Finding Home

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Mark walked over to me and pulled me into a big hug, "I know Ath, that I know, I am going to try to figure this out with the council over at the other house, but I need Eric to stay here during the talks" Mark said pulling back and looking at me.

I knew what he was asking, to play nice for right now. "I understand what you are asking and okay" I said deflated. I handed Tom our daughter, give me a moment to gather myself please before I go back out there" I asked Tom and he nodded he knew this was a lot to ask of me.

He kissed me tenderly on the lips. "You are my wife end of discussion" he said and kissed me once more before him and Mark left the room.

I sat down on the bed, I remembered everything about my relationship with Eric. It was a hot romance that was full of passion and sex and we both were crazy for each other.

Looking back, I should have known something was up, when he bit me, he broke the skin on my neck but said it was an accident, and after he kissed it, it seemed to seal up leaving only a tiny little scar.

You would have to know where to look. I was head over heels in love with him all those years ago. When he left, I was heartbroken, but my husband was his best friend and he ended up filling my head with lies.

I thought he was telling me the truth, since he was his best friend, now I find out they were all lies after he was killed. Seeing Eric did bring back all those emotions and feelings that I had thought were long buried.

As soon as our eyes met, they came rushing out of the ground right back into my heart and mind. He had grown up since I last saw him, back then he was a gangly kid.

Now stood a man that was full of power and sexiness that I could not deny he was hot and those eyes, how they used to be able to pierce my soul, and now, they still can.

I knew when I went out there, I had to be nice, I could not make any waves for the council or myself.

This was not going to be easy but damn it I could do this. Eric could not walk back into my life demanding I was his, not anymore.

I walked back into the family room and sat down on the couch. Tom brought Destiny over as she was starting to get fussy and wanting to be fed.

Derek and Darryle both sat on the floor in front of me, while Tom got me my coffee to drink and sat back down on the couch next to me. I looked up at Eric and saw him intently watching me.

"You can sit down Eric" I said motioning to the chairs, "Mark and the council informed me that they went to the other house to discuss the matter between us" Eric said as he sat down and faced me.

Without thinking I lifted my top and exposed my breasts to feed Destiny, "Holy hell Athena" Eric growled. Destiny latched right on, and Tom handed me a small feeding blanket.

I half covered her as she fed and so I was not fully exposed, "Sorry so used to feeding my daughter in my own house without anyone making a deal about it" I said with a smile on my face looking right at Eric.

My smile may be forced but I could not help the sarcasm.

"Damn woman you haven't changed a bit, and I love it" Eric said with a smile and a glint in his eye. "Oh, but I have changed a lot Eric, more than I think you will ever know" I said not looking at him.

Derek scooted closer to me, he felt my need to be calmed somehow, "what is with this bodyguard stuff" Eric said pointing to the brothers. "They are my brothers, and they make sure I'm taken care of anyway they see fit" I said glaring at him.

"Well, I don't like others touching what is mine and you damn well know that" he said with a growl to his tone. "You need to watch yourself in our home" Tom said with a tone of his own warning to Eric.

"Well now that Destiny has been fed and burped, I'm going to go lay her down and get some lunch started" I said going into the nursery. I snuggled her for a minute longer before putting her down for her nap.

Walking out I saw all the guys not talking but watching the fire, I rolled my eyes and went to the kitchen, I grabbed my CD that I had in the case and put it in and turned it on.

Not too loud to wake up the baby but just enough to drown out the silence that was defining.

I pulled out the bread and some roast that Tom sliced up the night before for sandwiches, along with some cheese and mayo and mustered depending on what the guys wanted.

I put the meat out on a plate and the cheese on a different one, then put it all on the kitchen table, "You guys can serve yourselves," I said as I was making mine. After that was done, I pulled out the iced tea and some lemons.

I placed my stuff on the counter as the guys got up except for Eric, he sat there watching what was going on, "Eric you can have some too if you want" I said as I started up the stove.

Tom came over to me, "Baby you know you're supposed to be on bedrest, let me do this" he said looking at me, I looked up at him and smiled. I knew this was not easy for him to have Eric here and the council debating if I was to spend time with Eric to see if the mating bond was still there.

"I know, I just get tired of not doing anything, but you're right as always love" I said and kissed him and grabbed my sandwich and iced tea with lemon and sat down on the couch.

"Ath, your taste in music sucks" Derek said as he turned it off, "hey" I said and he stuck his tongue out and I laughed, "fine but I get to choose the movie" I said and grabbed the remote.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Eric's lips start to smirk watching me and Derek banter back and forth a bit. So, he is not made of stone after all these years. "Are you hungry?" I asked, looking at Eric.

He turned his gaze towards me, "you have to ask that question Ath?" he said as he got up and went to get himself something to eat. I knew what he was referring to, but I was not going to say anything.

Derek and Darryle sat on the floor, Tom put his food down and growled at his brothers not to touch it, I laughed as they both pouted, Tom put more logs into the fire and sat down next to me.

Eric sat down with his food, and I gave a few suggestions, but they all groaned. "Fine what do you guys want to watch that doesn't have a shit ton of killing in it" I said getting up and going to the DVD selection.

"Darryle got up and picked out a movie and showed it to me without the others seeing it, I had to laugh. "Perfect" I said and kissed his cheek, I swear Tom and Eric both growled.

I turned around and both guys were staring right at me, "oh for heaven's sake I can kiss my brother on the cheek" I said as I rolled my eyes. Darryle stuck his tongue out at Tom and Derek laughed.

I hid the case but put it in the movie, I sat back down and cuddled on the couch with my food and settled in for a movie day. "Oh, hell no, I am not watching the sound of music" Tom and Eric cried out and Darryle and I both busted out laughing.

"Oh yes you all are" I said, and fist bumped Darryle. We all sat back and watched the movie, and I could not help it, I was singing along with it which got Derek and Darryle into the guy's part of singing as well.

Once it was done, we were all laughing and talking, "Ath, I never knew you had a killer singing voice" Derek said turning around looking at me.

"That's because I usually don't let anyone hear me" I said blushing.

"I know what Ath is getting for Christmas Derek called out" "oh no you aren't" I said as I got up to put our plates in the kitchen. "You going to get her a karaoke machine?" Darryle asked.

Derek nodded when my back was turned.