you're in my veins;

“I do have a life without you, mama,” Theo assured her as he rolled his eyes, “I do have a wife after all. Although shouldn’t you be spending some time with dad?”

“Trust me, I’m well aware you have a wife.” Serena promised, raising an eyebrow in amusement as she shrugged. “I should, and I have been. Athena and the rest of the family has been stealing him for time too, though, so I’ve had to share.>”

“I’m pretty sure at this point you’re just stuck with me though, mom. I mean if you want me to pull away some I can, but I figured you never minded having me at least a little clingy.”

“Trust me I wish they looked more like me I wouldn’t be as worried about men around them if they didn’t look as gorgeous as their mother.”

“Athena looks more like you than she does me, other than the eyes.”

“Mom when have I done anything I didn’t want to do?” Theo asked curiously, “Because I don’t do anything that I don’t want to do. I love being a mama’s boy personally.”

“Absolutely never. It was both a blessing and a curse when you were a kid.” Serena admitted in amusement. “Trust me, I love it too. I always figured you’d eventually grow out of it like the others did.”

“Oh she’s yours. She looks too much like you to belong to anyone who isn’t you, and I certainly know that unless she also isn’t mine there’s no other woman who could be her mom,” he reminded her as he tipped her chin back, “I know. I promise.”

“She and Athena look too much alike and too much like me to deny them.” She agreed with a dramatic sigh, looking up at him, “good. I was worried.”

“Mom when are you going to realize you can’t just get rid of me. You’re stuck with me for as long as you want me around. I’m literally not going anywhere.”

“I don’t want to get rid of you, but the rest of your siblings jumped ship first chance they got, other than Athena. I’m more than happy with you sticking around for the rest of time, I promise, I just want it to be because you want to be here.”

“Honestly all the girls need is the fact that they’re related to my sisters. It doesn’t help that their mom is just as strong willed and incredible though,” He reminded her as he placed a kiss to her forehead. “You know that you are truly the best thing that ever happened to me, right?”

“You’re not wrong. Xenia takes so much after them I wonder if she’s really mine sometimes.” Serena admitted, smiling to herself and leaning into him. “I think I’ve heard it once or twice,” she teased. “But it’s the same for me, you know that?”

“I’m never tired of you someday you’re going to remember that, mama.”

“I don’t forget. If anything, I think that I’m just waiting for the desperation to get away from me to kick in, since somehow we skipped that when you were a teenager.”

“If their last name is Hale they can always be bribed with food. My family has it’s priorities and food is always right at the top,” Derek decided to sweep his wife up into his arms before swaying her as if there was music to dance to.

“It’s probably a wolf thing, too, although the girls don’t have that excuse.” Serena agreed, laughing happily and wrapping her arms around him, “it usually works.”

“Mom you are never overbearing in the slightest. Honestly if anything you’re the opposite. It’s a little disappointing,”

“I could amp it up to prove a point if you really want me to. You would be tired of me in no time.”

“I don’t know I think I could convince the girls to spend time with us, and I’m sure you can at least get Theodore to come around. After all he’s the biggest mama’s boy in the world.’

“We can get Athena and Theo. And if Athena’s there, Xenia will probably come around.” Serena admitted, thinking about it, “and if nothing else, Bella and Ryland can probably be bribed with food.”

“You both know that you’re the most important people in my life, and you know not to over step and she knows that I still need you. She doesn’t mind sharing us.”

“I do know that. But I also know that you two are young. I try not to be overbearing.”

“That doesn’t mean I don’t want to absolutely ravish you with affection and spoil the hell out of you, Serena. I always will want to,” He promised her as he brushed back her hair, “I love you with my entire heart. And our family is my everything. We might need to lock the kids in the house for about a week straight so we can get some more family time in.”

“And you always have, you don’t have to prove that to me now.” Serena promised. “I love you too, and so do the kids. I’m not sure if we can convince them to all sit in the house with us for very long, but we can try it.”

“You know all you have to do is call and I’ll be wherever and whenever.”

“I do, but I also know that you’re a grown man with a life of your own and a wife who wouldn’t appreciate me stealing all of your time whether I really like admitting it or not.”

“Well that’s the opinion that matters the most to me. I doubt I’ll ever truly feel like I’ve made it up to you though. You deserve the entire world for everything you’ve done, Serena,” he reminded her as he stared at her happily, “Well then I guess I will start tomorrow.”

“You don’t have to make anything up to me, what happened wasn’t your fault. And anything that you could be doing, you have been doing, by being here. I promise.” Serena sighed, wishing her husband would believe her but knowing he wouldn’t. “We’re all finally a family again, that’s all I wanted.”

“No it isn’t, besides I know what it means to you to have us together.”

“It’s gotten harder as you’ve all gotten older, I have to take what I can get.”

“Of course I am. I have this beautiful woman that I need to make a few years up to,” Derek pointed out to his wife as he brushed her hair back smiling happily. “I didn’t want to scare the kids off with starting too early but I’m excited to decorate.”

“You’re off to a great start.” Serena promised with a smile, letting out a sigh of content. “They’re used to it, I’ve done it even if it was usually a distraction. It’s not too early.”