Dark Moon (27 page)

“Thank you for having us.”  Jade answered politely.  “The ceremony was beautiful.”

Bree blushed.  “Aye, except for the part where I tripped and nearly landed on my face.”

Rory laughed loudly.  “Your brother kept you on your feet.”

“Aye, thank the gods.”  Bree blushed again.

James winked at her and kissed the top of her head.  “I thought it was adorable.”

Loud laughter from the far end of the common room had all four of them turning their heads.  Nicky, his tie and jacket discarded and his shirt unbuttoned, was chugging a large mug of beer to the screams of encouragement of a crowd of young people standing in front of him.

Bree giggled when he drained the mug and grabbed a curvy, dark-haired woman and kissed her deeply.  There were shouts and whistles of approval and when Nicky finally released the woman, she staggered on her feet and held her hands to her glowing cheeks.  Nicky winked at her and slapped her firmly on the ass.  She giggled loudly and then jumped on to his back.  Carrying her piggy-back, Nicky led the group out the far door and into the cold night.  Bree could hear them laughing and howling happily as the door closed behind them.

“Oh, Christa.”  Jade said with embarrassment in her voice.

Bree frowned as James cleared his throat.  “Christa is Rory and Jade’s eldest daughter.  She and Nicky have always uh, gotten along very well.”

“Oh.”  Bree replied.  There was an awkward silence and then Bree smiled at the Barton’s.  “Is your father here, lord Barton?”

“No, I am afraid not.” 

“How is the lord Thomas?”  James asked quietly.

“Doing poorly, I’m afraid.  Rory replied.  “In fact, I meant to ask your mother if she would come visit him soon.  He so enjoys seeing her and says that he always feels better after she visits.”

“I’m sure she would.”  James replied.  “She is very fond of your father.”

Avery materialized beside them.  “Rory, I was just coming to ask you how your father was doing.”  She squeezed Jade’s arm affectionately.  “I was sad not to see him here today.  Come, join Tristan and I at the table.  We haven’t had a chance to visit with you at all.”

She smiled at James and Bree before leading the couple towards the table where Tristan was sitting.

“What is wrong with Rory’s father?”  Bree asked curiously.

“Old age.  His Lycan healing powers have faded completely.”

“Will your mother heal him?”  Bree asked in a low voice.

James shook his head.  “There is no cure for aging.  She will sit with him and hold his hand.  It will help him to feel better, help take away some of his aches and pains, but it won’t heal him fully.”

Before Bree could reply, Leta ran up to them.  She twirled in a circle in front of them, her dress sparkling brightly in the small lights strung on the ceiling.

“Bree!  Everyone loves my dress!”  She said excitedly.

Bree laughed as James picked up his baby sister and set her in the crook of his arm.  “So they should, Leta.  You look very pretty today.”

“I know.”  Leta replied.  “But you look prettier, Bree.”

“Thank you, Leta.”  Bree squeezed her leg as the music started up again. 

James set Leta down and patted her bottom lightly.  “Go find Evan and tell him to dance with you.”

“Eww, gross!”  Leta made a face.  “I’m not dancing with Evan!  I’ll ask Papa to dance with me.”  She skipped away as James took Bree’s hand.

“Will you dance with me, Mrs. Williams?”

“I would love to, Mr. Williams.”  Bree smiled up at him and then squeaked with surprise when he picked her up and carried her to the middle of the room.  Holding her close, her feet dangling around his shins, he began to sway to the music.  She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed him lightly on the mouth.

“This has been the happiest day of my life, James.”  She said solemnly.

He smiled at her.  “Mine too.”  He glanced around the room as more couples began to join them in dancing.  “When do you want to tell everyone about the baby?”

“I thought we would tell them tomorrow.  What do you think?”  Bree replied.

“Aye, that sounds fine with me.”

Bree kissed him again before looking over James’ shoulder.  Her smile widened as she watched Sophia lead Kaden to the middle of the room.  Her brother pulled Sophia close and they swayed together as she whispered quietly into his ear.

“It doesn’t look like your brother is leaving after the wedding.”  James had followed her gaze and she gave him a look of pure happiness.

“Aye.  He told me earlier that he was staying.  I’m so happy, James.  I’m married to the most wonderful man in the world, my brother is staying and I have a new family.  Everything is perfect.”

He nuzzled her neck affectionately.  “Aye, little one.  Perfect.”

* * *

“Gods be damned, my head hurts.”  Late the next morning Nicky staggered into the common room.  He slumped next to his brother.  “Hold me, James.  I beg of you.”

James snorted and rolled his eyes.  “If I take away your hangover you’ll never learn, Nicky.”

“I’ve learned my lesson, baby brother.  I swear.”  Nicky reached for him and James dodged away. 

“Christa was disappointed when you didn’t join the rest of us in saying goodbye this morning.”  James said sternly.

Nicky waved one hand weakly in the air as the other hand rubbed at his aching temple.  “She wasn’t disappointed last night when I led her into the forest and let her ride the hell out of me.  The girl nearly – “

He suddenly paused and gave Bree a look of embarrassment.  “Uh, I mean we made love under the stars and it was beautiful and touching.”

Bree laughed.  “Spare me the details, Nicky.”

James snickered.  “You need to be careful, brother.  Christa is anxious to be married and she has her eye on you.”

Nicky shook his head rapidly and then groaned loudly at the pain.  “I’m way too young to be tied down.  I still need to sow my wild oats.”

“If you sow any more wild oats, you’ll be a farmer.”  Tristan remarked dryly as he entered the room.  He was followed by Avery, Leta and Evan, and Leta stared at her father curiously.

“Why is Nicky becoming a farmer, papa?”

“He’s not.”  Avery laughed.  She held out her arms.  “Come here, Nicky.”

“Thank you, mama.”  Nicky sighed gratefully as he embraced his mother.  He rested his head on her shoulder as she stroked his short, blonde hair.

“Bree?  I drew you something as a wedding gift.  I didn’t want to give it to you last night in front of everyone.”  Evan said shyly.

She took the paper from him and studied it carefully.  It was a pencil drawing of her and James and she hugged Evan delightedly.

“I love it, Evan.  Thank you so much.”

He blushed and ducked away as James ruffled his hair.

The front door banged open and Sophia and Kaden entered the common room.  Their cheeks were red and Bree shivered in the blast of cold air that accompanied them.

Avery, still holding Nicky, smiled at them.  “You know, you don’t have to stay in the hayloft.”

“We know.”  Sophia held Kaden’s hand firmly and smiled at him.  “I’m actually growing to like it up there.  Even with Piper attacking me in the middle of the night.”

“Better than a rat, is it not?”  Kaden winked at her and she shuddered before poking him lightly in the chest.  “The first time I see a rat in the hayloft, we’re moving back into the house.”

Vivian, followed by Marshall, Doran and Maya, entered the common room.  “What’s going on?  Marian said you were looking for us.”

“Aye, we are grandmamma.”  James said.  “Where is Dani?”

“Right here.”  Dani hurried into the room with Andric.  She was flushed and breathless.  “Sorry, we were um, going for a walk.”

Nicky snickered loudly and her blush deepened as Marshall made a soft grunt of disapproval.  Maya elbowed Marshall gently and gave him a pointed look before smiling at James.  “What is it James?”

James grinned at his family.  “Bree and I have an announcement to make.”

The others stared at them as Bree, suddenly nervous, looked down at her feet.  James put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head.  “Go ahead, Bree.”

Bree licked her lips and stared at the group of Lycans and humans she had grown to love.  She glanced briefly at her brother.  He gave her a nod of encouragement and, squeezing James waist tightly, she smiled at her new family.

“James and I are going to have a baby.”

There was a moment of silence and then Leta squealed with delight.  “A baby!  You’re having a baby!”

She ran across the room and latched on to Bree’s waist.  She kissed Bree’s abdomen and then hugged her tightly.  “Truly?  You’re having a baby?”

“Aye, I am.”  Bree grinned down at her and then Tristan was standing in front of them.  She was surprised to see he had tears in his eyes and he hugged her roughly, squishing Leta between them.

“Congratulations, little one.”  He said hoarsely before releasing her and hugging James.  He clapped him on the back, making James wince, before stepping back and allowing the others to crowd around them.

Tristan returned to Avery.  She was standing by the fireplace and staring at her children with a small smile on her face.  Tristan put his arm around her and kissed her lightly.

“Did you know, girl?”

“Aye.  I guessed it a few weeks ago.  Bree and James asked me to keep it quiet.  Are you upset with me?”

He shook his head.  “No.  We’re going to be grandparents.”  He gave her a look of wonderment.  “I can’t believe it.”

She grinned and stroked the grey at his temple.  “You do not look old enough to be a grandpa, my lord.”

“Nor you a grandmother.  You are as beautiful as the day I met you, my love.”  He whispered.

She smiled at him.  “Thank you.  Perhaps we should sneak away and celebrate together.”

He gave her a look of regret.  “I would like that girl, but I should check on Bella’s leg.  Ian – “

He paused, pain crossing his face, and she cupped his face gently.  “I’m sorry, my lord.  I know how much you miss him.”

“Aye, I do.”  He sighed and rested his forehead against hers.  “I wish he – “

“Papa!”  Leta squeezed her way between them and stared up at him.  “Can I come to the barn with you?”

“May I, Leta.”  Avery reminded her gently.

“May I, papa?”  Leta asked.

“Yes, my love.  You may.”  He kissed Avery and then lifted Leta into his arms.  He tugged the end of her braid.  “But you’ll have to brush Samson for me while I look at Bella.”

“I can do that, papa.”  Leta said eagerly.

“Good.”  Tristan winked at Avery as he carried Leta from the common room.

Avery, her heart swelling with love and pride, crossed the room and joined the rest of her family.

* * *

“Do you want a boy or a girl, Bree?”  Dani asked.  She was sitting on Andric’s lap, stroking the young man’s sand-coloured hair with her hand.

“It does not matter to me.”  Bree replied as she smiled at James.  “Either is fine.”

“I think she’s having a girl.”  Maya said suddenly.  “And I’m never wrong.  I predicted each of my sister’s babies and I was right each time.”

Avery laughed.  “Aye, but you were wrong about your own.  You were certain you were having a girl.”

“I did have a girl.”  Maya replied.  “I just didn’t realize she was hiding behind her brother.”

She winked at Doran as Avery laughed again.  “Aye, it was a bit of a surprise when five minutes after Doran arrived, you started shouting you needed to push again.”

“Was that when daddy dropped Doran?”  Dani asked innocently.

Her brother flushed.  “The gods be damned Danielle!  How many times do I have to tell you – dad didn’t drop me as a baby.”

“No, but he might have juggled you a bit when your mother started pushing again.”  Avery grinned at him.

Marshall held his hands up.  “In my defense, Doran was both goopy and slippery and Maya was squeezing my hand so hard I had lost all feeling in it.  In fact, it hasn’t been the same since.”

He winked at Maya who rolled her eyes good-naturedly.  Nicky stood and stretched.  “As much as I enjoy hearing about my cousins’ gross entrance into this world, I think I’m going to take a nap.”

He squeezed his brother’s shoulder.  “Congratulations James and Bree.  I’m very happy for you and I know – “

He stopped as Renee stepped into the common room.  “M’lady?”

Avery glanced at her and frowned.  “Renee?  What’s wrong?”

“There’s a man here.  He says he’s here to speak to Nicky.  He wouldn’t tell us what his business was.”

Avery glanced at Nicholas who shrugged.  “Send him in.”

Renee nodded and disappeared as James sighed.  “It’s probably the father of one of your many lady friends.  No doubt she’s with pup, and we’ll be attending another wedding soon enough.”

Nicky gave him a horrified look.  “Quiet your tongue, brother!  I have no wish to be a husband or a father.”

“Aye, the string of broken-hearts you have left scattered over a fifty mile radius are testament to that.”

Before Nicky could reply, Renee was ushering in a man and two women.  The shortest of the women had a toddler strapped to her back and the child stared curiously at them over the woman’s shoulder.  The man was tall with silver hair and a close-cropped beard.  His eyes were a dark brown and his face was weathered with deep lines. 

Doran was standing next to Sophia and she heard the young man’s sharp inhale.  He was staring at the woman standing next to the man.  She was stunningly beautiful.  Her skin was mocha-coloured and her hair fell to her waist in dark waves.  She was tall with lush curves, and her dark brown eyes regarded them calmly.

Kaden took Sophia’s hand and leaned down to breathe into her ear.  “Lycan or human?”

“The man and the dark-haired woman are Lycan.  The short-haired woman is human.”  She murmured.

Sophia glanced at the human woman.  She had light brown hair that was cropped into a pixie cut and she was dressed warmly in a thick jacket and pants that were too big for her.  She was short and sturdy looking.  Although not nearly as beautiful as the Lycan female, she had a unique look that Sophia guessed many men would find appealing.  Her skin was pale and she had full lips and beautiful eyes.  Even from across the room, Sophia could see that the left one was blue and the right one was brown.