#chapter forty five

Because the way Lando’s voice cracked, the way his chest heaved at the thought of losing Y/N sounded too familiar. It sounded too close to the nights Alex had sat in the ICU waiting room, whispering to a god he didn’t believe in that if Zoe would just open her eyes again, he’d trade himself in her place without blinking.

He blinked it back. His jaw locked tighter.

And then Lando spoke again.

“Please,” Lando said again, steadier this time, forcing the word through his teeth like it hurt to say. He was pale, something buzzing beneath his skin, but still steady enough to take a half step closer. “Her only mistake… was caring about me. That’s all. That’s all she’s guilty of. Leave her out of this, and then—” His voice caught, but he forced it out anyway. “Then you can do whatever the fuck you want. You can have your revenge.”

Alex didn’t move. So Lando pushed further.

“You want revenge? Fine. You want me dead? Fine.” His voice wavered, then snapped hard, desperate. “Then take it! Take it now. You can put that gun right here—”

He moved, slowly, deliberately. His hands were still raised, but his temple pressed against the muzzle of the gun as he leaned in, forcing the metal flush to his own skull. Cold steel dug into the skin of his forehead. His pulse thudded beneath it.

“—and I won’t stop you.”

“I’m okay with this,” Lando whispered. “I deserve it. You– You want punishment? Then be a man, and take it out on me! I am not a good guy. I’ve done things — so many fucking things — that I can’t take back. So punish me.”

Lando swallowed hard. His voice cracked lower now, more broken than begging.

“Not her.”

Silence stretched. The hum of hospital machinery felt deafening.

Lando took it as hesitation. And he couldn’t afford hesitation. Not now. If Alex thought for even a second that killing Y/N was a viable option, if his mind wandered there again, then it was already too late.

So Lando forced himself to keep talking, to keep pressing the choice exactly where he wanted it. His voice grew firmer, though the panic burned beneath it like fire.

He had to make the choice for him.

“You hear me?” Lando pressed, his temple still firm against the muzzle. His tone was harsher now, more certain than he truly felt. “I said punish me. S’fair, isn’t it?”

He let out a rough breath, eyes flicking toward Y/N for only a second before snapping back to Alex. 

“A life for a life.”

For once, there was no arrogance in Lando Norris’s voice. There was no bravado, no cleverness. There was only the hollow certainty of a man who’d finally run out of moves, out of cards, out of time.

Alex stared at him, chest rising and falling too fast. His knuckles twitched around the grip. He should’ve pulled the trigger. He’d told himself he would.

This is it. This is what you wanted.

The room was silent save for the steady monitor beeps and the ragged breaths of two men—one teetering on the edge of collapse, the other on the edge of pulling a trigger.

But for once, Lando Norris wasn’t bluffing.

He meant every word.

The click of metal was deafening. 

Alex’s finger curled just slightly against the trigger, moving slowly, deliberately – as if every nerve in his hand was straining toward the moment he’d spent years imagining. This was it. This was the culmination of every nightmarish replay of sirens, of twisted steel, of Zoe’s lifeless body laid out under too-bright hospital lights. This was supposed to be justice.

Alex’s finger hovered over the trigger, pressure slowly building as if the motion alone could summon the satisfaction he’d been chasing for years. The familiar click of metal was faint, barely audible beneath the steady beep of Y/N’s monitor, but Lando felt it — every nerve in his body bracing for the inevitable impact.

This was it. The bullet he’d been begging for. The ending Alex had dreamed of.

Do it. Finish this.

But Alex’s hand stalled. His jaw clenched, and for the first time, his gaze faltered. His breathing hitched, shallow and uneven.

He stared at Lando, bloodthirsty gaze practically piercing through this cornered killer, and waited for the rush to come. Alex waited for the poison in his chest to bleed out, for the sharp relief of revenge to finally settle. He searched for it, desperate.

And found nothing.

No. This isn’t how it was supposed to go.

He looked at Lando, temple pressed to the muzzle, eyes steady even in terror. Looking into the eyes of the face he’d memorized as his sister's killer, Alex was almost thrown off kilter when he found nothing waiting for him. There was no swelling of dramatic music, no surge of karmic satisfaction. He searched, and searched desperately, yet he found no righteous release. All he could find instead was just a hollow echo where his vengeance should have lived.

His lips parted, his voice cracking under the weight of years.

“I thought it would make me feel better,” Alex whispered, more to himself than to Lando. “Like I’d– I’d finally have some power. Like I could take this poisonous pain in my chest and shove it into you instead.”

His grip shook. His finger twitched. Still, he didn’t pull. The muscles of his jaw tightened, clenching.

“I thought if I hurt you… humiliated you… maybe it’d feel better, you know? Maybe she’d know I tried. That I didn’t just forget about her.” His voice fractured, trembling with the admission. “I didn’t. She’s my older sister. My protector. My everything. And you—”

His throat worked. His eyes were wet now, furious and broken all at once.

“You took her from me.”

The gun wavered now, just slightly, as though the weight of his confession made it too heavy to hold steady.

Lando stayed still, though his chest rose and fell in tight, shallow pulls. He didn’t move, didn’t speak.

Alex’s hand shook. He blinked hard, his gaze darting from Lando to Y/N’s still body in the hospital bed. A bitter laugh broke free from his throat, unbidden.

“But now…” He started, transfixed on the sight of Y/N, of the tubes and machines and the bloodless pallour of her skin. His voice dropped, ragged.

“If I– If I shoot her… if I kill her just to hurt you…” he whispered, “then what does that make me?”

A killer. Another killer.

His hand trembled harder now, the muzzle barely steady where it pressed against Lando’s temple.

“...Then I’d be no better than you,” Alex whispered, realizing. “Punishing an innocent girl for the sins of someone else.”

The glock was still there, but the weight behind it — the conviction — was slipping through his hands like water.

The barrel dropped a fraction of an inch.

And for the first time that night, Alex looked less like an avenger and more like a man unraveling, finally forced to confront the fact that revenge couldn’t resurrect the dead, couldn’t erase grief, couldn’t fix the ruin left behind.

Just fucking do it.

Alex brought his finger back to the trigger. He wanted it—needed it—to be clean, final. Taking a deep breath, he steadied his shooting hand with his other, taking aim. He thought of Zoe, of her hind face and kinder eyes. His mind produced the fading memory of her laugh, pure and warm. Then the memory twisted, the memory of her smiling face, morphed torturously into the horrified expression as she felt the piercing pain of the wreckage around her like a knife to the chest.

But then he blinked, and the memory of Zoe’s face was replaced with another.

Y/N’s.

Her eyes wide, bright with recognition the moment before they dimmed with betrayal. The way her mouth had parted, almost like she was about to say his name, relief flooding her features when he returned to the shop… only for the knife in his hand to steal the breath from her lungs.

That look. Suddenly, it felt like it had been singed into the back of his eyelids, like a ghost of his actions having returned to haunt him. He couldn’t outrun it. It tore through him now, as violent as the gun trembling in his grip.

“I just–  I just wanted my sister back,” Alex cried, his voice breaking into something desperate, childlike. His arms shook as though the weight of the weapon was too much to bear. He raised the gun with what was supposed to be renewed conviction, but his hand was unsteady, his jaw clenching against that had already slipped out.

Lando didn’t flinch. His own voice came low, tentative, almost grim. “I can’t– I can’t undo what’s happened,” he admitted. “I know that. I’ll carry that blood on my hands a long time.”

Carefully, Lando began to lower his hands. He wanted Alex to know that he was telling the truth. He needed Alex to know that he wasn’t saying all of this out of fear. He looked directly into Alex’s eyes as he spoke again.

“I know it doesn't mean shit, but I’m sorry. I swear, I know I’m an asshole but I woulda never hurt your sister on purpose. I don’t– I’m not that kind of guy. She was just…” Lando stopped, swallowed hard. “If there’s anythin’ I can do, I’ll do it. Let me help. I– I can get her looked at by the best doctors. The best surgeons! Care she’s never had before. We could do that, yeah?”

Alex’s face flickered, the mask slipping, the fury splintering into something raw and disbelieving.

“M’ not an idiot – I know it won’t make us even,” Lando confessed, still too tense to step away from where Alex’s gun still stared into his soul. “It won’t erase what I did. But it could mean she has a chance. Let me give her that much. Let me try to give her a second chance.”

The words landed like alcohol on an open wound. Alex’s jaw worked, eyes glistening, torn between rage and the dangerous pull of hope. He’d come here for blood, not bargains. He’d come to carve grief into vengeance.

But what Lando was offering wasn’t death. It was a chance — however small — at life.

Alex’s knuckles whitened around the gun, his breath ragged. The idea was poison—too good, too cruel to even entertain. He let out a harsh, bitter laugh. “Doctors? Cures? Do you–” he scoffed, the mere idea laughable. “D’you think I’m a fucking idiot?” 

His voice cracked, almost feral. “You—Lando Norris, the Reaper of Monte Carlo—you expect me to believe you’re suddenly, what, a bleeding-heart philanthropist?” He shook his head hard, the gun now loosely aimed at Lando’s heart. “No. No. I’m not stupid enough to believe that.”

Lando stayed still, the only movement the faint rise and fall of his chest. “I don’t expect you to believe me,” he said quietly. “I wouldn’t either.”

Alex sneered, but his grip wavered.

“And if you choose not to believe me…” Lando pressed, his words sharper now, deliberate, “–then deny me, deny the offer, and walk away. Let her rot in a hospital bed while you chase a revenge that will never bring her back to you. Or—” He tipped his head further to the side, almost daring Alex. “Or? Let me try. Because if you’re wrong—if I’m telling the truth—you’ve condemned her twice.”

That sank in like a knife between Alex’s ribs. He wanted to laugh, to scream, to deny it. But the thought clawed its way up, poisonous and undeniable: what if? What if this criminal, what if Lando was the only path left? What if Zoe could wake up?

Alex’s jaw clenched. His whole body shook with the effort of holding onto his rage. “If you’re lying to me…” He brought the gun lower, pointing it right at Lando’s heart, his voice low and trembling. “If you’re lying, Norris, I swear to god—”

“I know.” Lando’s voice was soft, resigned. “And I’ll deserve it.”

For a long, terrible moment, neither moved. Then Alex’s arm slowly, shakily lowered. The gun slipped to his side. He wasn’t agreeing. Not yet. But the seed of doubt—of hope—was there now, and it was eating him alive.

If there was even a chance that Zoe could open her eyes again, could look at him and laugh and scold him like she used to—how could he turn away from that?

He hated the thought, hated himself for it, but it rooted in him anyway. Because for all his grief, for all his rage, for all his spite – there was nothing Alex wanted more than a second chance.

With extensive care, Zoe survived. It wasn’t easy—the surgeries, the endless therapy, the grueling road back to consciousness. It took weeks of surgery after surgery, of painstaking rounds of therapy. There were nights Alex thought he’d lose her all over again. But then one morning, Zoe’s eyes opened, and she stayed awake long enough to say his name.

The light that returned to Alex’s face was something he’d thought he’d lost forever.

Zoe, ever gentle, ever forgiving, never once cursed Lando’s name. When she was told what had happened after hearing a long and tearful explanation for her younger brother, she simply shook her head. “It’s done. What good would blame do me now?” she murmured, her hand closing over Alex’s trembling one. “I’m alive. Isn’t that enough.”

It gutted Lando to hear it. He knew he didn’t deserve her grace, but he carried it like a weight anyway—proof that forgiveness could exist, even where it shouldn’t. Proof of what he’d never be able to ask of Y/N.

Still, every month on the 23rd, without fail, an anonymous check arrived in Alex’s dropbox. On the line bearing the sender’s name, all that was written was a name that meant nothing to anyone but himself: Liam.

Alex never said anything about it, never cashed them without suspicion first. But deep down, he had a feeling he knew what it was: not absolution. Not payment. Just a man who’d done wrong, trying in his own broken way to make something right.

And for all his bitterness, Alex let it happen. Alex never spent a dime without remembering the cost, and Lando never stopped writing them, a penance that could never quite be paid in full.

a/n: hey... hey... how y'all doin?

i'm so sorry for all the waiting for this chapter. i was busy with the lsat and then writer's block kidnapped me and held me hostage in an abandoned warehouse. but hopefully this chapter isn't too bad? not edited, but i'd still love to hear what y'all think!

“Remind me where your sister’s house is?” Greystripe said after a stretch of walking in silence.

“Not too far,” Fireheart replied. “She’s on the corner of the street up ahead.”

“Her humans should be asleep by now,” Ravenwing mused. “She might be, too. Would Cloudpaw stick around there?”

Fireheart grimaced. “He’s been inside her home before. My guess is that he’s stayed with her to eat and rest. He could be there because he’s afraid to come home, but…”

“…But?” Ravenwing prompted after a pause.

Claws slipped out, clicking on the pavement. “But it’s possible that the humans took him to another house, or to the pound to look for his owner.”

“The ‘pound’,” Greystripe echoed. “I’ve heard of that. It’s a prison, right? Where a bunch of cats are trapped until humans come and get them?”

“Essentially.”

“Ugh.” An audible shiver of fur behind him. “I hope he’s still here, then.”

Fireheart said nothing. He felt eyes on the back of his head, curious and uneasy ones.

“So, if we do find him,” Ravenwing said at last, in a tone of testing waters, “what are we going to say? We should probably plan that before we actually get to him.”

“I know what I’ll say,” Fireheart said flatly. “Neither of you needs to talk.”

The stares turned unnerved. He could sense the two of them looking at each other in worry. 

“Are you sure you don’t want us to say anything?” Greystripe asked hesitantly.

“I’m sure,” was all Fireheart responded with.

The pause this time was a lot more tense; Fireheart was sure they were silently trying to figure out what to say to him. Whatever it was—a plea to go easy on Cloudpaw, a question about what he’d say, a suggestion of how to get Cloudpaw back—he had to admit that, for once, he didn’t particularly care about it. He had his words rehearsed in his head already. He just had to brace himself for the reaction to them.

The silence continued until they reached Rosy’s fence and stopped in front of it. The wood was slightly scraped and splintered on the top, paint chipped off in one or two places. Fireheart had never paid attention to these details before. Now, he scanned with his eyes, memorizing them, knowing that he would likely not get to study them again.

He took a breath, bunched up, and leaped for the top. He landed on the thin rail, perfectly balanced where he stood. Greystripe and Ravenwing followed him immediately, Greystripe nearly falling over the side and Ravenwing making a small, startled noise at how small his landing strip was.

Cloudpaw was not in the yard.

He was, however, at the glass door, staring mournfully outside. Behind him, Rosy was saying something that the glass muted. If Fireheart was judging her posture and gestures right, she was trying to calm him down. Coax him, perhaps.

Cloudpaw looked up a few moments after his uncle had arrived. He jumped to his feet and began moving his mouth eagerly, his vibrant blue eyes wild with distress. Whatever he was trying to say, the glass blocked it beyond a faint, desperate mumble.

“Well,” Greystripe said, “at least he’s here.”

“Mm.” Fireheart jumped down into the yard, his friends landing a moment later beside him.

“Don’t say anything too loudly,” Ravenwing murmured. “If the humans wake up, they might try to catch us too.”

Fireheart walked up to the door-flap beside the glass, pawing at it experimentally. It was blocked by something flat and stiff.

“They’ve closed the door,” he said. “That’s why he hasn’t come home. He can’t get out at all.”

“Well, maybe not ‘at all’…” Ravenwing looked up at the glass door, head tilted. “How do covers like this typically open?”

“Mine slid to the side,” Fireheart said, then looked at Ravenwing. “What are you thinking?”

Ravenwing hummed, eyes narrowed. “I’m thinking we should try pushing this open a bit.”

“I dunno, it’s probably really heavy,” Greystripe said. “Can’t we pry open that little one Fireheart was looking at?”

Ravenwing shook his head. “If we could, Cloudpaw and Rosy would have already done it.”

“Flap-guards tend to have a trick to them that needs humans to work them,” Fireheart agreed. He clicked his teeth as he regarded the glass door. “We may not be strong enough to open this, though, Ravenwing.”

“We might as well give it a try.”

“And if it doesn’t work?”

“We’ll find another way.”

Something in Fireheart, something like a hidden anxiety he hadn’t registered, smoothed out and eased. They’re not going to give up on him, no matter what he’s done.

“Let’s try it, then,” he said. He closed in on the glass and pressed a paw against it, testing its weight. It was heavy indeed, and his paw slipped a little as he pushed.

Ravenwing hummed again as Greystripe joined them. “Try pushing here, on this end of it. That little bump of metal can give us a grip.”

Greystripe took up position, rearing on his hind legs and leaning his weight against the metal that surrounded the glass on all sides. Fireheart crouched beneath him, and Ravenwing was closer to the middle, his paws on the small metal ridge on the bottom of the door. Looking excited, Cloudpaw mirrored Ravenwing. Rosy, after a moment of hesitation, joined up behind her son.

With a word from Ravenwing, Fireheart braced his feet on the grass and pushed as hard as he could, straining every muscle and unconsciously gritting his teeth. Above him, Greystripe half-growled with the effort, and Ravenwing groaned through a closed mouth. Greystripe had been right; it was like pushing the Great Sycamore over, and Fireheart started to doubt this would work.

Then he had to lean a little forward, and a faint squeak of a door splitting from its mooring sounded. He repositioned and pushed again, his friends copying. Ever-so-slowly, they moved a few steps forward, until Cloudpaw’s voice cried out much more clearly.

“Eparme!” he shouted.

Fireheart puffed air and dropped back down on all fours, scooting out underneath Greystripe just before he did the same. The effort of moving the behemoth door made his limbs a little shaky, but it didn’t matter when Cloudpaw’s muzzle was pushing out into the open.

“Cloudpaw,” he said, soft with relief. He met up with his nephew, touching noses with him as well as he could.

His fluffy head was pressed between the door and the wall, straining as hard as he could to squeeze out through the small gap. Rosy appeared behind him, her face somewhere between worried and excited.

“Let’s push from this side now,” Ravenwing said, gesturing with a paw to the gap. “I think that’ll be easier. Did you notice it slid open better once it left the wall?”

“In that case, let me.” Greystripe braced his paws on the open door and his back against the wall of the house. With a grunt, he shoved hard, even lifting a back foot to join the effort. Slowly, the door slid again, Greystripe only stopping when the gap was wide enough for Cloudpaw to push through. He stepped out of the way with a huff of exhaustion, letting Cloudpaw run to Fireheart and lean against his chest, purring as loud as his mother often did.

Fireheart rested his chin on Cloudpaw’s head. “Hey, little guy.”

“I’m sorry, I’m really sorry.” Cloudpaw looked up at him. “I went inside just for a moment, and, and they closed the door, and I couldn’t get it open– I thought I’d be in there forever.” He beamed. “But you came for me! I was scared you wouldn’t!”

Despite his own relief and love surging through his veins, Fireheart’s chest and mind were a little cooled. He simply blinked slowly at his nephew and nodded to the fence. “We should get out of here before the humans wake up.”

Rosy wriggled through the door gap. Being considerably thinner than her son, it was a lot easier. “You’re taking him back? What am I supposed to do while he’s—”

“You should come with us,” Fireheart said to her. “This will be important.”

Cloudpaw blinked. “Not to camp, right?”

“Just to the edge of the Houses.” Fireheart crooked his tail. “Come on.”

With him at the lead, the group crossed over the fence and loped at a steady but quick pace, not speaking until they reached the final house before the pavement turned to earth and grass. There, Fireheart turned around, lifting a paw for everyone to stop. His eyes were on Cloudpaw.

“This is the last time,” he said.

Cloudpaw’s excitement turned to meek shame. His head lowered and his paws shuffled. “I know, I—”

“This is the last time,” Fireheart continued, “that you get to decide where you stand.”

A pause. Everyone looked at him apprehensively.

“You have two choices, and this will be your final answer.” Fireheart swept his tail towards the forest. “Either you come home with me, and never set foot in the Houses again—” he jerked a nod back the way they’d come. “—or you leave the Clans forever to live with a collar around your neck.”

Cloudpaw stared at him, mouth agape.

“Fireheart…” Ravenwing started carefully, but Fireheart shook his head.

“I’m not going to make any more excuses for you, and I’m not going to allow this behavior again. You’ve put yourself in danger too many times, you’ve disrespected and neglected your Clanmates to eat kittypet food, and you’ve scared everyone, especially your sister, by disappearing like this so much.” He stared deep into his nephew’s eyes, his own slightly narrowed. “You’re either Cloudpaw of ThunderClan or Cloudy the kittypet. Make your choice.”

His heart winced at the stricken look on Cloudpaw’s face. Half of him clamored to take back that whole speech, and the other half demanded that he be stern and force Cloudpaw down the straight and narrow. He responded to both by silently standing tall, looking down at his nephew with a steady but gentle gaze.

Rosy took a step forward, her voice a little shaky, but audibly trying to be strong. “Fireheart, you can’t do that to him. He needs me, and he needs you too.”

“He doesn’t need you,” Fireheart said curtly without thinking, and regretted it the instant he saw Rosy’s eyes widen and mouth drop open. He softened his voice, trying to backpedal. “He doesn’t need me, either. It’s not about what he needs.” He returned his attention to Cloudpaw. “It’s about what you want. Do you want to be a kittypet, or do you want to be a warrior?”

“W…” Cloudpaw fidgeted, now like a kit trying to squirm their way out of punishment. “What if I just come to say hi to mira?”

The immediacy of Fireheart’s response surprised himself. “Then I will let the Clan know to chase you away from the border every time you try to come back.”

The look on Cloudpaw’s face was soul-shattering. The gawks from his friends and Rosy were not much better.

“I’m sorry,” Fireheart said quietly. “But you need to choose where your loyalty lies and stick with it. You’re hurting everyone by going like you are now—your mothers, me, your siblings, your friends, all of us.”

This seemed to reach Cloudpaw. He glanced back at Rosy, whose face had turned pleading.

“Then…” Rosy’s voice lost its attempt at strength. “Then stay with me, Cloudy. Please.”

Cloudpaw looked between her and Fireheart, his ears low. He asked his uncle, “Can… can I think about it?”

“No,” Fireheart said.

Cloudpaw balked. “Wh– I have to choose right now?!”

“Yes.”

“But—”

Fireheart simply looked down at him, trying to express sympathy and firmness together. Cloudpaw shut his mouth and looked back at Rosy.

Rosy trembled. “Don’t– don’t you dare do this to me, Fireheart. I can’t lose him. I can’t.”

“Neither can I,” Fireheart replied softly.

“No, you—” Rosy’s back-fur bristled, but she somehow looked even smaller. “You’re not his mother. You didn’t lose all of your kits to different houses. You didn’t—”

“And you didn’t raise him.” Fireheart’s voice was sharper than he intended, but he couldn’t stop his sudden spike of anger now, despite the hurt look on his sister’s face. “You didn’t protect him during the fire. You didn’t train him to protect himself in the wild. You gave him over to his Clan-mother before he could ever remember you, and she fed him and loved him as fiercely as you could ever hope to. His sister loves him. His Clan loves him. I love him.”

Cloudpaw looked up at him, eyes wide again, his expression startled, yet touched.

Fireheart spoke to him now, his voice quiet again and his anger dissipated. “But that’s not going to matter if you stay with Rosy and become a kittypet. I’ll understand if you do, and I won’t be angry – Rosy loves you too; she’ll take care of you for the rest of her life and you’ll be safe from every danger. But that means you’ll never see ThunderClan or me again. Do you understand that?”

Out of the corner of his eye, Ravenwing’s eyes were wide enough to see a white ring around them and Greystripe fur fluffed out in nervousness. Fireheart disregarded them for now. This wasn’t for them to be involved in. He just turned his attention back to his nephew and sister.

Cloudpaw finally spoke, his voice so quiet Fireheart almost didn’t hear him. “…Will you miss me?”

Fireheart nodded. “Every day.”

“Cloudy, please—” Rosy stumbled a few steps forward, shaking all the way to her tail-tip. “Please, stay with me. I can take care of you, I can feed you and love you, please, I need you to be in my life. I can’t lose you again.“

Cloudpaw inhaled deeply, squeezing his eyes shut. He held his breath for a moment before letting it out at a stuttering pace. Opening his eyes again, with an acute pain in them, he turned to Rosy. Fireheart’s heart clenched, a thorn embedding itself deep in it.

“I’m sorry,” Cloudpaw said sadly. “ThunderClan needs me, too.”

Rosy stared at him, her eyes going wet and agonized. The thorn in Fireheart’s chest dug a little deeper, but course-corrected its pain to her now. Regret washed over him at the look on his sister’s face, the way that every inch of her froze over.

“We’ll take care of him,” he said. “Just like we always have. I promise.”

Cloudpaw turned around and nervously asked his uncle, “Will– will you see her, at least?”

Stars, Fireheart hadn’t wanted to approach that question. “…I don’t think so, no. I need to set an example, for you and for the Clan. I have duties, now, Cloudpaw. I have to take care of our Clan before myself.”

A small whimper escaped Rosy’s mouth. “No… you… Rusty, please—”

“I’m sorry,” Fireheart said, his voice unsteady as something in him broke. “I’m more sorry than you could ever know.”

There was a stretch of silence as the family looked at each other, Rosy’s heart visibly cracked in half and guilt and sorrow flooding Fireheart’s body. Cloudpaw was the one to stir, walking up to Rosy and gently pressing his forehead against hers.

“Bye, mira,” he murmured. “I love you.”

Rosy didn’t speak. All that came out of her were weeping breaths and mumbled attempts at words. Fireheart felt himself pulled forward to mimic the gesture when Cloudpaw was done, but Rosy flinched away from him, backing up a step and leaning away. Furious, unbearable, grieving betrayal burned in her eyes.

Fireheart didn’t push her. He simply stood back, met her eyes and nodded slightly. Anything he could say would not make this better, so he didn’t try. He just beckoned his friends and nephew with his tail, turned around, and started for the forest. After a moment, grass parted behind him, and pawsteps of varying weight followed.

Maya woke in the late morning light alone. She turned her head to look at the empty spot where Paul usually occupied and ran her hand across the flat sheets. Last night had been one of their least shiny moments to date, she had to admit. Maya replayed the look on his face as he turned to leave and swallowed hard. 

Bad. It had been all around bad. She let out a sigh that turned into a loud groan as she laid on her back and stared up at the ceiling. He hadn’t come home last night, and after absently checking her phone, she noticed he hadn’t texted her either. 

“Definitely mad,” she whispered aloud to herself as she rubbed her forehead. Sometime after Paul had stormed out, Maya had tired herself out pacing in anger. The anger had ebbed but the sour feeling at leaving something unresolved. Maya sat up and tied her hair back with the loose hair tie on her wrist before scooping Paul’s shirt off the floor and tugging it onto her body. She snatched her phone off the bed and headed downstairs to make some coffee, trying to sort out how she was going to fix all of this. 

The worst part of it all was that she didn’t fully understand why Paul was this mad. Sure, maybe Noah was into her, but did he really trust her that little to think that she would mess around? Maya pursed her lips as she watched the coffee pot slowly fill. Instead of waiting for her own mind to formulate some answer, she picked up her phone and navigated through her contacts. 

The phone rang a few times before she heard the groggy answer on the other line:

“What now?” Keye groaned. 

“What did you mean when you said I know what I do to guys? Including Paul?” Maya said quickly, her eyes trained to one specific spot on the backsplash above the kitchen sink. 

“My, it’s like 8 in the morning,” Keye yawned halfway through her sentence and when Maya didn’t answer, she sighed, “Uuugh, My I don’t know okay? I was hungover as fuck. Still am, what the hell did we even do!?”

“Keye.” Maya said. “You said I wouldn’t have done half the shit I did if Paul was there. What did you mean? Did I do something with Noah that I blacked out? Should I feel worse about this?” She asked seriously.

“No. Maya, you really shouldn’t. I said that because you were your same normal you and there’s nothing wrong with that. Were you flirty as fuck? Hell yes. Did you cross a line? Not in my opinion. But if Paul had been there he might have ripped Noah’s throat out.”

Maya squeaked a little in aggravation, pulling a coffee mug down and filling it to the brim. 

“Yeah, you’re going to have to squash that shit quick if you don’t want Paul’s possessiveness to run your relationship, babe” Keye said. Maya scrunched up her face at that. “Just saying.” Keye responded through a yawn as if she could see Maya’s face. 

“He’s on edge.” she replied tersely. 

“They’re always on fucking edge,” Keye quipped. Maya snorted a laugh before taking a sip of her coffee. “Set him straight, My. Remember when Becks was dating Tommy Saban? And he told her they weren’t going to the summer revival dance unless she promised to blow him after?” 

“So fucking gross,” Maya said under her breath. 

“Yeah. So she took him to the lookout point and got him caught with his pants down in front of the entire girls swim team.” Keye was laughing now. 

“She’s such a bad bitch,” Maya said with a smile. She missed her—her Becks. They had only had short phone conversations this spring as they had both focused on their finals—Becks being doubly preoccupied managing her pregnancy and Jacob’s helicoptering. 

“She really is. Point is, as much as you think Paul might be the one steering the ship, it’s actually you babe. I meant it when I said when all of this shit started that it’s terrifying the things he’ll do for you. Make him remember that.” Keye concluded. Maya sighed and rubbed her forehead. 

“You’re right,” she breathed. “He freaked out about this Noah shit and I just…Ugh, why are we so fucking out of sync all the time?” She knew the answer but didn’t want to voice it. 

“The distance thing really does seem to fuck with the imprint. Keeps Paul on edge more, plus he’s got that wicked anger from his past. Nothing you can’t handle, babe. Just make sure you do,” Keye continued after a breath, “Handle it.” 

Maya nodded and quickly said goodbye before pulling up Paul’s location on her phone. Ten minutes later, she was parked in front of Becks’ and Jacob’s brand new home. They were due to come in this afternoon and Maya was sure Jacob was eager to show her the progress on the house. 

Maya hopped down from her Jeep and shut the driver side door with a clack. She ran a hand through her roughly brushed out hair and took a deep breath before heading into the house. Most of the pack was there working as Jacob and Becks were due back that afternoon. She passed Colin who was working on the landscaping in the front yard. 

“Well, well, well, look who decided to show up,” he teased with a warm smile on his face. Maya rolled her eyes and gently nudged his shoulder as she walked by and into the house. 

Paul was in the backyard sanding cabinets down. He was shirtless and had his white t-shirt slung over his shoulder.

“Can I talk to you?” Maya asked, slipping her hands into her back pockets. Paul didn’t look at her but took out a rag to wipe the residual sawdust off. Maya sighed and looked down at her feet, “Paul, come on. This is so stupid,” she tried to keep the annoyed edge out of her voice. If she was going to apologize, she needed to do this right. 

“No, Maya. What you did was stupid,” he said nonchalantly, carrying on with his work and not meeting her eyes. Maya shut her eyes tightly and took a deep breath. 

“Stop.” she said firmly before opening her eyes and looking at Paul. Even now when she was so annoyed with him for the things he had said to her last night before taking off, she couldn’t help but be pulled to him. The hard lines of his body made Maya’s eyes race over each peck, each perfectly formed muscle. He was as beautiful as he was infuriatingly stubborn.

Paul stopped what he was doing as if subtly commanded to and his face fixed into a deep frown as he turned to look at her, pulling the gloves from his hands. 

“I’m sorry that what I did hurt you, Paul. But, it was also an accident, a mistake. I am allowed to make those mistakes. Just like you’re allowed to,” she said knowingly. Maya knew she could bring up the stuff with Rachel and all the ways he had hurt her too, but she wouldn’t. Instead, she took a step toward him, closing the distance as she placed a hand on his bare chest and gazed up at him. Paul pulled in a stiff breath and kept his lips pursed in a firm line. Maya had to stifle a giggle at his determination to be mad when he was clearly crumbling, “But I am very sorry that I hurt you. Very, very sorry Paul.” Maya said, her voice cracking lightly. That caught his attention and his eyes immediately darted to her mouth, “I’ve been looking forward to this summer with you. Please….please let’s not start it this way,” she pleaded with a small smile on her face as she watched his face morph into one of softness. She cupped his cheek in her other hand and he leaned into it slightly, unable to stop himself from wrapping an arm around her back and tugging her closer to him. 

After a beat, he said, “I’m sorry I freaked out. I didn’t mean to and the shit I said…” he sighed clearly irritated with himself, “Aside from those idiots in there,” he gestured with his glove toward the house where raucous laughter was booming out from the back door, “You are the only thing that matters to me. This shit is intense and you being so far away is…I don’t know, we don’t have to talk about all of that now, I just missed you and I freaked out. I’m sorry, too.” He conceded and Maya beamed now and he brought his face down to kiss her forehead. 

“Okay.” She let out a small laugh as he let her hand rub lightly across his jaw and rest at the nape of his neck. “Wow, it’s really that easy to get you to cave, huh?” He threaded his arm around her back and pulled her flush against his chest before lowering his lips down and hovering them teasingly across hers before saying in a low, gentle voice.

“But you have tell them,” his eyes were alight with mischief as they danced around her face watching her confusion tick into suspicion. 

“Tell them? Tell them what?” Maya asked, confused, her heart hammering in her chest in anticipation for Paul to seal his kiss. His other hand rubbed along her forearm that she had draped over his shoulder sending goosebumps down her arm. 

“I’m not going to be able to keep this to myself on rounds, so you tell them,” Paul said, nodding and brushing his nose against hers. Maya’s eyes went wide in annoyance.

“Unbeliev—,” she squeaked out before Paul brought his lips crashing down on hers and swallowed the rest of the word up in an earth shattering kiss that made her dizzy. Maya couldn’t help a soft moan from escaping her mouth and spreading into his as he anchored her so firmly, so confidently against him before pulling his mouth softly off of hers and then kissing her once more gently, with a featherlight touch that took her off guard for the size and strength of the this man that held her heart. When he finally stood straight and let her move from his grasp a little she narrowed her eyes. He gave her butt a couple of playful pats as she settled more firmly onto her feet and grabbed his safety glasses off the table before turning back to his work.

Maya groaned and rolled her eyes before she pulled out of his grasp completely to walk back toward the back screen door. She looked over her shoulder and shot back:

“You’re raking me over the coals because you’re embarrassed? Really?!” A small smile played at Paul’s lips and she could feel the heat rise to her face. “You’re an asshole,” she said before turning back toward the house and stomping up the back porch steps. 

“Hey!” she yelled as she crossed the threshold and clattered down the hallway. “Can you guys come here please?” She yelled. Quil was hand sanding the stair railing and looked at her with confused worry. 

“Everything okay?” he asked, glancing around her to see Paul still in the backyard, getting back to his sanding. 

“Yes,” Maya said between gritted teeth. “Hello?! Wolfpack!? I need all of you down here in the living room! For a very important announcement. NOW.” Her eye ticked in annoyance as she waited for them all to gather around her in the wide and empty living room. She stood by the bay window and even with most of them in the room, it felt close to bursting from their massive bodies. 

“What’s up? You okay?” Seth asked. Jared crossed his arms and waited expectantly. The only ones not there were Jacob and Sam and Jeremy. 

“Everything’s fine,” Maya said trying to relax her jaw, “Paul wants me to tell you all why I was late. Because he doesn’t want you to find out from him.” The wolves glanced at each other with confused looks on their face but Jared smirked and shook his head. He’d known Paul the longest in the pack, next to Sam. 

“Okay,” Embry said slowly. “Why were you late?” Maya took a deep breath and rolled her eyes. 

“Keye came out to New York on my last night and we went out with a bunch of people from my cohort. One friend in particular, Noah, who Paul does not like and says is very much ‘into me’ also came. We got really drunk. Like really drunk,” Maya said. Seth’s eyes went wide at this expecting the worst but she pushed ahead. This was so stupid, “And Keye and I got so drunk that I guess we decided to spend the night at Noah’s.” 

A few of them blew out low whistles. Jared let out a short barking laugh and Maya bristled a little. “Nothing. Happened.” She snapped, “We all fell asleep and I woke up at 9 the next morning and missed my flight. That’s IT. Totally innocent.”

The pack collective nodded at one another, some stared at their feet, and some mumbled in mild confusion as Maya looked around the group. 

“Any questions?” she snapped again, daring one of them to say something. The wolves looked around at one another again, their faces reserved, uncertain until—

They all burst into booming laughter, throwing their heads back in absolute glee. Maya’s eyes went wide in surprise and then she clenched her jaw. Jared clutched his stomach and Collin, Embry, Brady, and Quil were buckling over and bumping into one another in their shared glee. Maya let out a huff of annoyance waiting for them to calm down. Seth was covering his eyes and leaning against the banister trying to get it together. 

“Damn, didn’t realize you were such a stone cold player,” Collin wheezed with laughter. 

“Yeah, who said you could be such a heartbreaker with your “platonic” sleepovers?” Quil emphasized the word platonic before continuing to buckle over. 

“Out of all the things you could have done,” Jared managed, “You chose a sleepover with some math nerd and your best friend to tell us about?” Jared howled with laughter, clutching his stomach. 

“We knew you liked to push Paul’s buttons, but this..this Maya,” Embry shook as tried to stifle his giggling, “Is a new height for you,” he chastised sarcastically. Maya was clenching her fists at her sides and the heat was slowly rising to her face. 

“How could you?” Seth said, shaking his head in mock seriousness as tears of laughter twinkled in his eyes before Brady bumped into him. 

“Watch out everyone, we got a baddie out here breaking hearts and taking names,” Collin quipped. Maya was starting to bristle. 

“Okay, it’s not that fucking funny,” she quipped, but that only set them alight into new fits of laughter. Maya’s eyes widened, her annoyance starting to brim dangerously close to anger and she swatted at Quil who stumbled as he wiped tears from his eyes. 

“Alright, that’s enough,” a warm voice sounded from the back of the house and Maya could see Paul leaning against the doorframe of the back door with his arms crossed over his chest. His shoulders were shaking gently in laughter and Maya warmed at the sight. The pack dispersed, still tittering with laughter. Seth patted her shoulder as he walked past and got back to work to sanding and staining the bannister. Maya’s eyes were glued to Paul as he watched her wiping his hands off with a damp towel. He smiled at her softly and it sent her heart hammering in her chest again. She tried to hold back her smile but it broke through anyway and she shook her head at him. 

“I love you,” she mouthed at him. 

“Love you too,” he mouthed back. 

“Asshole,” she mouthed. Paul closed his eyes in gentle laughter before nodding his head and turning around to walk back to his project, giving her a wave over his shoulder. Maya rolled her eyes and turned around. There was enough to get done today without her sticking around for more ribbing from the pack anyway. 

“Bye, Seth,” she waved and he waved back. Just as Maya clomped down the front porch stairs, she nearly ran into Emily who was heading up the pathway. 

“Oh, Maya!” Emily’s eyes brightened with surprise as she juggled the bags of food. Maya immediately grabbed two off of her shoulder and heaved them onto her own. “Thanks,” Emily breathed a sigh of relief. “Here, come set these down,” she said as she walked into the house and toward the kitchen. Maya deposited the bags on the counter and started unpacking. “Thought I’d bring the boys some lunch since they’re almost done.” Maya nodded and started laying out sandwiches on the paper plates she brought. 

“Oh, that reminds me!” she said turning and starting to fill up cups with lemonade, “Becks’ baby shower.” 

“Oh,” Maya halted and went wide-eyed in surprise. “I…didn’t even think about that.” She felt the heat of embarrassment creeping up her neck as she internally berated herself for not even thinking about throwing her best friend a baby shower. 

“It’s okay,” Emily waved her hand, “We’ve still got time. She’s not due until July, but I’m thinking we should throw it as a surprise?” Maya nodded a little more enthusiastically. 

“Absolutely. Here?” 

“Yeah, I think she’d like that. So how about the end of May? Does the 25th sound okay to you?” Emily asked nonchalantly as she passed a plate to Embry piled high with two sandwiches, chips, quinoa salad, and some chopped vegetables. 

“Yeah, a week should be good to put something together for her. Thanks, Em,” Maya said, taking a bite of a chip. 

“Good. You okay?” she asked in that softly maternal, non-intrusive tone of hers. It made Maya warm just hearing it. 

“Absolutely,” she replied on an exhale. “Just getting back into the swing of things,” Maya motioned around herself and Emily let out a small laugh. 

“I’m sure it’s a pretty sharp contrast to what you’ve been used to, but we’re glad to have you home,” she said as she came around the counter to envelope her in a hug. Maya relaxed into it and hugged her back. 

“It’s fine really. I’m happy to be home. It just always just takes a second to adjust,” Maya laid her head on Emily’s shoulder as she gave her an extra squeeze before releasing her. Emily put both of her small hands on Maya’s cheek and beamed at her. 

“You’re doing something none of us have ever done. It’s bound to have its ups and downs. You’ll figure it out,” Emily said before dropping her hands from Maya’s face. Maya let out a slow breath before nodding. “And for everything else, we’ve got you. Anywho, I’ll send you a list of some party ideas and we can divvy up some tasks, gather decorations, all that good stuff, yeah?” 

“Sure thing, I’ll make a group chat.”

“Oh, perfect!” Emily said as if she hadn’t thought of that just yet. Maya already pulled out her phone and quickly added Keye, Kim, Sadie, and Emily before shooting a text to them. 

With another quick goodbye and a wave, Maya was out the door and feeling a little lighter than she had coming in. Becks and Jacob would be back in a matter of hours and Maya still had a lot to do prior to their homecoming. And now with the baby shower to plan, she was already beginning to feel a little bit back to normal. 

“Are we almost there?” Becks said, trying to tame the excitement in her voice. Jacob laughed lightly next to her in the driver's seat. 

“Almost, honey,” he replied. Becks felt them pull off from the smooth concrete highway to a somewhat bumpier dirt road. 

“Okay, good. Because I have gotta pee,” she smiled and touched the makeshift blindfold covering her eyes as she heard him chuckle warmly in response. She let her hand fall to rest absently on top of her stomach. Becks was rounding out seven months and felt it. Her doctor in Chicago had been pleased with her progress throughout the semester, tracking the baby at a little bit larger than usual into her third trimester, but overall she had managed it well. 

There were a couple of times during the spring semester that her doctor had told her to minimize her stress as much as she could, but with being pregnant, away from home, and dealing with school, that was a long shot. Jacob had increased his time out in Chicago after Becks had laughed over the phone about her doctor’s recommendation. He had already been out there a ton—staying three out of the five days usually—but by the end of the semester, he was only checking in at the rez every couple of days and not straying too far. 

Becks didn’t want to admit it, but it had helped having him there and having a place to go that wasn’t her dorm. Her roommate had been less than pleased to find out she’d be sharing a room with a pregnant teen this semester—something about cramping her style or head game Becks thought. When she’d left in January, she was determined to do this as much on her own as she could. She understood that now that Jake had decided to take over his rightful role as alpha, his attention would need to be divided. 

But still, that didn’t stop Becks from calling him late at night just to hear his voice, or beaming from ear to ear and choking back a sob when he’d show up the next day to ferry her from class to the tiny apartment where he’d run her a bath and rub her feet and ask about her classes. He was just always there exactly when she needed him. 

The little apartment just off campus that Jacob had secured for them was perfect. By the time spring break had rolled around, Becks had decided to stay there pretty much full-time, enjoying the relative quiet and shorter trip to the bathroom it afforded her. 

The car rolled to a gentle stop and Becks couldn’t help but smile. “Ready?” Jacob said. She nodded enthusiastically and he popped open his drivers side door. The familiar smell of home washed over Becks momentarily, giving her goosebumps—evergreens, wet earth, a hint of salt, and warm pine. Jacob was there in a flash, opening her door and holding both of her arms as he helped her out down from the car. Once on her feet, he wrapped his arm down around her back, and steered her slowly forward. 

Jacob had told her early on that he was building a home for both of them, but he’d kept the details pretty secret. Becks had been thrilled and overjoyed at the idea of a small little place to call their own. He’d told her she’d get to pick out some things once it was finished and had only asked her cryptically to choose between a few colors a couple of times. Whenever she tried to weasel more information though, he’d just give her his signature megawatt small and lean down to kiss her, sweeping most worries from her mind and temporarily making her head spin. 

“Soon,” he’d say, cupping her cheeks warmly between his large, soft hands. 

Now he’d positioned her ever so carefully on what Becks could feel was a stone walkway. Her breath hitched her throat in anticipation and she felt the baby shift inside her in response to her increased heart rate. 

“Okay,” Jacob breathed, positioning himself behind her, his hands on either side of her stomach. She could hear a hint of nervousness in his voice. “Welcome home, babe.” He pulled the blindfold off in one gentle moment and Becks eyes widened in surprise as she took in the sight. 

This was…not the little shack in the woods she was expecting. The big beautiful two story home could have been sparkling in the low light of the the late May sun, wide windows stretching across whole swaths of the house. Becks gasped and took an automatic step forward, tears already welling in her eyes. 

“Jacob!” she managed to gasp out with a squeak. “How did you—? When did you—?!” She was at a loss for words. Every little detail was accounted for, the small stone pathway dotted with flowers and ferns and garden lights leading up to wide, flat steps to an expansive poured concrete porch. A giant porch swing hung off to the right, it’s deep seat the size of a nearly a full bed and padded with a large linen cushion that could have been mistaken for a mattress. 

The large bright wood door stood out beautifully against the dark blue of the home, with dark iron accents that matched the address numbers displayed next to the front door. The home was nestled nicely against the tree line, giving it a cozy, protected feel and Becks was overcome with just how beautiful it was. If the outside of the house looked this nice, she could only imagine how beautiful the inside would look. 

“It took a lot of time, but I had a lot of help,” he said softly behind her, encasing her in his arms and splaying his hands across her belly as he leaned down to kiss her cheek. Becks automatically raised her hand to cup his cheek, her eyes still glued to the sight before her as tears clearly streamed down her round cheeks. 

“Jacob, I–” she hiccuped and felt him gently rub his large hands soothingly across her belly. “This is so beautiful. No one has ever done anything close to something like this before.” 

“I hope not, because I’d have to kick their butt,” he chuckled in her ear, that warm pleasing laugh that set her heart stuttering again. 

“You built me a house,” she said breathless, her eyes still roving over the place she’d get to call home from now on. 

“I did,” he said casually. “It was the least I could do, considering you’re building me a baby.” He stooped a little behind her to gather his hands underneath her belly and lifted gently, relieving some of the weight off of her lower back. Becks’ eyes fluttered closed momentarily and she let out an involuntary moan of relief before giggling. She loved it when he did that. 

“Do you want to see the rest?” he said low in her ear, making her shiver. She turned her head to meet his eyes, the warm chocolate brown of his irises instantly setting her at ease. Becks nodded slowly and he smiled before kissing the tip of her nose. “Come on then.” 

He led her forward, taking her hand and keeping his pace a little slower so she could keep up. Becks felt like a kid in a candy store. As she looked down at their joined hands, moving toward their house he had built for their family, she was nearly overcome. How had she gotten so lucky with destiny to be gifted this man (and this baby, even if the timing was a little off) so early in life? The imprint had been nothing short of a surprise, but she was so thankful for it everyday that she got to be with Jacob. And although she knew that some people around her thought she was giving up her dreams, Becks knew how she felt.

And there was nowhere else she’d rather be. 

Maya and Paul had driven up to Seattle so he could take care of a few things in jumpstarting timelines for projects he would pick up from his hiatus. Maya had also wanted to get a few things for the baby shower, seeing as the limited stock in Forks and even Port Angeles wasn’t going to cut the party prowess she was going for. 

They had arrived at the Bellevue shopping center around four and Maya had split off from Paul to go to a little baby boutique in search of the perfect gift for Becks. Paul had cited needing to talk to a shop owner here about some pieces he had commissioned and Maya had nodded distractedly before bounding off in search of the shop. 

Now as she rounded the inside of the little shop for the tenth, filled with unique toys and gorgeous handwoven blankets, she smiled. It was all starting to feel real—this baby she means—and the thought didn’t even terrify her anymore. 

When Becks and Jacob had showed up that evening after visiting the house, Becks had been absolutely aglow with excitement. Maya had squeezed her a tight hug before kneeling down to hug around her belly, squishing her cheek to the warm globe. Becks had laughed and Paul couldn’t wipe the smile off his face as he watched Maya. When she had finally stood back up, Becks began to gush about the house and Jacob and Maya swelled with so much happiness she felt like she would burst. They had spent the rest of the evening tucked on the couch, online shopping for furniture, bedding, and cozy pillows before Jacob had ushered her upstairs to finally get some rest. 

Maya scanned the back wall of the baby boutique store, trying to hone in on the exact right thing to get Becks. She was distracted to say the least with her hands on her hips and her eyes analyzing each and every item to determine if it screamed “Baby Becks” to her or not. 

Just as she got to the end of her initial scan of items, she took a haphazard step back, still distracted by her utter concentration and bumped into a hard body. 

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry,” Maya said gently, her eyes not fully connecting with the person she had bumped into before her eyes landed on the perfect bassinet. “Oh,” she said softly. The woman she bumped into waved her off politely and moved down onto another section, unperturbed and allowing Maya to fully indulge in the item before her.

The bassinet was a gorgeously woven basket affixed to sturdy, dark wood cherry legs. The basket was dark blue and white, woven with intricate patterns that reminded her of the quilts her mother made her growing up. The handles were expertly sown dark leather and the bassinet could easily be turned into a carrying basket if needed. 

“Perfect,” she said to herself with a wide smile. She knew Becks would love it and just as she went to lean down and grab the large box it came in, a warm hand snaked around her waist. Maya glanced up quickly and smiled at Paul. 

“Hey,” he said almost a little breathless, his shoulders tense.  

“Hey, look at this! Isn’t it perfect?” Maya pointed to the bassinet as Paul tugged her a little closer to him before looking at the bassinet and nodded his head.

“Yeah, it’s great. Are you ready?” his eyes darted around the store and Maya quirked an eyebrow at him. 

“You okay?” she said with a small laugh. Paul squeezed her hip gently and gave a weak smile. 

“Yeah, just ready to get you home,” he said softly. “You want to get that for her then?” he nodded to the bassinet.

“Yes! I have a few other things behind the counter already too,” Maya said with excitement. She wasn’t sure why he was so tense but it didn’t dampen her mood. He leaned forward to grab the box with one hand while slipping his other hand into hers. Paul tugged her toward the checkout counter, his eyes glancing around at the customers. Maya watched as he let his eyes rest on an infant in a stroller just ahead of them in line, a nervous grimace settling on his face. Maya swallowed a giggle and bit her lip. He looked positively blanched and uncomfortable. 

After checking out with a small fortune of baby gifts and decorations, Paul helped haul it to the car with Maya in tow. Safely tucked into the front seat, Paul shut his door and let out a long breath. 

“I’ve never seen you like that,” Maya teased. He looked over at her, his face confused before she continued, “Do babies make you nervous or something?” Maya let out a little laugh and Paul closed his eyes tight and grinned broadly before turning the key over in the ignition. He let out a relaxed laugh as they pulled onto the main road before saying:

“Yeah, I forgot to mention, kids actually freak me out a little,” he glanced over at her, his eyes twinkling with mischief, “The sticky hands and pudgy fingers and toes. All those rolls?” 

“Totally logical fear, I get it,” Maya said, nodding and looking out the window. Paul put a hand on Maya’s thigh and squeezed. She looked over at him and smiled. 

“Hey, how about we take a trip?” Paul suggested. 

“Hmm?” Maya’s eyes widened in excitement. 

“Yeah, you and me, off the rez for a little bit, and somewhere new. Just for a week and maybe around your birthday?” his smile was growing wide and warm. Maya’s heart fluttered. 

“Do you think that’d be okay? I mean Becks is due in July, that might be cutting it kind of close,” Maya pondered. Paul shook his head and continued:

“Becks will be fine and we’ll go in enough time so we won’t miss anything. What do you think? Just you and me?” he grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips to kiss. Maya nodded enthusiastically and gave an excited squeal. 

A week-long getaway for her birthday with the man of her dreams? Absolutely. Maya’s mind already began turning over with ideas of where they could reasonably go for a week and get as far away from the rez as possible. 

Maya loved her home, but she also loved the way her and Paul were more easily able to relax completely into the imprint when they weren’t there. Paul, always stressed with rounds, new threats, council demands, or helping guide his brothers was always a staple in their relationship. But outside of the rez, without the demands and the constant need to check in through the link, Paul was able to be more himself with Maya—the semi-stable, high-end carpenter that had plans and dreams and a life filled with love to lead.

The absence of Maya during the school year only laid bare how the stress of everything on the rez was taking its toll on him. Maya put her hand over his and squeezed it before smiling at him. 

“Just us,” she said softly. Because there wouldn’t always be a “just them” in the future. Whether it was their family, the pack, or whatever other demands destiny wrought upon them—Maya would forever lunge at the chance to seek some small aspect of normal in their increasingly abnormal life. Even just for a week. 

Maya was putting the finishing touches on the mantel as Becks finished getting ready upstairs with Keye when the doorbell rang. Excitedly, Maya bounded toward the front door of Becks and Jacob’s home, her long light off the shoulder blue sundress, dotted with white flowers and a dreamy slit edged with lace that ended mid thigh billowed out around her. When she pulled the heavy wooden door open, she beamed. Emily, her four beautiful children in tow, Kim, and Sadie greeted her happily. Emily touched the delicate baby’s breath carefully placed in Maya’s half updo and smiled. 

It was not long after that that the house was brimming and bustling with excited chatter from tons of friends and family mulling around the house and exclaiming at the woodwork as Becks proudly showed them around. 

The house was a little more furnished after Becks had settled into full on nesting mode. But Maya had made sure to bring over extra chairs and seating from the council meeting house since the rest of the furniture wouldn’t arrive before the baby shower. Maya had wonderfully decorated with cuttings from the ferns and evergreens that swathed the backyard in gloriously green filtered light. She hung simple streamers, hanging stars, and twinkle lights to give the home a cozy, bright feel. 

Before the pack had left for cliff diving that morning, at Maya’s direction, they had freshly tilled a fresh ring of dirt in the backyard and lined it carefully with garden rocks, driftwood, and a few garden lanterns. Maya had set out cartons of dahlia’s, wildflowers, poppies, and lilacs for guests to plant while they were there as a collective house/baby gift to Becks.

After a couple of hours, the gifts were piled high on the foyer table from the pack, Becks’ family, the council, and friends. Becks sat pride of place in the high backed rattan rocking chair Paul had made for her that week. Maya excused herself to the kitchen to put together more snacks and watched happily as Becks laughed with friends and family gathered around her, a hand placed lovingly over her stomach. After refilling snacks in the living room in front of Becks and making sure she had enough water, Maya took a break from the chaos in the open-facing kitchen and poured herself a glass of wine. 

She leaned against the kitchen counter watching the festivities unfold as a group of women popped celebratory poppers in the backyard to the delighted squeals of Emily’s kids, while others were crouched around the garden beds carefully planting the flowers. Keye sauntered in and hopped up on the counter before popping some blueberries into her mouth from a glass bowl.

“It’s wild huh?” Keye said. “Our best friend is about to have a baby. We’re still babies.” She said in a far off voice. Maya hummed her agreement and shook her head. 

“It’s bound to keep happening. I’ve found that the longer I worry about change happening, the faster it tends to come. It’s probably easier if we just,” she looked over her shoulder at Keye, “Roll with it.” 

Over the past week leading up to the baby shower, Maya couldn’t shake some sense of nervousness, like the other shoe was about to drop but there wasn’t anything to indicate something bad was actually about to happen. On the contrary, things were going exceedingly well. She’d spent a whole day with her mother off the reservation—something they hadn’t done in a long time together—and Maya had treated her to a shopping spree courtesy of Paul’s black card. They’d met up with her dad for dinner and things had felt more normal than they’d ever been, considering the previous rift. 

Maya and Paul had fallen back into a good rhythm, his mood evening out the longer she was there. Even his packmates–Seth in particular—had admitted to Maya how much happier Paul was just knowing she was back at home waiting for him after rounds. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, her proximity was intimately tied to Paul’s wellbeing. 

Each time he came home from rounds or deliveries or even just working out in his workshop in the backyard, he’d wrap Maya up in a warm hug, his large arms dwarfing her and making her feel delicate. He’d lower his head to his favorite spot in the crook of her neck and inhale, breathing her in. Or, he’d take a moment to kiss the top of her head and just hold her there as if he was still surprised she was standing in front of him. Maya would revel in these moments, placing both of her hands on the back of his neck and kiss from the side of his face to his neck, whispering lovingly into his ear. 

Still, something within her stayed on alert. She chalked it up to paranoia or the impending birth of her best friend’s baby that would change everything. But still, that nagging feeling wouldn’t dissipate. She took another sip of wine, her eyes flitting toward the sound of Becks’ twinkling laughter. She looked so happy—happier than maybe Maya had ever seen her. Her heart swelled with emotion just at the sight. How could she be anything but overwhelmingly happy for her best friend? Becks was the kindest, bravest, and sweetest person she knew. She deserved everything happy and right in this world that they shared. Maya made a mental note to never doubt her best friend ever again—no matter the situation. 

“How’s Jake been through all of this?” Miranda, one of Maya’s mother’s friends asked Becks in the living room. A group of them had been gathered around Becks sharing firstborn tips and advice for the past hour. Maya perked up at the question and walked over to stand just outside the circle of chairs, wine glass filling her hand.

Becks let out a happy sigh and closed her eyes for a moment, “He’s honestly been incredible. I don’t know how I would have gotten through this semester without him,” she said to the “awws” and tuts of approval around her, “He was out there every week. He even rented a little apartment just outside of the city that I could stay at on the weekends and sometimes during the week when he was there. It was such a relief to get a break from campus sometimes.” 

“I’m surprised he was even willing to let you go in the first place,” Elder Mila interjected. Maya grimaced and quickly swallowed a gulp of wine. Becks smiled gently at Elder Mila before saying: 

“He respected what was important to me at the time…And we made it work. I honestly think he would have been out there with me more if his responsibilities here weren’t so important. But even since we got back to the rez, he’s been very attentive,” she laughed a little at this. “I can’t even reach up to get a glass in the cupboard without him reaching around me and getting it for me,” she joked. The women around her smiled as if remembering some similar memory they all shared, “Still, it’s very very sweet.” She ran a hand over her belly. “We’re lucky he’s ours.” Becks said to her stomach. 

“Gosh, I remember how Sam was with our first, too. He was everywhere all of the time. I thought he was going to have a heart attack every time I tried to climb the stairs by myself,” Emily giggled. Becks smiled so wide. 

“Exactly! I might as well be made of glass. Sometimes, he just scoops me up and carries me up the stairs anyway. Which, honestly, I do not mind the break for my feet,” Becks said sweetly. Maya smiled around her glass of wine. 

The party wound down naturally over the next hour or so and Maya and Keye began cleaning up just as the pack showed up. They descended on the leftover snacks, hoovering up the remaining sandwiches, meats and cheese, and fruit. They all smelled like damp earth and sea salt, their bodies already having evaporated any moisture. 

Paul popped a grape into his mouth and patted Maya’s hip as Brady continued to regale them all with their cliff diving stories. Kim and Sadie were laughing as they took down some of the decorations and placed them neatly into a storage container. 

Becks sat at one of the high-backed stools facing the kitchen island as Maya washed off some dishes in the sink, handing them to Keye who slotted them into the new dishwasher. The room was buzzing with warmth and happiness and Maya watched as Jacob leaned down to kiss the side of Becks’ head and whisper something in her ear that made her smile, her eyes closed in delight. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and held onto her stomach gently. They were the picture of happiness and Maya’s heart stuttered a little bit. 

“Can we open presents now?” Luca whined as he and his younger brother picked through the pile of presents on the low foyer table in the front hall. Emily shifted her son Arlo higher up on her hip. 

“Those are Aunt Becks’ presents, Luca. She’ll open them when she’s ready. We need to get home and start bedtime soon, anyway,” she chided. Sam sauntered over and scooped up the younger of the two into his arms as he squealed in delight. Luca let out a long whine in protest and Becks turned from her seat in the kitchen.

“How about I open just one and you get to pick it out?” she offered. Luca immediately brightened and set to work deciding on the best one. “Thank you so much again for putting this on for me,” Becks said. 

“Emily was the one who reminded me that this was something you do,” Maya admitted bashfully. 

“But you’re the one who put this whole thing together in under a week,” Emily replied. 

“Regardless, thank you all so much, this means the world and I just—,” Becks choked up a little and had to pause. Jacob was smiling and chuckled a little. He’d watched her mood swings up close and personal for the past 6 months so this was nothing new, “Sorry,” Becks said as she swallowed hard as Jacob wipes the tears from her cheeks. 

Maya couldn’t help but laugh a little and shake her head, “Of course, Becks. We love you. What are friends for, babe?” 

“This one!” Luca appeared next to Becks holding a carefully and beautifully wrapped gift. It was expertly wrapped with silver wrapping paper, embossed with intricate patterns that glittered as you rolled it in the light. The exquisitely soft ribbon was like silver liquid. 

“Wow,” Becks said. 

“Who’s that from?” Maya was drying her hands off on a dish towel, her brow furrowed. She didn’t remember seeing such an expensive looking gift amongst the pile of homemade wrapping paper and bags overflowing with warm colored tissue paper. Paul was standing next to Maya, his hand on her lower back as he leaned on his elbow on the counter, his eyes also looking at the package curiously. 

“I dunno,” Becks said as she carefully unwrapped the gift. Jacob was just as curious as Becks at this point. Once the ribbon fell away, the package nearly unwrapped itself in one beautiful unsheathing motion. 

Becks opened the rectangular box to reveal a beautiful dark leather bound photo album, embossed with the gold lettering: The Black Family. Becks gasped. The leather album was beautiful and felt like butter in her hands. She ran her hand across the cover and carefully opened it. There was a small envelope tucked inside and Becks was quick to open it. 

“Who—” She began, but then she read the delicate lettering, inked in careful script:

"Congratulations. We are so incredibly happy for you. In every stage of life, one often looks back before moving forward. See you soon."

The color instantly drained from Jacob’s face as he listened to Becks read the note, already knowing by the intricate family crest that graced the front of the card who it was from: the Cullens. His hand gripped the back of Becks’ chair so hard that he cracked the wood, causing Becks to jump and look at him with a concerned look. 

“What is it?” she said in a soft voice.

“No way,” Jared said, his voice tinged in anger. Jacob was trying very hard not to see red at this moment. The space around them suddenly felt too open, too exposed and Jacob wanted to shield Becks with his large frame. 

“Jacob,” she said, bringing a hand to his cheek. He had been looking at her the whole time but not focused on her face, a flash of sadness moved over his eyes before he snapped back to it, standing straight. 

“I did pick up a scent in Seattle earlier this week when Maya and I were there,” Paul said firmly, arms crossed over his chest. 

“What?” Maya replied incredulously. Paul glanced at her quickly, his face unreadable stone before training his eyes back to Jacob. 

“How many?” Jacob asked, between gritted teeth. Paul shrugged. 

“Hard to say considering how many people were around, but more than one I’d guess,” Paul confirmed. 

“Was that why you wanted to get out of there so quickly?” Maya asked, but Quil interjected over her: 

“Do you really think it’s them coming to town?” 

“Or moving back,” Embry stated. 

“They’ve barely been away long enough to have everyone forget them. It can’t just be because of Jacob can it?” Jared asked, confused. 

“The card doesn’t necessarily mean they’re coming back for good,” Maya said, her eyes glued to Becks who was staring down at the card again, her face a mask of confusion. 

“What exactly do you think ‘See you soon’ means?” Jacob’s voice was thick with sarcasm. Maya bristled at that but swallowed her angry retort. 

“It means maybe they just want to see you and Becks…and the baby,” A low growl sounded in Jacob’s chest. “You said they were friendly, right? And you were close to Bella—”

“That doesn’t mean they don’t want something from me! From all of us. And I get to choose who is a part of my family’s life. They’re not owed it,” Jacob’s voice rose and Maya turned to stone. 

“Hey,” Paul said, “Take it easy. Maya’s probably right. They’re probably just curious.” 

“They’re not setting foot near my family!” Jacob seethed now. Embry put a hand on his shoulder to help calm him but his breath was coming in fast now and Maya automatically took a step back. Paul took a small step in front of her instinctually.

“We won’t let them. You know that,” Paul said in a low, calm voice. Jacob shut his eyes tight and nodded before steadying himself. 

“I want to up our rounds, and pull round the clock watch on our perimeter until further notice,” Jacob said looking at each of his brothers. They all nodded as if they had a choice, but still they looked determined. Paul’s eyes met Maya’s and he looked tired. She gave him a sad, but reassuring smile and nodded at him. 

More rounds meant less time together for the foreseeable future and that was already enough of a hurdle during the school year. But she was home, so at least the physical distance wouldn’t affect Paul as much. At least she hoped. 

“Jacob,” Becks said gently. His mouth was set in a hard line and his eyes were almost black with anger. He cupped her face in his wide hands and swiped his thumbs across her cheeks. 

“I’ll keep you safe,” he said gently. She shook her head at him almost imperceptibly, but as she opened her mouth to speak, he looked over her head and at his packmates. “Jared, Quil, and Embry, can you take the northeast perimeter? Seth, take the others along the northwest. Paul,” he dropped his hands from Becks face and turned toward him, “Can you do a sweep of the south corners this evening? I’ll join you in about an hour,” he said firmly. 

Paul nodded curtly, “I want to get her home first, is that okay?” He nodded toward Maya. 

“Of course,” Jacob confirmed. “Come on, honey.” He said to Becks as he gently tugged her down out of the chair. Jared, Seth, and the others were confabbing with Sam as Emily rubbed her eyes tiredly and started shuffling her kids toward the door. Sadie and Kim kissed Becks on the cheek as Jacob walked her toward the stairs and waved sadly at Maya as they helped Emily out the door. 

“I don’t need an escort, babe. You can go,” Maya said as Paul blew out a low breath and took a step toward her. He wound his hands down onto her hips and tugged her close, pressing his chest against hers as he kissed her forehead. 

“Noted, let’s go,” he motioned toward the front door. 

“Keye, you coming?” Maya said as she looked over her shoulder. Keye was looking at her phone. 

“Nah, my presence has been requested here,” she pointed toward the stairs. “Baby watch.” Maya smiled tightly and said, 

“Call me if you need anything.” Paul shuffled her out the door and toward her Jeep. Maya went along with him, placing her hand over his that held tightly to her hip. He guided her protectively toward the car as if something would jump out at any moment and snatch her.  

Once she was safely tucked in the car and on the short 10-minute drive home, Maya broached the topic carefully: 

“Is this really bad? The Cullens coming back?” she said softly. Paul’s face looked worn and tired, his eyes trained to the road and darting at the tree line. 

“Depends,” he said cryptically. 

“On what?” Maya probed. 

“The last time they were here a war almost broke out. It depends on if they’re actually coming back and for how long,” he said slowly, “But that’s not even the worst part.” Maya waited patiently for him to continue, “More vampires in the area means the potential for more kids phasing.” His grip tightened on the steering wheel. “The need to protect the tribe will be triggered. And the last thing we need is more kids getting drawn into this and having their lives changed forever.” 

Maya could see the anger tensing his shoulders, the vein pulsing in his neck. “Let’s take it one step at a time,” Maya soothed. 

Paul pulled into their driveway soon after and shut the car off. He didn’t immediately get out though and Maya’s hand hesitated over the door handle as she looked over at him. 

“What is it?” she asked, a nervous tinge to her voice. 

“I need you to listen to me,” he said in a low voice. 

“What do you—” she began but he cut over her, turning sideways to look upon her full force. 

“I need you to listen to me when I ask you stay put or go to Emily’s or watch over Becks. I need to keep you safe and I can only do that if you listen to me,” he was nearly pleading with her, but the demand was clear in his tone. The fire was alight in his eyes and Maya’s mouth parted in subtle surprise. “Do you understand?” 

Maya watched him carefully for a moment. He looked…terrified. As if this was the first time he truly had something to lose. She nodded slowly. 

“Maya,” he said firmly, prompting her to answer. 

“Yes, babe, I hear you. I’ll listen,” she reached over and grabbed his hand. He squeezed her hand and nodded. 

“Let’s go inside, I’ll need to leave pretty quick but I want to make sure everything’s good before I go.” He popped open the door and Maya followed, bundling her dress up into her hand to help her quickly make her way to the front door. 

Once inside, he kissed the side of her head and said “Wait here” before he hurried off toward the backyard, flipping on lights as he went and glancing around as if an intruder would pop out from behind the couch. Maya blew out a breath and put her purse on the entryway table before pulling her phone out. 

A new text from Becks was waiting and Maya opened it, glancing up to make sure Paul was still preoccupied with his sweep of the house. 

From: Becks–7:42 p.m.Are you on lockdown? 

From: Maya–7:55 p.m.What do you think?

B: Jesus, I’m sorry. Jacob is being really intense about this. 

M: Paul said something about a war last time the Cullens were in town. Do you know anything about that? 

B: A war? No. He hasn’t mentioned anything. But he’s really shaken up and I don’t want to push it. Do you think Paul would let you come over tomorrow? 

M: Yeah, the protection around your place is probably going to be the highest anyway. I’ll ask, but we’re safest on the rez so I’m sure he’s not going to care. 

B: Thanks. I’m just…a little worried and wanted to run something by you. 

M:Sure. You okay? 

B: Yeah, absolutely, just would rather talk about it in person. Thank you for today though, it was amazing. 

M: You’re welcome babes. I’ll see you tomorrow. Tell Keye I said goodnight. 

Maya looked up as she heard Paul clamber down the stairs toward her. He reached around her and locked the front door. 

“All clear?” Maya teased. Paul gave her a firm look and pulled her closer. 

“Stay put tonight,” he reminded, brushing some hair away from her face. She nodded. 

“Got it. Hey, Becks just texted me and asked if I could come keep her company tomorrow. That’s okay, right?” she placed a hand on his chest and leaned forward to kiss her mouth softly before saying, 

“Of course. You can be over there as much as you want. I’ll swing by to take you in the morning.” 

“I think I can make it over there fine, Paul,” she said gently, but heaved a sigh when she saw the look on his face. 

“I’d feel better taking you,” the look in his eye told her it was easiest to just say yes. Plus, she knew she’d get limited time with him this week with the increased rounds, so any excuse to spend more time with him was worth it. 

“Fine, I’ll be ready by 9 tomorrow, okay?” she looped her arms up around his neck and he responded by dipping his head down to more easily connect his mouth with hers, flooding her nose with his warm, musky scent and making her squeeze her thighs together. When he pulled back, she said dreamily, “Can you stay for just 20 more minutes?” 

He raised his eyebrows and laughed, that half hooded look of lust in his eyes as well. “I wish I could, but I’m already late as it is. I would have loved to peel this little sundress off of you though.” His index finger traced under the thin spaghetti strap and pushed it down her arm to kiss along her shoulder. Maya huffed out a wanting breath. She could already feel the ache between her legs growing. But all too quickly, he stood straight and pushed a small millimeter of space between them. “I gotta go,” he said in a gruff tone. Maya whined and flopped her head onto his chest. “I’ll see you in the morning, baby.” he rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head before he took a step back and helped her stand up straight. “Remember—”

“Stay put, I got it Paul,” she groaned. He smiled and kissed her one last time before turning to leave out of the backdoor. Maya crossed her arms and watched him disappear down the dark path and into the forest. 

So much for getting back to normal. She thought. 

“Damnit.”

 She had left sometime in the early morning leaving him alone and unaware of her departure. Letting a heavy sigh leave him Leo flopped back down on the bed groaning in frustration. He had hoped that……who was he kidding, what did he really expect? That an apology and a few orgasms would set everything right in one night? Being alone this morning without so much as a goodbye was what he should have expected. But it didn’t make it hurt any less. Last night was more than miraculous, having her in his arms again, kissing her, hearing his name fall blissfully from her lips again was everything he had wanted, everything that he missed.

 Short lived as it was Leo would savor last night’s memory until the end of his days. He had just hoped it wouldn’t be the last time he would get to enjoy her in that way. He wanted forever.

 The walk of shame back to the healer’s quarters was agonizing. Once he entered through the threshold of the healer’s quarters Leo found his two youngest brothers sitting next to Raph who was now strong enough to sit up in bed. Thank god for the mutagen that coursed through their veins. As they saw him enter Donnie and Mikey jumped to their feet running towards their leader bombarding him with questions.

 “Where have you been?” Donnie questioned pulling his eldest back to Raphael.

 Mikey grumbled behind his brothers as the genius guided him towards their recovering brother. “We were worried sick about you!”

 Reaching the hothead Leo watched his younger brother eye him up and down as if he were gauging his current mood. Then Raph closed his eyes and Leo saw his nostrils flare and his tongue dart from his mouth. Ever so slowly Raph’s lips curling into a devilish grin. “I can smell her on ya fearless, you didn’t do what I think you did, did ya? Because that could possibly make things worse with her.”

 Donnie cocked his head giving both his brothers a puzzled look, “What are you talking about? Smell who on Leo?” Leaning towards his older brother Donnie scented the air around him and released an uncharacteristic growl. “Oh…” his three fingered hand came to rest over his mouth startled by his animalistic reaction.

 Mikey shrugged his shoulders copying Don and Raph and they watched their little bother’s eye dilate releasing his own deep rumble. “Aurora.”

 Raphael adjusted himself to face his red-faced brother. “Ya had sex with Aurora last night.”

 Donnie’s brown orbs flashed with anger; his mouth snapping shut in a thin line. Mikey’s baby blues burned into his soul showing disappointment in his brothers’ inability to take things slow. Their icy glares made him want to hide in his shell, something he hadn’t done since he was a child.

  “How could you have been so careless? Where is she now?” his genius brother growled angrily at his eldest for the first time in his life, the vibrations of his reprimand giving Leo goosebumps of shame.

 “I…I don’t know, she was gone when I woke up.” Leo felt so small right now with his three brothers glowering at him. Did he ruin everything by going to her room last night? He was the one who broke her heart, and he went to her room. But he had gone in fully intent on just talking to her, to apologize, hoping to repair some of the damage he had done a year ago. Sex had not been the plan. They had fought together; she had saved Raph and his lives. He thought it was a good change to mend fences, did he just mess it all up?

 “I can’t believe you did something so irresponsible Leo? You entered into her room in the middle of the night after an emotional battle. Did you actually think she would be able to tell you no? You broke up with her Leo, knowing full well she is still in love with you!” Donnie’s posture was tense, his fists clenched but he was looking down at the floor unable to look his brother in the eye.

 The last sentence stung, and Leo grew slightly angry himself. “I’m in love with her too you know! I didn’t plan on having sex with her; I just went in there with the intent on just talking and telling her I was sorry and that I still loved her. She had been avoiding me like the plague since we first saw her, I just needed to get her alone, to explain things. One thing led to another and it just…happened.”

 “Sex doesn’t just happen bro.” Mikey cut in dropping down next to Raph, his arms folded over his chest.

 The turtle in red grumbled testing his wound with a tentative push of his two fingers. “If you forgot Leo, we all love her, she’s not just yours…...” Letting out a frustrated huff Raphael pinched the bridge between his eyes. “All I know is it better not be another year before we see her again because you couldn’t keep it in your pants oh fearless leader.”

 Soon Gyoji and Master Splinter made their way into the large room. Gyoji stopped a few feet from the brothers while Splinter moved next his eldest.

 “My son,” He started. “Your brothers were worried when you disappeared last night. They insisted coming to find you, but I told them you would return when you had finished with what you felt you needed done. By the look on your faces, I gather it did not go as planned?”

 “No Sensei.”

 Splinter’s hand came to rest on Leo’s forearm making the leader look down at the aging rat, “We must remember my son, time heals all things. There is no manual for life, mistakes are bound to happen so we must be patient and learn from our failings. Give Aurora time, her love for you all is boundless and nothing will sway her from those feelings. Yesterday’s trials were hard, but they set us on the path for reconciliation. I will give you a bit of good news though my sons, you will see her yet again today.”

 The news brought smiles back to their faces as all expect Raph stood to hear more.

 Splinter turned to Gyoji who took the invitation to address the family. “Honored ones, the kingdom thanks you for your help in saving our Daimyo, we are forever in your debt.” Gyoji bowed to them in respect and continued. “Despite yesterday’s horrible events, the award ceremony for the Battle Nexus Championship will still be held in Michelangelo’s honor. It will be held when the sun is at its highest this day. The second-place winner will also be recognized.”

 Mikey got excited smacking Raph in the arm but regretted it instantly hearing his brother groan in pain. “Oh sorry bro! Dude, I’m so sorry…..so, she’s still here?”

 “Yes Ms. Yoshi is still present in the nexus and plans on attending the ceremony. You all will be allowed up at the podium with your brother as he accepts his award. The Daimyo doesn’t want you separated from each other. Raphael the healers have informed me you as well enough to be brought up as well so you don’t miss this joyous occasion.”

 Raphael rolled his eyes watching Mikey’s face nearly burst from happiness. “Yea, it’s joyous alright. He ain’t neva gonna let us live this down.”

 “Nope.” Was Michelangelo’s quick response brushing off imaginary dust from his shoulders.

 When the time came, Raphael with the help of his brothers was settled into a wheeled chair, gathered their belongings and made their way to the Daimyo’s platform high above the battle nexus’s arena. The other three brothers towered over their father but remained behind as the old ninja master lead the way.

 As they made their way up into the Daimyo’s personal perch above the championship the blonde and purple of Aurora’s hair came into view. She was currently kneeling before the seated sullen ruler speaking softly. Her right hand was resting atop his large one in comfort and the edges of his lips lifted to a small smile. He pulled it from beneath hers and rested his massive palm on the top of her head before running it downs the side of her face to give her a gentle pat on her check. The Daimyo nodded and spoke a few whispered words which in turn made the kunoichi smile.

 They watched the private interaction until the pair became aware of their audience and stood to greet them.

 Aurora was dressed in black pants with grey knee-high boots. Her upper half was covered in a sheer blue shirt with a white tank underneath and a long necklace that hung just below her breasts. The blue in her attire did not go unnoticed to Leo who found it difficult to keep his eyes off the woman.  Just hours before she was beneath him, naked, writhing…….calm down. This is not the time or the place.

 “My friends,” The Daimyo started softly, breaking from Aurora to approach the family of five. “I know this trip has been a mix of ups and downs.” The old man swallowed hard as if trying to bury his anxious sadness. “We are in your debt for your help yesterday and of course from a year ago. If it wasn’t for you five.” The Daimyo turned slightly to address Aurora as well who stayed a few feet away. “This dimension and no doubt the rest would be in peril. You will always be honored heroes of the nexus and are always welcome with the highest regard. But this day is a happy occasion; we honor Michelangelo for his triumph in the Battle Nexus Championship as well as Aurora for runner up.” His hands reached out for the pair. “Come, it is time to present you to the people.”

 Without hesitation Mikey approached the Daimyo, he was quick to bow and the ruler’s sad eyes brightened just a little at the youngest gusto.  Turning to Aurora the Daimyo held out his hand which she took and he pulled them forward to the massive opening bring them into view of the mass crowd below. As they looked down at the swaying masses the arena erupted into applause.

 The Daimyo took both their hands and raised them high which made the roaring thunder rise to near ear splitting decimals.

 “My fellow warriors!” the sorrow that filled his voice was gone. Strong and booming followed his words as he put on a show for the masses. “This year’s Championship was found with great success! You honor us with your courage and strength! This year we are graced with a new champion and runner up in their first year to compete. Not only are they fierce fighters but also part of a team that has saved its Daimyo twice! Our runner up is a human from 3rd Earth Aurora Yoshi!”

 He held her hand higher in his excitement virtually pulling her from her feet. She stumbled a bit trying to stay on her tippy toes but a palm to his side stabilized her enough until he realized her predicament and lowered her down to the flats of her feet. “Last year she stopped an arrow from finding its place in my skull and helped us defeat Tigerclaw and his army.” From his robes he pulled a bright purple ribbon with a silver medallion attached at the bottom. He lifted it high and passed the ribbon over her head settling it around her neck. “We thank you for your part in the championship and your help in keeping this kingdom safe.”

 Aurora nodded and was turned forward one more time to be presented to the crowd.

 As the Daimyo turned to address the crowd once again Mikey turned to find Aurora smiling at him. She held out her hand which he accepted getting a squeeze. He couldn’t hear her over the ruckus from below and the bellowing of the massive man before them, but he could read her lips, ‘I’m proud of you.’

 Then he was abruptly pulled from her view and brought to the edge of the platform, his hand was raised with the same enthusiasm and the crowd screamed. It started slowly; muffled words swelling into his name growing in volume until everyone in the arena was chanting. Mikey ate up the attention bowing and adding a little flare with a back flip.

 The Daimyo came up to Mikey resting his hand on his shoulder, “Michelangelo proved himself worthy yesterday to be among the hall of champions. He also along with his brothers alongside Aurora saved this dimension twice over with the defeat of Drako and… my son Ue-Sama yesterday and ending the war with Tigerclaw last year. We are forever grateful!”

 Pulling another ribbon from his robes, this time a vibrant orange to match his mask and a large gold medallion at its end the Daimyo presented Michelangelo with his award. Mikey bowed his head to accept the award with pride. As he stood back to his full height he found his family’s admiration beaming with each face he saw. “You honor your family with your skills and your dedication to your craft Michelangelo.  You should be proud of yourself because I know your family is.”

 With slow hands the ruler turned the young mutant to face him; Mikey could see the tears in his eyes. Despite the happy face he was showing the Daimyo was in pain, an immense amount that he was now struggling to keep contained.  His smile thinned and faltered so Mikey reached up giving him a much needed embrace. This was when he could feel him shaking and waved his hand to Aurora.

 The kunoichi took the cue and pulled the Daimyo from his grip and away from the prying eyes of the crowd.

 Mikey did one more bow and waved, “See you all next time!” before throwing a smoke bomb disappearing from the ledge getting another roar from the captivated crowd.

 The Daimyo allowed Aurora to escort him from the balcony and too Splinter and his sons. “I am truly thankful for your help yesterday, all of you. But I’k sure you all wish to return to your homes for rest.” His hand rose waving Gyoji over. “Aurora you will be sent home today, Gyoji will return you to the location he retrieved you from. Old friend I’m sorry but your son is not yet healthy enough to take the trip through the dimensional portal. The energy within would rip his wound wide open. Raphael must remain here until his wounds have healed more.”

 “We shall stay behind as well if that is alright with you?”

 “You and your family are always welcome.”

 Letting go of the large man Aurora went to her bag and swung it over her shoulder. “Thank you my Daimyo, and thank you for everything. I am sorry about Ue-Sama, I truly am. But I have a feeling we haven’t seen the last of him or Drako.”  

 “As a father I hope you are right about my son but as a ruler I hope you are wrong.”

 Leo could feel the panic rising in his chest. He hadn’t thought about what would happen when this was over. She was leaving again and they would have no way to contact her. How long would it be before they saw her again? He moved on instinct stepping towards her, his hand came out to rest on her shoulder. “W-when will….where?”

 At the contact Aurora looked over her shoulder and tried to keep her composure as his beautiful blue eyes bore into her soul. She knew what he wanted but she wasn’t ready to give them her location. Not yet, soon but not yet.

 Splinter’s paw came down on his forearm and Leo released her shoulder, “My dear when you are ready you know where to find us. Our door has and will always be open to you my child.”

 As the white portal opened to her destination Aurora turned to the Daimyo and bowed and turned to do the same to Master Splinter. “Till next time.” She called before slipping through threw the light and disappearing from their life again.

 The Daimyo saw the expressions on their faces as the portal snapped shut swallowing up their kunoichi. His hands came down on Leonardo’s and Splinters shoulders. “Come my friends let us go get lunch.”

 It took two more days for Raphael to be well enough to travel home. Gyoji conjured up another portal, the swirling white light meant home, a proper shower and pizza. The Daimyo face grew solemn and reached down to the old rat. His large arms wrapped around Splinter’s small frame but was careful to do no harm.

“My friend please treasure your sons for you never know when it will be the last day you will see them.” They could hear his old voice struggling with his words as he clung to the old rat. Then his head lifted and looked at the four brothers and smiled passed his sorrow. “Give her time, she still loves you all. I could see the inner turmoil tearing her apart.”

 “Until we meet again my old friend. I shall do my best to come see you more often. My sons are grown and require less observation so I should be able to get away.”

 A gentle smile lifted the ruler’s lips, “I would love that my old friend. I look forward to it.”

 With one final bow the family of five said their farewells and stepped through the portal into the large space below the city streets that was their home.

 As they crossed over the threshold into the lair Donnie’s com rang and a very worried April came over the speaker into the genius’s ear. Pressing his finger to the device in his ear he began to listen to their friend. “Yes April, Raph is doing fine. Thankfully the mutagen in our blood has sped up his recovery tremendously. He’ll be back to giving us hell and crushing skulls in a week or two. How did you know? She what? For how long? I see, yes you can come over. See you in 20.”

 “How did April know about Raph already?” Leo asked helping their Sensei to the kitchen table.

 “Aurora…..I guess she’s been in contact with April the past couple weeks. Aurora called her yesterday when she got back to our dimension letting her know about the fight and to check up on us. She’s ahhh coming over with pizza for us and sushi for sensei.”

 Leo looked back at Donnie as he filled the kettle for tea, his mouth open in disbelief. Aurora had been missing for a year and she had started talking to April a couple of weeks ago and April didn’t tell them? The blue leader was upset but refused to vocalize it since he himself might have dashed their chances to reconnect with Aurora themselves. Finishing up filling the kettle Leo started the burner and set the kettle on top of the stove. His attention returned to his injured father helping him to the bathroom.

 “You’ll feel better after a shower Sensei, and your tea will be ready when you get out.”

 Weary and tired Master Splinter thanked his son before closing the door. He was looking forward to a hot shower and his own bed tonight, of course after a hot cup of soothing tea. After a few moments Leo heard the shower start and the shower curtain pull closed. Assured his father was ok Leo returned to the kitchen and started to prepare the tea leaves and steeper for his father’s tea.

 Looking up from his task Leo found his brothers scattered over the lair. Seeing Raph sitting on the couch pressing his finger to his covered wound Leo sighed making his way over to his brute of a brother.

 Sitting down next to him Leo grabbed Raph’s hand preventing another jab to the bandage setting it down on his lap, “What the shell are you doing Raph?”

 “Feeling.” Raph grumbled crossing his arms over his chest wincing at the shooting pain in his side. “Is that ok with you?”

 “Why w…” before he could finish, the whirlwind of April tore through the lair heading straight for Raph and himself. In her left hand she carefully balanced four pizzas and on her right slung a bag from their favorite sushi stop. Setting the goodies down on the coffee table April sat down next to the two turtles and immediately started fussing over Raphael. After a few moments Raph visible softened to their human friend and allowed her to clean his wound with the fresh supplies Donnie had just brought over.

 April had gotten into the familiar rhythm of taking care of her friends each time they came home from patrol battered and bruised. Over the past year as the operations of the purple dragons increased she saw more blood and dark marks on the brothers than she cared to witness. Thankfully none had been life threatening until this day. This was the first time a wound could have been mortal. When she had gotten the phone call from Aurora she could tell Aurora had been worried. The attack on the family was troublesome and set her on edge. Even the hitch in Aurora’s voice as she gave a short detail of the attack sent a heavy chill through her body. Looking to the Leader next to Raph she took note of his bandaged hand and winced remembering the story behind it.

 That hand saved them both, Raph and himself by grabbing the business end of a sword. The sharp metal sliced through his palm and fingers like warm butter before coming to a halt from the pure strength of his grip. It was a testament to Leo’s commitment to his never ending training and continuing pursuit to perfect his body. Leo was always looking to get better, always ready to defend his family and had proven many times the dutiful leader always putting himself in danger to keep his family safe. Splinter had made the right choice to put the blue banded terrapin in charge.

 After ever bit of food she had brought into the lair was consumed by the guy’s ravenous appetite April watched Leo shift in his seat suddenly looking a little suspicious. His bandaged hand ran over his blade crown and released a long drawn out sigh. Even before he said anything she knew who the question would be about.

 “Have you seen her since she contacted you?” His usual commanding voice wavered at the subject of his question.

 “I haven’t seen her yet but I know she’s back in the city somewhere. She keeps promising to meet up for dinner but her current project has kept her pretty busy.”  

 “Current project?” Donnie cocked his head at the notion from across the kitchen table.

 “Not sure yet, she’s being pretty secretive about it but she assured me I’ll get to see it when it’s done. Not gonna lie, I’m super stoked. It’s been way too long. How did she look?”

 Leo watched April from across the table asking about Aurora. He could see the hesitancy in her features like she was playing with something fragile. She didn’t want to upset him but she wanted to know. Then the soft smile turned excited and she nearly jumped from her chair.

 “Wait! Who won the Battle Nexus Championship?!” Her big beautiful eyes scanned each brother waiting anxiously for an answer.

 “You mean SHE didn’t tell you?” Raph laughed leaning back on his chair testing the strength of the old metal on the vintage chair.

 “All she told me was it was someone I knew.”

 Mikey’s sudden push of his chair sent the thing teetering dangerously on the kitchens platforms edge as he stood. His thumbs hooked under the straps of his harness and pushed them forward as if they were suspenders. The soft ridges of his eyes wagged as he stepped away from the table and took a sliding side step towards April. “You anglecakes, have the privilege of looking upon a bona fide multi dimensional battle nexus champion.”

 April could barely contain the squeal of excitement for the youngest brother. Jumping from her chair she ran into his arms giving him a long hug. “Mikey I’m so proud of you! I knew all that extra training would pay off! Did you get a trophy or something?”

 “Yeah I got a gold medallion and there will be a statue made in my likeness in the hall of champions. You should have heard the crowd, it was killer!”

 “Who did you beat to win?” April asked letting go of Mikey returning to her chair.

 “Aurora.”

 “Oh damn.” April gawked at Mikey.

 “Yeah tell me about it.” Mikey’s smile grew.

 Donnie shifted in his chair trying to get the woman’s attention and leaned towards April setting his chin in his hands batting his big brown eyes, “So are you going to give me Aurora’s new phone number?”

 April gave him a half hearted smile shaking her head, “Sorry guys, she told me not to give you the number yet. She’s not ready yet and Don if you hack my phone to get it none of us will hear from her again. Don’t push the issue and let her come back on her own time. I could tell by the tone of her voice the other day she was struggling with seeing you guys, she misses you all, just know that.”

 April stayed for another hour before having to return home to get ready for work in the morning. Soon after, the lair was dark as the turtles and their sensei retired to their own beds for some rest. It had been a stressful few days and the comfort of their own sanctuary brought sleep early.

 It had been a few weeks since their return from the battle nexus championship and things were returning back to normal. After two weeks of highly resented rest Raphael was healed enough to be able to return to patrols with his brothers.

 Their current location was running over rooftops heading towards the newest lead their genius brother had figured out for the Purple Dragons. The chill in the night air indicated the change to fall, from what trees that were dispersed around the city started to change colors.

 “You better be right about this warehouse Donnie, wrestling was about to start.”

 “Yeah yeah Raph, from what reliable sources I found something big is going down with the Purple Dragons tonight. Rebecca wanted us to check it out first before she sent in the Calvary. The one word that kept popping up in the black market chat sites kept saying something about weapons.” Donnie used his bo staff to help himself vault over the next roof landing just behind Leo who had stopped holding his hand up in a silent order to halt.

 As they crept over to the warehouse in question the four brothers looked down into the alleyway finding several large trucks with their doors open awaiting their unknown cargo. There were only a few bodies below watching the trucks so Leonardo signaled the move to the roof of the warehouse to get a better look. A skylight in the far corner of the roof gave the best vantage point and they made their way over peering down below.

 “Jackpot.” Raphael whispered happily pulling his sai from their holsters on his harness. As usual the large mutant was itching for a fight.

 Below was the largest gathering of the Purple Dragons they had seen so far. From what they could see there were at least 50 of the scumbags crowded around a hulk of a man. The first thing they noticed was his stark white long hair braided midway down his back. With the stature almost comparable to Raphael and with a large purple dragon on his left arm that spanned from his shoulder all the way down to his fist, this guy looked like bad news.

 The promise of a challenge made Raph giddy with excitement.

 “That has to be their leader, Hun. We’ve never seen him before and from the way they are all looking to him screams man in charge.” Leo mused scanning over the inside of the warehouse finding several large crates on the opposite side of the gathered Purple Dragons.

 Catching their attention a door adjacent from the gang members swung open and several heavily armed men filtered into the large space below coming to meet Hun. Soon after, a tall but well built man in a black leather coat and dark aviator sunglasses entered moving his way through the armed men coming almost nose to nose with Hun.

 Leo looked to his brothers and held his finger to his mouth needing silence and carefully lifted the skylight giving them a chance to hear the exchange from down below.

 The man in the leather coat spoke first pulling his glasses from his face addressing the gargantuan boss and his lackeys. “Hun, I presume.” He started, smiling when he got a quick nod from the large man. “I presume we have a deal then? I don’t usually do this kind of thing, but your reputation and size of your operation makes you a valuable ally. Plus, I need results sooner than later. If I give you these weapons you and your men will keep an ear to the ground and report back to me any type of unusual activity in the streets.  After that large ship assembled itself above Manhattan a few years ago the government has been on high alert now fully aware we are in fact no longer alone in this universe. There has been a little birdie chirping in my ear and there has even been talk from your own men of four large green mutants taking out your operations lately. I want to know if there is any truth to these accusations and if so I want them taken alive. I would like to study them to find out what makes them tick. From what I’ve heard they were highly trained and have enhanced strength. They could be some use to me.”

 Hun eyed the large crates with interest all the while cracking his oversized knuckles. “So you’re telling me the government is gonna give us these weapons to be their look out? All we gotta do is keep an eye out for the weird freaky shit and let ya know?”

 The man sighed pinching the bridge of his nose, “No, this isn’t coming from the government you idiot. If they knew I was supplying a hostile territorial gang with weapons, my funding would be cut. This is under their radar, off the books you hear me you big baboon. This cannot get back to me you hear me.”

 “No need to get nasty, I hear ya. How do I get a hold of you if I come across these….freaks?”

 The movement to quick to see the man pulled a small white card from the breast pocket of his jacket and handed it to Hun. “Call this number and ask for the name on the card.”

 At those words Leo turned to his brothers giving them a tight frown. Not only were these animals about to get weapons from some government reject but they were looking for them as well? This wasn’t good. Leo moved away from the opening and addressed his three brothers quickly, “We have to stop this, those trigger happy idiots can’t get their hands on those high tech weapons. We need to figure out who this guy is and what section of the government he’s part of. Donnie contact Rebecca and get some back up over here asap.”  

 Donnie nodded and turned away to contact the chief of police and Leo turned to his other two brothers who were awaiting their instructions. “Once Donnie is done we’re gonna cut those lights and take them out. We know the skill set of a Purple Dragon, but those government men look like they’re expertly trained along with those weapons, so be careful with them. The plan is just to keep them busy until the Calvary shows up, they can take it from there and keep things legit. Stay safe and alive.”

 Donnie hung up his com turning back around, “They are on the way, should be here is 10-15 minutes.”

 Returning their attention back to the gathering below Leo motioned for the genius to do his thing. With one push of a button on his wrist the large space below them was plunged it into darkness. The reaction was almost instantaneous bringing loud and angry cursing from within the pitch black void.

 Taking their cue Leo lifted the skylight fully and the four brothers drop down into the darkness ready to stop the exchange no matter the cost. Thankfully with all the confusion of the lighting failure their presence to the unwitting party had gone unnoticed. This gave them the upper hand and the element of surprise which they took full advantage of and attacked. Quickly and quietly the four turtles took out the first 10 Purple Dragons before the rest of the large room’s inhabitance became aware of the threat.

 As flashlights were found and turned-on, streaks of green whipped by in the streams of light startling the men.

 “It’s them!” Someone yelped in the darkness before being silenced by Raphael.  

 “Someone get those goddamned lights back on now!” Hun growled before being tackled to the ground by the hurdling weight of Leonardo. Immediately the large man began to fight the unexpected weight holding him to the ground. Leo watched the man’s eyes widen in shock blocking a blow from his fist. Hun couldn’t make out too much in the darkness, but he could see his large silhouette hovering above him. “Get off me!”

Finding that Hun was stronger than he anticipated Leo was able to get a few blows in before he was unceremoniously thrown over Hun’s head landing on two Purple Dragons. Getting to his feet he avoided as much of the lights that desperately searched for the hidden attackers. Leo leapt from the ground swinging up into the rafters to find his brothers who were now scattered around the warehouse.

 Mikey was the farthest way taking on four gang members single handily.  Donnie was fiddling with something by the crates hopefully figuring out a way to keep the guns from the Purple Dragon’s greedy hands. And then there was Raph who had just found Hun and like two unmovable forces colliding Leo could have sworn he felt the shockwave from their kinetic energy.

 Then Leo noticed the strange man and his subordinates staying back away from the fight. One of them was working on a tablet just behind the man in the glasses. What was he doing?

 Thankfully most of the Purple Dragons were down for the count not including Hun who Raph was still working on, so all they needed to deal with was the governments men. When the lights hummed back to life engulfing the once dark space Leo knew what the man was working on. To Leo’s horror Mikey and Raph were out in the open exposed in full view of the strange government man and his men. He watched the man pull his glasses from his face and wicked smile curled up his wide mouth.

 “So you are real?” he laughed manically stepping closer to the two visible turtles.

 Hun looked up at the beast he was fighting and stepped back in shock, “F-freak! There are freaks in the city!”

 “Freaks?” Raph growled at the large man. “You’re the freak asshole. You’re the abomination to this city, stealing and killing for financial gain.” His large fist reared back and slammed into Hun’s face sending the man sprawling back head over heels.  

 Now Raph and Mikey stood in the middle of the room weapons in hand ready to continue the fight. Leo watched from above, his attention on his two brothers and on the genius high in the pile of crates. Donnie finished and turned to look at his eldest brother giving him a thumbs up.

As the cluster of men started forward towards Raph and Mikey, Leo pulled a kunai from his hip and threw it down embedding into the floor of the warehouse. The blade a warning stopped the government men in their tracks. Their eyes rose to the ceiling and followed the large green mass land a few feet from them blocking their view from the other two turtles.

 “Another one? Interesting? How many of you are there?” the man cooed stepping over the blade to face the large mutant in blue.

 Leo stood his ground folding his arms over his chest, “What kind of government official hands over deadly weapons to a gang well known for their brutality and violence?” his voice was dripping with venom taking a step forward.

 The men behind the new threat took notice and started to engage but the man held his hand up stopping their movement.  “What are you? I must know.”

 “That is none of your business and you will leave us alone.”

 “I’m afraid I can’t do that mutant. It’s in my nature to know the unknown and you are making my head spin with excitement. I’ll find out what you are and if I have to dissect you to do that, then so be it.”

 Leo growled at the thought of his brothers tied up opened up like a can of sardines. His hands clenched into fists ready to wail on the man but Donnie waved at him getting his attention. Signaling the emanate explosion Donnie swung up into the rafters waiting impatiently for his brother.

 The strange man followed Leo’s line of sight and found another mutant swinging up to safety, “And there was four.” He hissed returning his gaze back to the mutant before him.

 Leo side stepped and looked back to see Raph and Mikey already gone. Pulling a smoke pellet from his belt he threw it to the floor engulfing him in a dark blue smoke. In the confusion he slipped to safety. As Leo was clear Donnie detonated the bomb sending debris flying everywhere, flames roaring over the crates engulfing them.

As the men got to their feet they all converged on the leader helping him to his feet.

“Sir, we have to get out of here.”

“Bishop!” another called.

“Yes, yes let’s head back to base. I have a report to write.”

“I’ve never seen you like that,” Maya teased. He looked over at her, his face confused before she continued, “Do babies make you nervous or something?” Maya let out a little laugh and Paul closed his eyes tightly and grinned broadly before turning the key over in the ignition. He let out a relaxed laugh as they pulled onto the main road before saying:

“Yeah, I forgot to mention, kids actually freak me out a little,” he glanced over at her, his eyes twinkling with mischief, “The sticky hands and pudgy fingers and toes. All those rolls?” 

“Totally logical fear, I get it,” Maya said, nodding and looking out the window. Paul put a hand on Maya’s thigh and squeezed. She looked over at him and smiled. 

“Hey, how about we take a trip?” Paul suggested. 

“Hmm?” Maya’s eyes widened in excitement. 

“Yeah, you and me, off the rez for a little bit, and somewhere new. Just for a week and maybe around your birthday?” his smile was growing wide and warm. Maya’s heart fluttered. 

“Do you think that’d be okay? I mean Becks is due in July, that might be cutting it kind of close,” Maya pondered. Paul shook his head and continued:

“Becks will be fine and we’ll go in enough time so we won’t miss anything. What do you think? Just you and me?” he grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips to kiss. Maya nodded enthusiastically and gave an excited squeal. 

A week-long getaway for her birthday with the man of her dreams? Absolutely. Maya’s mind already began turning over with ideas of where they could reasonably go for a week and get as far away from the rez as possible. 

Maya loved her home, but she also loved the way her and Paul were more easily able to relax into the imprint when they weren’t there. Paul, always stressed with rounds, new threats, council demands, or helping guide his brothers was always a staple in their relationship. But outside of the rez, without the demands and the constant need to check in through the link, Paul was able to be more himself with Maya—the semi-stable, high-end carpenter that had plans and dreams and a life filled with love to lead.

The absence of Maya during the school year only laid bare how the stress of everything on the rez was taking its toll on him. Maya put her hand over his and squeezed it before smiling at him. 

“Just us,” she said softly. Because there wouldn’t always be a “just them” in the future. Whether it was their family, the pack, or whatever other demands destiny wrought upon them—Maya would forever lunge at the chance to seek some small aspect of normalcy in their increasingly abnormal life.