Held For Ransom

Epilogue

Important A/N at the bottom! Please, please, please read! But, enjoy the epilogue of Held For Ransom first! ;)

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"Mama!"

I laugh as my daughter tumbles into the grass as she tries to do a somersault over to me.

"Good try, Mar. You almost had it that time!" I encourage her to try again. Standing from my cross-legged position on the ground, I walk over and help her up.

"Really?" She asks, her eyes wide with wonder and excitement.

"Mhmm," I smile in reply.

"Yay!! Watch me! I'll get it this time!" She exclaims, getting into somersault position again.

I watch her, wondering how in the world I was blessed with such a beautiful child.

Five years ago, Cole and I had our first child, a daughter. We named her Marie, after his mom.

I'm eight months pregnant with our second child, another girl. Her name will be Victoria, after my mom.

I love teasing him about how pretty soon they're both going to have him wrapped around their little fingers. Marie, no doubt, is a definite daddy's girl. She can't go longer than an hour without wanting to see him and getting a hug.

Just as I tune back into reality, I see Marie performing a perfect somersault. No tipping or falling over, as she's usually done.

"Mommy! Mommy, did you see that??" Marie screams, jumping up and running into my arms.

I laugh and pick her up, twirling her around. "Sure did, sweetheart! That was awesome!" I kiss her forehead and set her down. "Why don't we go tell Daddy?"

"Yeah!" She takes my hand and starts running towards the pack mansion. I keep up with her easily, thankful once again that being a shifter has it's perks. Normally, it'd be hard for a human eight months pregnant to be this active. But for me, there's more cushion in the womb for my baby, keeping her protected from jostling or anything else.

"Daddy!" Marie yells, once we get inside the mansion.

Babe, I'm kind of busy right now. Could you have Hadlee or someone watch Marie and then come up to my office please? It's very important. Cole's voice echoes in my mind, sounding urgent.

Umm, yeah sure, I reply, while wondering what's so important that he couldn't spare two seconds for Marie's big news.

Hadlee, can you watch Marie for awhile? Apparently something's up and Cole wants me in his office, I mind-link her quickly.

"Mommy, why isn't Daddy coming? Doesn't he want to know what I did?" Marie pouts, making my heart swell in absolute adoration.

I smile gently, "Sure he is, sweetheart. He's just, uh, in the shower right now. Aunt Hadlee is going to come and play with you for awhile, and I'm going to go check on Daddy, ok? Make sure he's not growing two extra arms and a trunk," I wink.

I say some really weird things sometimes.

Marie giggles, "Mommy, that's weird! Daddy isn't going to grow two more arms, or a trunk."

"You never know," I tell her, making her laugh once more.

"Aunt Hadlee is in the houuuse!" Hadlee bursts in the doorway, flailing her arms dramatically. I roll my eyes and shake my head at my best friend, who also happens to be the weirdest person on the planet.

"Aunt Hadlee!" Marie runs into Hadlee's arms. She catches her and twirls her around.

"How has my little cutie been doing?"