The best part of believe is the "lie"

“Me? No. Best friend, yes.” Theo could only guess at what the cat actually wanted but he’d witnessed years of him coming and going as he pleased from behind the funeral home. At her gesture he went through the door, immediately greeted by a hungry orange cat rubbing against his legs. He reached down to scratch the top of his head before beginning to attend to the task of feeding him. “This is true but not all mothers do. It is an unfortunate reality. Just last week I had a child on my table, spirit clinging to her body, swearing she would behave. It was terrible.”

"Mhmm, interesting." That generally meant a shifter or a witch and she was willing to put her money on shifter. The cat was not a surprise and she merely shook her head as she perched on the arm of the couch, watching Theo move around the place with ease. She wondered, briefly, just how much time he had been spending here with her son. "No, but mine was and so was Kham's. Hayden's birth mother wasn't the best, but she also wasn't the worst, I suppose."

“Yes you are. I just know. You don’t have to keep lying.” Beau scrunched up his face at them and shook his head. “Uh, no. I am also her favorite. I’m everyone’s favorite. We should really try a tougher target. Maybe Uncle Byrne? You might have a chance there.”

"Only one lying here is you to yourself. That thing looks like something died on your face. Which should be an improvement but, alas." As much as they teased, Emery knew that if anyone else said something even a quarter as rude to their brother, they'd knock them on their ass for it. "I sincerely doubt you are and he only likes aunt Amber."

“Okay,” Silas agreed quietly, knowing Ethan would keep his word. He moved closer as the other adjusted his hold, mesmerized by the warmth of the other’s body and how he not only missed touch but that he specifically craved it from Ethan. “I’ve been smiling a lot more lately. Izzy said I look dumb. I think it’s a compliment.” He chuckled against the other’s lips. “Can I stay with you tonight, Mr. Firefighter?”

"I feel like your kid telling you that you look dumb is probably a good sign. I mean, that's the kind of thing I'd say to my own dad if he was suddenly smiling more." He was glad he had never had to see his dad so miserable that a smile was something new and easy to tease about. He couldn't imagine the strain that was on Silas and his kids. "I think that can be arranged."

"I'll take your word for it." Izzy was beyond blessed that his sister wasn't the violent murder-y type. And if she secretly was she didn't seem interested in taking out his boyfriend. She had other siblings to worry about. And children. "Your blood?" That piqued his curiosity but he didn't pry too hard. Maybe Fulton would just unravel and tell him everything since he seemed to be bottling it up. "That's fair. I'd rather my boyfriend meet any of my grandparents over my dad but that's me. Your dad seems a lot cooler. Surely he wouldn't be against it. But maybe you need a neutral, Marissa-free, location."

Fulton just nodded at that. He wouldn't wish Marissa on anyone if he could help it. Of course, the next question out of Izzy's mouth had Fulton wincing, not realizing how much he had let slip with that. "Howell's a hybrid with some bloodlust issues. Things got a little carried away one time and he bit me too hard, drew blood. Caused some issues that we had to find a way around is all." Izzy wasn't wrong there, Hawk was, quite honestly, amazing and he was lucky to have a dad that great, but that didn't make him any less anxious. "The problem is I don't want it to be something public either."