A/N: So I originally had this as a mellow chapter, and obviously things go sideways, and everything goes angsty, so I apologize. Also, I was taking way too long to finish this, then realized it was over 3k words, so I guess that explains why. Anyways, hope you enjoy. Let me know what you think, I appreciate any and all comments, feedback, and questions. 

Chapter 49

Simon's POV

"Are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm splendid," Vince scoffed, nervously standing behind us as we walked towards the hospital. Maybe this had been a bad idea to begin with, but now I was curious as to why he was hung up about seeing his mother.

Xavier let out an uneasy laugh before leaning in to whisper, "just ignore him. He hasn't seen her in years, so he's probably anxious about her reaction."

I whirled around to see Vince still trailing behind us. "Years? It's been that long?"

"I don't know, five. Maybe six..." he trailed on as he looked away.

Xavier turned around to glare at him. "More like eight."

I paused in my tracks, looking at them incredulously. "Seriously?"

They didn't say anything, but it was all I needed for it to be confirmed. I shook my head. "Why haven't you visited?"

"It's just," Vince tried to reason. "I didn't really have the time, and well it didn't end well the last time so..."

"So you refused to even see her?" Xavier implored. "Sure. Well, if you had, you'd know that her memory is shot. She probably doesn't remember whatever argument you two had. Hell, she probably would've forgotten who you were if I hadn't talked to her about you."

"About me?"

Xavier rolled his eyes. "Yes, you dolt. She's been curious about how you've been."

"Oh," Vince didn't seem to believe him.

"Um," Xavier drew out, before giving us a sheepish grin. "There's just one thing I may have told her, that may not be entirely true."

"Oh no," Vince frowned and crossed his arms. "What now?"

Xavier stepped back from him like he was genuinely scared Vince would be upset. "Well, you see..."

"Xavier-"

"Look," Xavier put his hands out in surrender. "I didn't expect you to agree to see her as soon as I asked, so I assumed that things would have progressed, but-"

"What did you tell her?"

Xavier pursed his lips as he tried to cower behind me. "I-uh... maybe told her that you two were a...a thing."

There was dead silence as me and Vince turned to look at him funny.

"I mean I told her that you were with your true mate and that well," he clarified running a hand through his hair nervously. "Said that things were going great."

"Xavier-"

"You what?" Vince interrupted, stepping forward but I kept him from approaching his brother.

He put his hands up again. "Look, I didn't know! I just assumed things were going to get better, and that maybe it was better to tell her that instead of having to worry about you more than she needed to. I mean mom already was worried about you and Michael, and everything else, so I figured a little white lie would've been fine."

Vince let out a sigh, before rubbing his temple. "You idiot."

"Well," I let out a soft laugh, before carefully reaching out my hand to Vince, silently asking to hold it. "Guess it's time to meet my mother-in-law."

He stared at my hand for a bit, before stepping forward, cautiously wrapping his hand along my wrist. "You've already met her before. She was Luna when you were here."

"I know," I told him, flipping my hand around to properly hold his hand. "But she probably doesn't remember me much. I've only ever talked to her a couple of times with my mother."

He frowned at that, but I squeezed his hand, pulling him towards the hospital. "Let's go," I urged, Xavier already twenty yards ahead of us.

He hummed as I pulled him along like a petulant child refusing to go to school, until we finally caught up with impatient Xavier who led us through the hospital with ease, knowing the way like the back of his hand.

He paused at the nurse's station to wave at the workers, before reaching one of the doors, turning towards us with a grin.

"You ready?"

Vince sighed. "I guess as ready as I'll ever be."

"I've got you," I said, patting his arm. Xavier entered first, pulling Vince by his other wrist, as I followed behind.

I hadn't really known what to expect when coming here. When most people heard the term 'hospice,' many assumed that they were bedridden, practically a lobotomized patient that had no sense of consciousness. And a part of me wondered if that was what the bond had reduced their mother to as well, an empty vessel that was on the brink of death.

But I, and certainly not Vince had been expecting this. Sure she was frail-looking and bedridden, but she was conscious, staring at us back with those kind gentle eyes that I had remembered her for all those years ago. Even despite the obvious graying of hair, the aging in her face showing, she still looked the way I remembered her.

"Mum," Xavier went up to her, kissing her forehead before squeezing her hand. He helped sit her up before gesturing to us. "Look who I've brought."

Next to me, Vince shook, his breathing coming in sharp gasps as he looked at her. When the residual shock on his face seemed to vanish, I could sense his anxiety rising.

Feeling the shame and regret rolling off of him, I frowned. I gripped his hand tightly, placing my other hand along his upper arm, practically leaning my whole body into his, hoping that the steady lull of the bond would ease those troubling thoughts.

He should've been happy to see her, especially with her this aware, considering how many years her actual mate and her late husband had passed. But I could tell he was feeling guilty, and all I wanted was for him to see his face light up again, to enjoy the moment with his mother and brother, especially if this would happen to be their last moment together.

Their mother, Marie blinked a few times, whether in disbelief or confusion, she gasped when she realized who was standing before her. She turned to glance at Xavier while squeezing his hand tightly, as Xavier nodded, smiling softly next to her.

"Oh," she said softly, reaching a shaky hand out to Vince. "My boy. My sweet boy."

He didn't move, frozen in place. As much as I wanted to go near her and introduce myself, I told myself I'd stay with Vince, that I'd face this with him together. And I would wait until he's ready. But I wasn't sure if he would, considering he was shaking like a leaf, his hand clenching mine so tightly like he was trying to ground himself.

She frowned when Vince didn't move, then turned to look at Xavier. He pursed his lips before looking at us expectantly.

"Vince," Xavier prompted, but as I looked up at Vince, his lips were quivering, his eyes blinked rapidly. I turned toward him, hoping he'd look at me and start to relax. But instead, he stepped back, clenched his jaw as he yanked his hand out of mine.

"Vince," I breathed.

"I-I can't do this," he said brokenly, stepping backward before walking briskly through the doors. I bit my bottom lip before looking at Xavier and their mom apologetically before following Vince.

He hadn't gone far, just down the hall leaning against a wall, Vince had his head in his hands, slowly lowering himself to the ground. I approached him, knelt next to him, and took his hands in my own.

"Hey," I breathed. "What's wrong?"

"I can't do this." He let out a ragged breath before staring at his hands in front of us. "It's like she doesn't even remember it at all. Our fight."

I frowned. "It was a while ago like Xavier said. Her memory isn't the greatest."

"Still," he insisted. "She shouldn't be this happy to see me. Not after what I told her."

I squeezed his hands before looking at his eyes. "She's still your mother. Whatever you argued about doesn't change that. She'll always love you."

He sighed. "I thought she'd hate me."

"Well, she wouldn't have said that if she did."

"Still," he sputtered. "I don't think I can just pretend it never happened."

I sat against the wall with him, rubbing circles on the back of his hand. "You don't have to pretend. About the fight, or even with me. If you don't want to see her, either, then I can go by myself and introduce myself. I don't want you to feel obligated to do something you don't want. Goddess knows I've been in how many similar situations. But if you still want to see her, I'll wait with you."

"How do you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Be so forgiving and patient," he proclaimed. "With me, and with everything else that's happened?"

I smiled softly. "I can't change what happened. Can't change the past. But I can change what comes next. Wherever it leads."

"Ain't it pathetic? Crazy? Sitting here with you. When I took that opportunity away from you. You can't watch your parents grow older. Find out your sibling's mates," he pondered, retracting his hand from mine. "And I'm over here too chicken to even look at her, to talk to someone who's been here the whole time."

"It's okay to be scared," I said, and I'd say it a thousand times till he believed it. Sure, it was upsetting that he was right. I wouldn't be able to see my parents or siblings grow older, but it was pointless to think and mull over what can't be changed.

We sat there for a few minutes in silence, a couple of nurses passing us by without so much as a glance, as Vince took his time to stare at the hospital door, then back at the wall.

He let out a big sigh, before standing up. "I should talk to her."

"If you're ready," I assured, getting off the ground. He hummed, before walking towards the room, as I trailed right behind him. He stopped in the doorway, before extending his arm out to me. He glanced down at my hand, then at his, as if asking a silent question.

I raised my hand, wondering if he really was initiating this. "You sure?"

He blinked before nodding. A breath escaped me, almost in disbelief, before interlacing our fingers, wondering if he'd realized and pull away. We walked in together, Xavier smiling as he sat there with their mother who had dozed off. She was still seated upright, Xavier holding her hand in his as he glanced at our hands with a raised brow. He didn't say anything, but I could tell he was amused at the sight, biting his lip trying to hold back a snarky comment, no doubt.

Vince tensed for a second, but with a renewed purpose, walked towards her with me in tow, and grabbed her other hand in his. He was still filled with nerves, but he was slowly relaxing, as he sat down next to her.

"Mom," he said gently, as he squeezed her hand. "Mom, I'm here."

Her eyes squinted, before opening, revealing the brown gentle eyes I had seen before. When she turned to glance towards Vince, she let out a sharp gasp, her lips trembling in disbelief. "Oh," she let out. "My baby boy."

Had it not been for Vince holding my hand, It almost felt like I was intruding on this tender moment. "Mom," Vince breathed out like a burden he had been carrying for so long.

A couple of tears fell from her eye as she reached out a tender hand towards Vince's face. He leaned into the touch. She glanced toward Xavier, before squeezing their hand. "My boys."

"I've brought Vinny this time, mum," Xavier said with a smile. I chuckled at the nickname before their mom looked toward my direction, then looking between the two of them curiously. "This is Simon. He's-"

"My mate," Vince interrupted, shocking me and Xavier. He had just-

He squeezed my hand, pulling it to rest on the sheets beside her. "He's my mate, mom."

It was uncomfortably silent, as I stared at the side of his head, wondering if maybe I had just been hallucinating it all. But Xavier's look of shock confirmed it.

"Oh," she sighed, before looking at me earnestly, studying me. She looked back at Vince with a soft gaze. "Oh, he's beautiful, dear."

I gave her a slight smile, but I really wanted to turn Vince around, to see what kind of expression he was wearing. To know if he knew what he was telling her, and what kind of reaction he was having. He didn't say anything, but his grip on my hand only tightened, and I couldn't tell if that was a good thing.

"He's perfect, Vince." She patted our intertwined hands, as she continued to look at Vince like she was afraid he'd vanish for years again. "You protect him now. You hear me? Take care of him, my dear boy."

Vince patted her hand, before leaning forward, using his other hand to place a loose strand of gray hair behind her ear.

"I will," he said into her hair, kissing her forehead before pulling away. "I will, mom."

---

"I told her I hated her," Vince said after a moment in the dark, his back still turned towards me as we laid in bed. "Called her a terrible mother."

"Vince-"

"I told her about you," Vince said softly, the soft moonlight illuminating the space between us. "Eight years ago. She was the first person I ever admitted it to."

He turned onto his back, staring mindlessly at the ceiling. "She called me crazy. Told me I was a fool for doing that, for hurting you like that. Called me a monster, pathetic, you name it for doing something so rash, for something so evil."

I wasn't sure what to say, so I took in the sight of his face. It was rare to see him this vulnerable for once. From earlier at the hospital to now, it was a side of him I never thought I'd see.

"She told me I was wrong. That I was supposed to accept you, take care of you," he whispered before turning towards me, his eyes filled with sadness. "To love you."

I blinked, not even sure if I had heard him right. No, it was probably my imagination.

"I called her a hypocrite," he continued before I could respond. "I told her that she didn't love dad, didn't love us. That she wouldn't have done those things if she really loved us. She wouldn't have picked favorites, wouldn't have doted on Xavier more, wouldn't have completely abandoned us-me after dad died."

"I know it was wrong," he sighed. "I hadn't realized that the person she had been seeing, cheating dad on with was actually her mate. Hadn't realized that she was never obligated to love dad. But I still yelled at her. Still called her terrible. Told her I wanted nothing to do with her if she couldn't honestly say that she had loved all of us equally."

I reached over, placing my hand on his shaking ones, closing the space between us. "She still loves you, Vince."

He shook his head. "I wasted so much time. All this time I thought she'd hate me. I should have seen her sooner. Should have been there for her, been at her side alongside Xavier, holding her hand like that. Like this."

"That doesn't matter. You can still be there for her now. For however long she has left, Vince." I gave him a slight smile, but that frown still stained his face. "There's still time."

"No, I've failed her," he claimed before his expression softened as he looked at me. "Just as I've had with you."

"No, you haven't. There's still time-"

"You held my hand back there, too," Vince whispered, staring at our hands like a puzzle as he interrupted. "Aren't you scared of what they'll say? To see us like this?"

"What?" I tilted my head. "I can't hold my mate's hand?"

"It's just-" He frowned. "With what I've done?"

"They don't know you like I know you, Vince," I told him. "But we can show them. Prove that you aren't this mean, killing machine alpha everyone thinks you are."

"But how can you be so sure?" He didn't dare to even look up at me, still entranced by our intertwined hands. "That I've changed?"

"You've changed, Vince. For the better. Weeks ago, you wouldn't have done this, years ago you wouldn't even dare to set foot in the same room as me. Today, you faced your mother. You held my hand. That in itself is more than I could have asked. But what does it matter what they say?"

He let out a chuckle, one I had needed. "You're crazy, you know that?"

"So what if I am?"

"You're crazy for thinking that there's something under all this dysfunctional chaos."

I scoffed. "You only had two brothers. I had six siblings, now that's chaos."

His expression darkened, before looking away. There was uneasy silence that hung in the air as we stared at the space between us.

Vince opened and closed his mouth before glancing up at me, finally saying softly, "what were they like?"

He looked away as soon as it left his mouth as if fearing my reaction, but I squeezed his hand, smiling. "The boys, Marcus and Austin were annoying. Little rascals were always getting into trouble. But Austin would always do his chores at least."

"Paige loved to cook, along with Nicole. Paige only understood fractions from recipes, and Nicole never really needed a recipe. A lot of the time she'd whip something out from memory or trial and error. And well, Monica had the appetite of a grown adult. I honestly don't know where she got it from. She'd always sneak an extra helping of snacks the girls made during the holidays. But honestly, Stephen was a real angel, he hardly ever made a fuss, didn't cry in the middle of the night. He was probably the only sane one."

"It doesn't sound very chaotic to me," he muttered.

I let out a curt laugh. "Oh, trust me. It was never boring. There was a time I honestly thought they would burn the house down and-"

"They wouldn't have liked me very much, right?" he interrupted, disentangling his hands from mine, that goddess-awful frown marred his face. "Your family, I mean."

I blinked. "What do you mean?"

He sighed, resting his hand against his forehead. "Even if I had done everything right. Or if I hadn't been an alpha, just a regular pack member. If I had just accepted you, they wouldn't have liked me, would they? "

"Of course they would," I raised my voice a little, moving his hand away from his face so I could look at him properly. "They would've loved you, Vince. My parents, the girls, the rascals, even little Stephen."

"No," he mewled, shaking his head. "No, they wouldn't"

"Yes, they would," I frowned, grabbing his shaky hands, pulling it close to my chest. "Crazy right? We were a chaotic bunch too."

The faintest smile appeared before vanishing just as quickly as it had come. Short breaths escaped him as his eyes seemed to fill with unshed tears. Out of instinct, I reached my hand out, brushing his cheek ever so slightly, as if ready to brush them away, only for him to lean further into the pillow away from my hand.

"Vince?"

"I just had to go and ruin it," I could barely hear him say, as he rolled back over, the familiar silhouette of his back facing me again. A sight I was used to, but also a sight I didn't want now. Not after all the progress I had thought was happening. I didn't want to take a step backward, not when we had come this far.

I clutched the back of his shirt, leaning forward to lean my head against his back, tentatively reaching my hand up and down his arm, hoping it would soothe him. I could hear the faintest of sniffles, the smallest tremors traveling down his back.

"No, not all of it," I whispered, uncertain if he could even hear me through his quiet sobs. "I'm still here. I'm still here, Vince."