and Amber was still in the passenger's seat sleeping.
"Ich habe ein Kissen und Decken auf der Couch für dich," (I have a pillow and blankets on the couch for you) Kevin said. "Es ist nicht viel, aber es wird jetzt funktionieren." (It's not much, but it'll work for now) Anatoli nodded, still appearing nervous. Kevin sighed heavily. "Beruhige dich, Anatoli. Ich werde dich nicht beißen." (Calm down, Anatoli. I'm not going to bite you)
"Es tut uns leid," (I'm sorry) Anatoli answered.
"Komm rein," (Get inside) Kevin said after taking a deep breath. He nodded and went inside as Kevin said and once he was gone, Kevin gently woke Amber. "Amber, we're home."
"Thank God," Amber said after a groan and finally waking up. Kevin helped her out of the car but Amber noticed no one else was getting out. "Where is everyone?"
"Already inside," Kevin answered. "The kids are sleeping and I have a spot on the couch set up for Anatoli. We'll figure out something more appropriate once we're all settled."
"Alright," Amber agreed and followed Kevin inside. When they got inside, Anatoli was in the living room staring at all the pictures. "Anatoli," Amber said and made him look at her. "Schlaf etwas. Wir werden am Morgen mehr reden." (Get some sleep. We'll talk more in the morning.)
"Ja, Mama," Anatoli answered and got to the couch. Kevin went upstairs immediately, but Amber couldn't resist tucking Anatoli into bed and kissing him goodnight. Kevin was relieved to overhear Anatoli claim the gesture wasn't necessary given his age but he also noticed the statement was halfhearted.
"Don't fuss so much over him," Kevin said to Amber once they were in their room. "He's 20, not 2."
"He's 19," Amber correct. "He'll be 20 in June."
"Alright, fine, but still don't baby him."
"I don't think giving him a kiss goodnight is babying him."
"Tucking him in is," Kevin said. "I know you didn't get to do all that when he was little, but try to remember he's an adult. We should still treat him like an adult and not like a child."
"Alright," Amber sighed and got into a nightgown and then into bed. "Do you think we could convert the candle room into a bedroom?"
"The candle room?" Kevin asked, a little stunned by the request. "Amber, you still use that."
"Mom has one at their house and we have one at the shop as well," Amber reasoned. "One less room won't hurt. Besides, I don't mind walking to mom's house if I need to do some work at home."
"We'll see if you feel that way when you're due any day now," Kevin said. "We'll talk about it more in the morning, alright?"
"Alright," Amber relented. "And thank you, Kevin. I love you."
"I love you too," Kevin answered, kissed her, and they finally went to sleep.
The next morning, Kevin woke up to an odd smell. He smelled coffee brewing, but he also smelled something baking. He got out of bed, get dressed and went downstairs to find Anatoli in the kitchen with a waffle iron he could have sworn belonged to Levi and Anna.
"Anatoli?" Kevin said and he jumped a little but calmed as soon as he realized it was just Kevin. "Kochst du?" (Are you cooking?)
"Ja," Anatoli answered and appeared cheerful. "Vafliai."
"Was?" (What?)
"Waffeln," (Waffles) Anatoli clarified after taking a moment to remember what Anna and Levi had said the German word for waffle was.
"Woher hast du die Zutaten für Waffeln? Ich kann mir nicht vorstellen, was wir im Kühlschrank frisch haben." (Where did you get the ingredients for waffles? I can't imagine what we have in the fridge is fresh.)
"Oma," (Grandma) Anatoli said. "Sie kommt aus dem Laden." (She get from store)
"Sie weckten Anna und Levi zum Einkaufen?" (You woke Anna and Levi to go grocery shopping?) Kevin asked, rather irritated.
"Ne," Anatoli said, suddenly realized he answered in the wrong language and then said, "Nein. Sie kommen um Frühstück zu machen." (They come to make breakfast.) "Sie draußen," (They outside) Anatoli said. Kevin looked toward the porch and there was Anna and Levi, already awake and enjoying their coffee. Kevin went out to the back porch and Levi and Anna saw him.
"Morning, Kevin," Anna said. "Or late morning I should say."
"Morning," Kevin answered. "Anatoli said you two were already awake?"
"We woke up at 9 this morning," Levi said. "Trust me, for us old saps, that's late. It's our fault; I assumed you would be awake so we went to the store and got some things to make breakfast but Anatoli answered the door half asleep and said everyone else was still asleep too. We tried to say we'd come back later, but when he saw the waffle iron, he insisted we let him make breakfast."
"Oh," Kevin said. "Well, that's nice of him."
"So where will he be sleeping going forward? He can't stay on the couch; the poor thing," Anna asked.
"We'll talk about it more today. Amber had suggested changing the candle room to a bedroom."
"What if he stayed with us?" Levi suggested. "We have that spare bedroom Levi and Heather use. Anatoli can use it from now on."
"I'll run the idea by Amber," Kevin said, "but our end goal needs to be getting him working and on his own. Like I told Amber: he's an adult and we need to treat him like one."
"He needs to learn English before he can find work," Anna pointed out. "Besides, take it from me and Levi. English is a really hard language to learn. We can't rush him and he needs a place to stay until he can really be on his own. I know he's an adult, but I don't want you pushing him out of the nest already."
"Please, Anna, that's not what I meant," Kevin groaned. "I need some coffee."
"You'll like this batch," Levi said. "Bought and freshly ground this morning. We bought milk too so there's some in the fridge."
"Thanks, Levi," Kevin answered as he walked back into the house. When he got back to the kitchen, Anatoli already had a few waffles done and off to the side working on another. Kevin walked around him and got himself some coffee but didn't add anything to it. Anatoli was humming something but Kevin didn't recognize the tune. "Was summst du?" (What are you humming?) Kevin asked. Anatoli didn't appear to understand his question. "Das Lied," (The song) Kevin clarified and, with that, Anatoli understood.
"Ist ... ich weiß es nicht auf Deutsch. Lopšinė? Baba singt mir." (Is…I don't know in German. Lopšinė? Baba sing to me)
"Wie nennt man es?" (What's it called?) Kevin asked.
"Auf Russisch 'Казачья колыбельная'," (In Russian Kazach'ya kolybel'naya) he said. "Babas Stimme ist hübsch. Sie singt wunderschön." (Baba's voice pretty. She sing beautiful) Kevin nodded in acknowledgement and then sipped his coffee. From there, the silence was rather awkward. This boy still felt like a stranger to him despite all the time Amber spent getting to know him. Of course, those had been Amber's efforts. Not Kevin's.
"Ich werde dich heute Nacht rausbringen," (I'll take you out tonight) Kevin finally said. "Break the ice."
"Break the ice?" Anatoli asked, repeating the English figure of speech and his accent extremely heavy.
"Es ist eine Redewendung," (It's a figure of speech) Kevin answered. "Etwas, das du lernen musst. Was ich meine bist du und ich werde reden." (Something you'll need to learn. What I mean is you and I will talk.) Anatoli, as he always seemed to be in Kevin's presence, became extremely nervous with the prospect but nodded in agreement.
"Jawohl," (Yes, sir) he answered.
"Damn it, ich sagte, nenn mich Kevin," (I said call me Kevin) Kevin muttered and drank his coffee.
"Es tut mir leid, Kevin," (I'm sorry, Kevin) Anatoli said, quickly correcting himself. There was another silence between them. Anatoli eventually turned his attention to the waffle he'd been making that was now finished. He got it onto a plate and then proceeded with making another waffle. Anatoli remained ill at ease or so it seemed to Kevin.
"Hast du Angst vor mir?" (Are you scared of me?) Kevin asked and Anatoli looked at him. Anatoli seemed like he was considering his answer a moment before he finally replied.
"Nein Sir. Ich respektiere dich," (No, sir. I respect you) he finally said. Kevin hadn't been expecting that answer so it brought another silence between them. Rather than say anything else, Kevin walked out of the kitchen and went back outside where Levi and Anna were sitting enjoying the weather.
The kids all woke up next and at smelling the pancakes, they rushed downstairs to get their share. When Amber didn't come downstairs, Kevin went back to their room to check on her, but she was still asleep so he left her alone. While they sat down together for breakfast, Levi Jr. sat next to Anatoli speaking to him in German but with Caleb there it helped if there was anything Anatoli didn't understand. When Amber finally came downstairs, she had what waffles were still there and then decided the few clothes Anatoli had already were not enough and they needed to go shopping for more clothes. Levi Jr. insisted he wanted to go with them. Anatoli made his own request while they were out asking that he be able to convert his Francs into Dollars so he could pay for his own clothes. Sadly the rubles could not be converted without the risk of causing issues, but the rubles he had with him weren't enough to have any actual buying power, so it didn't matter anyway. He immediately gravitated towards the denim jeans ending up buying ten pairs, more than Amber figured he'd need. "Ich will immer diese," (I always want these) he'd said.
She did make sure Anatoli bought some nicer pants and shirts as well as plenty of plain white shirts that he could work in or wear around the house or whatever he'd want them for. By the time it was nearing the evening and they'd finished, Anatoli had plenty of new clothes, but he had nowhere to put them. They'd have to worry about that later. When they returned home, Anna had already made everyone dinner and they sat down together to eat. Evalynn and Caleb were still with them, so Kevin got the extra chairs necessary so everyone would have a seat but it was a tight fit at the dining table. Levi Jr. once again sat next to Anatoli eagerly trying to get to know him.
It was strange for Kevin to watch Anatoli sitting at the dinner table talking with everyone, or speaking with everyone as best as his German language skills would allow, and even smiling clearly becoming more comfortable. During dinner, Levi and Caleb even began sowing the seeds of teaching him English. Caleb, being in a position to explain this in Russian, largely took over where it pertained to grammar, but it was a brief lesson. Once they'd all finished dinner, Kevin told Anatoli to come with him so they could go out as he'd suggested that morning. His original plan had been to go to a bar, but during the day Kevin decided they needed peace and quiet. So instead, they went to a store that was still open and sold alcohol, Kevin bought two six packs of beer and then they went to the park in the neighborhood. It was late, so there were no children there. They sat at a bench that was near a garbage can so that when they finished a beer they could just throw it out. Once situated, Kevin twisted off the cap of one beer and handed it over to Anatoli and then opened another one for himself. An awkward silence fell between them while they just drank their first beers. Anatoli finished his and then helped himself to another.
"Did you enjoy clothes shopping?" Kevin asked in German, finally breaking the silence.
"It…in German….boring?" he finally managed and Kevin let slip the barest smile. "I buy American pants. Always want."
"You mean those denim jeans?" Kevin asked and Anatoli nodded. "Do they not have those in Lithuania?"
"Western items not allowed," Anatoli said. "Banned."
"Go figure," Kevin shrugged and sipped his beer. Another silence passed until Anatoli ended it.
"You not like me," Anatoli eventually said. Kevin didn't answer right away. He swigged the last of his beer, tossed that bottle into the garbage can and then grabbed another. All the while, Anatoli stayed quiet. Kevin did look at Anatoli. Despite the oddity of their purple color, he really did have his mother's eyes.
"I have unresolved anger," Kevin finally said. "After everything your mother was put through, I felt like it was my fault. So when you showed up out of nowhere, it was like a reminder."
"Not your fault," Anatoli insisted. "You save mom. You are hero."
"Yes, I keep being told that," Kevin said and took another gulp of his beer. Anatoli did the same, finishing his in a few gulps and then grabbing another and twisting open the cap.
"How you and mama meet?" Anatoli asked.
"It was July 18th, 1918," Kevin said. "I was just a kid then. Fifteen to be exact. I joined the army at 13, dragged Embry along with me and engaged in a year and a half of miserable Trench warfare. But I wouldn't trade it for the world. A lot was awarded to me because of that. Above all, that's how I met your mother. The Germans invaded the town of Chateau Thierry and we had to fight them back. While Embry and I were patrolling the streets, I heard a baby crying."
"Mama?" Anatoli asked.
"Yes, Amber," Kevin said. "She'd been hiding in the bedroom closet of a home in town. Her birth mother and grandparents were murdered. She'd been stuck there for so long and when the Germans attacked, the noise must have frightened her and she hid. When we found her, I saw the Star of David her birth mother was wearing. I took it and put it on Amber and then brought her to a synagogue to be looked after by a woman named Mrs. Lavoie. The intent was for my Aunt and Uncle to take her and raise her, but Mrs. Lavoie had other plans and Amber was adopted by Levi and Anna Dymek. Letting Levi and Anna take her was the hardest thing I'd ever had to do. I'd imprinted on Amber, so allowing someone else to take her not knowing when I would ever see her again was really hard."
"I don't understand," Anatoli said. "Imprinted?"
"I guess we never did tell you this did we?" Kevin said. "I belong to a tribe called the Quileutes. Not everyone in the tribe can, but those that are descendants of Chief Taha Aki are able to become wolves."
"You are wolf?" Anatoli asked.
"Yes, I can turn into a wolf. Now's not the place to show you, so you'll have to take my word for it for now. But those of us that become wolves sometimes imprint. It means we've found our soul mate. Sometimes you find that person when they're too young, so the relationship is platonic. The wolf is what his imprint needs him to be. Back then, Amber needed me to let her go. She loved Levi and Anna and they loved her."
"You love mama even then?" Anatoli asked.
"I've loved her as long as I've known her," Kevin answered. "At the time, I loved her more like a guardian. No matter the nature of it, I always wanted what was best for her and what made her happy. That was Anna and Levi. It was years before it turned romantic, but when it had, I did everything I could to prove to Levi I deserved her. We had a rough start in that venture, but once I had Levi's blessing, I proposed to her officially. But then the Crash of '29 put a setback on all our plans and with Adolf Hitler growing in popularity and influence at the time, it was a horrible situation. They'd finally obtained their citizenship only to be turned away when the boat that brought them here sought refuge."
"Why turn away?" Anatoli asked.
"First because the President of Cuba at the time had changed the law to require documents that most of the passengers didn't have and then because President Roosevelt 'Couldn't be reached'. Son of a bitch sent a boat of Jewish refugees back to Europe to their deaths. Amber, Anna and Levi weren't the only passengers on that boat that inevitably were sent to the camps." Kevin slammed back the rest of his beer, tossed the bottle, perhaps a little too hard, into the garbage where the glass was heard cracking and then grabbed another beer, taking another swig.
Eventually, Kevin looked at Anatoli again. He was looking at Kevin staying quiet seeming like he was trying not to rock what was obviously an already unsteady boat. He remembered when he and Embry were talking. That moment when he voiced out loud how, had none of that happened, Anatoli would have been his. While he'd resolved to be better and do better because he wanted Amber to be happy and because, rationally, he knew Anatoli was not at fault for any of this, he couldn't shake that sinking, sickening feeling. He couldn't help looking at Anatoli and seeing his birth father. That man had not only violated Amber. That in itself was the worst of his crimes, at least towards Amber. Kevin didn't doubt that man was guilty of far more and maybe even far worse. Yet the part that had hurt the most for Kevin, no matter how much he tried to not let it bother him, was the fact that he'd robbed Kevin and Amber of their first child.
"When your mother and I were first in love, or romantically involved with one another, I had told her that if I'd had my way, she would already live with me in Connecticut where I was working at the time. I'd told her if I had my way, we'd already be married and we'd have already had our first child. We'd flipped a coin to see whether that child would have been a boy or a girl." Kevin took another swig of his beer finishing it off and then tossing the bottle into the garbage before grabbing another and twisting off the cap. "Coin said we'd have had a boy," he finally finished.
Neither of them said anything else for a while. Anatoli didn't know what to say to that and Kevin was brooding. He stared at the playground equipment remembering just how much he and Amber used to talk about children when they'd first been engaged. Prior to Levi's approval and after. Then Kevin looked at Anatoli again feeling his blood start to boil, but as soon as he saw Anatoli's face, that same blood went cold. He looked so guilty. He finished his current beer, tossed it and the now empty six pack case into the garbage and grabbed another beer from the second six pack all while Kevin watched. The more he looked at Anatoli, the less and less angry Kevin was. Anatoli glanced at the number on his wrist briefly and then took another sip of beer.
"You have your mother's eyes," Kevin spoke suddenly and Anatoli looked up at Kevin. Anatoli appeared so surprised by the comment.
"Really?" he finally said.
"Yeah," Kevin said and finally smiled a little. "You really do." Anatoli smiled a little too and Kevin knew the smile in an instant. "You have her smile too."
"I do?" he asked.
"Yeah, you do," Kevin said. "Look, Anatoli," he continued, "I realize I've been….cold towards you."
"I understand," Anatoli said.
"That doesn't excuse my behavior," Kevin said. "I'm sorry for how I've acted towards you. Contrary to what it must seem, I don't hate you. I was taking out my anger and hurt feelings out on you and that was wrong of me. I don't want you to feel like an outsider; you're a part of the family. We'll do everything we can for you. Given your skills, Embry is happy to give you work for his contracting company, but we need to have you proficient in English first."
"Thank you," Anatoli said, "For everything."
"It's the least I can do for my son," Kevin said sincerely. Anatoli stared at Kevin as he clinked their beer bottles together. "We'll get that candle room converted to a bedroom for you. It may take a little while but in the meantime, the couch is all yours."
"Thank you, papa," Anatoli said.
"First lesson in English," Kevin said, "call me 'Dad'." Kevin said.
"Dad?" Anatoli answered in English.
"Very good," Kevin replied in German. "You're too old to call me 'papa'." Anatoli managed a small laugh.
"Yes, sir," Anatoli answered. "Dad," he corrected and tapped the beer bottle against Kevin's. "I sveikata!"
"Pardon?" Kevin chuckled.
"I think 'Cheers' in German," Anatoli said.
"Ah," Kevin answered and then answered, "Cheers." Then they both finished their current beers and tossed the bottles into the garbage. "Alright, Anatoli. Let's get home before we're so drunk we're singing poorly and waking the neighbors."
Anatoli smiled and the two of them walked back to the house together. Since they still had a few days before everything would return to routine, Kevin and Embry got to work on converting the candle room to a bedroom. Anatoli was expected to help but more so for Embry's benefit to see what Anatoli already knew and what still needed work. The lights didn't need to be rewired, but the well needed to be removed and plumbing changed around. He wasn't familiar with plumbing, but he was willing and eager to learn. It took the entirety of three days, but once the room was converted, Amber took Anatoli to a store to get him a bed and some small pieces of furniture so the room wasn't so empty.
"You know what, once he learns English, he'll be a hell of a contractor," Embry said after Anatoli had left with Amber. "Get him proficient and I'll have him hard at work."
"Good," Kevin said.
"And good on you, Kevin. I can tell the boy appreciates all the help," Embry said.
"He's a good kid," Kevin said. "Don't worry, Embry. I'll have him fluent in no time."
"I look forward to it," Embry said and then left.
It wasn't until the following weekend, but they made the trip to Forks so Anatoli could be introduced to any other family members he'd not met yet. By then, he'd spent the week having English drilled into his head by any means possible and was starting to get a hang of the grammar, but he still knew very few words. Evalina would speak to him in Russian, but Kevin made a point to keep that brief, arguing the only way he'd learn is if he was immersed in the language. Anatoli didn't mind it. He was eager to learn and that was what impressed Kevin most. At this rate, Anatoli would be in a position to start working before the end of the year. Jasper also had Anatoli's documentation which included a Driver's License, documentation that proved he was born in Germany June 11, 1944 – Jasper even going so far as to obtain records from Dachau confirming he'd been born in that camp effectively listing him as a holocaust survivor – and forged documentation declaring him an American citizen as of 1960 though any mention of Anatoli's rearing in Lithuania was intentionally left out. He was officially, and legally, Anatoli Dymek.
Naturally, the topic of Anatoli's power inevitably came up. Levi Jr. told everyone about how he'd brought a squirrel back to life before their eyes. It was a topic that grabbed JJ's undivided attention.
"Anatoli," JJ said, "can you bring back humans?" Clearly not fully understanding the question, Evalina translated for him and once he knew the question, Anatoli nodded.
"Mom?" JJ looked at Natalie.
"Do….should…" Natalie started and trailed off. "Wait, would he be able to? Jae's body was cremated." Evalina posed the questions and once Anatoli understood, he shook his head and answered.
"He said he needs a body," Evalina said. "The way he explained it, he can bring a person back when he's found the place where they died, but their body needs to have decomposed there. It doesn't sound like he'd be able to bring back someone if their ashes were dispersed."
"I try," Anatoli managed to say in English and then said something in Russian to Evalina.
"He said he'd be willing to at least try if you like," Evalina said.
"Mom?" Nesia spoke up, "Can we? Can we at least try?"
"What happens if it works?" Salem, visiting from Seattle, asked cautiously, briefly eyeing Suerro and then Natalie.
"We'll figure it out," JJ said.
"If it helps," Blu Jae said, "that bird that's always perched on the railing is…different let's say."
"You mean because of the crow that's always around?" Jacob said.
"Yeah," Blu Jae said. "A long time ago, I tried to possess the blue bird but it was too…..conscious? No, that's not the word. I'm not sure how to explain it but when I tried to possess the bird, I heard voices. They both would only speak Quileute but one of them sounded….I don't know. Old. It was really hard to understand. Like it was an older Quileute that our tribe parted from. But the voice had told me something strange about that blue bird. I mean, it's not a 'body' per se but….maybe Blu has been Jae all this time."
"Evalina, tell Anatoli to follow me," JJ said, standing from his spot leaving the Cullen house to make a bee line for Natalie's house. After the instructions, Anatoli followed as did virtually the whole house. When they made it to Natalie's house, there was Blu in his usual nesting spot. "That's Blu," JJ said to Anatoli, pointing at the bird. "He's always been a weird little bird. He appeared after my father's ashes were returned and he's been here ever since."
Anatoli quietly approached the little blue bird. He stared at the bird and knew he saw a face that looked near identical to JJ's. The issue he faced was that it looked extremely weird to him: hazy was a good word. And distant. All the same, Anatoli began to reach for the bird. Then, Blu seemed to become alert and hopped onto Anatoli's hand, perching on his knuckle. He chuckled and said something, but it was Lithuanian so no one understood him. Anatoli maneuvered the bird so he was standing in Anatoli's palm. Once he had the bird where he wanted him, he took a deep breath and visualized the face of the man he saw. Then from his palm emitted a heartbeat. After doing so, Anatoli opened his eyes and looked at the blue bird. Nothing. The bird reacted to the beat, but otherwise didn't move and nothing was happening.
"Did it work?" JJ asked in vain. Evalina translated and Anatoli looked at JJ. Realizing there was no way he'd be able to explain in English, he spoke to Evalina to translate for him.
"He said what's supposed to happen is that heart beat sound will hit the body or the ground where the body rests and that should bring the individual back, but it doesn't appear to be working. He says he can definitely see a face from the bird, but it's blurry compared to what it's supposed to be and it's very different."
"What the hell does that mean?!" JJ asked, visibly frustrated. While Evalina explained what Anatoli had told her as clearly as possible, though that proved to be rather difficult, Anatoli turned his attention to a necklace that JJ was wearing. Not knowing how to request the necklace in English, he turned to Evalina. "What did he say?" JJ asked after Anatoli made his request.
"He's asking to see that tooth you're wearing," Evalina said.
"Why?" JJ asked but he was already taking it off and then handed it to Anatoli. Once Anatoli was really looking at the necklace, it was the same as with the bird: there was definitely a face that he could see, but the image was hazy as if behind a fog. In fact, he could see two images from the tooth, both as if they were in a fog.
"Who…" Anatoli started but realized he didn't know how to ask the question, so he once again veered to Evalina. She answered him, explaining it was Taha Aki's tooth who was a chief. "Is two," he said to JJ.
"What is he talking about?"
"He's seeing two faces from the tooth," Edward explained, able to deduce that from Anatoli's thoughts at least. "It's a man and a women."
"A woman?" Suerro asked. "Evalina, ask him what that woman looks like." She did as asked and then Anatoli proceeded to describe a woman who's hair was black and skin was tan, but then he added how she looked a little like Suerro. "How can he see Zurra off that tooth?" he asked. Evalina asked the question to Anatoli and all he could do was shrug.
"Not before. Not see," Anatoli said.
"I think he's saying what he's seeing from that blue bird and the tooth are not something he's seen before," Evalina said. Then their attention was grabbed when they all heard the heartbeat sound again, but this time it was towards the tooth. For an instant, Suerro was rigid, but as with the blue bird, nothing happened. The blue bird hopped into Anatoli's other hand holding the necklace.
"Birdie," JJ said, "You said you understand the bird. Change or shift or whatever you do and tell me why this isn't working." Blu Jae looked at Suerro a moment noticing how he'd appeared ill at ease but he did eventually nod at him, so Blu Jae did as he was asked.
Anatoli dropped everything he'd been holding, startled when Blu Jae's eyes rolled to the back of his head and his body seemed to slump to the ground as if he'd suddenly died. Evalina explained Blu Jae's gift to Anatoli so as to calm him down all while Blu Jae was already outside his own body trying to listen for the blue bird. He'd never actually heard the blue bird. It had always been the crow that was around with that bird. He watched the blue bird go back to his little next and a crow landed on the roof of the house. It let out a 'caw' that caught everyone's attention.
Such oddities these inhuman creatures have. It was the crow's voice Blu Jae realized. It goes to the length of disrupting peace.
So when Anatoli tried to bring back the people he saw behind the tooth and behind Blu, they didn't come back because they're 'at peace'? Blu Jae asked of the crow.
Your friend; he tries to undo a matter so simple as death. He cannot undo new life.
I don't understand, Blu Jae said.
When Q'wati spit into his hands, the dead skin became man. When Dask'iya sacrificed her children to her rage and desire for revenge, she became the Ogres. When I give new life to one unfulfilled, when I, Bayak, bestow power to a sinned chief, I've created Guardian Trickster. I have created new power. Such things cannot be undone. Not by any power.
Guardian Tricksters? You mean Jae and Chief Taha Aki are tricksters?
Exactly that, the crow answered.
So…they're not dead?
Not as you know it to be, the crow answered.
Can you not help to bring back Jae? You said it was you who changed him?
I cannot undo what he has chosen for himself. My heart hurt for him and he begged to be able to look after his love and children, so I made it possible for him to do so. Then when his son was to leave risking great danger, I made it possible for him to give the fallen chief the power to look after your brother when he could not.
The crow was interrupted with Blu's tweets and activity, flapping his wings and hopping in his little nest. Blu Jae brought himself closer to the little blue bird hoping he might be able to communicate with him. But when he went to the little bird, Blu Jae couldn't hear him. All the while, JJ was arguing with Anatoli who, even if he'd known what was going on, wouldn't be able to articulate it. Blu flew from his nest and landed on JJ's shoulder making JJ jump with surprise. The bird jumped and flew away but quickly came back and went onto his shoulder. Before Blu Jae could try to ask the crow any more questions, the crow flew away with a loud caw as did Blu and since Blu Jae couldn't hear the blue bird anyway, he finally returned to his body. He wasn't even standing when JJ started asking what happened.
"Well?" JJ asked. "What happened?" Blu Jae took a moment to get back on his feet and brushed off his clothes. His silence served only to irritate JJ more. "Birdie, what happened?"
Blu Jae took a deep breath knowing JJ wasn't going to like the answer but it was the only answer he could give. "The crow said Anatoli can't bring back your dad because he's not 'dead'."
"What the fuck does that mean?!" JJ snapped. Eun Mi stepped forward putting a hand on JJ's shoulder and while he didn't take any rage out on her, her touch did not lesson his frustration. "What do you mean my dad's 'not dead'?"
"According to the crow, when your father died, he'd felt bad for Jae and had given him the means to look after all of you. As the crow put it: your father isn't dead as well know it. He's instead a Guardian Trickster."
"What?" JJ asked, adding baffled to the myriad of feelings he had in that moment.
"That's what the crow told me," Blu Jae said. "He said that Anatoli can only undo 'something as simple as death' as the crow said and that Anatoli cannot undo new life." This time JJ said nothing. Not due to having nothing to say. Rather, due to knowing at this point nothing he said would change the answer he was going to get.
"JJ," Eun Mi finally spoke up, gently holding his arm. "Why don't we go back up to the house? Esme almost had dinner ready."
"No," JJ answered mutedly. "I have a headache. I think…." JJ trailed off a moment and then said, "I just need to go home." No one stopped JJ while he took back Taha Aki's tooth from Anatoli and then walked away to his house.
"Natalie," Eun Mi said, "Would you be able to look after the boys for the night?"
"Of course," Natalie agreed and then Eun Mi started following after JJ.
Once JJ made it back to the house, he kicked off his shoes at the threshold and went right upstairs going straight to the bed. He sat on the edge of the bed rubbing his face and running his fingers through his hair trying to calm down. He looked up at their wall at the picture he had of his father that he used to keep in his breast pocket during the war as well as Jae's medals. JJ had received some medals from his time in service and, while those also hung on the way, they were nothing by comparison at least in his mind. Specifically, he stared at his father's Purple Heart. Then he looked down at the tooth that the blue bird had brought to his window sill. He still remembered swearing that he'd heard his father's voice but he'd concluded he must have been hearing things in his stress from the past couple of days. But then the tooth literally saved his life more times than he could count. A Guardian Trickster, JJ thought. It had been the blue bird, Blu, that brought him that tooth. When he'd returned, the blue bird, though generally staying at Natalie's house, could always be relied on to show up from time to time, especially when JJ's sons were born.
"JJ?" Eun Mi spoke and JJ looked up at her. He was trembling a little so Eun Mi went right to him holding his head against her chest. Once there, JJ started to cry. They said nothing to one another. Eun Mi only held JJ in her arms and let him cry until, eventually, they were both lying in bed and JJ had fallen asleep.
Later that evening, Salem went up to town where Arturo was now living. Amelio was already walking around and had welcomed Salem the instant he'd arrived at the door. Since arriving in Forks, Arturo was able to get the family a small apartment but he was still putting aside money for a tattoo shop. Esparenza stayed at home with the baby so there was some financial strain, but Ada María ensured that Arturo had a living wage and was never above letting him, or any of her employees really, take home food from the kitchen. Things were tight, but they were making it work. While Salem couldn't speak in detail about what happened with JJ or why it happened, Salem still desperately needed someone to talk to. Despite having kept it to himself far better than Nesia and especially JJ had, he still felt a lump in his throat the remainder of the day that never went away.
"You said your father died during the Liberation of Paris, right?" Arturo asked once the two were sitting together in the living room. Esparenza kept the baby occupied so the two of them could talk on the couch enjoying a beer together.
"Yeah," Salem said, "he'd gone into enemy fire to save cousin Travis's life. Then he got shot through the chest and neck."
"One can never say 'I'm Sorry' enough times for such a tragedy," Arturo said.
"I really do miss him," Salem said. "Years ago, JJ used to accuse me and Nesia of not missing dad because we'd been alright with our mom seeing someone else and moving on with her life. That couldn't be the furthest thing from the truth. I like Suerro because he makes my mom happy again, but if JJ and I agree on anything, it's that Suerro isn't our dad. He'll never replace our dad."
"Naturally not," Arturo agreed.
"When we were kids, I cried when we found out dad was gone," Salem said. "Just because I didn't let it nearly ruin my life doesn't mean I don't still miss him. JJ handled it poorly, but that doesn't mean I miss dad any less than him."
"Of course not," Arturo said. "From what I've been told of your father, it's not a wonder why he's so deeply missed, but that doesn't mean your lives stop. I'm just relieved your brother realized that before it was too late."
"All thanks to Eun Mi," Salem said and then sighed a little, feeling slightly empty. "Can I confess something to you?" Salem said.
"Absolutely," Arturo said.
"You know I'm due for a transfer. I found out that next I transfer, they're sending me to Vietnam." A brief silence filled the air and it sank in what Salem just told Arturo.
"I assume you haven't told your mother?"
"No," Salem said. "No one knows. I don't want them to know yet. I guess I really shouldn't be surprised I'm finally being shipped off to Vietnam but….I guess I'd been hoping I never would be. Now that it's happening, I'm too scared to really face it right now."
"When are you going?"
"February," Salem said. "So they gave me plenty of notice to be fair. Hell, I'm surprised they haven't just told me I'm going, sent me and been done with it. Not that I'm complaining."
"I would certainly hope not," Arturo said with a reassuring smile. "How long would you be in Vietnam?"
"Two years," Salem said. Another silence hung between them before he spoke again. "I think, after this, I'll retire from the Navy."
"Really?" Arturo asked.
"Yeah," Salem nodded. "Me shipping around the world where I'll be fine is one thing. Being sent to a warzone might knock another ten years off my mom's life. I don't want to risk being sent there again. So once I've served in Nam, I'll retire."
"I think that's a very mature decision," Arturo said.
"Maybe once I return, we can look into making that rum for sale like we talked about. Assuming the Viet Cong don't kill me," Salem said.
"I would recommend refraining from that line of humor when telling your mother about this," Arturo said. "She'll likely be horrified enough when you tell her without you making jokes."
"I'll keep it to myself," Salem smiled halfheartedly. "Who knows? Maybe I'll be lucky and meet the woman of my dreams in Vietnam. Maybe a local or even one of the nurses."
"Never hurts to look," Arturo smiled and patted Salem's back. "And you have my word your father will be with you in spirit."
"I know," Salem said, still rather glum. "I hope he will be."
After their talk, Salem drove back to the tribe where he was spending the weekend and went straight to bed on the couch. By the time he'd returned home, Nesia was also back at her own little house and had long since gone to bed with her cat Willow at her feet. During the night, JJ felt a chill in the room that woke him instantly. He sat up in bed and glanced to his right but Eun Mi wasn't in bed with him. He stood and went downstairs assuming he'd find Eun Mi, but she wasn't there either. He stepped outside onto their porch thinking he'd find her there, but she wasn't. Instead, he looked out past the trees and thought he saw a figure. He began walking towards the figure and found Salem at the water's edge with Nesia beside him. When JJ approached, they both looked in his direction but went stiff when they did.
"What?" JJ asked. Salem pointed past JJ making him turn. Then when he saw what had Nesia and Salem so wide eyed made JJ nearly fall over. "Dad?" JJ asked. As clear as day, Jae stood before the three of them.
"This is long overdue," Jae said.
"I…..I thought Anatoli…he said it didn't work," JJ said.
"It didn't," Jae said and came closer.
"Daddy," Nesia cried and went right to him. He was physically there for her to hug and like that, memories flooded her mind. Jae was just as she remembered. His woodsy scent, the warm touch when he hugged her and the sound of his voice.
"Dad…" Salem began but he stopped, at a loss for words.
"I'm so proud of the three of you," Jae said and then looked right at JJ. "I want the three of you to know that. I'm very, very proud of you."
"Dad," Salem said again and came closer, "why couldn't Anatoli bring you back?"
"It's like Bayak said," Jae answered. "I chose my fate. Leaving you was the greatest pain I could ever imagine and I couldn't bare it. I couldn't rest, so I didn't." Jae smiled at JJ. "I've been here. You know I have been. I've watched through everything you've all accomplished. I've watched the three of you grow up and I've watched the three of you become everything I could have ever imagined. Do not mourn for me. I've been with you all this time."
"But dad," JJ started.
"When I asked you to look after everyone, JJ," Jae said, "I never intended for you to have the whole world on your shoulders. I will never forgive myself for putting you through that. You were forced to grow up long before you were ready. But you persevered. Now you have four beautiful boys I'm proud to call my grandsons and two more on the way." Jae turned his attention to Salem. "Salem, you've been invaluable to you mother and siblings. I want you to understand that. Remember that I will be with you when you're sent to fight. You'll never be alone and you will bring home a great treasure that will be dearly loved. Nesia, you are so much like your mother. And you're strong. Stronger than I think you realize."
"Daddy," Nesia cried into Jae's chest.
"Don't cry, Nesia," Jae said. "I want the three of you to be happy. That has always been my greatest desire."
"Dad," Salem spoke up, "you said….I would find a great treasure."
"You will bring happiness that will truly be insurmountable," Jae smiled. "And don't worry. You will be rewarded. So will you, Nesia."
"I don't understand," Salem said.
"I know," Jae said and smiled reassuringly. "You will when the time is right. Far past our mountains to those long forgotten, blue eyes will be the tether of your heart. And Nesia, do not be fooled or frightened by coldness. Ice can always be melted with warmth and you have that in abundance. You will offer courage to one who needs it most of all."
"Daddy, please don't talk in riddles," Nesia whined and held Jae tighter. Jae's only answer was a smile and to kiss Nesia's head. Jae guided Nesia to the water's edge where he sat down, bringing her beside him. Salem and JJ went down by his side sitting close to Jae. When the silence grew to be too much, JJ felt a lump forming in his throat.
"Dad, please don't leave," JJ said.
"I'll not leave, JJ. Remember that I've been here all along. I will continue to be so. When you wake, look to Eun Mi and I will eagerly await spring on the lovers' day." JJ looked at Jae bizarrely, but it quickly sunk in what Jae meant and it left JJ heartbroken. "I'll always be here, JJ. Remember I'll always be here."
Rather than say another word, JJ moved that much closer to Jae and the four of them stayed in the sand staring in the distance. Despite their best efforts, it wasn't long before the three of them all fell asleep only to wake in the morning exactly where they'd been when the night before. Nesia sat up in her bed and overheard Willow leaving the house to go hunt and go about her day. Salem sat up on the couch where he'd fallen asleep seeing Blu Jae making everyone coffee and lazily playing Grieg's Morning Mood on the harmonica. JJ woke in his bed staring at the ceiling and started shaking when it hit him that everything was a dream. Then he heard a happy tweet from outside and JJ glanced at the window to see Blu. He was only there a moment before flying away and JJ turned to his side as if he'd reach him, but he'd long since already flown away. His movements were enough to cause Eun Mi to stir and turn onto her back where, when she opened her eyes, she was looking right up at JJ.
"JJ?" Eun Mi said and reached a hand up to touch JJ's cheek. Once there, JJ pressed his hand against hers. "I'm so sorry about yesterday."
"It's alright," JJ said. "Dad doesn't want me mourning."
"It's natural to miss him," Eun Mi said.
"It is," JJ agreed, "But he's right. I need to live." Eun Mi looked up at him confused as JJ leaned down until their noses touched. "I have a lot to live for." He leaned the last bit so their lips met in a tender kiss. Eun Mi wrapped her arms around JJ's neck and he held her close to him. They kissed for several seconds before JJ pulled away just enough so he was looking into her eyes. "Where are the boys?"
"They're with Natalie," Eun Mi answered. JJ smiled lovingly at her and pressed another kiss to her lips. The two of them went undisturbed until well into the late part of the morning. After noon, JJ went to pick up the boys from Natalie's house. The four of them were playing outside with Blu Jae while Salem and Nesia were sitting on the porch. He walked onto the porch and glanced at the nest where Blu sat.
"I had a dream last night," JJ said.
"We both did," Salem said, continuing to look at Blu. "Looks like the three of us have a lot ahead of ourselves."
"So it would seem," JJ said and smiled a little. He held out his hand to Blu and the bird hopped into his palm. "So Salem, what's this about you going off to fight?" Salem took a deep breath glancing around to make sure Natalie wasn't around. He knew Suerro would end up hearing him, but he knew he'd at least keep quiet once he knew Salem's reasoning for remaining silent.
"I got my new orders. In February, I'm being shipped off to Vietnam beginning of February. Obviously I'm not allowed to talk much about what we'll be doing, but I know we'll be acting as defense. I can tell you I'm being sent to Da Nang."
"How long will you be there?"
"Two years," Salem answered. "I haven't told mom because I don't want her worrying right now. I'd rather wait until after Christmas at least so she's not consumed with something so far off." JJ and Nesia looked at Salem a moment before JJ gently put Blu back in his nest and then reached up to take off the tooth. Then he held it out to Salem.
"Just make sure you've got this with you," JJ said and Salem accepted it. "If that thing can save me from a bullet to the neck and a stab to the chest, it can save you from yourself." Salem chuckled a little and put the tooth around his neck.
"The greatest hazard," Salem joked. "Can we keep this between us until after Christmas?"
"Sure," JJ and Nesia agreed.
When it came to be late June, Nathan, Ada María and their children made their yearly trip to Vegas before leaving for Brazil. Sadly, Ivory couldn't join them this year because of work, but they were able to visit with her before they left the US. During their visit, they were able to fill her in on all that had happened during Heather's birthday trip and since then.
"So let me get this straight," she said after the story of what happened had been relayed to her, "this kid comes up out of nowhere, says he's Aunt Amber's son, and now he's living with Aunt Amber and Uncle Kevin?"
"That's the long and short of it," Nathan said. "Carlisle already did a blood test and it confirmed Amber's his mother."
"Who's his father?" Tamara asked.
"An SS officer," Nathan answered. "As to his name, that we don't know. According to Anatoli, his father is dead but that's all the more he knows about the man outside of what he'd been told by his former guardian. She'd had nothing good to say about him either according to Anatoli."
"If he was an SS officer, what good is there to say about him?" Ivory asked and Nathan shrugged dismissively.
"At this point, it doesn't matter. It took effort to be sure, but Kevin's pretty much embraced Anatoli as his own and Anatoli's working really hard to learn English so he can start working. Amber even made sure Anatoli got to celebrate his birthday this year. According to him, the most he'd gotten as a birthday was….fuck, what did he say that stuff was called?" Ada María shrugged when Nathan asked the question, so Nathan just moved on. "I just know it's blood soup. It's usually made with chicken blood supposedly but Carlisle was…let's say 'nice enough' to obtain human blood and Amber made it for him with his direction. Perhaps the grossest thing I ever smelled but, he enjoyed it. We'd only made enough for Anatoli. Carlisle and the others thought they might like it, but I guess the cream made it unpalatable for them."
"Oh God, that sounds gross," Ivory said as she scrunched her nose and felt a slight gag reflex. "And you said he grew up in Lithuania?" Nathan nodded to Ivory's question. "And we're positive he's not a spy or something?" Ivory asked.
"He's not a spy, Ivory. Or if he is, he may be the worst spy ever," Nathan joked. "Spies generally know the language of the people they're spying on to start."
"If you say so," Ivory said with a shrug. "I guess I'll meet him over Christmas. So how's Aunt Amber doing baby wise? She's pregnant right?"
"She's alright," Nathan said. "Apparently they're having twins."
"You serious?" Jaedynn asked. "When did they tell you that?"
"On patrol before we left," Nathan said. "They'd found out that day."
"May God have mercy on their souls," Scarlet joked and Kai chuckled. Scarlet looked at Lulu with a smile. "I love you, honey, but I don't think I could ever handle two of you."
"I'm quite pleased to be an only child myself, mom," Lulu joked.
"Yes, you should be," Ivory said. "When you have a sister, she gets mad at you over stupid stuff. Like a shirt."
"You took my shirt, first of all, without telling me and then you let one of your friends borrow it, again, without asking me and then she spilled wine all over it ruining my shirt," Scarlet said.
"Scarlet, it was five years ago. Get over it!"
"No, I will not 'get over it' because that was one of my favorite shirts that daddy got me for my birthday after he came home from Europe and you ruined it."
"I'm sorry, Scarlet, okay? How was I supposed to know Mary would spill wine on it?"
"A situation that could have been avoided if you'd asked me if you could burrow it! Then I could have told you no and, voila! No ruined shirt!"
"Daddy!" Ivory said, ready to ask Nathan to intervene.
"Nope, nope," Nathan said, holding up his hands, "I'm staying out of this."
"Can't 'daddy' your way out of this one can you?" Scarlet said condescendingly.
"I didn't see you getting this upset with Cindy when she ate a pair of your shoes," Ivory muttered.
"Cindy's a dog," Scarlet pointed out.
"Daddy," Lulu said to Kai while Scarlet and Ivory continued to bicker, "can I stay an only child?"
Kai chuckled and petted Lulu's head, "Don't worry, kid. Your mother and I agreed you were plenty for us."
"Excellent," Lulu smiled triumphantly and made Kai laugh a little harder.
While Nathan, Ada María and their children were off enjoying their summer first in Las Vegas and then in Brazil, Eun Mi found out she was pregnant herself. Eun Mi and Yon were in constant letter correspondence and, on the rare occasion it was afforded, would talk on the phone as well. As JJ had thought, Eun Mi would take any advice imaginable to ensure that she would have a girl. One of her cooking students told her that if she ate a lot of fruit, she would be guaranteed to have a girl. So Eun Mi was constantly eating apples, strawberries, blue and blackberries, cherries, peaches; anything that she could get her hands on. Of course, with a particular question such as how to guarantee a girl, Eun Mi received conflicting information and all JJ could do was tell her to try not to worry about it too much. But when Eun Mi started having dreams or 'Taemong' as Eun Mi kept calling it, she became convinced she was having a girl. She would dream of a golden bear and two gardenia flowers would grow in the bear's arms from the same branch. The first night she had that dream, she was already showing her baby bump and while she made everyone breakfast that morning, she had a big smile on her face.
"You're in a good mood, Eomma," Eun So said as he hugged Eun Mi while she was cooking them Congee for breakfast. Using her ghostly hands to keep the food attended to, she kneeled down to lift Eun So into her arms and kissed his cheek. Hae Li quickly got jealous and wobbled over to Eun Mi to get some attention. She got Hae Li into her arms as well and kissed his cheek.
"You're all getting a little sister soon," Eun Mi said confidently.
"How do you know, Eomma?" Mae Sun asked, having stepped into the kitchen.
"I dreamed I would," Eun Mi said. She put Eun So and Hae Li down so she could return her attention to breakfast and once ready, she was sitting with them enjoying breakfast.
While she was certain she was having a girl, she did notice she was growing much faster than she had with any of the boys. Using the same ultrasound machine that he and Carlisle had tested and determined was safe equipment Kyle was able to find that Eun Mi, also, was having twins hence why she was seemingly growing so quickly. It was too soon to know the gender, but Eun Mi insisted she already knew they were both girls and said as much to JJ when she told him about their twin babies. JJ was initially surprised that they were having twins, but the next morning when he left to go to work, he saw Blu and smiled.
"I guess you did warn me," he said jokingly.