Generations: The Long Game

Lost Boy

AN: Myself and Angelnoosh have been writing a companion volume to Generations for the last few weeks. There are and will continue to be little connections between the two. Also once we get to July 2028 in both book there will be a shared story arc, so you may want to check it out.
Deputy's Darling is the sweet love story of Deliah and Sara and how they became a part of our Generations village.

If you want to check it out, you can find it on our collab profile LoomsburyGroup

Hope to see you there!

As the fourth drew nearer, they had looked at many samples, but she couldn't see beyond the beautiful richness of the forest green. Winter had sworn it was too dark, but she just couldn't shake it. She loved how it complimented the Turkish blue perfectly on Ben's wall. She stared down at the ivory letters of his name as she contemplated how their life would change. Ben reminded her of Reece. Always a bit bigger than other children his age, but Charlie was still so tiny. They were preparing space for the little boy that had captured their hearts and changed their world. She was shaken from her thoughts as the doorbell sounded.

Winter opened the door to his two sister-in-laws with a smile. A little voice from behind him calling all their attention. "Daddy, I do." The three chuckled as Mia scooped the little girl up causing her dark curls to bounce. "No Lil. Never answer the door without mummy or daddy, okay?" The little girl nodded as she spotted her other aunt, opening and closing her hand beckoning her closer. Marjorie leaned in and kissed her forehead before turning to Winter. "Are you heading over with Reece and Char? He has the lounge looking like the nursery over there. I'm sure Charlie and Genevieve would enjoy the visit." He nodded. "Yeah, we were just going to walk over as soon as I packed the bag for Ben." She brushed the little boy's cheek with the back of her fingers. "Are you gonna go play with all the other boys my love?" The little brunette giggled at her as she spoke to him.

"She's upstairs in the nursery. What's in the bag?" Marjorie pulled the Malbec out with a smile. She and Mia made their way towards the stairs. "Well have fun with your painting party... and Marjorie?" She turned back to him. "Don't paint the floors, yeah?" She scowled at him as Mia stifled a laugh. "Come on Marjie, you know she hates to be kept waiting." They ascended the stairs and entered the nursery where Autumn was once more lost in thought. "Hey, Aut, your manual labor and entertainment are here." She turned to look at them as Marjorie was slapping Mia's arm with the back of her hand. "I brought the wine you requested." Marjorie pulled out the Malbec and three wine glasses and busied herself filling them as Mia began taping the edges. "So, what color did you and Winter decide on?" She showed them the paint chip causing the brunette's eyes to go wide. "That's ... ummm beautiful, but a bit dark, no?" Autumn looked to Mia and then back to Marjorie before rolling her eyes. "It goes perfectly with Ben's." She pointed to the wall opposite them. A deep dark shade of blue where the same ivory letters adorned the wall spelling out Ben's name. Marjorie smiled to herself before handing out the glasses of wine.

Autumn raised an eyebrow looking at her sister-in-law. "You haven't drank much since..." The brunette looked to the redhead. "Autie you can say the word. Marjie had cancer. The word is cancer. She hasn't drank much since then, no, but she promised to be on her best behavior." The brunette looked down at the floor. "Okay shall we get on with it, then?"

The redhead placed the drop cloth on the floor and cracked open the paint can, revealing the dark green paint that seemed to shimmer slightly in the sunlight streaming through the window. They stood shoulder to shoulder and ran the rollers up and down the wall slowly changing it from white to the most gorgeous shimmering forest green.

As they finished the bulk of the wall, Marjorie had fallen in a fit of giggles mid-story and was sat on the rocker. She continued to sip at her wine as she watched them finish the edges. "It really is rather beautiful, isn't it?" Mia turned to face her. "You're half a glass in and already drunk." She looked up at the redhead. "I am not drunk." Her confidence wavered as she tried to stand and wobbled before landing back on the rocker, laughing. "Oh, okay maybe I am feeling it a bit." The redhead fell into laughter. "Oh please, you're so drunk, you're practically pickled." Autumn joined them chuckling. We better get Reece over here before she gets too much worse. I am not cleaning her sick. I will go down and wait for him. Can you make sure she stays put?" Mia looked at the brunette and screwed up her face. "Do you really think she can move?"

Autumn opened the door and pointed to the stairs. "Hello to you too Aut. Nice to see you Reece." She rolled her eyes at him. "She's upstairs and she is so drunk I'm sure even you will be attractive." He looked down at his little sister with concern. "Seriously Aut how are you holding up?" She glanced toward the stairs and then back to him. "I really just want it to be over and for him to be home. I just keep thinking something is going to go wrong. We couldn't bear the loss. He is already a part of us. Of our family Reece." As he watched the tears form on her cheeks, he couldn't stop himself from pulling her in and holding her. "Aut everything is going to be ok. Everything is going to plan." He held her gently as she sobbed, both jumping when they heard noises from upstairs. "If you tell anyone about this, I will do more than darken your shins." He rolled his eyes and walked toward the stairs. "Aut?" She turned to look at him just as he turned from the stairs. "Everything is going to work out. Charlie is coming home next week." Without another word he turned but not before he watched the smile cross her face.

As he approached the nursery, he could smell the fresh paint and hear Mia talking to Marjorie. "Marjie just sit there and wait for Reecy we are not going to get up and dance on furniture. No, no we aren't going to do that." He stood in the hallway trying to stifle his laughter when he heard a thud and clatter. "For fucks sake Marjorie, I told you that table wasn't meant for adults!" He came around the corner and saw her laughing hysterically as Mia tried to pull her from the wreckage of a children's table. He startled at the voice behind him. "You're going to replace that." He rolled his eyes at his sister still trying to stifle the laughter. "Gorgeous you've gotten yourself in quite the predicament. What do you say we go home?" She smiled up at him. "I lied, you know?" He looked down at her concerned. "What did you lie about babe?" Her face flushed as she giggled. "When I said I didn't fancy you. I lied." He couldn't hold the laughter back anymore and left out a bellowing laugh. "Don't laugh at me Reece Knight! I did fancy you! I do fancy you. Oh, I don't feel so well. Can we go home now?" He hoisted her from the floor and steadied himself. "Yes gorgeous. Let's get you home."

As he settled her in their bed, she nuzzled into his neck with a breathy hum. Holding her in his arms, he traced shapes on her back. As her breath became even, his mind wandered. "I fancied you too. I will always fancy you. I was lost before you. You gave me a family and you became my ... home."