And books, they offer one hope -- that a whole universe might open up from between the covers, and falling into that universe, one is saved.
-Anne Rice

"I hate you." Link grumbles after the fifth time I've shot him with the sink's hose nozzle, as Mom asked us both to wash the dishes. It's safe to say I took advantage of the situation. 

"Why?" I ask with a smirk. "I'm lovely."

"No you're not," The redhead scoffs, placing a dish into the sink after I rinsed it. "You're a nuisance. An insane nuisance at that. I don't know what Asher sees in you, if you were any worse at being bad you would get him into so much trouble." 

"I'm good at being bad, otherwise I'd never drag Asher along with me, or be around him after." I explain, frowning at the thought.

"Elle are you done with dishes?" My dad's voice booms across the house, making Lincoln jump.

"Almost." I shout back, grabbing the dish detergent pack and putting one in.

"Okay well hurry up, and tell Link he can stop if he wants. Alexander will be home any minute, your mom fished out the movies we all made. Asher wanted to watch them. Also, Mom made strawberry shortcake."

In seconds I start the dishwasher, trying to get into the living room as fast as I can -Link following me as close as he can without tripping me. "Dad no! I hate those videos." Pausing as I smell the food, I completely backtrack. "Wait...did you say shortcake?"

Dad, Mom and Lincoln all laugh at me. Asher just sort of stares with a smile, watching as I scan the room for food. 

"Your love of strawberry shortcake doesn't really match your personality or appearance but I still think that's really adorable." The golden boy says, making me scowl and cross my arms.

"I'm not adorable." I huff, but pick up a plate of shortcake anyway. Everyone besides Link, who I think isn't getting one because that'd be partial cannibalism, already has a plate of food. "And -hey! Dad!"

I turn to my evil dad who tries and fails to hide a smirk as I realize he told my boyfriend to sit in my favorite chair again.

That's my seat, always has been.

And normally I'd sit in Asher's lap no problem but he isn't a big fan of PDA and I want to avoid the snarky comments that are sure to come my way once the stupid angel girl and my brother come. So I scowl at the Devil before taking a seat at Gold's feet.

Lincoln sits in the chair next to his best friend -which is when I realize there are a lot more places to sit then there should be.

A lot more.

"Mom what the f-"

"OH EMMIE I'M HOME! Get your sweet ass over here and give me some love." The voice of my uncle fills the house right after the boom of my front door slamming open stops.

My mom goes to get up and rush to one of her closest friends but Dad holds her back with a growl.

Uncle Nolan rushes in the room, pouting with disappointment while his points eye-liner still manages to look perfect. "Why is she on you and not on me?"

"Because she's my wife and the only person her 'sweet ass' will ever be going to is me and I'm not sharing her love so fuck off." My dad snarls, making Mom turn red and squeak in embarrassment.

After being married for so long you'd think she'd be used to it.

"Eliza!" The grown, but very gay man squeals and goes to run and probably tackle me flat to the ground.

And they all know I'd save my shortcake, which is why I'm grateful for Uncle Johann, Uncle Nolan's husband, wrapping his arm around his partner and keeping the idiot down. 

"I got your back Elle." The calmer, and probably my sane uncle- -normally I'd call my Uncle Calum something like that but he was crazy enough to marry Aunt Jessamine...so he can't be that sane- -says and adds a wink with it.

I don't respond other than a returned wink -something Lincoln raises a eyebrow at.

"Is more people coming or-"

"Fuck you Cam! ELIZA. I'm winning! NO. FUCK. Shit! Atticus slow down. I want to win. ELIZA. Demon girl. Diabla. Elle. Where the fuck are you?" My uncle, and frankly worst one, Uncle Julian screams through the house, interrupting me.

Him and my Uncle Cameron, along with Johann and Nolan's kid,  Atticus Thatch, have a long standing game. 

They pick a person, a usually isolated person like me, Dad or my grandpa Jack, and- -only at family conventions which me my mom planned all these mouth-breathers to come here- -and whoever touches them first.

I usually help Atticus win, despite killing himself slowly by smoking on the regular he's my favorite cousin...and the only one who doesn't tackle me or smack me to win the Tap Game. Plus it helps that he needs to smoke, because of his disease, rather than a habit.

Standing with a sigh I place my shortcake on the side table and wait for the banging and crashing of three testosterone filled males to come into the room.

Finally they do, Atticus leading the charge with a cigarette between two fingers, a hidden smirk on his face (By sing a surrogate after mixing their spunk together we have no idea if Uncle Nolan or Johann is the father, since he got his biological mother's hazel eyes and the Yancy curls but also blonde hair similar to Nolan's. I think that Johann is the biological father, I can see it in his smile and one-track mind. Not to mention my uncle winks at me every time it's brought up.) which reminds me of Uncle Johann the second he does it. 

Without warning that idiot Cameron barges into Atticus, making the smirking boy grab onto me in attempt not to fall while already being on his way down, winning the game but tripping.

All's fair in the Game of Tap.

Fucking great.

Tsk.

Lack of intelligence.

Thankfully he grabbed me with his left hand, meaning I didn't get burned by the cancer stick.

But I do get landed on, hard. And feel my cousin's sharp jaw digging into my abdomen.

Catching my breath I squeeze my eyes shut before looking up as Atticus sits up, then stands, looking mad but quickly extending a hand to help me up before pummeling Uncle Julian and Cameron.

I stop myself from flinching as I realize I gladly accepted the hand holding a cigarette, and choose to grin instead. "Thanks, A'." I refuse to call him Atti like the rest of the family. "I'm guessing they just choose to not tell me about a fucking surprise family reunion."

"Ding, ding, ding. You're good at guessing games Squirt." And like the jerk he is, pointing out my height every single fucking time Atticus calls me that. I've learned to ignore it. "Where's your boyfriend?" Surprisingly, I blush at this, and hate myself for it. I definitely didn't tell him about Asher. I don't want people prying into my business. I already told my parents too much, and Asher told my dad way too much.

"Oh god, it's not the redhead is it?" I burst out laughing at this, even if I didn't see Link's face I'd laugh at the words.

"Nah, not Weasley it's-"

"Isn't that your favorite book person or whatever? Weasley something?" Stupid Atticus asks, Asher tries to hide his laugh at my exposure but only manages to press a hand over his mouth as his best friend stares at me in shock. Without stopping my cousin flicks a finger at the nice guy. "Anyway, I see now. It's him."

"Figured that out fast enough." I mutter, hands going to my pocket.

"I'm-" 

A growl rips from my throat as Gold flinches when Atticus thrusts his hand towards him, forgetting all about the cigarette. "A!" I snap, grabbing his wrist. "Go finish your smoke then come back when every one is here."

Those two idiot Uncles must have yelled to start the game while he was outside smoking.

Paling a bit, Atticus realizing what he put around me, and that it somehow affects my boyfriend. Not  asking any more he nods, turns and heads back outside.

"Gold." I come to stand in front of him, speaking as softly as I can, spacing back in mint green eyes focus on me. "Are you okay?"

"Y-yeah." Asher nods, but stammers.

Holding his colder-but-now-flushing cheeks between my hands I keep eye contact, and notice how he barely glances away. "I don't believe you."

Sadly, a embarrassing squeak leaves my mouth as the nice guy pulls me smack into him by my side and kisses me. I kiss him back, relaxing against his larger figure as fingers slip between the sweater and leggings -seeing as the sweater is almost a crop top.

Pulling away with a shiver I have no choice but to stare at Asher, watching as he blinks himself from the kissing haze. 

So fucking cute. But also so fucking sexy.

I seriously want to ask God, or whoever the fuck made this handsome boy in front of me how the fuck they did it. Because they did a damn good job.

"Thanks Liza." The golden boy says, making me giggle as I catch the redhead's disgusted look from the corner of my eye. "I'm okay now."

"Good." I nod. 

A pathetic squeal of surprise sounds out as something small rams into my lower half, or rather three or four small things. Those small things being miniature humans, more commonly known as creatures named children.

Not even five minutes later everyone is here, and because there's so many people and new people our family has devised a system to introduce everyone: Make me or my mother, who actually knows everyone, give their name and a quick description. Though recently it's been me, since I'm funny.

I don't like it thought, because for a while I'm the center of a attention. Thankfully at this point everyone has graduated to my backyard.

Lincoln and Asher fit right in.

They're family now.

Plus it's been a good three years since an entire family convention and some people have gotten married and my Aunt Ollie had a kid about two years ago. My baby cousin is the cutest.

Another thing I hate is they make me stand on top of the long table (a series of fold up tables that we bought to let everyone able to sit down) like a stupid show host.

Everyone brought their dogs, who are currently running around in the huge enclosed area we have behind our pool, being all happy. These dogs have known each other for years, we're not worried at this point. The only one me and my dad won't go near are the Chihuahua's, the true Hell Beasts.

I start with the people who I'm most familiar with, being nice to only those that deserve it, sarcastic to those that don't, Mean Girl or Heather quotes for the ones sarcasm won't cover and mean to Xander and Link.

"Of course you all know my mom, Emma Carter, as she didn't take my dad's last name of Wolf to avoid being barked at by random dogs on the street." I grin, winking at Mom and then facing my dad who only looks slightly offended. "And my dad, the devil. Xavier Wolf, if you must know. Also, his middle name is Bailey. I thought it was important for you all to know that." My dad hates his middle name. 

Me and my brother find it hilarious.

"Moving on we have my brother, Alexander Wolf, either stupid or brave enough to ask Celeste Hilton next to him in the bright, pink, glittery tube top to marry him. She said yes. It's gonna happen sometime after college, and I'm already dreading it." Xander laughs while his fiancee glares.

"Next to them is Olivia Wolf and her son, Bailey. He's only two, but already knows how to string enough words together to tell my brother to shove off in baby language. His middle name is Uriah, which I'm pretty sure he'll grow up to hate as well. The Wolf women name their children well, apparently."

"Next we have Cameron Carter, his girlfriend is the smart one and couldn't be here as she's out saving lives. That means no one is here to control him, watch out, he probably has a pocket full of glitter. Feel free to punch, he's durable and deserving. His long lost twin Julian Thatch is next, though his very pregnant wife is here. I'd be careful because if you made her mad, she might just eat you. That imp she's growing needs a soul anyway." She scowls at this, though I see amusement in her eyes. "Give it up for Jemma Hemingway." 

My Uncle Cameron is really trying to settle down, and finally realizes he shouldn't have spent so long thinking being a bachelor was all that. 

Uncle Jules married Jem about five years ago and she announced the pregnancy around three months ago, despite being six months along. Julian is more than excited and Jem is taking it well, though I know she had to go off her anti-depressants so it wouldn't hurt the baby.

"Across from them are Grandma Macy and Grandpa Jack, who I heard just celebrated their forty second anniversary. I don't know how y'all did it. Sorry Grandpa, but you're a little boring." 

Though I love my grandparents, I just had to tease him. If my parents aren't around I can always go to them, and they've been a big support system for my family over the years. They're very, very good people.

"Beside them is my second most sane Uncle, Calum Hilton. I say second because he married the crazy known previously as Jessamine Thatch. Aunt Jessie really is something, but under the insane is a gigantic heart so know if you get hurt, she will help you...just after she finishes laughing." Right on cue Uncle Cal smiles and Aunt Jess giggles like mad, her youngest child on her lap. "Around or on them, in order from youngest to oldest, is their children."

"Engel and his twin is Cael Hilton are 21. Not to be confused with the food Kale. Good luck telling them apart." I can. CJ is taller and has dirty blond hair rather than the nearly platinum blonde hair their mom has.  "Little note on them, EJ and CJ used to go up to a random person on the street and tell them if their love is not meant to be them from the future would come back and slap them, then the other twin would run into the crowd, slap the other and walk away. And when they actually wanted to date the person they do that to the person next to them, then say the same thing to who they wanted to pick up. The other would look at the person, nod slowly and walk away with a thumbs up. Worked more than you thought it would."

My family loves this, and it cracks everyone up.

"You've already met their oldest girl, Celeste. She's twenty by the way, so you can only hope to understand this family's timeline. Next in the order is Evangelos, feel free to call him Evan. He's 18. As a common smoker, I'm betting on him living to eh...late fifties? I'll put down twenty, please join the pool." Even his parents laugh at this, probably because they hate that habit of his.

"Next is Micah, who sadly outgrew me at 5'2 and only 11 years old. I call him Mickey, as he has a odd obsession with Disney that all started with that one freaking mouse. Last, smallest, youngest, but definitely not least is Rosangel. Rose is only 5 and won't be taller than me any time soon. So I thank you two for reproducing a total of six times and making this harder for everyone."

My collective family laugh at this, as I come up with something different every time. Last time I was still healing and managed to land a joke about them having more kids then I have scars, which at the time (and still is) ridiculously untrue.

"Some of my favorite people coming up here, just as a fore-note. My Uncle Nolan Thatch, not so proud cousin of Jessamine and Julian, and his husband Johann Yancy. Their son, but really only Johann's, Atticus Thatch. I'm grateful his last name isn't Yancy though, don't like that name. Really Uncle Joel, you should do something about that." Uncle Johann shakes his head with a chuckle. "I have a faint suspicion that he's only named the way he was because of Atticus Finch and To Kill A Mockingbird, seeing as it was the only book Nolan read during the nine months of their surrogates pregnancy. Shame really. A' is something else though, with those glasses and raging loner persona along with those stupid curls that turn into a Afro when wet, he's a real keeper."

Making fun of things he doesn't like, of course, like any true cousin.

"Across from A' is my Baba and Gigi. I have no clue why they made us call them that, but at this point it's too late to turn back. Not that I blame you for avoiding announcing it yourselves, they're parents Julian and Jessamine themselves, and helped raise my mother. It must have been chaotic at their house when those three were teenagers. I can only imagine. Just ask them about my Aunt's old chocolate box. Gigi is really my grandmother, Faye Thatch, often compared to a fairy. Baba is her husband, James Thatch, or Baba JJ. We like to get as creative as we can with old people, so it seems."

They laugh at this, not taking the old comment to heart.

"Oddly enough, my last set of grandparents aren't really grandparents at all but great-grandparents though don't mention it and don't act like you can tell." You can't tell, I can tell Grams is ready to throw shoes -me and Mom always seem to put her in a certain kind of exasperation, one only I purposely extort.

"Call him Papa Lee, though his name is Levi Carter if you feel obligated go by Mr. L'. As he used to teach, he also responds to that. Him and his wife, my Grams, Grammy, elongated Grandma, Grandmother, Grandosa, Abuela, Great-Grams, Abuela-Grande, Bisabuela, Nain, Hennain...really I could go on and on for thing to call this woman. Her real name is Elizabeth Rose Carter. If you couldn't tell by now, seeing as my name is Eliza Rose, I'm named after her. And I'm glad I am."

Doesn't quite look like I'm going to set smacked by a grandma slipper any time soon.

Thank god, it surprisingly stings when she throws things.

Grams got force.

"Rounding back to my Uncle Cameron, by not really, Uncle Cameron's evil twin: Camille Carter. If there's one thing to say about her it's, well it's that I really don't want to say much about her." I don't like Camille and refuse to give her the title of Aunt. 

"The only thing I like about her is her kid, Hayden. He's six and adorable. Looks like her a little, he's on her left, if you by chance thought I was talking about a middle aged woman in the body of a small boy. Give her a chance, she might surprise you."

"Next to, but also not the small boy on his right, is my Great Uncle Wyatt. His middle name is Red, hell knows why. Uncle Wyatt is a good guy, though I don't know what he did to raise two kids that turned out like Camille and Uncle Cameron. Something happened there, if you're curious keep to yourself as he doesn't quite know either." I don't talk to Uncle Wyatt a lot, he's a very private, but compassionate man. After he lost his brother and wife in the span of a year he closed off and became less of a real person, more of a shell. Which is what my mom told me anyway.

Some of the people in my family have been hurt a lot, badly. We're a group of cracked, broken and shattered people. Together I find we normally don't feel like we're missing pieces. 

That's what my mom says family is about, finding your home, then finding people to fill it.

"Someone none of you have met before, save the what? Three who have? Is Lincoln Levi Lewis. He might look human, but don't let that fool you, he's really a strawberry in disguise. Often, people avoid him because of that odd face, scowl and jeans that make him look like a twisted version of Charlie the lesbian from Supernatural, but talked to him. He's okay, I guess. A good conversationalist. Avoid topics like hats and what happens when you add baking soda to them."

I end his introduction like this, purely so people ask him about it and he's forced to explain to people about the time I messed with him in chemistry.

For the first time I pause, not knowing a single thing to say about my golden boy other than his name. I want people to know him but my possessive side also doesn't want people to know about him, he's mine and mine along. I don't want people to be all over him asking him how he manages to stand me or keep me calm like people have been doing to my mom for years.

"Asher Hart." I clear my throat, listening to the sudden silence. 

Apparently it's a big deal when a Wolf finds someone they can stand. Aunt Olivia's husband left before Bailey was even born, I think one day she'll be able to move on from the hurt he brought her. 

"He's the nice guy...but he's my nice guy. Mine. So don't fucking touch him or crowd him, if you do you've been warned. And um, that's it. Disperse."

Wolf, excuse the internal word play, whistles go off just as I jump down from the table, making me have to fight back the blush. Yet among that I hear Evan's snort above all and immediately focus on his muttering, glad I have good hearing. "Guess he is her dick after all." A small snicker comes from him before he continues to himself. "She should be alone."

"Evangelos." My dad snarls, apparently having heard the same thing. People settle wide eyed, Uncle Cal looks confused as his son gulps. "Go inside now."

Link actually looks sort of scared, like something bad is about to happen.

Fuck my protectiveness, because on instinct I place a hand on either of the two friend's broad shoulder and lean in between them to whisper. "My dad's not like your dad, or foster parents." I say, shocking them both at the bluntness. Asher flinches. 

"He doesn't yell when he's mad. He doesn't get mad at children, or people he's responsible for. I know he seems pretty terrifying sometimes, or intimidating or whatever. He's never hit one of us, we didn't even get spanked as children. My dad hurts people who deserve it, sometimes not even then, or just when he's protecting people. Evan might come out here with tears in his eyes, a stony pouty face or looking like he wants to throw up. But let me make one thing clear, that is because he finally understands what a monumentally big mistake he's made of his life and nothing to do with my dad's anger. You could walk into their conversation and Dad will be laying out facts, and fact is my dad's disappointed in Evangelos. He knows my cousin was raised better than he turned out to be. We all were. You both have to stop being so afraid of someone like the Devil. He won't hurt you. Now my mom? She could do you some damage, don't make her mad."

I'm sure me whispering this could be considered creepy on some level but I simply can't care. 

They share a look, and I know what that look means. Now they have to do that we're almost silent best friend talk with slight texting and code words.

So I leave them be after kissing Asher hastily on the cheek, heading straight towards Atticus, who is currently finishing his smoke from before. "Did you finish your Hit List?"

My Hit List is a giant list of books I want to read after I die. I started it after I got kidnapped, realizing there might not be much life left to live. 

So every year I've finished the Hit List, for the first fix month every book I read I write down five more books, for the next six I finish reading it. 

Only once I almost didn't complete the Hit List, and finished around 11:53 on New Years Eve after cramming for a month of solid reading. That was after I went back to school for the first time since I was abducted, and I didn't realize how vexing high-school would be compared to simple first-three-weeks-of-eight-grade.

"Not yet," I smirk, and know I seem completely unaffected by the cigarette he's smoking when I lean against him on the back wall of my house. "Being kidnapped tends to put a slight damper on anyone's nightly activities, if you know what I mean." I wiggle my eyebrows to add a second meaning.

"There's only so much vile you can keep inside such a small body Squirt, and use that body well." Atticus smirks back, imply just the same kind of thing. "You were taught and grew up alright...right?"

"Well, I was taught to think before I act. So if I just so happen to smack the shit out of someone, be assured I've thought about the action and am confident in the decision. But you sound like you need good advice." I pause, growing serious. "Wassup?"

"I need help with...with something. My dads can't help me, they're dads. I don't know what to do, who to turn to. I'm pretty much stuck. Nothing is in my hands. This girl controls the whole situation-"

"Atticus." I interrupt as I face him. "I think I know what's going on. Let's go somewhere private, or close to."

With a slight grin I grab my cousin's wrist, able to touch him without being overly uncomfortable. I lead him to the enclosed area with the dogs, who all crowd us and jump over one another trying to get pet -including Nora and Bones. Eventually we settle down in a pile of canines, a Wolf included, and I can see that Atticus is more relaxed.

"Did you get someone pregnant?" I ask softly, watching as A' has to squeeze his eyes shut before nodding slightly. I'm unable to stop the soft gasp from escaping me, or the surprise. 

Out of all the people in my family Atticus always seemed so...controlled compared to them, like he really had his life figured out.

He's only twenty two, so he's still has time.

"Well, who's the girl?"

"Her name's Violet Thompson. I call her Nonnie. I really...I really thought I was in love. I think I'm in love with her. She doesn't love me though, to her it was really just a friends with benefits thing. We got drunk, got careless." I hate seeing him look like he's going to cry, but I do nothing to prevent it.

"Well, it's Violet's decision if she gets a abortion or not. And even if she does see the pregnancy through she can still decide to put the kid up for adoption." Atticus looks devastated at this. "But if she doesn't, and you become a father, even at a young age, you will be a good one. That kid will be born in such a big, diverse, loving family. It will have a support system that no one else but the Wolf-Carter-Thatch Pack can. You won't be alone, any decision she makes you won't be alone. There will be all these amazing people to having your back through any mourning, grieving or frustration you go through. You won't be alone." 

"You can live as the guy who got a girl pregnant and never became a father, the guy who got to be a father until he just wasn't anymore and you and live as one of the best dads ever with two gay grandfathers to back him up. You're only twenty-two. You have your whole life ahead of you, finish college no matter what happens. Set up your own life, even if you have to bring another into this world. It doesn't matter if she wants you there or not, at every doctors appoint ask if you can at least drive her. If she says no, ask again the next time. Offer to buy anything she needs, even food cravings. Be there for both her and the kid, and let her know all these people that are there for you, are now also there for her." 

"Don't be afraid if she decides to have your kid A', shit like this is breathtaking in all the right ways." I finally end up telling him after a moment of silence. "Put me on speed dial, okay? I don't care where I'm at, what I'm doing. If you need me, I'll be there. Any time of day, any day. You'll never be alone. But first things first okay? When you get home tonight tell your dads, I can tell you've kept this a secret for too long."

"Yeah." My cousin wipes his tears, and I ignore them. "I'll do that. For now, let's just try to have fun."

I giggle, petting Tim Bob Alan which is my Grandpa Jack's chestnut dachshund, Queen Victoria which is Celeste's white cocker spaniel and JD- -who my aunt claims is named after Jason Dean from Heathers like she actually listens to musicals but who I actually know is named Just Dog, that she stole from a old TV show and named her own dog after like a dork- -which is Aunt Faye's Scottish Terrier for the last time.

Standing I help Atticus to his feet, smirking as I realize Asher is watching me from across the expanse of my backyard only to realize I caught him and look away with a blush.

Time to go flirt with my boyfriend.