Angel

Chapter 81

Tori

After months of living in fear, the compound was eerily quiet. Well, except for one very grouchy blue-eyed demon. "Lucian if you make me eat one more chocolate chip pancaked, I'm going to flog your fucking ass when I get out of this contraption," Gabriel growled.

Luke batted his eyelashes, "But you love my cooking."

"I'm rethinking that fucking statement," he huffed. "Belle make him stop."

I laughed as I played with his hair, "You realize he has no clue how to make any other kind, right?"

"No fucking way?" Gabe gasped, "Luke, really?" Kisses just blushed. "Holy shit, all these years and I never fucking figured that out. Dude, you realize you can just not add the chocolate, right?"

Luke grabbed his chest, "Not add chocolate? That's blasphemy!"

I stood up and kissed his cheek, "Kisses you should have been an actor."

He grabbed my waist and dipped me back for a kiss, "Role play is acting, beautiful girl."

"Really asshole? I'm in a fucking sling and you're gonna make out with our girl in front of me?" Gabe grumbled.

I shimmied under him and giggled, "Does this count as suspension play?"

"Belle," he growled, but I kissed him and cut him off. When our kiss broke he grinned, "I am so fucking asking Sean for painkillers. If we lower this thing, just right..." I made a choked sound as he grinned. "You thought about it, admit it."

"Hell, if she didn't, I sure did," Luke groaned.

Brandon

"Mattie, you need to eat something," I said, bringing her a simple soup and water. She didn't answer, continuing to sit and clench Marc's necklace in her hand. I put the food on the table and sat next to her. "Violet will be here tomorrow."

"H...how do I tell her?" she whispered.

"You're not alone, baby. We will all tell her," I said, wrapping her in my arms.

"She's been through so much already. I don't know how to tell her about Vivian, and now Marc...I've failed her, Brandon."

I cupped her face, "Mattie, you haven't failed anyone. None of this was in your control. The only people responsible are dead and gone."

"They're not the only ones gone," she said and continued crying until she fell asleep.

****

"Did she eat?" Axel asked as I came into the sunroom.

"No. She cried herself to sleep." I said, sitting next to him as he gripped my hand. "Where are Raven and Cor?"

"They went to visit North. Silas says he's being a pain in the ass with his physical therapist. I'm not sure putting Raven in the room with him will help though," he laughed.

I chuckled, "Yeah, those two are oil and water."

"Emilio was going to see if Tori could help set up Violet's room since Dove isn't up to it," Axel said, his voice dropping a bit. "I can't wait to see her again, but I'm so damn scared at the same time."

"I know. That's what has Mattie in knots. She thinks she's a failure."

"Y...you don't think she'd try to hurt herself again, do you?" his eyes watered at the mention.

"No, even if she considered it, she wouldn't hurt the baby. I'll talk to Sean about her statements. It might just be best for one of us to stay with her no matter what right now. Even if she doesn't want us there."

"I'm not sure Emilio can face her. Raven's having a hard time as well," he said, "They both feel like they failed her."

I kissed his forehead. "I think it's time we have a family meeting. We can't keep going like this, and she's going to deliver soon. I don't want to see our family fall apart, Ax. We need each other now more than ever before."

"I know, babe. I love you, Brandon." His eyes were damp as he leaned over and kissed me. "I knew it the moment I laid eyes on you in your broody glory even back then. You were so mad at the world and now look at you - a lawyer, a husband, a father, and the glue holding us together. I'm so proud of you."

I held the hand he had placed on my cheek, "I can't believe how long I fought my feelings for you," I chuckled. "I was so stupid. I mean, who the hell wouldn't be attracted to you? You're a fucking god, Axel." He gave a short bark of a laugh at my compliment. "Seriously though, you brought me through some of the darkest times in my life, and then when Marc joined our family, well fuck, I was one lucky bastard." My words caught and he pulled me close, this time letting me cry as he held me.

Silas

"What do you mean I'll need more surgery?" North roared at the poor therapist who visibly cowered.

"Sir, you'll need some more grafting done to prevent atrophy and infection," she tried to explain.

He started to yell again, but I put my hand on his arm. "Stamáta na eísai gáidaros an den théleis na peráseis ti zoí sou se anapirikó karotsáki, agápi mou. (Stop being an ass unless you want to spend your life in a wheelchair, love.) He huffed and shut his mouth. "Thank you," I told her and she quickly scurried past Corey and Raven who had just entered the room.

"Chasing women off so early today, North?" Raven teased. North just scowled. "Maybe we need to have Tori get you in line."

"Did I hear my name?" ligi agapi asked as she came into the room. "Why does North look like a storm cloud?"

"They said he will need another surgery soon for another skin graft," I explained.

"At his rate, I won't have any more places for them to take skin from," he muttered.

Tori climbed up on the walking path where he had been practicing, his waist tethered to the sides in case of a fall. "Show me," she said. He rolled his eyes and she gave a purely wicked smile. "Oh dear, that's one for rolling your eyes." He gave her an incredulous look and she laughed, "What? I can punish you for rolling your eyes if you can punish me for it, grumpy bear."

The three of us snickered at her new nickname for him. "I am not a fucking carebear, Tori," he grumbled.

"The fuck you aren't. You got the whole grumpy stare thing down flat. Now, show me what you got, lover."

He huffed and took a cautious step toward her, then another and another until he was just centimeters from her. "If you can do that, lover, then you can endure another surgery. Besides, chicks dig scars...especially chicks with scars," she grinned.

He leaned forward and crashed his lips against hers as she whimpered with pleasure. When he pulled back he told her, "You are the craziest woman I've ever met, Tori Kimura and I love you."

Her eyes glistened, "I love you too, North Taylor, now let's get you to the end of the run and then in a chair so I can sit on your lap and tease you." He let out a booming laugh and began to move as she took a step back when he stepped forward.

"I think he's going to be just fine," Corey laughed. I couldn't agree more.  

Author's Notes:  light and dark... only a few more chapters