A/N: NOT EDITED. So because I took a nap I was up all night, trying to sleep and failed so eventually I gave up and typed this chapter up.

Chapter 20 — The Past, The Children Know (Kaden POV) Part 2

We build a routine in the short days leading up to Tristan and Sawyer's birthday, Etta and I wake together, we go for a swim, we work on our adult relationship while our children sleep, take small minutes to our self. I work, harder, eager than ever to learn my love again, because she's changed. She isn't the girl I loved when I was just a boy. She isn't the still young woman I met again years later ready to pull a heartless farce over on her. She's this new person, that has grown, developed changed and become someone I consider myself lucky to be around.

"I'm sure all the other yous I've forgotten are lovely, but I think I'm partial to this one," I whisper my arms curled around her body, her skin on mine. My limbs burning deliciously for all the right reasons, she laughs deeply not questioning my statement, but sighing contently. I lower my face, my nose, dragging it feather like over soft caramel brown skin, from her arm, over to her shoulder, inhaling deeply at her neck. "Thank you," the words don't seem like enough, I know they aren't enough. I had done wrong by her multiple times yet, she was willing to let me inside her heart, shower me with pure love that I didn't deserve but craved nonetheless.

Turning, her chest against mine, a serene smile on her face, "We both made mistakes — we can't keep score Kaden."

"I'm not keeping score, I'm just looking to build something good here, and if there is one thing I'm sure, my biggest mistake was probably not telling you how I felt sometimes, not wanting to be weak or little. I tried hard to not be that little boy I was heartbroken, but in doing that, I know that I made mistakes. Like now, for whatever reason if I ever forgot you or the children, I wouldn't want you to just let me be and let me figure it out on my own in my own time. I can't be away from you for that long Etta, the thought now is without a doubt one of my greatest fears."

I try to not seem small or less manly by speaking — telling her how I feel — knowing that there won't be any rejection reflected back at my hard to even utter words.

"There won't be a next time," she says with such authority. "You're mine, and a father Kaden," no more chasing vampires, with less authority but I know that she wants me to agree. I close my eyes listening to her heartbeat, and then pushing my limit and reaching out to our children, the steady even thuds warm my heart. My grayish blue eyes meet butterscotch mixed with brown and green, "I won't go chasing them, but some need to be taken care of, however," I backtrack quickly, "I do have my people working on that. I won't go doing the jobs we get, but I will oversee it all," I remain honest.

When she sighs, I can feel the worry about things that haven't happened yet bringing her under, weighing her down, "What?"

"In a few years, I think four or five we leave the island and move too some place..." she mumbles and I know this is something she's seen recently like our daughter who doesn't get visions from the distance future like her mother. But like Etta, before it can overwhelm her, we've had Sawyer start to write down what she daydreams in her own journal, for her eyes alone. Knowing the things she does, Etta explained that writing it down sometimes helps with taking her mind off of it, and before it could impact Sawyer's little mind, we started this now.

"Where are we moving?"

She closes her eyes, showing me, a lovely large home, three floors, the mountains behind green and full of safety, a manicured lawn and path leads to another and so on, and as I close my eyes and follow her own thought, we see our children a bit older, teenagers maybe, smiling. I keep my eyes closed, the smile on Sawyer's face, the squeal of Vivian and the thoughtfulness on Tristan's face the last thing I think before sleep pulls me under.

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The three days before we expect the Bradley's to arrive, Etta, John and I mix a batch of her blood with ash and some black coal, a galloon of her blood that they have saved and stored, the last item we add to a small kiddie sized pool container. And as she mumbles words in a language I cannot place, the black grainy substance transforms slowly, turning a white milky color before all together becoming clear-like. Almost the dew substance much like rubber cement.

In silent amazement I watch as the bring out a pasta maker type object and start to place the substance inside while the end coming out is wrapped around a large spool, turning the substance into a long single rope. Working furiously John's son comes to help, the three of them pouring, turning, and winding until the last of the substance has been used and the thin wire wrapped up like a spool of thread nearly twelve or so hours later from when they first started.

"It's — this thing is nearly — I mean it has to be over a hundred miles long..." I stutter out when I return from putting Ree and Morgan down for bed and helping with the older kids.

"Well it has to go around the whole island... the coast line is nearly ninety-two miles so if we go out and make sure it's far out enough, before the person sets foot on the island they'll already be showing symptoms... how did you think it was going to work?"

I blink confused, "this is going in the ocean?" I point to the spool of — of protection? My mind switches out words replacing each until I just settle on that one.

"Yeah, that way, no matter which way they come up from, by the time their foot sets down on the island, we will see or be on alert for danger."

In a rush, different questions formed one creating the next and so on until I had nearly one hundred of them within two minutes. "What happens when it gets wet?" surely it will melt.

"The only way it can break or be broken is by Etta." John tells me.

"The ash we used isn't from this realm, my grandfather sent it for me," and I think this is the first time she ever really volunteered information about them so easily. It wasn't that Etta was holding some grudge against them, I think what hurt most... was knowing she wouldn't get to meet them.

I nodded, "It won't break, the only way to break it is for me to do so... any supernatural that tries to break it, will be hurt. Any human that comes across it — well they won't be able to see it actually," she shrugged standing and stretching out. Distracted — immediately — my eyes traced her long legs, up to her curvaceous hips, to the slither of skin showing as her shirt has ridden up just a bit.

When John clears his throat, I blink furiously shaking my head, until I'm eye to eye with Etta, a smirk on her face. We carry the spool down to the beach; over to my boat leaving David at the house, John, Etta and I take to the water, letting the string sink below the now calm waters. An hour into our trip, a light drizzle begins, soaking us by the time we return to the end we left with David.

Holding onto the edge of rope, Etta jumped headfirst disappearing quickly below after she took the other end from David. Coming back up I helped her on board and quietly we entered our home, changing, going up to check on our babies.

The next morning, John waked Etta and me abruptly, his eyes full of worry. "We aren't sure, but the spell it started working on someone — well a few of the people — Claudia, Drew, Baylin and Drake."

I blinked not knowing who they were — knowing their name but not having much interaction with them — but could remember that they are the ones Etta mentioned that she found instead of Maisy Clemente. "What were the parameters for the spell Etta?" I asked sitting up stretching as we both gathered our bearings.

Yawning, Etta blinked a few times, "Well if they are out to hurt us, or aren't honest about their information with us specifically, then it makes them sick."

"So they have either lied about something or they are out to hurt Etta and the children?" I turned to John.

"They're downstairs?" swinging my legs over to the side, I went and grabbed pants and threw a t-shirt on, Etta following. Going to where John left them, I stop abruptly shocked to see them all, pale, shaking and a putrid scent wrapped around them.

"You lied to me?" Etta went in right away not beating around the bush, showing me a side I had not really seen of her. I had seen loving, momma bear, caring friend, loving mate, and open-minded and forgiving individual. This role, I hadn't witnessed it yet. Her voice full of authority. My lower body reacting —very much — approvingly despite how inappropriate.

"We didn't — we didn't know who to trust, everywhere — they are everywhere — we didn't want to be sent back — I — I — had — had — to — escape — take them with me — why — why are we — so — so — sick?" Claudia groaned out, her hand going to her mouth as her words sounded off.

"Sent back where? Who are you?" again the voice distracting me.

"I'm — I'm Maisy — I'm Maisy Clemente — Alpha — Alpha Monet — had to escape — p — pr — promised not to mate — mate my — my baby. It — she was just a baby — baby and — and he — said that it's what the Elder saw, what — what the goddess wanted!"

Falling down to her knees, I took in all this information, "The Elder?"

Maisy — Claudia nodded, "Yes, he comes once — once in a while — says that — that this is what — what should be done. My mate — Jeddah — he swore that he wouldn't let anything happen to my Megan but — but he lied. We ran, and continued running, until we — I — Drew he — he helped us, we fell in love, I changed my name, the kids name — they were everywhere."

"But there was an Elder?" I persisted.

Before my eyes, the woman seemed to inhale deeply, that panting breathless heavy breathing slowing down as she reveal more and more.

"Yes, he is the leader, he is all knowing... he — he is the father. Caelum is the father," the woman sounded utterly terrified but not of Etta, of Elder Caelum. "When — when you found us — we've been running and we just didn't know if we could trust you... if you would send us back, they — they never stopped searching for us," Claudia sobbed, her face in utter terror and I witnessed something. It wasn't her guilt but that look in her eyes, that level of fear that creeps up slowly up your back and makes your body tense.

But her words confused me, I glanced at John, he supporting the same perplexed expression I'm sure that was on my face.

"Elder Caelum is the Father? Like spiritually?"

"No, Elder Caelum is the father of Christine, David and Jeth."

I was already shaking my head, the Elders didn't have children, and to my right John again, shared my disbelief. "Soon he will take over," she cried and behind her, Drew looked at the woman, with such sadness and love.

After apologizing profusely Claudia, Drew, Drake and Baylin left our home, in much better shape than they came, but John and I could only shake our heads. The minute they were gone, "I thought the Elders couldn't have children?" Etta asked, "I mean I knew enough from what I heard and learned, but she I mean she got better when she said all that..."

John tilted his head, "Yes... but maybe that is her truth — what Alpha Monet has made her come to believe," and oddly, that explanation — that one — was what I could buy. Even Drew looked at the woman with a hint of pity, even years after she ran, she was still holding onto that fear, letting it control her life.

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"Are they here yet?" Sawyer bounced on her feet, excited in a new dress Etta bought for her, her wild locks, curly, hanging down her back. "Did the plane land?"

I chuckled, "Yes, the plane landed and they are being picked up by Rascal and Marco, and taken to the hotel." Little did she know... that Etta and I, well we went overboard, we had missed so many of her and Tristan's birthday that what was supposed to be a small party, was now a small carnival, with games, prizes and treats for all those that worked for me and had children, as well as other pack children.

"Just one more hour and then we're all going-"

"To the party and mom, dad and everyone's going to be there, right?" the same reassurance needed and given until finally, dressed we loaded into the minivan, taking the short twenty minute drive to my hotel. With security in place my nerves calm. Holding onto Ree and Morgan, Etta held Sawyer and Vivian's hand as we entered, knowing they were expecting us.

"Tristan, Sawyer why don't you two go ahead," Etta said brightly, letting them leave the hotel exit, open the door only to be startled and jump back when everyone screamed "surprise!" My little drama queen raised her hand to her chest, laughing, her eyes darting around until her head snapped over to Katherine and Donovan and the other Bradley's.

"Mom! Dad!" Both twins took off running, my heart squeezed but always the actor I kept my face neutral, keeping my eyes on Etta, and relieved to see that though there was a twinge of sadness in her eyes, overall she appeared resigned... no... happy. Of course I'm happy, our children are happy Kaden, if the Bradley's hadn't come... I know that the world wouldn't end, but now... Sawyer and Tristan have everyone they want here, they aren't trying to hurt us, but they love the Bradley's... Etta explained. Finding Kate, I handed off Ree and Morgan, while Etta and I approached the Bradley's, John nodding that he'd keep and eye on Vivian and Myles.

"It's so nice of you all to come," Etta greeted them kindly, "I hope you had a good flight?" again trying to offer them some sort of olive branch.

"Well, it was good... but how do you guys stand the heat?" a pale looking Katherine replied and instantly my mind went to Etta spell.

"You're not looking so good are you coming down with something?" I asked ignoring her question. "Oh, I've never been good with flying, and the heat is just..." she doesn't finish but swallows loudly.

"From how large Sawyer and Tristan have said your home was, I believed that we would be staying with you," Donovan changed he topic completely.

Looking at him in disbelief, that she wiped to a smile when Sawyer and Tristan craned their little necks up, to watch this tennis match conversation, "Enjoy the party," her voice sweet and sincere. While the children played Etta and I joined in, taking rides, just enjoying with Tristan, Myles, Sawyer and Vivian.

After a full day of games, treats and happy shrieks, nearly nine pm and all our guests were making way to leave, I walked over to the Bradley's. "We'd love if you all could spend the day at the beach with us at the house, unless you wanted to do some sightseeing."

"A day at the beach sounds lovely, plus we'd love to see where they have been staying," Donovan replied slowly to hand off a sleeping on his shoulder Sawyer to me. I couldn't hold it against him though; we — Etta and I — had taken what he treasured. 

Dressed casually, I opened the door with Tristan hot on my tail, eager to show off the house, his room and all the things he had spoken to his mom and dad about over the phone. Giving them space, we let Sawyer and Tristan show them around the house, hanging back and just letting them have the reassurance they needed, despite the truth of the matter. Which was that, even if they wanted it, we were granting it, but we didn't have to actually do that, we just thought it would be easier. That was all.

The rest of the family, coming down to the first level of the house left Sawyer and Tristan with Katherine and Donovan on the children's floor. "This is a nice place you have here," Donovan's brother Clay said as conversationally as he could, but it was too forced.

"Well I work hard, and this house is just the fruits of that labor, but it's nothing compared to the occupants," I jibbed, "the people I love, live with here, that's what matters." He nodded and so the afternoon continued this way, Etta and I giving the Bradley's time with Sawyer and Tristan, and the twins trying to soak up that time while still being who they had become in such a small time.

As we all sat down for dinner, Donovan and Katherine began, "Well we were wondering what your plans for Thanksgiving are, because we'd love to include you-"

"Oh mom, we're going to England for Thanksgiving," Sawyer blurted out, her eyes widening, my own and Etta following as the air around us thickened. Like she had been scolded, Sawyer looked down at her plate.

"Sawyer Bean," she looked up at me apologetically, Etta and I didn't have those plans yet, but Sawyer, she knew and like we expected, she just blurted it out, her actions finally catching up to her. "You can tell them, it's not a secret," I said letting this one go, knowing later I'd have to talk to her about it.

"Well yeah — we're going to London for Thanksgiving," she smiled at Katherine and Donovan who both looked as though Sawyer herself had just kicked their puppy... and sadly it wouldn't be the last time they had that look on their faces.

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So... we all know what's coming up... right? The time jump... yepppie? right? Are we excited?

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