Ares' POV

I sent Thomas to get ready as I text his friends and I find myself in a tough situation. My sweet kitten doesn't know his so called family didn't jump at the chance to find him when he went missing and though he's very understanding, with how vulnerable he is now, I'm not sure he should find out.

I'm warring with myself over this fact.

What Thomas needs are people around him to comfort him and show him that they still love him, and telling him about what happened between his friends and I will do the exact opposite. What I don't want is for him to think he has to choose between me or them.

I groan to myself quietly as I pace the living room and call who everyone always does when they need a word of advice. I quickly dial the number and put the phone to me ear. It rings only twice before it's picked up.

"Hello?"

"Chan, hey. Two things. I finally found Thomas last night and I think he needs you and his best friend right now." I tell him, getting the good news out of the way first since that's the most important.

"That's good! I'm glad he's home safe." He says but for some reason he sounds completely unsurprised. I've had a few debates with people about this, and I'm convinced that the Incubus can see the future because there's no other explanation.

"Yes. You can come in about five minutes if you're here. And then the second thing...." I go to explain but he cuts me off.

"You don't know what to do about the whole friends situation." He asks and I agree. When I had gotten home the next day after finding out about Ben, Chan was waiting up for me. He said some of his girls claimed they heard yelling and arguing. I told him about what happened and I cried about Thomas and he sat there. It wasn't as if he was judging me, he just sat there and let me get it all out before he gave me some advice and promised to come by to drop some stuff off.

The next time I came home, there was food in the fridge, the apartment was cleaned and since then I have had a secret soft spot for Thomas' friend.

"Exactly. Do I tell him about it and hurt his already fragile state of mind or should I just let it all blow over?" I ask him, ready for the advice he always has so readily but to my surprise, this time there is none.

"This is a tricky one, Ares. Thomas has been through a lot and needs his friends, but lying to him always leads to the possibility of him finding out. I honestly don't know what I would do. You know best at the moment, and wherever you choose, I'll be there to back you up." He says and I sigh in disappointment for not having an answer handed to me but agree nonetheless.

I get off the phone and see the confused messages of Thomas' friend on my phone, but don't respond, knowing they will show if only for my sweet kitten.

I slip the phone in my pocket and walk to the fridge, deep in thought as I grab a cup for some juice. I hear the sound of our bedroom door being open and I feel my heart flutter in my chest in excitement. Having Thomas back around is like when I met him for the first time, only without the arguing.

It makes my heart stumble at the prospect of seeing his smile again. Holding him makes me feel like when I first fell in love with him, how he was always so flustered and got so sassy because of it.

These two months apart is making me relearn all the things that I love about Thomas, and though I would never ask to do it all over again, I appreciate the feeling. When he comes around the corner in some sweats and a hoodie, I can't help the grin that stretches across my face and it only widens when his cheeks flare up in a furious blush at my attention.

But before I can say anything, or give him a hug to make sure he's okay, there's a knock on the door. I look at the door and then back at him and it's the anxious look in his face that makes me make my way to the living room. As much as I want this time to us right now, I also understand with how he grew up, he needs all these assurances himself before he can heal completely. And if that's what he needs, I'll be sure to give it to him.

I get to the door and after taking a deep breath, I open it, revealing all of our friends including Graves and Cora though they were absent the day that I kicked the others out of the brothel.

"Come in." I tell them with a tight smile and they look nervous as they do, walking in carefully as I hold open the door. I'm about to close it behind them when I see Chan coming down the hallway with a platter of food in his hands. If I didn't know any better I would claim Chan was the better mom friend than Chloe. But, you know, unpopular opinion.

      "Thank Goddess you're here ." I tell him stepping out into the hallway as I hear the rest of them greeting each other, the sounds and cheers of joy reaching my sensitive ears.

     "Yeah, I saw them come up. Let's go in before they fuck it all up." He tells me and I grab the food form his hand, much to his annoyance before I lead him back into the apartment, Chan closing the door behind us. I head into the kitchen where everyone is crowded and place the fruit spread on the island counter.

     "Are you okay? Fuck, of course you're not okay. I'm so happy you're home." Chloe is saying to Thomas. He pulls back to look at him before pulling him in again for another hug.

      "No. But I will be." Thomas tells him and I can see his own tears gliding down his cheeks at the clear love in the room. They all swoon and coo over my kitten's tired worn out form and though I can tell he's getting a bit overstimulated, he also looks a lot happier than he did this morning.

    "Where were you?" Cody says as he leans against his Mate, his caramel complexion a shy red as he cried his eyes out. James takes the bean's glasses off his face and wipes his cheeks as Cody's hands flutter in relief and excitement.

    "Can we sit down? I'm kind of sore, actually." she says and the group is quick to apologize before relocating. I don't know if Thomas was being honest or if he wanted to avoid the question, but if he did, he did a good job. I follow everyone into the living room but keep my distance, leaning against the wall next to the window, listening to the reunion and letting my kitten have his time with the only family he has.

     "What happens while I was gone?" Thomas asks and it confirms my suspicions that though he needs them here right now, he's not ready to talk about what happens yet.

     Chloe looks to Alex and the rest to the group before he smiles big. "Well, I'm pregnant! I just found out a month or so ago." He says and Thomas gasp while I raise my eyebrow.

     I'm not sure why, I would swear up and down that Cody would be the first of us to be pregnant. As they all fan girl about the baby, Chan comes from the kitchen with a plate of fruit and stands beside me against the wall.

    "How the pain?" I ask him and he pauses. As much and Chan knows as much as he does, I pay way too close attention and people fail to realize that. He hesitates for only a second before he answer with a sigh.

    "It's getting worse." He tells me and I nod my head in understanding. "You think he'll be okay?" He asks me and it's my turn to think, not really knowing the answer but wanting to believe the one I come up with.

    "Not for a long time. Neither of us will be. But we will. Eventually. That's what I'm praying for." I tell him and I glance down to see him staring off into the memories he always does, even if I don't know what they are. "You'll get your eventually." I tell him and he chuckles under his breath.

     "Yeah. Eventually." He says sassily and I laugh right until I hear the topic of conversation and the both of us make eye contact before we tune in.

      "How did you guys know I was missing. I know Zack figured it out but how did you? I didn't think anyone would look for me." Thomas says and though most would think he was fishing for compliments, I know he's begging for validation, verbal confirmation that someone cares. And it's enough to solidify my decision.

     "As soon as I figured it out, I went to their houses to search for you. When we realized you weren't with any of us, I came back over here to search for you here. They took care of the pack lands and the North side." I tell him and he turns back to his friends with a wobbly smile.

     "Thanks for not giving up on me. Thank you for believing him." He says with a thick throat before he closes his arms around Chloe and I see the moment the words hit every single one of them in the gut. I don't need payback or to degrade them, they feel it themselves. And though I can forgive their ignorance, I will never forget what they did to my kitten and I. But family is family and I'll have their back, I just hope when the time comes, they'll remember this day and have others.

    I turn my head and see Chan with a small smile on his face as he nods.

      Yeah.

       Family is family. And if we want to heal, we're going to need them around.

~~~~~~~~~
What do you think of Ares' decision. He was in a impossible situation but I think he did the best thing for Thomas in the end. And I love him and Chan together!

Thought?

Comments?

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