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Chapter 63: Granny's Resolve

"You!? You!" Muireann spluttered once she recovered, before leaping to her hindpaws and striding angrily toward the door. Ciaran slipped in front of her before she could grab the doorknob. "Move it, brat. I've heard more than enough."

Ciaran's expression didn't change from one of mild concern, "Then you don't mind giving us your word you won't speak of what you heard until the Alpha gives you leave?"

Muireann's jaw dropped, "Wh-what!? What are you implying, Ciaran? Who are you to ask me such a thing?" Aoife, Faeden, and Dirk looked just as stunned as Muireann. Faelen bet he did, too.

Ciaran just smiled, "I'm a loyal O'Conall. I take my duty to my family, the McDougal's, and the Alpha seriously. Several of the topics Faelen discussed could have serious repercussions for all three of those."

Muireann tried to push him aside but Ciaran didn't budge, "I said move, you ugly piece of crap! Just because you were Daddy's favourite doesn't mean you can try to boss me around!"

Aedan stood up, "Da didn't have favourites Muiry, besides, if anyone was his favourite, it was Aoife. Ciaran is right. You have a loud mouth and you could never keep a secret. Swear on the River Styx and you can go, this is potentially too damaging to be whining about to everyone."

Aoife snorted derisively, her large ears were flat against her head, "I was Daddy's favourite? He spent more time with you than anyone, Aedan. Give him your word, Muiry, I need to go take a walk."

"Stop calling me that!" Muireann wailed, "Mama! Make them stop!"

Lorena lowered her head into her paws, covering her face with them and a tissue, as her shoulders shook with silent sobs. Aoife ran over to her mother and sat on the arm of her chair; she put a paw on her mother's shoulder and rubbed her back with the other one. She glared daggers at her older sister, "Shh, Mama. I'm sorry, please stop crying. I know this has been hard to hear, but it doesn't really change anything, just the way we look at it. We're still us, Faelen and Dirk are still family, they just... uh, well... told us who they are? I guess?" She looked pleadingly at Dirk for help.

Muireann sounded close to hysterics as she kept trying to push Ciaran out of the way, "Family? Who cares about that? What did I ever get from family except ridiculous lectures about duty and honour and family obligations? What do I need those for? Move it, Ciaran! I can't spend another second in this room with those flaming buggers! My duty is to make sure everyone knows what they are so they can be run out of the Clan!"

Aedan growled and reached angrily for his sister. Faelen noticed Ciaran had tensed slightly, but relaxed and let his brother grab Muireann and spin her around. His fist connected with her jaw partway through her spin, knocking her to the ground unconscious. Ciaran clapped the larger wolf on the shoulder, turned, and opened the door. Aedan grabbed his arm, "Where are you going?"

Ciaran shrugged, "To the Alpha. This is beyond just the O'Conall's, he needs to know."

Dirk growled as he stood, "Come on, Ciaran. Lowell was acting under the authority of the last Alpha, he knew what was going on. Faelen and I aren't a threat to the Clan and it isn't anyone's damned business who we sleep with. If you go forward with this, Granny Lorena, you four, and all your descendants could be run out of the Clan. So could Conor and his family. Rolph would try to rally the bigots in the Clan and depose the Alpha over this!"

Ciaran shook his head, "That's why I'm going to talk to him. There isn't any way he can act on it, but he has to know so he can put plans in place to head off the potential fallout if word gets around." He glanced at his sister as he said that. He growled and knelt by her, "You hit her too hard, Aiden." He placed his paws on her head, "She has a concussion. You also knocked a tooth loose." He smiled grimly, "She's going to have to soak in the harbour for a long time just to get the swelling in her face down; she's going to be pissed." He sighed, "This isn't going to encourage her to keep silent." He got up and walked over to his mother, "I'm sorry, Mama. I'll talk to the Alpha and we should be back here within the hour." He put his arm around her shoulder and licked her ear, "We'll figure something out." Aoife smelt scared as she looked at Muireann sprawled out on the floor.

Lorena raised her head, drying her tears, "We have to. I... hope we don't have to silence her." Aoife squeaked. "I'm sorry, Aoife, but we have to accept that possibility. We are O'Conall's, we live to serve the McDougal's, we die in their service. She's never accepted that but she is bound by it all the same. I'll go with you, Ciaran. He should hear this from me. Aedan, tend to Muireann. Put her on my bed. If she tries to leave you have permission to tie her up and gag her. Tell her I said that before restraining her." She stood up and went to her bedroom to grab a hat; it was a wide brimmed one with lace around it to partially veil her face. She dried her tears and hooked her arm through Ciaran's, "Let's be off."

Faeden said, "Granny? I'm taking the pups to my rooms while we wait. I want to spend a bit of time with them in private." Lorena nodded as she walked away.

Aedan sighed, "Aoife? You won't leave me alone with her, will you?" She slumped over into her mother's chair, she looked completely drained. "Son? Help me carry her into Mama's room." Dirk walked over in front of his father and just slung her over his shoulder like a sack of flour. "Never mind, Faeden. Ah, Dirk, that probably isn't the best way to carry someone with a concussion."

"Like I give a damn." Dirk sounded angry, he smelt even more so. Faelen kept his seat, paws wrapped around his ankles as he studied the pads. He sighed and sagged forward; he actually managed to touch his forehead to his hindpaws, it was the first time he'd been able to do so thanks to the stretches Liam had shown him. Dirk patted his shoulder, well, his back as he walked by, "Buck up, Faelen. We had to tell them at some point, putting it off would've made things worse. I'm probably going to be in a lot of trouble keeping things secret this long. That can be forgiven, to some degree, keeping Sensei secret couldn't."

Faelen kept his head down, "That doesn't make this easier, Da. I don't want people getting hurt because I fell in love. If I fell for Nick instead of Liam we mightn't know who he was, and even if we did it really wouldn't be the Clan's business anymore. Lowell is dead; who he was isn't relevant except that I'm bringing his reincarnation back."

Dirk smelt calmer, but a little concerned. He grunted, "Give me a moment." He walked into Lorena's room and put Muireann onto the bed, it sounded like he did it a lot more gently than Faelen expected. "Da, Son? Let's go talk. We'll be back in a bit, Poppy."

Aedan nodded grumpily, "Yeah, go leave me and make me watch over the witch alone. Take some food with you, you didn't eat much." Aoife rolled her eyes as she looked for some rope.

They took a plate of sandwiches and a few biscuits. Faelen always loved Lorena's chocolate biscuits, they tasted great dunked in tea and added a nice sweetness to it, too. Liam would be horrified, though Faelen couldn't recall seeing Liam drink black tea, it was always green or white tea. He pondered that as he stepped into the small courtyard outside Lorena's front door.

They walked across the cave to the door next to the exit, Faeden was the only grandchild to have his rooms off this courtyard, thanks to being the eldest child of Lorena's eldest. They sat on the overstuffed leather furniture in his modern living room. Faelen sighed in contentment, making Faeden laugh, "Yeah, Granny's rooms look nice, but gods, they're uncomfortable. Athena truly blessed the Fur who invented properly padded furniture." He turned angrily to Dirk, "What the fuck, Dirk? Why the hells did I have to hear about you like this? Did I ever give you the impression you couldn't talk to me about anything? That I'd hate you for being gay? Why wait until you were forced to come out and why couldn't you take me aside first to talk to me? I'm your father, by Hera's ample bosom!"

Dirk lowered his head in shame, "I'm sorry, Da. I wouldn't have wanted to find out about Faelen like this, so I... yeah, sorry. It was wrong of me, I should have told you."

"Damn, right! Not just that, but Mary Anne, too! Why? I can understand parts of it, but why lie to us? Faelen is my grandson; do you think I'd toss you out of the Clan and never see my only grandchild again over something like that? Why couldn't you trust me?" Faeden was obviously really hurt by everything, "What have I done to deserve this?"

Dirk pulled his father into a hug, "Nothing, Da. I'm sorry. I-I even just told Conor earlier this month, but only after he told me he already knew. He was angry with me, too. I should have taken that lesson and learned it; I should have come forward and talked to you." He let his father go and sat back, "Conor is a little nervous about too many people knowing, his family is also in jeopardy because of what I've done. That's the main reason I didn't tell you, I didn't want to risk Conor paying for my choices. I... can't say mistake; I'd do it again if I knew then what I know now. Faelen is worth any price. I'd just try to find a Monk healer to help Mary Anne."

Faeden's brow furrowed, "Why a Monk? Why not a doctor, or another healer?" Dirk shook his head and gave a brief rundown of Liam's theory. "Oh. Makes sense, but this chi thing seems weird. If it's true, then how is, ah, Liam dealing with it?"

Faelen and Dirk smiled, Faelen answered, "He can alter the balance of chi he produces; he's switched to a more yang aligned chi. If it gets out of balance despite that he gets a yang aligned Spirit to help, like Geoff."

Faeden looked suspiciously at them, "You're looking too smug there, pup," He said, addressing Dirk, "Don't tell me... well, don't tell me. That's way too much information. I'm having trouble accepting the idea that Faelen is fucking my grandfather, that, well..." He shook his head and ate a sandwich.

Faelen took a bite of his, "Liam isn't Lowell. He's not biologically related to the O'Conall's at all, he made that very clear to me when I said something similar. The soul is the same but not the body; they don't even share the same mannerisms or speech patterns." He finished his sandwich and dunked a biscuit in his tea.

Faeden sighed, "Okay, okay. When are you going home? I'm going with you; Hades will have to take me before I allow you to do this to me again. I'm meeting, re-meeting, uh, talking to..." He rubbed his forehead, "Gods, I hate this. He's Liam, not Poppy Lowell. He's your boyfriend and... soul mate, not my grandfather. Boyfriend, gods." He looked at Faelen and Dirk, "You two are the last two I'd suspect of being gay, except maybe the Alpha, I guess. I'd actually suspect Rolph before you; you know the whole suppressed desires and over compensating thing. You just seem so normal. Tough, manly, and not gay."

Dirk snorted, "What? You want me to wear a tiny pink thong and dance around the room singing Madonna songs?" Faelen laughed at the mental image before he started singing 'Like a Virgin'. Dirk's jaw dropped, "Why the hells do you know that song?"

Faelen blushed, "Um, well, I'm gay?" Dirk glared at him, "Okay, I heard the Weird Al song and looked up the original. Some of the words stuck, 'Gonna give you all my love, boy', well, I liked the way that sounded. It was before I figured I'd end up being single all my life, I was hoping to find someone to fall in love with."

Dirk reached over and hugged his father again, "I love you, Da. I'm glad you aren't reacting like Aunt Muiry. Thank you and I'm sorry. You can't believe how scared I was coming over this weekend." Faeden hugged him back, but didn't say anything. Faelen looked around as he ate another biscuit, except for the lack of a computer or television he could see this room fitting in any house of a Fur. Very few families in other clans could afford this, if it wasn't for Lowell's legacy, now run by Conor, the Cork Clan would be impoverished. Being unable to work for over two thirds of their life, and being unable to be 'alive' as far as the mortals go, made things extremely difficult on the Spirits. There had to be a better way of handling things, perhaps Liam or Nathanial would have suggestions. The only way he could see to solving it would be to get rid of the Society and let Spirits participate in the 'real' world. He may as well wish for every Spirit to win the lottery. Mages just didn't understand how they were hurting the magic people who couldn't retreat to Faerie or to the deep ocean; even those who could live in the wild were suffering because of how limited that was and how rapidly the 'deep' wilderness was vanishing.

Faelen jumped in surprise, he'd just been poked in the side. Faeden laughed, "You're really lost in thought today, pup. Might I ask what you were thinking about?"

Faelen shook his head, "Just how lucky we are that Lowell set things up for us, most clans are impoverished. I was wondering if Liam or Nathanial might have any ideas on how to allow us to live openly past eighty, or so. It's just not right that all of you old folks are virtual prisoners down here." Faelen smiled as he said 'old folks'.

His grandfather snorted, "Believe me, I'd love to be able to go travel, have a job, do something. Sure I work for the McDougal's, but it isn't the same. I still feel trapped. I think all of the clans, the whole Spirit nation the world over would be happy to come up with something. There was talk of getting the Mages to provide some sort of identification that would change itself to keep 'current' with our physical age, but that went nowhere. There's a black market for Mage created false identities, but that's taking advantage of us and not solving the problem they made." He punched Faelen's arm, "Old folks? I'm going to outlive you from the sounds..." He stopped at the sight of the open grief on Dirk's face, "Sorry, Dirk." Dirk just shook his head and stood up. He walked over to the family portrait on the wall, it was taken when he was twenty and his sister, Kiera, was four. "You have to tell her and your mother. I want them to hear it from you, not an aunt or uncle." Dirk nodded, Faelen wasn't sure if he heard him.

Faelen looked at his grandfather, "So, Poppy, you're all right with... this?" He made an all-inclusive gesture with his paw.

Faeden leaned back on the couch, "Hells, no. Who could be? Come on, Faelen, I just found out my son is gay, he lied to me, to the Clan, all these years about himself and his supposed mate, I found out you are gay, my only grandchild..." He broke off his list, "Screw it. You know it all, how in Gaea's great green Earth can I be all right?"

Faelen shrugged, "You're taking it better than Av-ery did when she found out about me." He caught himself halfway through 'Avery' and changed what he was going to say. He was going to say 'about Geoff'; there was only a slight pause to indicate the change.

Faelen was about to congratulate himself on not exposing Geoff when Faeden sat up and fixed him with a stern look, "That wasn't what you were going to say. Geoff is gay?" He surged to his feet and spun around to punch the wall, "You've got to be fucking kidding! The Dark Spirit is fucking gay? Oh, bloody hells. The Clan is going to rip itself to shreds! The Hunters are going to have a field day with this one." He stormed over and threw his door open, it hit the wall with a bang and bounced back. He punched it and it hit the wall again, but he'd already gone through before it shut, "Tell Granny I've gone for a walk." His voice was muffled but Faelen could still make it out.

Dirk looked exasperated. Faelen shrugged meekly, "I didn't say..." He shook his head, "Phooey." He pulled out his phone, "Maybe I should catch up to him and lie, no, I can't lie to Poppy Faeden. I-I just can't."

Dirk walked over to sit beside him as Faelen kept staring at his phone, "No, you can't, I raised you better than that. What's done is done. I wouldn't have made that leap from what you said, I didn't think anyone would. He must've already suspected something." Dirk put his paw on Faelen's phone, "You do need to call him and Conor, but your phone won't work here, in the caves or in Ireland. Run home and call him on the landline."

Faelen pointed at the phone by the couch, "Da, we installed one of those corporate style switchboards in the caves when we ran the cables for the electricity. That's the only reason Poppy Faeden is allowed to have private rooms down here, the Alpha wouldn't let one of his bodyguards drop out of contact like this so often otherwise." Dirk opened his mouth, but Faelen continued, "I was going to look for the landline number in Nova Scotia."

Dirk ducked his head sheepishly, "Sorry, I forgot." He leaned back on the couch, "What a mess." He spaced those words out and emphasized each of them. "It started reasonably well, but Muireann just got a little upset when I told her about me. Then the other three... I don't know if they... ugh. Ciaran had to ensure she wouldn't say anything, but the way those three seemed to go about it just really got her going. They know she hates being called Muiry, damn Poppy Aedan can be a brat sometimes."

Faelen dialled the phone, Conor picked up, "Conor speaking."

Faelen sighed, "Hi, sir. It's Faelen. I need to talk to you and Geoff."

Conor's voice sounded a little tense, "What happened?"

"What hasn't? It's... bad. Geoff needs to hear some of this, too, sir. I... well, Poppy Faeden knows."

"Lovely. Hold on." Faelen was put on hold. Roughly a dozen seconds later he was put on speaker phone. Faelen could hear three people in the room. "Go ahead, Faelen."

"Hi, sir, ma'am." He heard muffled noises of protest, "Sorry, Geoff, Avery. Um. Uh, Geoff, Poppy Faeden knows about you, he got really upset and stormed out." Faelen chuckled weakly, "You should see the dents in his door; he practically ripped it off its hinges." He didn't try to imagine anyone's expressions, it was hard enough hearing the sounds of surprise and some fear. "He won't say anything, I don't think, he's worried what will happen to the Clan if it gets out. I, we were talking, the three of us, and I said he was taking it well, and, sorry, ma'am, I said he took it better than you did when you found out about me. I was going to say than when you found out about Geoff, but I changed it, he caught the catch in my voice and just seemed to know what I was going to say. He must've already known, but was trying to disbelieve it. I couldn't lie to him, I'm sorry." Conor inhaled, but Faelen slipped in, "Oh, Da is here, do you want me to put you on speaker, too?"

Conor's voice sounded very tired, "Yes, go ahead." Faelen flipped it on, putting the handset on the cradle, "That's not good, but it isn't bad, either. Faeden is one of Da's bodyguards, I trust him. What's bad?"

Dirk cleared his throat, "Aunt Muireann, she threatened to tell the whole Clan everything. When she found out about me she went to storm out, but Uncle Ciaran blocked the door and told her to swear to silence. She was indignant, but Poppy Aedan didn't help things along. She became even more upset, shot her mouth off, and Poppy laid her out cold. Uncle Ciaran and Granny Lorena are talking to the Alpha right now. Poppy is watching over Aunt Muireann, with leave from Granny to tie her up if she makes trouble. Granny is threatening to silence her, if need be."

Avery's voice shook, "Dirk, Muireann is her daughter. She couldn't mean..."

Dirk growled, "Avery, every O'Conall is in service to the McDougal's. Every one of us. Even if Muireann isn't fulfilling her duty, if she threatens to destabilize the Clan, jeopardize the Alpha, or harm the McDougal's in general, we will ensure she honours that duty at the end. Whether she wishes to or not. She is an O'Conall."

Both sides of the phone fell silent. Faelen could hear Geoff starting to fidget, "Yes, Geoff, I would." He heard a faint thump as Geoff jumped in his seat. Faelen smiled, he guessed correctly, again, "I'm an O'Conall, I'll carry out my duties even at the cost of a family member. I already told you I would chase off Liam and never see him again to fulfill that duty, do you think it'd be so hard to kill someone who betrayed our lineage and your family?"

Geoff sounded like he was trying to talk, but the words weren't forming. Avery sounded little better, "Faelen, please, don't say that. It's," She cleared her throat, "It's hard enough to hear Dirk say things like that, but you're just a pup! Please, no more."

Dirk clapped Faelen's shoulder, but Faelen could see the tears in his father's eyes. He wasn't sure if it was from pride or pain, he could smell both, "He's my son, Avery. An O'Conall. You knew all of this before you married Conor, don't be surprised by it now."

Avery wailed, "But I raised him! He's practically my son! I nursed him beside Geoff as a baby, he slept in the same crib, I changed his diapers! Hera have mercy, how can I listen to him say he'd kill someone in cold blood and be calm?" Faelen never realized how she felt. He knew she loved him; he was raised beside Geoff by the McDougal's and his Da, but it never sank in how they must feel because of that. She was_,_ in every way but biological, his mother, not just the mother of his boss. He was stunned.

Conor sighed, "Faelen, come home. Dirk, I'm on my way. What a fiasco this has been."

Faelen choked out, "I'm sorry, sir."

Conor sounded vexed, "It wasn't you, Faelen. It's... it just is. The Fates weave as the Fates will, not even the gods can gainsay them."

"That doesn't make it easier, sir."

"No, no it doesn't. It means you shouldn't blame yourself and just deal with it the best you can. Now get home, I need to head off Da before he does something rash and I can't leave Geoff without you here."

"I can hide for the ten minutes, Da. I'm not defenceless, you know."

Conor started to growl, but Faelen jumped in, "I'll run, sir. I can be there in less than half that if I don't wait for Da. Bye bye now." He left the phone on in case Dirk needed to say anything else and took off at a run.

He had to pause slightly at the blast doors and again at the gates. The guard called after him, saying something about Faeden, but Faelen waved him off yelling over his shoulder that Conor had summoned him on urgent business. He passed by the Alpha's house, his ears twitched at the sound of shouting, but he ran on. He stumbled into the teleporter room holding a stitch in his side and staggered onto the platform. That disconcerting compression happened, and he zipped across the Atlantic, again. He felt something as he went and he shot into the room in Nova Scotia. He fell off the platform onto the floor, his head was spinning and his vision faded. Conor knelt beside him, checking his eyes and heart. Faelen started to feel better almost immediately, "I-I'm fine, sir. Go talk to the Alpha. I think I pushed myself too hard running back, the teleporter probably just tipped me over the edge." Conor gave him a searching look, but nodded and stepped onto the platform, vanishing. Geoff took Conor's place beside Faelen, putting Faelen's head in his lap as he gently stroked the grey fur. Faelen grinned up at the blurry shape above him, "Hi, sir. You do okay without me?"

"Yes, Faelen. Don't call me sir. Let's get you to the shower and let you recharge."

Faelen nodded, "Thanks." He could smell Avery hovering nearby. "Um, ma'... Avery, uh, thank you. For everything, all those years, I mean..."

Avery dropped to her knees and pulled him from Geoff, "I love you, Faelen. Dirk never wanted me to treat you like another son, but I've always thought of you as Geoff's twin brother. I... you're my son, Faelen, I don't care what he says. I love you."

Faelen felt a tear drop on his face and some leaked from his own eyes, "I love you, too, Mama." He reached up and hugged her close.

---

Rosemary leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples. Nathanial just finished telling his grandparents a highly edited version of the last month's events, but it was still a long story. Liam and Garret still hadn't come upstairs; Garret was laying face down on the massage table with Liam rubbing his back, only a towel draped across his middle protected Garret's modesty. Both looked to be doing much better, it seemed massaging people was as therapeutic for Liam as getting a massage was for his patients. Nathanial was still confused, why did Micah react like that and why was Liam suddenly so... unsteady. In pain, even. He didn't sound any different, like he did when his past lives surfaced; earlier that evening it sounded like a past life woke up, but he never had a delayed reaction before. Not as far as Nathanial knew, anyway. Nick and Micah were doing what they usually did in every spare moment they had, and most of Nathanial's pack had left. Snow was lying on the couch, his head on Nathanial's lap, after his initial reluctance to being petted, Snow was turning into... Rosemary interrupted Nathanial's thoughts, "Gordon wasn't involved in most of that, pup. It was the Hunters, under the control of Pastor Yuke. I'm surprised you let him go, you should have fed him to Snow. I wouldn't have been so weak. Gordon was right, never let up until your enemies are dead. If you hadn't Gordon would be dead now and we wouldn't be in this situation."

"If I followed that logic, Dad would be dead and I'd have lost out on something infinitely more precious to me than I would've gained by killing Gordon. I-I've killed when I had to, just ask Lily. I... still hear them dying, but for Nicholas and Micah, I'll kill as many times as necessary. I don't like it, and I never want to do it again, but I will, only if I absolutely have to." Nathanial shivered as he heard that female Arabian horse sobbing and the gunshot that silenced her, he knew it was only in his head but that didn't make it less real. He could see the blood splattered across her chestnut coat as clearly as he could see his own paws.

Wallace's ears perked forward, "You have promise, pup. You said Nicholas has killed, too? A Hunter?"

Nathanial nodded, "Turned to a pile of ash by a ball of hellfire. You don't need to sound so gleeful, Poppy. Liam will want to do some tests on you, but probably not tonight. He's giving Dad a massage, it's helped both of them relax and feel better. Do you have any questions before I call them up?"

Wallace grimaced, "That Ancient One is trouble, pup, you're better off without him. He's a killer, he's killed more people than I have and with less remorse. If you're keeping him around to use him then know that he's as dangerous as a pet Demon, keep a very close eye on him."

Nathanial snorted, "Heh, yeah, Poppy. That's such a valuable piece of advice considering the source. He has his inner demons, but they're less of a worry to me than those who traffic with the real ones." He held up a paw to forestall an argument, "Thank you for your concern, though; just know that I keep a close eye on everyone, whether they're an obvious threat or not."

Rosemary smiled, "You surprise me, Nathanial. You seem so soft most of the time, but you're really hardcore underneath that. You mentioned the gym and vaguely said that you got the contractor to lower the price. You seemed really pleased about that, why? I can see Garret getting giddy over a good piece of bartering, but not you."

Nathanial blushed, "I... it doesn't matter. It made me happy because I knew Dad would be happy, I'm actually a little ashamed of it when I think about it."

Wallace laughed, "Why? You conned him?" Nathanial blushed even more. "No! Come on, tell us!"

Nathanial shook his head as he answered reluctantly, "He asked me about my mother, I... pretended it made me upset, like he rubbed salt in an open wound type thing. I told him he was standing where Lily was murdered, where I held her body in my arms. He... was horrified; he dropped the price even lower than I was aiming for. I feel a little guilty, but he was trying to rip me off. I did most of the work and saved him a huge amount of time and money, not only that but he took another contract and charged the woman a large sum of money to 'squeeze her in'. The money he made off that was way more than I was asking him to take off our bill. It still makes me feel slimy."

Rosemary and Wallace started laughing very hard. Wallace had tears leaking from his eyes and Rosemary was clutching her stomach from laughing so much. Rosemary gasped, "Oh, the pain! That's so funny! Boo hoo, my poor, dear, departed mother! Like anyone cares Lily's dead, even her parents couldn't muster up convincing tears!" Nathanial felt like he was just stabbed with a hot poker. Part of him missed Lily, she rarely showed her good side to him, but it was there. Snow shifted his head on Nathanial's lap so he could look up at him more easily.

Nathanial whispered, "I care."

He didn't think they'd hear, but Rosemary did. She immediately stopped laughing, she was still a little breathless but she sounded aghast, "You... what? Why?" She wiped her eyes with a tissue and sat up, still holding her stomach with her other paw. Wallace gasped and wheezed as he tried to get himself under control. "Out of everyone, you have the most reason to hate her. You said she abused you daily! How can you care about someone like that?"

Nathanial blushed in shame and embarrassment, curling up slightly, "She was my mom. I still vaguely remember her from before... stuff. She wasn't perfect, but she was my mom. She had a nice side, I could see it when she had company and I served them. I... wished she'd show it to us."

Rosemary shook her head, "I don't understand you, pup. How could you forgive Garret for leaving you like he did, leaving you with a woman he grew to hate and who abused you like that? How can you have any sympathy for Lily, let alone love? You obviously hate everything we are, just like that Ancient One does, but you're here talking to us like family. How can you be so forgiving, so... kind?"

Wallace wheezed as he started laughing again, but not as hard as earlier, "Kind? Rosemary, my dear, that's not kindness it's insanity. Pup, she was the evil we are accused of. I never beat your father like she beat you; she doesn't deserve any of your love or sympathy."

Nathanial ignored his grandparents for a minute as he rubbed Snow's head and flanks. They just watched him; Rosemary looked sympathetic while Wallace looked amused. He finally looked up, "You... might be right, Poppy. I'm probably not that... stable." He smiled weakly, "I've been accused of mental instability and treated that way most of this month, at least. I don't care. I hate her, but part of me still loves her and wishes I could see her again, hear her tell me she loves me, have her hug me for the first time... well, that I can remember." Some tears ran down his cheeks and dropped onto Snow's ears, they twitched and Snow lifted his head to nuzzle Nathanial. "Ella, the Agent, hugged me when Dad came home after Lily died. She laughed at my embarrassment, but that was the first time I could remember having a woman, any woman, hug me. She got really upset when she realized why I was embarrassed." He sniffed and rubbed his muzzle along Snow's, Snow licked his face when he did that.

*Please, stop, Alpha. We don't like it when you are sad. Open those wrapped boxes you are curious about. That will make you happy? Yes? Please?" Snow's tail thwapped against the couch twice before he whined quietly.

Rosemary got up from her seat and moved to sit beside Nathanial. She pulled him into a hug, "I swear, Nathanial, I'll swear on whatever you want, I'll be here for you as quickly as I can whenever you need me and I'll help you in whatever way I can. You're my grandson, I don't know you very well yet, but I still love you."

"Thanks, Nanny. I love you, too. Um, should I call everyone up? I still have some cake left over from last night, we could have some of that. We should drink the tea, too." He could tell Rosemary was glaring at her husband over his head, but Nathanial said nothing about it. He sent his mind down to the gym, *Liam, things have calmed down up here if you're both... settled.* Liam nodded shortly but didn't answer. He patted Garret's back and stepped away, Garret looked at him and rolled over to sit up, the towel falling off to expose a bit of pink poking out of his sheath.

Liam pointed up and Garret sighed, "Nathanial?" Liam nodded. Garret slid off the table and began getting dressed.

Nathanial went over to Nicholas, they were in Micah's room. Nicholas was lying on his side, tied to Micah, while he read a text book. Micah was on his back, lying perpendicular to Nick with his knees bent over Nick's hips, as his mouth moved silently while he spelt out the list of words he had for his spelling test. His head was resting on the plush goomba Nathanial had made for him in his grade seven Home Economics class. Snow's tail wagged slightly as Nathanial's mood lifted. Wallace spoke to him as Nathanial watched his brother's fondly for a bit, "What are you smiling about, pup?" He sounded amused, kindly this time, not condescending.

"I was talking to Dad and Liam, then I was checking in on Nicholas and Micah. I was about to let them know to come upstairs. They were just so cute I had to watch them for a minute." He lifted his finger, *Nicholas, it's Nathanial.*

Nicholas rolled his eyes, *Really? Who else can talk to me this way?* He smiled after he answered.

Nathanial smiled, too, *Smart ass. You two look so cute together, I hate to make you move, but I think Nanny and Poppy want you to come upstairs again. Don't rush, but don't dawdle.* Nicholas nodded. *I love you, brother.*

Nicholas snorted but his tail wagged happily, *Yeah, whatever. You, too.* He bucked his hips, Micah murred happily and ground back against Nick, "Come on, Sprite. Nats is calling us."

Micah pouted, "Meanie. Don't tease me like that." He smiled right away, "Okay, things good up there, Nats?"

Nathanial switched over, *Yes, Sprite. You can have fun with Nick once more later tonight and for an hour in the morning, okay? I'm happy to see you working so hard, you deserve a little reward. I'm proud of you, little brother.*

Micah's tail was trapped, but his rump wriggled as it tried to wag. Nicholas moaned and wrapped his paws around Micah's hips to try to steady him as he pulled out. Micah grabbed the towel and put it between them, "Sorry, Nick."

Nicholas slid out with a soft pop, he patted Micah's belly, "No worries, Sprite. Let's get cleaned up and go upstairs."

Micah rolled up onto his knees and cleaned his rump, "Um, Nick, can I get a kiss?"

Nick looked confused and licked Micah's muzzle, "Uh, sure. Good?"

Nathanial smiled, *I think he means a deep French kiss type kiss.* Micah's ears were down as he slowly crawled off the bed.

Nicholas' brow furrowed, "You mean like Geoff and Nats kiss, Micah?" Micah nodded, "I... guess. Why? We aren't dating or anything; we just have sex because it's fun and feels good. We're brothers after all." He cleaned off his penis as it started sliding back into its sheath.

Micah's ears drooped further, "You're right. Sorry for bothering you."

Nathanial shook his head, his grandparents were looking a little impatient but amused at the same time. *Nick, most people would have less issue with you kissing him than sticking your dick up his ass. Don't worry about what people would think at this point. Give him a kiss, okay?*

Nicholas rolled off the bed, "Here, Mike." He pulled Micah into a deep kiss, even wrapping his arms around him tightly and leaning his little brother down and to the side in a movie pose. Micah stiffened up in surprise before practically melting into putty. He whimpered happily and kissed Nicholas back.

Nathanial shifted his attention back to the sitting room, "Sorry. They really are absolutely adorable; I was talking to them for a bit, too."

Rosemary rubbed her paw around his ear as she leaned her head against his, "All three of you are adorable." Wallace smiled as he shook his head, "They are."

Wallace snorted, but kept smiling, "I didn't say a thing."

Rosemary waved him away with a small smile, "You really love them, don't you?"

Nathanial shrugged as he blushed, "They're my world, they mean everything to me."

Liam and Garret came into the room, Nathanial had tea ready for them. Garret took the armchair before Liam could as he watched Snow with warily. Liam sat next to Nathanial and began muttering a quick conversation with Snow. Rosemary smiled at Garret, "Well, Garret, your boy has done something no one has been able to do in a long time. He's really impressed me, both of us, I'd wager. If he's in trouble make sure to let me know, I'll do everything in my power to help. His capacity to love and forgive is something I can't understand, but... you're lucky, we're all lucky to have him around." Snow's tail wagged in time with Nathanial's. Nathanial brought out the remaining sections of cake and served them out.

Nicholas and Micah came upstairs just as he was finishing. Micah chirped, "Cake!" in excitement.

Rosemary held up her paw as she returned to her seat by Wallace, "Hold on, you two. Go get the parcels from the dining room; your brother should open his gifts, now."

"I got them, Nanny. You two can sit and have some cake." Micah smiled and grabbed a slice of the chocolate cake before sitting on the love seat closest to Garret. While Lily had frequently rearranged the seats in the sitting room, Nathanial had it back to his favourite orientation. The seats were arranged in a loose circle, with none back on to the patio doors. Going clockwise from the patio: An armless padded chair, a couch, then along the back wall were two loveseats, an armchair, a couch facing the other one, and a final armless chair adjacent to the patio doors. The gap between the love seat and the first couch left room to access the kitchen easily. Nicholas took his piece of cake and sat by Micah. Snow nudged Nathanial with his nose and Nathanial began cutting off small chunks of cheesecake and feeding them to the massive dog. Snow grumbled happily as he daintily accepted each piece, eating them with his characteristic care.

Nathanial floated out the parcels, setting them up on the coffee table in front of them. He stared at them a little dumbfounded. Wallace snorted with amusement, "You act like you've never received gifts before, pup. I know you have, you said this Ancient One made you a grimoire. Unfortunately, we don't have the treasures of the ages to shower on you; you'll have to settle for simple commercially available things."

Liam growled, tensing as he fingered the hilt of his sword, "If you seek to anger me Demon Mage, do not try, you will find it a very simple task and I do not wish to kill a family member of my friend. Address me as Sensei or Smith-sensei as the others do. I will refer to you by your family name as well, Elder Marks."

Wallace frowned, "Elder Marks, is that an attempt at condescension or a dig?"

Liam smiled thinly, "It is a differentiation from your son, whom I address as Mr. Marks. You are older than he is. In this matter you need not take offence, I will not be subtle should I seek to offend you."

Nathanial cut in, "Stop it! Um, what's the protocol for opening gifts? Am I supposed to go from smallest to biggest? I'd go from the highest ranked person, like seating in a formal setting, if they were from several people, but, uh, they're all from you two, Nanny and Poppy. I... don't want to do this wrong and offend you." Nicholas and Micah fidgeted, picking up on Nathanial's discomfort since they weren't sure either. Everyone else just stared at him in surprise.

Wallace looked at Garret, dumbfounded, "You suck! Your boy, all three boys obviously, don't know how to open gifts? Gods, pup, I know you've been absent, but..." He shook his head and addressed Nathanial, "There is no protocol. Pick one at random, open it so everyone can see, then thank the person who gave it to you. Say what you like about it or lie if it's a piece of crap. Put it down and move on." He paused, "In a more formal setting the gifts aren't opened publicly, they're received then opened in private after the event. Thank you cards are sent to thank the people who gave the gifts."

Nathanial stared blankly at the pile for a few more seconds, his paw shook as he went to open the first one. All eyes were fixed on him, the force of their expectations weighed on him, he had to do this properly or he'd shame his mother. She'd be furious with him; he could see her standing behind the couch he sat on, her eyes boring into the back of his head. He slowly opened up the bright blue and green wrapping covering the small box, careful not to tear it, and saw it had concealed a Sony Play. It was the same smart phone Liam had, the one he'd been wanting for a long time. He gasped in surprise, all thoughts of his mother driven from his head, "How...?" He shook his head, "You wouldn't use your magic on something so trivial, how did you know?" He looked up at his grandfather, happy but confused.

Wallace smiled, "We have our sources."

Nathanial looked over at Micah and Nicholas, Micah was carefully cleaning his plate while Nicholas just shrugged. Nathanial shook his head, smiling; his tail beat out a rapid rhythm on the couch as his heart swelled with love, "Thank you." Micah blushed, Nathanial turned to his grandparents, "Thank you. I've been wanting this phone since I heard rumours it was coming out, but I think you knew that already. You have a little scoundrel for a source, but he makes a wonderful brother." Nathanial felt Zhaohui stirring, he was probably getting a great meal today. All fear was gone as Nathanial gazed happily at his phone before putting it aside and reaching for the next gift.