Carrier (TPA2)

49

"Tegan?" My heart nearly stops in my chest. I look at the broken woman in front of me and her eyes continue to stay on mine.

Her eyes light up when she finally realizes who I am. "Tay?" Her voice is hoarse. I suck in a deep breath. I feel the reassuring grip of Ryan's hand on my thigh, but I don't need it. I'm not afraid of this woman.

She's my sister. I just out of Ryan's lap and run to her, wrapping her into a gentle hug. I'm afraid that I might hurt her teeny body. Tears run down my face as I'm reunited with her.

"I thought you were dead." She whispers into my hair. It's evident that she is sobbing as well. Her body shakes as she holds me tighter.

I hold her close, and shake my head. I thought that she was dead, but I'm not going to tell her that. She's here, and I'm happy. I thought she had ended up just like the rest of my family.

My eyes close with tears, and the warmth runs down my cheeks one after another. I can't seem to bring any words out, so I just continue to hold her. Actions speak louder than words. I shake my head, and swallow the growing lump in my throat. I'm crying because of joy to see my sister again.

"I'm here," I say softly, brushing her hair with my fingers. "I'll never not be here anymore." I assure her. She breaks down in my arms, I don't push her to telling me what has happened to her, instead I try and comfort her through it.

I look towards Ryan. He doesn't look too sure of himself for bringing her here looking this way. He pulls his bottom lip between his teeth and shoots me a smile with his eyes.

Tegan says nothing. "Do you want to take a bath and get a meal?" I ask gently. I try my best to keep from getting too loud. She nods her head.

I feel as though I'm mothering her. North has gotten me so used to it, and I sort of have to take care of my sister. She let's out a slow breath and nods her head.

"Okay, Teag." I say gently. "I'll have Lucas walk you up to the bathroom so you can shower. I'll meet you in a few minutes and well eat together, does that sound okay?" I offer. She lifts her head and glances at Lucas in uncertainty.

"He won't hurt you, I mean he's got a pretty ugly face. That might hurt ya if you look at it for to long." I joke. She smiles momentairly. "But he won't hurt a fly." I assure her. She nods her head and hesitantly breaks away from me.

Lucas nods his head and holds the door open for her as she walks out of the room. I stand frozen where I am, listening to the footsteps travel down the hallway.

"How did you know?" I ask, knotting my eyebrows together. Ryan gives me a soft smile and let's out a sigh. He shrugs his shoulders.

I step over to him and straddle his lap on the chair. It isn't a sexual gesture, but one that means I want to be close to him.

"At first, I didn't." He says, his hands gently rubbing my thighs. "She wouldn't speak to anyone. Then when I showed up she would only talk to me." He chuckled. "Lucas thought she had a crush on me, but then as I thought about it more- she told me that I smelled familiar. I thought she sort of resembled you but I finally out two and two together..." He grins and looks up at me.

"I think she smelt you all over me." I pull my lip between my teeth. I lean forward and kiss him breifly.

"Wow. Just...wow." I grin like a mad dog. "You're such a sly dog," I giggle, "but in a good way." I wrap my arms around him and hold him close to me.

"Words cannot describe the love I have for you, Ryan. Thank you for bringing my sister home." He leans forward without saying anything and kisses my forehead.

"I love you." He murmurs back. My wolf is completely satisfied with the three simple words. They're more than just what they are.

«

"You look absolutely beautiful." I say as soon as Tegan joins us in the kitchen. She's wearing a flower dress and she's let her long hair fall down her back. She already looks so much better than she did.

Tegan smiles and looks down at her feet. She's never been all that confident, nor has she ever even taken a compliment from me. "Thank you." She bows her head politely.

Suddenly, I frown. Not because of her thanking me, or that she didn't make any sort of eye contact, but because she felt the need to bow down to me. "Tea. Please don't treat me like I'm better than you. You are my equal." I say softly. I don't like the fancy treatment. Especially if it's from my own family members. It makes me feel sick to my stomach.

She nods her head slowly and takes a seat next to me. I catch her glancing at me every once in awhile and smiling. She's already starting to warm up to me again.

"What?" I knot my eyebrows and wipe my mouth. "Is there something on my face?" I half smile as I lick my lips.

"No, no." She half laughs. "It's just- you've grown up so much since I last saw you. You've got everything you've always dreamed of." She smiles. I smile back.

"No, Tea." I say back. She knots her eyebrows at my denial. "I've finally gotten everything I've ever dreamed of. I got my sister back." I smile. Her eyes light up, and her smile grows wider.

What I said wasn't a lie. I wasn't even exaggerating the truth. I have gotten everything I've ever wanted. Maybe not in the way that I wanted it to happen, but I got it.

"I'm going to run over to my mom's and get North." Ryan mumbles, standing behind me and kissing my cheek. I look up at him and nod my head. "You two stay and chat. I want you both to eat." He mumbles, kissing me again. I inhale his scent and nod my head.

"I'll see you two in a little while." He grins, kissing me again before he leaves. I sort of feel uncomfortable at how possessive he acts in front of new people. I brush it off and turn back to Tegan.

She shakes her head and pops a piece of macaroni in her mouth. "What?" I ask with a grin.

"I remember you saying boys have coodies." She laughs a little. I roll my eyes and fling a piece of macaroni at her.

"You used to say the same thing." I poke my tongue out at her. She laughs but denies it with a shake of her head.