Charles and Rebecca (3rd in werewolf series)

Chapter Six

The rest of the family came back home a few hours later and when Charles walked into the living room where everyone was gathered to decorate the tree Bethany, Raquel and Jordan looked at him in shock.

"Your hair looks good, dad." Raquel said.

"It's about time you got a cut and a shave you were starting to look like Charles Manson." Bethany added sitting down next to Greg on the couch and stretching out her long legs.

"I acted a little like a serial killer for a while." Charles said. "Figured I might as well look the part." Everyone laughed at this except for Rebecca, Bethany, Jordan and Raquel.

"Did he just make a joke?" Jordan asked her pixie like voice barely above a whisper. Kent wrapped his arms around her and nodded.

"Sounded that way to me." he said. Bethany snorted and picked a piece of lint from her tiny red dress.

"Are we supposed to be happy that he's here?" she asked. Greg put a hand on her leg.

"Baby, he's your dad." he said softly. Bethany slapped his hand away.

"What do you know about it?" she demanded. She stood quickly and ran out of the room and up the stairs. Greg stood to follow her but Lane grabbed his arm.

"Let me talk to her." he said. Everyone could tell Greg was torn but he nodded and sat back down.

"We'll wait for you." Joey said kissing Lane's cheek.

"Kaylee, Kayleb, Laney lets go into the kitchen and finish decorating the last of the cookies." Rebecca said walking out of the living room. The three kids followed, happy to be away from the tension in the living room.

Bethany tried desperately to dry the tears on her face when she heard the knock on her door.

"I want to be alone." she said with a sniff. Lane tried to open the door but it was locked.

"Unlock the door Bethany. Your charming little brother would like to talk to you." He heard Bethany laugh.

"Go away Lane. The day I need advice from you is the day I know I'm ready for the nuthouse."

"Are you really going to make me go all Jake on you and break the door down?" Lane asked. Bethany smiled because she could remember several occasions when her older brother had indeed broken her door down to be able to talk to her. She stood and unlocked the door and then sat back on the bed.

"You can come in now." she said. Lane walked in and saw her sitting on the bed. Her usually perfect face was blotchy and red.

"You look like hell." he said sitting down next to her on the bed.

"Kiss my ass." she shot back.

"Since I know you're not really mad at me I'll let that slide." he said. "Can I ask why you jumped Greg's ass though? He loves you. He just wants you to be happy."

"I don't' want to talk to you about Greg." she said. Lane shook his head. His sister had serious commitment issues.

"Ok... What about dad? Will you talk to me about him?" Bethany shook her head. Lane smiled.

"Global warming?" he asked.

"Poor polar bears." she replied with a pout.

"Look Bethany, you and I are a lot alike. We hide behind our jokes and our smart ass comments. But I'm going to be serious with you for a minute." Lane said.

"Don't' hurt yourself." she replied. He shook his head but didn't take the bait.

"I know that you don't like dad and that's fine. We all have issues with him that are going to have be worked out with time but mom loves him. Mom needs him. She thought he was dead for twenty one years and then when she found out he was alive she gave him up again for us. She knew it would be hard for us to have him around."