Part 2
Everything was ready to go. The University had released Diana early due to the attack. They hired a substitute for the last few weeks. While the dean was sorry to lose her he understood that she had to go with her new mate and also she would hardly want to live in the same house where she had nearly been murdered, where her kids had nearly seen their mother's death and might have met death themselves.
Diana had to admit that she was glad to go. She wished she had already been on her way to Virginia, before her former mate had kicked down her door. She and the kids were driving and Dave joined them, once he returned his rented SUV, the same SUV that he had driven out into the desert to dispose of William Reid.
The full-size Mercedes van that Dave had bought her was really nice. It was a nice steel blue with a dark blue interior. The kids had been thrilled with it, Diana knew, as their was much more room for long trips, especially for the legs. She had thanked her mate for such an expensive gift. Dave had just said that it would be easier for her to take the kids around with a vehicle that was bigger then her old car. Also he was planning for the future when they had more children. Right now, they had five kids +3 adults, if they counted Ariel and his sons. There also would soon be a nanny and hopefully, more kids after these were born. Dave had also said that he might have to invest in another van, but he'd wait and see. Passenger vans were harder to handle then regular cars or SUVs, but Diana had gotten the hang of it quickly, though she'd have to see how she did when the car was full.
"Road trip!" Meriel said and excitedly.
"Yes, road trip," Dave said amused. The kids excitement was contagious and while Spencer was the quiet one it was clear he was very happy that his family was all okay.
The five of them had had breakfast back at the house, but they'd be eating lunch on the road. Spencer knew to drive all the way to Virginia would take at least two days, possibly three depending on how many hours they drove each day. If they took breaks, which was a near certainty, so everybody could stretch their legs, then it would likely take four days. He and his two sisters had missed the end of the year at school, but they were so far ahead that it didn't really matter. They were just marking time.
He knew Dave was planning to get the three of them into a special school, as they had already talked about it. While he knew it was expensive he knew he and his sisters would do better there. He could only be thankful that Dave was so generous and kind. He didn't mind using his money to help them reach their full potential. He was so different from his father that it was a major eye opening revelation. He had truly believed that all Alphas were selfish and rude, arrogant and demanding. That all of them ignored their mates needs and treated their children like crap. Intellectually, he knew this wasn't true, as everybody was different, but in his heart... In any case, Dave had changed his opinion beyond all recognition. If there were others like Dave out there, then their species wasn't as badly off as he had originally believed.
William Reid was only one man, that his mother had chosen unwisely. However, she'd been more lucky the second time and Dave was totally different from the man he shared DNA with.
Dave put in a video for the children in the back and even Spencer watched it, though he did analyze it at the end. Still, it was an enjoyable drive as the kids were mostly silent.
"It's time for lunch," Diana said, several hours later. "Any suggestions on where to stop?"
"Well, somewhere kid friendly," Dave said glancing at the three children in the back. "But somewhere other than fast food if it all possible. A diner or café would probably be best."
"Somewhere for a quick meal, so that we can get back on the road," Diana agreed.
"I'll do the driving after lunch," Dave said and Diana nodded. "I don't want you getting too tired. These full-size passenger vans take a lot of concentration to drive properly, they don't control like a car or even an SUV, as they are like big, hulking tanks. You can take a nap in the passenger seat after lunch."
"Sounds good," Diana said agreeably.
The truth was that she was getting tired and Dave had likely seen that she was, as he was very observant. While she had learned how to drive one of these things Dave was right and it was like driving a tank. It took a lot of concentration, because it was hard to control.
The kids started suggesting places that looked interesting, but finally, they stopped at a cafe, that looked like a fairly popular spot if the cars were anything to go by.
They parked in a nearly full parking lot and then entered the café. Luckily, the place wasn't so busy that the five of them couldn't get a table, within a few minutes.
They were served within half an hour, which was pretty good considering the place was nearly packed, as they had come in the middle of the lunch rush.
They were back on the road in just an hour, which was really exceptional considering.
~~~Dave and Diana~~~
"Welcome home," Ariel greeted her employer and his new family.
"Thank you, Ariel," Dave said. "This is Diana and her children, Spencer, Meriel and Mercia."
"It's nice to meet you," Mercia said. "Dave's told us all about you."
"Yes, he has," Meriel agreed with her sister.
"I've been wanting to meet you for long time," Ariel said. "You've made Dave so happy," Ariel added shaking Diana's hand.
"He's certainly made me very happy to," Diana agreed blushing a little as she shot an adoring look at Dave.
"So where are James and Marshall?" Dave asked.
"I'll go get them," Arial said. "They should be in the playroom. I wanted to be here to greet you before James and Marshall took up all your time."
"I'll just show Spencer, Meriel and Marcia where the playroom is, so they can get acquainted with my twins. So long as that's alright with you three," Dave added looking at Spencer and his sisters.
"Shouldn't we unpack first?" Mercia asked. She was the responsible one and knew that chores must be done before fun.
"I think it can wait until tomorrow," Dave said. "It's late, we'll be having dinner and you'll be going to bed in just a few hours. Ariel can help you with that and also your mother."
"Yes, I think tomorrow is better," Diana said. "We're all tired from such a long trip by car. I know we took it in stages and didn't try to drive it all in one day, but still, it was a long journey. I'll help you get your night things out of the suitcases, so that at least you'll have something to sleep in."
The children were rather tired, though they hadn't wanted to admit it, so were glad that they weren't unpacking tonight.
Once decisions were made Ariel led the way to the playroom, where Dave was immediately piled on by his twin sons.
"Daddy daddy, you're home," James and Marshall shouted.
"Yes, I am and I'm here to stay," Dave promised.
"No more traveling?" asked Marshall, looking up at him hopefully with his dark brown eyes the same shade as Dave's own.
"Not for awhile anyway," Dave promised. "I can't promise I'll never travel again, but I won't for at least the next year or so, probably longer."
Dave picked up each of his kids and swung them around causing then to squeal in delight. It was clear to Diana that Dave adored his sons and that his sons adored him, something she had already known. Still, hearing about it and seeing it were two totally different things.
It was clear that Dave's sons had missed their father and that he had also missed them. "It's about time for dinner, so I'll go fix something simple for tonight."
"Why don't you let me do that, Dave," Ariel suggested. "I know you're tired from driving."
"Diana and I took turns, so we're both not as tired as we could be. Still, some help in the kitchen is always welcome. James, Marshall these are your new brother and sisters, Spencer, Meriel and Mercia," Dave told his sons. "You've known about them for sometime, so you will treat them as your siblings from now on."
"The same goes for my 3," Diana added looking at her son and two daughters. "There will be no bullying or picking on."
Diana knew that her children weren't really ones to bully, but it didn't hurt to warn them, just in case.
"Diana and I know it'll take time for all of you to get to know each other," Dave added.
"Okay, dad," James and Marshall said at the same time.
"Yes, mom," added Diana's three.
"And this is your new mother Diana, you will obey her like you do me or Ariel is that understood, boys?"
"Yes, dad," James and Marshall said again. They had known this was coming for sometime and dad had assured them that Diana was a very nice lady and would love them just as much as their mother, Carolyn had. They would trust their dad was right unless proven otherwise.
"Good, now, that that's settled its time for us to fix dinner," Dave said pleased. "All of you can start to get to know each other while us adults start cooking for everyone."
"Which is going to be quite a task," Ariel said.
"Yes, it is," Diana agreed. "But this is the way our species has always been since the beginning of time. I'm pregnant, by the way, so soon they'll be even more children to look after."
"I knew this was coming, as Dave warned me," Ariel said simply. "I'll be very happy with the new additions once they arrive."
"Yes, Ariel loves children," Dave chuckled, kissing her cheek in obvious affection.
"So do you," Ariel responded with a smile.
"That's very true," Dave agreed, as he headed to the kitchen to fix dinner, with Ariel and Diana following.
~~~Dave and Diana~~~
A few weeks later
"You okay?" Ariel asked Diana who had gotten a job that one of the local universities, but that didn't start for weeks as the summer was hardly half over.
"I'm okay," Diana said. "I just wonder how bad my judgment was to marry Will in the first place. Don't get me wrong I love my triplets, I just can't help but wonder what I ever saw in William Reid."
Ariel had heard all about the incident from Dave and he had still been rather furious about it. She couldn't blame him for being angry either. What Diana's former mate had done had been boneheaded stupid and according to Diana her former mate usually wasn't like that at all, even if he didn't treat his mate and children with respect at least. William Reid had had to know he was a dead man walking once Dave had gotten his hands on him, even though Diana or the children had come to love had come to no harm, except for being frightened to death.
"It's just that I'm so happy with Dave now," Diana admitted. "Even Spencer has made his peace with him and they now get along."
"Why didn't they get along?" Ariel asked puzzled. "Dave's a good man."
"Yes, he is, but you have to remember how the triplets father treated them," Diana reminded Ariel. "He treated them as an inconvenience, or as mistakes and this is especially true for my son. I think it's because he's an Omega, which shouldn't matter, but to some Alphas we both know it does. I didn't realize it at the time, but Will absolutely hated Omegas or at least intensely disliked them, so why he mated with one puzzles me still. Dave has made me see that Will likely wanted his son to be an Alpha or at least a Beta and while that might have occurred Dave reminded me you can't really control what comes out of the gene pool. I can see now that Will took it as an offense that his son wasn't at least a Beta."
"It happens," Ariel offered and Diana nodded.
"I know it does, but it never made sense to me really. Shouldn't you love your kids whether they're Alphas, Betas or Omegas?" Diana said. "I know my history very well, but to resent or hate your own kids is just ridiculous. I believe he also resented that the other two were girls instead of boys, because he wouldn't have treated his daughters like he did if he didn't, especially since they are Alphas."
"Some of our kind believe Omegas are stupid or at least they are there for an Alpha's pleasure," Ariel said and Diana nodded again, because it was true.
"Yes, they do," Diana agreed. "I suppose that Will doesn't matter anymore as he's dead. Dave was determined that he was going to lose his life for his actions and I can't blame him in the least for that. Not only was Will stupid enough to attack somebody else's mate, he attacked that mate while she was pregnant, even if that was only by a few weeks. I always knew Will had a temper, but he wasn't usually so boneheaded stupid. That he didn't even bother to check to make sure I hadn't mated again was at least extremely shortsighted. He might've calmed down enough to not do something so stupid, once he realized I had an Alpha to protect me if only he had done some investigation, instead of just barging in like a wild animal, so enraged he was practically frothing at the mouth."
"Well, I'm just glad you were free, as Dave hasn't been so happy in years," Ariel said.
"Neither was I," Diana said pensively. "I wasn't as lonely as I could've been as I had plenty of colleagues that I was close to. My parents and some of my siblings were also frequent visitors. Still, I knew that my children would eventually go off to college and I would not want to live the rest of my life alone. I wanted other children, but I knew if I waited until my three were out of the house I'd be too old to have them safely. Meeting Dave was something of a fortunate accident it wasn't expected. As I said earlier, Spencer was the only hold out when it came to me being in any type of relationship. He remembered his father's hateful attitude and every negative descriptive phrase that Will decided to throw at him, so was leery about me getting involved with any man, much less an Alpha. I know I should've left Will, instead of him leaving me, as he did tend to treat me like I was two years old with no intelligence of my own, but while I was mature enough to accept it to a certain extent my son and daughters weren't. My daughters, though don't have their brother's eidetic memory."
"Ah, I see what the problem is now," Ariel said. "Your son remembers everything that his father said no matter how untrue and as a child he wouldn't necessarily know that those words were from a man saying untrue things to make himself feel better."
"I can't help but regret that Will put my kids through that," Diana said. "In trying to please my parents I stayed much longer than I should have. My parents really liked Will when they first met him, but as I told Dave, Will was of course, on his best behavior when he was around them."
Ariel nodded at this, because it was true. A lot of people like William Reid were on their best behavior around their girlfriend's or boyfriend's parents.
"Why don't you concentrate on the fact that you're happy now," Ariel suggested gently. "Let William Reid be regulated to the past where he belongs."
"I suppose hormones strike again," Diana said, as she rubbed her stomach gently, looking reflective. Her stomach had grown quite a bit over the last few weeks, but that was to be expected. It wouldn't be long now before Diana gave birth and she could hardly wait nor could anybody else. Her triplets were excited to be getting some siblings and Dave's twins were the same. Spencer was over the moon and was really looking forward to her giving birth, which Diana thought was a very positive reaction, especially considering his original one to her dating at all. Still, Spencer loved Dave now as her son had quickly realized that he was nothing like his father. Dave had been right in the fact that her son was intelligent and observant, so Spencer had quickly come to the proper conclusion and that was Dave was an entirely different type of Alpha from his father.
"I bet you're looking forward to the birth," Arial said and Diana nodded.
"I am indeed and I'm carrying triplets again, as Dave and I just got back from a doctor's appointment a few days go."
"Dave already told me and I haven't seen him that excited in a long time, probably not since his sons were born," Ariel said and Diana nodded with a happy smile.
"I know he was so excited," Diana agreed, "which I'm sure you can guess is a totally different reaction from my former mate's."
"Your former mate probably figured he'd done his job getting you pregnant," Ariel said grimacing. Unfortunately that kind of attitude wasn't uncommon.
"That's exactly what he thought," Diana snorted her contempt obvious. "He didn't help me with the pregnancy at all, not even going out to get things when I had cravings. Luckily, I craved mostly ordinary things that were usually on hand, but he was so careless and thoughtless. I should've left him when I realized that, even before my children were born."
"I have no doubt that Dave won't just leave you to take care of your own needs, especially when the cravings get bad," Ariel said confidently.
"No, I know he won't. The cravings haven't been too bad yet, but that will change and I know it," Diana said smiling brightly. She hadn't really had that much to be happy ever since she had met Dave. "I never would've agreed to mate with him or even for him to court me for so long if I didn't know he was a totally different kind of man. I wasn't about to make the same mistake a second time."
Ariel agreed with Diana wholeheartedly on that score.
~~~Dave and Diana~~~