When Emma shared her story with Jasmine, she managed to do so with a few tears and controlled emotions. But sitting with Zia, her best friend since last year, and talking about how she had spent her time since they had said goodbye at the train station took a lot out of her. Emma started to cry as she described her first time walking into the basement apartment she had called ahead for, and she didn't stop crying until she caught him up with the conversation she and Lucus had had last night."But honestly, Zia, I was so lonely. I wanted to give up and call you or go back to you so many times during the first two years. It was only during the third year that I finally started to settle down.""Is that why you sent me that letter so much later? Because that's when you became okay?""Yeah, I didn't want to lie to you. I felt so ashamed.""There's nothing to be ashamed of. I'm just so happy you're here.""I know I still owe you your money. I wanted to pay it back with interest, so I'll ge
They stayed like that for a few more moments before they finally broke apart."What are you doing here? Are you back in the city? Are you two...?""No. I just came up for the day. We got here last night.""We..?""My daughter and I," Emma responded softly.Zia nodded, her eyes serious, as she scanned over Emma as if to check for any injuries. "And you're okay?""I'm okay, Zia. I'm okay."Zia kept one hand interlaced with Emma as she grabbed a tissue and wiped away the remaining tears from Emma's face before moving towards the cupboards in the kitchen. Never letting go of Emma's hand, she proceeded to set up the electric kettle and pull two mugs out. A few minutes later, she handed a mug of lemon honey tea to Emma before grabbing her own and dragging her to the couch."Are you going to keep holding my hand?""Mhm.""Okay," Emma whispered as Zia just tightened her grip more."How long are you here?""Just until this afternoon. Clary has school tomorrow, so I have to get back home.""And
"So, they're all coming this weekend?""Yep. Lucus called me last night to ask if that was all right.As she took a bite of her chicken and rice, Jasmine gave a nod. They had just finished teaching their class together and were now eating lunch."So you have a few days to figure everything out? Or will they be there on Friday?""They will be there Saturday morning. It was meant to be just Lucus at first, but one of them has business here on Saturday, so the others decided to drop what they were doing and come down here.""They really do sound like fun people," Jasmine said, laughing at Emma's frustrated face. "Also, I think it would be good for you to have a break with them after everything that happened on Sunday.""Don't get me wrong, I'm excited. That's all.""Strange to see them all together again?""...Yeah. How bad is that?"She smiled softly and reached out to run her hand through Emma's hair. "No. It's not weird. You thought for a long time that you would never see them again
Luke put his chin on his hand while Emma poured some cold brew into a cup. Just as Allen walked in, the bell above the door rang."Who is that?" Emma asked, amazed."Jimin, come here! Is this the coffee shop where you work?""Yeah. If I had known this was where your meeting was, I would have driven you here myself.""My author didn't tell me to meet here until an hour ago. If not, it would have been nice."When she said that, Emma looked back and forth between Luke and Allen and suddenly put two and two together."Wait, are you meeting Luke, the writer?"Luke looked up sleepily when he heard his name and looked around for the coffee he thought was ready, while Allen's eyes grew wide."How did you find out?"Emma poked Luke and laughed as she brought the straw of Luke's drink up to his face so he could drink. "This zombie over there is the great author Luke."They looked at each other for a second before Luke realized what was going on, which made him jump up and bow to say hello."I f
After dinner, they all sat around the small fire Lucus had started earlier and ate s'mores. Emma helped Clary hold a marshmallow on a stick over the fire until the outside was toasted and the inside was still soft. After having way too many s'mores, they walked to an area near their campsite and looked at the stars for a while. Zia and Lucus got out their cameras and tried different low-exposure settings to try to get pictures of the stars up above.Clary yawned next to Emma and said, "Mommy, I'm tired.""Yeah? Little one, are you ready to go to sleep?"She said, "Mhm," and rubbed her eyes."All right, go up."Emma let Clary climb onto her back, then slowly got up."What up, Lucus? I'll get Clary ready for bed. How do I know which room to go to?""The small tent can be used by you and Clary. I sleep in the big tent with everyone else. I've already set up the sleeping bags and air mattress, so you can just go in.""Thanks."Lucus gave Clary a kiss on the cheek and a quiet "good night"
"Oh, Lucus," she said.Emma reached out and touched Lucus cheek to get him to turn around and look at her."No matter what happens between us, the fact that you are Clary's dad and have the right to see her will not change. I shouldn't have taken that from you. I won't do it again. I'll keep my word."Lucus said, "Thank you," in a soft whisper.Before he sighed, Emma smiled. "Also, I'm pretty sure it's the same for me."When Lucus looked at Emma with a questioning look, Emma shook her head."I didn't think I'd see you again, and I didn't want to, either. So, it never occurred to me that we would become a family again. But I couldn't see myself with anyone else, so I thought it would always be just me and Clary.""Was anyone else ever here?"Emma didn't say anything, so Lucus said quickly, "You don't have to answer. I'm sorry. I was wrong to ask.""No, it's all right. A few years ago, this beta told me I had just started working at the cafe at the time. He was a very nice guy who alway
Lucus rubbed at the knots in his shoulders, drained from preparing everything for the weekend. It had become his new habit to prep the ingredients for the weekend now that he didn't come in on Saturday and Sunday mornings to bake everything himself. Jay knew enough to bake everything to his approval, so Lucus was happy to just set up the kitchen to make it easier on the younger alpha. The door to the kitchen swung open as Jay popped his head through the door."Umm, Lucus there's someone asking for you.""For me? Like a customer? Did something happen?""No he asked for you by name? I think he knows you?" Confused as to who it could be, Lucus wiped his hands on his apron and followed Jay out the door to find Emma leaning against the counter."Emma?""Hey!"Emma smiled at Lucus, giving a small wave. "Sorry, I hope you don't mind me dropping by unannounced...""No that's totally fine! I thought you were spending the whole day with Zia?""We were supposed to but there's some last minute
Someone is enjoying the exhibit. Emma pulled her arm away from the stranger's grip."Playing hard to get, that's fine. Mark, it's a pleasure to meet you."Mark stepped even more into Emma's space, and Emma had half a mind to toss the drink she had on the Alpha. She took a few steps back to increase the distance between them."If you'll excuse me. Emma turned to walk away when she felt her wrist being grabbed."Hold on, don't go."Anger coursing through her veins, Emma twisted her arm so that Mark's arm was bent at an unnatural angle.Listen, Mr. Mark. I'd rather not make a scene, but there's no saying what I might do if you harass me one more time. Do I make myself clear? She added a bit more force to his arm, knowing that it was difficult to overpower Emma from this angle no matter how much stronger the alpha was. The years of self-defense classes she had taken in case she or Clary were ever in danger were finally paying off. When Mark's grip loosened, he let go and took a step back.
The air was filled with the subtle scent of lemons and candle wax.Gold tapestry runners featuring Batik motifs graced the tables by the entranceway to the hall, and crystal vases filled with white roses spilling out sat atop them, while bouquets of white roses wrapped in blue silk ribbons decorated the ends of the old wooden pews. The early morning sun shone through the stained-glass windows of the wedding hall and reflected pretty images onto the floor of the hall. Dozens of candles in every size were placed on the altar, ready to be lit when the ceremony started; they would lend a soft and warm glow to the happy couple as they stood before friends and family professing their love for one another.Zia studied the decorations with a critical eye—everything had to be perfect. She had pale yellow roses braided into her long dark hair and her dress, a long column of silver—not quite white and not quite grey—that shimmered under the lights with every moment. Satisfied that everything was
A small family could be heard all the way down the street from their apartment. A toddler was throwing a fit by the sounds of her crying and screams, and two people could be heard arguing."You! Get out of my home now!!"Emma hissed at her father, who was standing a few feet from his daughter and granddaughter, sporting a scowl.Emma was doing everything she could not to gently set her daughter down in her playpen and lunge for her father's throat. Nadia is now four years old; she's grown to be a beautiful toddler. She was clinging to her mother like her life depended on it and was crying hysterically. Emma was rocking back and forth in his arms and glaring at Robert in hatred."That thing is an abomination. She shouldn't even exist!" David spat, glaring at the toddler in disgust.The toddler whimpered at the insult and clung even tighter to her mother. Emma was enraged and could barely control herself. The only thing keeping her from screaming at her father was the little girl in her
Emma complied, taking the last few steps towards Lucus. The Alpha pulled her into his arms, stroking her back lovingly. Emma wrapped her arms around Lucus as well, not able to prevent the smile she was holding back from spreading across her face. Lucus suddenly felt tense. Emma looked up at him and noticed a sour expression written across his features."What's wrong, Lucus?" She whispered."Nothing."Emma glared, not taking too kindly to being lied to. Lucus sighed in defeat and met her gaze. His eyes held so much sorrow and fear. "I'm not a good father," he whispered sadly.Emma gasped out in shock. How could Lucus think like that? It's not like someone can go from never being around children to being an expert on them in only a few weeks! Lucus was being too hard on himself, setting his expectations too high. Emma would do everything she could not to let Alpha beat himself up over not being experienced with kids."Lucus, you love both Clary and Nadia to pieces! How could you say tha
Lucus made quick work of her shirt as well before Allen returned with a white hospital gown. Lucus lifted Emma up slightly so she could slip it on her. They had just laid Emma back down when a door burst open and the doctor walked in. She was wearing her pale pink hospital gown and white flats.She came strutting through like she owned the place. She shoved Lucus and Emma aside, making her way over to Emma. She was currently panting and sweating as if she had just run a marathon. She grabbed one of the towels from the nightstand and dabbed it with some of the cool water in the bucket. She wiped the sweat rolling down her face before she began setting up everything she would need for the delivery.The group sat there for the next hour and a half. It was silent. Allen was in the other room talking to Alex, who had arrived ten minutes beforehand. Emma had requested that they leave the room. She didn't feel comfortable with anyone witnessing her give birth to the baby other than Lucus. Sh
A tap on Lucus window startled him out of his thoughts. He saw a woman in her forties with messy brunette hair standing in front of his window with a takeout bag. He rolled the window down, and she shoved the food at him. He rolled his eyes as she walked away. He looked down into the bag and noticed something strange.There was only lava cake.He snatched the bag and stormed out of the vehicle and into the restaurant. He slammed the bag on the counter in front of a startled-looking employee. She had her purple hair tied into a bun, and her green eyes were wide. He felt no remorse."I have been to two different Burger King's! I've had soda spill on my shirt, and then an old woman slapped me in the face! I got pulled over by a cop who vandalized my car and gave me a seven-hundred-dollar ticket simply because I'm married to Omega! Now your ignorant people make me pull off to the side to wait for onion rings that I've never received! I demand three large orders of onion rings, another sli
5 Years Later:"Lucus!"Omega sighed, placing her rainbow-striped bookmark in her fantasy drama novel. She strode out of her office and into the living room.His Alpha was sprawled out on the sofa, his chin in his palm, as he watched an episode of Modern Family. Emma was wearing nothing but an oversized hoodie and a pair of grey shorts. Despite the baggie hoodie and fluffy red blanket covering her torso, her nine-month pregnant belly was obvious.They'd wanted to be married for a little while before they had another child. So, after two years of traveling the world and going on many fun adventures, they settled down back in their apartment with Clary. They then proceeded to make mad, passionate love all night long. It was more overwhelming than any other time. Of course, it only took one round to impregnate Emma, but once they got started, they couldn't get enough of each other."Yes love?" Lucus asked.He couldn't help but eye the dozens of candy wrappers strewn about the floor. The
The whole idea had been Allen's.When she'd suggested the idea to Emma—to celebrate Clary's birthday in a cute and fun way that the little one could enjoy—she hadn't come up with anything wrong with it.Neither of them had taken in Alex as a factor, though. Which, between the three of them, they really should have?"I don't think that outfit is appropriate for children."Lucus raised his eyebrows in confusion. He gestured to Clary, who was clad in dark blue denim jeans and a deep green knit sweater, before turning to Emma with an expression that suggested he really thought Emma had lost her mind this time."I meant yours," Emma explained, pointing to Lucus bright yellow skin-tight jeans and glaringly obvious rainbow singlet, which he'd paired with a deep red jacket and black shoes."We're going to a zoo, Lucus, not a nightclub."Lucus pouted, and Emma sighed."Just dress it down a little for me today." She asked. "Please? I'll let you choose my outfit another time if you do this for m
"Where are you getting it?" Zia asked Emma, taking a cotton ball and dipping it in antiseptic."On my wrist," she says, holding out her right arm. Zia nods, wiping the skin of her wrist beneath her palm.She puts the cotton ball down and then purses her lips."Could you... I might need you to swap chairs with Lucus; I don't want to do this upside down."Emma nods. "Of course."She and Lucus switch, darting past each other. Lucus raises his eyebrows, hoping to get something out of either of them, but neither Zia nor Emma say a word."This is borderline torture." He complains, flopping into his seat. Zia smiles sympathetically, as if to say "This wasn't my decision".Emma just looks a little nervous."So, I'm going to outline the drawing in marker first, so you can be certain of its placement, and then if you're happy, I'll start." Zia explains.Emma nods, her eyes darting over to Lucus before returning to Zia. She smiles encouragingly, picking up a black, fine-tip, skin-safe marker and
"You want to get a tattoo?"Out of all the things Lucus ever thought he'd hear Emma say, getting a tattoo was not even a registered possibility."Yes." Emma nods, and Lucus knows Emma enough to accept that she's being completely serious."But you already have my mating mark on your body." Lucus states. He folds his hands behind his head, leaning backwards against the headboard. He had a feeling this conversation would be one he'd need to be relaxed for."Well, yes, but that's not the same." Emma replies. He sighs as Lucus raises his eyebrows."Mark's fade; some are permanent, but not all of them, and they're different. Mating marks speak of my mating. Tattoos are something that both of us can have, and it's more special and ... forever."Lucus leans over and kisses Emma's bare shoulder."You genuinely want this?" He asks to be certain. There's a warmth flooding him just from hearing that Emma wants to get something permanent that they can both share. Something different that no other