Family Ties – Chapter Three

AN – Thank you so much for the views and comments on this story so far. I hope you like this next chapter, we're getting to some of the lore from the show that I'm changing and the new direction we're heading in. There's lots of points in the show that I didn't think made sense, which is how this story plot got in my brain in the first place, so be prepared for more details varying from what we saw in the show. I hope you like or at the very least continue to give this story of mine a chance. We've got a long way to go.

And yes, this is a Nadalind story, just have faith.

I do not own any characters or stories from the tv show Grimm. Some dialogue is lifted from various episodes in Season 3. No infringement or copyright is intended. It's all for fun, no profit being made here.

-G-

Driving towards the trailer Nick can't help but wonder what the hell just happened. How did he just agree to help someone who, less than 24 hours ago, he considered an enemy. Someone who had hurt not only him but those around him that he cared about. Well, he wouldn't have a problem not telling anyone because not one of his friends would believe he was helping Adalind of his own free will anyway, even if he did confess. Still, he could reframe his thoughts. He wasn't helping the Hexenbiest who was surrounded by magic and mischief and mayhem. No, he was helping a new mother who, alongside her newborn child, was in danger. That he could do.

Arriving at the storage yard he parks and enters quickly, going straight to the cabinet where his mother told him the charm would be. Sure enough, its folded in the blue cloth she described and he puts it in his pocket before pulling out his phone and checking the list his mother gave him. Pulling out a bag he starts gathering the wanted items, marking them off as he goes. He doesn't have all the necessary ingredients that Adalind asked for and if his mother wants to be packed up and gone as quickly as possible then he's going to need to call in a favour with Rosalee.

Checking the time, he realises that will be a big favour, one that might attract too many questions and so resolves to go to the Spice Shop first thing in the morning.

Which means there's nothing more he can do tonight and he can head home. To his girlfriend who he will now be lying to. Well, omitting a truth. Still, considering he had been attempting to ask her to marry him again and the memories of her refusal and why from the first time he asked, didn't give him a good feeling. He was committed now though and didn't that thought just settle in his gut. He'd started this evening with a design in mind to make a commitment and he'd done that; it was just a very different one than he'd planned.

As he got back into his car Nick thought of the half-truths he would be spilling once he got home and tried to settle on the ones he'd feel least bad about uttering.

His worries held as by the time he got home Juliette is fast asleep and if he sets his alarm early, earlier than when she will get up, well that's not unusual either. Especially when he's working a case. He can get up and off to the Spice Shop then see his mother off and then spend some quality time with Juliette to make up for it.

-G-

The make shift bed Kelly put together is more comfortable than she thought it would be and having Diana in easy reach definitely helps. Her little body gives off warmth and Adalind hopes she is doing the same for her daughter. It's really not an ideal place for a child to be but Kelly doesn't want to risk moving around too much and being seen and Adalind has to admit this isn't the worst place she's slept since running with her daughter.

"My little Diana," she whispers, "you have lit up my world. That's part of your name, Diana the goddess was a light bearer and she could turn the darkness into daylight. You've done that for me and I will do all I can to make sure you never see the darkness like I did." She kisses her forehead and then closes her eyes, trying to sleep.

It's not easy, as every noise makes her startle back to alertness and the building itself seems to be restless. Still, Diana sleeps through it and goes straight back to sleep after a late-night feed. Eventually even the noises can't keep Adalind awake and she drifts off into an uneasy sleep. Full of haunting images, rushing bodies and black, black eyes.

-G-

"Nick?" Rosalee greets him with surprise as he's there as she opens the shop. "Is everything ok?"

"Yeah, yeah, I just need to get some things." The Fuchsbau quirks an eyebrow at him but otherwise says nothing and Nick searches through his pockets for the list he wrote out. "Can I get these please?" She takes the list from his outstretched hand and reads it through, her expression flickering as he's sure she considers what he might need these things for.

"I have all these; I can get them for you now." He nods and steps back as she begins to move around the shop, gathering items as she goes.

"So, wedding prep going ok? Have you decided on the food yet?"

"It's going," she confirms with a smile and Nick grins back. "I think we have all our options sorted, although Monroe does keep changing his mind based on what's in season."

"I think whatever food you guys decide on will be great, it's not the reason we're there after-all. We're there for you and Monroe" He's honestly looking forward to the day, being best man and seeing his friends get married. He thinks of his own hopes for matrimony and the bumps he's experienced so far on that journey.

"Sometimes Nick, you can say the sweetest things," Rosalee beams at him. "I really hope it's a good day."

"It will be a great day," Nick confirms.

"Thank you for that. Now, do you need anything else?"

"That's it."

"And if I were to ask what this is for?" Rosalee looks at him so calmly and Nick feels a rush of gratitude towards his friend. She's asking but there no pressure behind her words and he knows she'll accept his answer, no matter what it is. He can't tell her the complete truth but that doesn't mean he has to make up a lie.

"Some things needed by a friend," he replies softly and she holds his stare before nodding and placing the bottles into a bag.

"Ok then."

"How much?" He asks, bringing out his wallet.

"Nick-"

"How much?" He repeats, more sternly this time but Rosalee just straightens up.

"Your money is no good here, Nick. Especially if this is something you, or a friend of yours, needs."

"Rosalee-"He tries again but she holds up a hand and pushes the package towards him. The bell over the door rings as someone else enters the shop behind him.

"If you need anything else, you know where to come. Otherwise, I have customers to see to." She grins at him, happy to have won and he shakes his head before dipping his chin in acknowledgment as well as giving a smirk of his own before taking his leave.

He makes two more stops before heading back to the warehouse. He's not terribly fond of the idea that his mother, Adalind and a baby stayed there overnight but he guesses there might have been worse options. From the little she's told him his mother would have some experience with rough places to sleep but it's different when a baby is involved. And a new mother, which is what Adalind is. Most new mothers would be at home, resting and settling in to new life and routines. Instead, she's been on the run, with some dangerous people after her and wanting to take her baby. Although he's not happy with the situation he still wouldn't think of separating a newborn child from their mother. He hopes he's a better man than that.

Carrying everything in takes two trips and by that time he can most definitely hear the baby. She was rather quiet yesterday so maybe she's making up for that today.

Adalind is sitting with her daughter, rocking her as she cries and looking much more frazzled. She's talking in a soft voice, telling some kind of story and it seems to work as Diana settles. He doesn't immediately see his mother and lingers uncomfortably, unsure what to do.

"There, isn't that better hmm," She chatters. "Things might seem a bit different and strange right now but we're going to be ok. We've got each other. Mama's not going anywhere." Her words are meant to comfort but they hit Nick differently. When he was growing up, he would've sworn his mother would say the same. And she might've done but she didn't keep that promise. He sighs and tries not to think about it.

"Are you- are you alright?" Adalind's voice is hesitant and when he looks at her she shrinks in on herself. Nick stares and tries to reconcile in his head this softer, vulnerable woman with a baby in her arms to the witch in his memories, who so loved to mess with him. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have- just ignore me," she stutters and Nick huffs another sigh as he thinks that's something he's never been able to do. She's always, somehow, drawn his attention.

"Thanks for asking," he keeps his voice low, calm, as if he's talking to a spooked witness. "It's been a long couple of days."

"Tell me about it," she grumbles before looking up at him. "Not that we need to swap stories, or compete, just, you know, figure of speech." He nods then glances around the space.

"Do you know where my mom is?"

"She said she had to do something and that I was to stay put until she got back," Adalind replies and Nick wonders what his mother is up to now. "Do you think … do you think she will be able to protect us? Keep us together?" When she looks at him now it's with an expression he's never seen before. She's vulnerable and frazzled, panicked and anxious and yet she's looking to him for reassurance. Despite their pasts his word means something to her and again, he pushes aside the negative feelings and focusing on the way forward.

"I do, yeah," he replies and then turns to fully face her. "And I mean it when I say that I will help too."

"But why?" She's bewildered at his statement and Nick feels it's his turn to be more honest.

"I know what it's like to grow up without a mother. I know what it feels like to question the relationships you have with the people around you. What it can feel like to think you've lost those closest to you. And then what it can feel like to be abandoned and not be someone's first choice. We might not agree on most things but I do think the best place for a child is with their mother, with their family." He can feel his own mother's gaze on him as he talks and he doesn't mean to make her feel bad, knows there was more going on and she had to make decisions quickly at a time of high emotional stress. Still, it has taught him some things and he believes Adalind when she says her daughter is everything to her. It might be the only thing he believes but, for now, it's enough. "Besides, this endeavour might take all of us. She'll need the witch side of you as well, if she is that powerful." His mother might be a Grimm but this child is magical and powerful and having someone around who understands that can only help.

"Thank you," Adalind says and he nods, trying not to stare or feel that shift in the air again.

"Did you get everything on our list?" Kelly is back to being all business and Nick follows her lead, laying out and explaining everything as he does. It feels like a lot and yet not enough at the same time.

"This is just to get us started, Nicky," his mother assures him when he shares his thoughts, "We can get more once we're settled."

"Did you get the other list items?" Adalind asks and he points to the separate bag. She goes to open it but can't whilst holding her baby. She looks to Kelly, who's rummaging in a duffel, switching supplies between bags, and then back to him. "Would you be ok to?" She steps closer, nodding down at her daughter and Nick feels frozen for a moment before she's passing him the small, tiny, delicate child. "Just support her head and back," she says softly before laying the weight in his arms.

He can't help but stare. This tiny thing causing so much trouble. Then she's opening her eyes and he's staring into glowing purple and he feels what could be a hint of the power this tiny little body possesses. And it's mighty. He feels like he's being judged, as if his intentions are visible to this little yet infinite gaze and Nick repeats his words in his head, how he swore to protect them, how he will keep her with her mother, the promise he made to his own mother, how he'll fight to keep them safe. The purple fades even as he feels his promise linger and then she's stretching and mumbling and just being a baby in his arms.

"What's her name?" He asks, as he thinks Adalind called her something but he can't quite recall it.

"Diana," she replies from the bag at his feet, "after the goddess of the moon and the hunt."

"Hello Diana," he murmurs and gets what could be a little wave from the child in question.

"You're good with her." His mother states and he shares a smile with her before she continues bagging items up.

"Ok, all the ingredients are here, we just have to mix them and then cleanse the area before casting the spell." Adalind looks at him and smiles nervously. "Are you alright holding her for a few more minutes?" He's not really sure but doesn't see much choice as both women are busy doing things they'd only have to instruct him to complete, so he figures he can do a few moments.

"Sure," he replies and then, feeling a bit restless, starts walking in little circles whilst gently bopping the girl in his arms. "We're ok, aren't we Diana?" Her eyes take on that purple glow for a moment before vanishing. "What does it mean, when her eyes go purple?"

"I think it's when she's accessing her powers," his mother replies and Nick nods, thinking about how he felt when those purple lit eyes were on him.

"It feels pretty powerful," he comments, "this purple gaze of hers."

"Well, traditionally purple was the colour of not only royalty but also magic, as it was rare and expensive to create as well as only being seen in certain circumstances." He blinks at Adalind as she talks and has the startling revelation that there's so much more to her than he previously thought. "I've never heard of a Hexenbiest with that colour before, usually it's more earth tones that go alongside the powers used."

"What do you mean?" He's read the Grimm books on Hexenbiests but he's starting to think they're woefully inaccurate.

"Not all Hexenbiests have the ability to show power in that way, some gain it as they get more powerful whilst others never fully access it. Usually, the illumination colour is linked with the type of magic a biest primarily uses. For example, someone who focuses on natural acts, that can affect the environment around them, would be more likely to have a natural, earth tone colour, like greens or browns." Even his mother has stopped to listen as Adalind talks and Nick tries to commit everything she says to memory so he can update the book. They're both staring at her when she looks up and he feels amused at the blush that covers her cheeks at the attention.

"What?"

"I think it's a good thing we'll be raising this baby together," his mother comments and Nick can now fully agree.

"Alright, well, this is ready, if you have the nazar?" He nods and goes to hand Diana back so he can get it. Adalind accepts her daughter back with a smile and starts rocking her before looking at them. "Before we start, it would be best if I feed her. Then she should be most comfortable." Nick nods and then as she sits on a nearby crate he realises just how she's going to feed her and swiftly spins around. He ignores his mother's huffed laughter and goes to stand beside her to help check the bags.

"I got two burner phones," he states quietly, seemingly hyper aware of the soft coos and little slurps coming from behind him. "I know we won't be able to be in regular contact but this is the best, safest way to still maintain a line of communication."

"Sounds good. We should also agree on a code, something we can use to check it's really the other."

"How about colours?" He suggests, thinking of what they learnt a few moments ago. "Remember that rhyme you used to say to me?"

"I do," his mother grins, "though I don't think you remember the altered version." He frowns at her and shakes his head. "It was black as the night sky in the rhyme but sometimes I would tell you black as a Grimm's eyes."

"Huh, ok, don't remember that. We agreed then?"

"Yes, and unless we have something to talk about we'll keep contact to a minimum."

"But we should still have a check in date, maybe every five days or so?" His mother sighs.

"Nicky, this isn't a police case or operation. We are agreeing to protect and hide this child. There's no finish date we can estimate, we might be doing this for the rest of her life." He nods along as if he knows and understands, as if he hasn't just realised that he's losing his mother again.

"I know," he says even if it's a slight lie and he ignores how his voices catches, "but I still think a check in schedule would be good. That way we can still know and help each other out if needed." He glances up and his mother's eyes are slightly too knowing but he doesn't care. He needs this if she's going away again, especially in a situation like the one the find themselves in.

"Every ten days," she suggests and though it's longer than he would like he accepts it.

"Ok. We're all done here," Adalind calls and he turns to see her standing once more. "Ready to do some magic?"

-G-

AN – Thoughts?