Moonlit Futures

Lexi POV ** REVISED 8/21/17 8 PM EST**

Standing on the path that would take me to the house I could feel my anxiety rising. Taking in a few deep breaths I forced my feet forward. Trudging towards the house my mouth was drying out and I felt light headed. Stopping to put my head in between my knees I took a couple of deep breaths in before continuing on. When the top of the house started to come in to view I rolled my shoulders back and started walking with a purpose. I would not let them see me fighting myself and weak looking. Coming into the clearing I was in awe at the view. It felt like I hadn't been here in forever, yet it still held the familiarity of home. Hearing someone call my name softly I turned to catch Mr. Gates standing on the porch of a small house. Walking over to him I saw his soft smile. 

"I thought that was you! How are you doing?" Giving a small laugh I reached over to hug the older man.

"I'm good! How about you?"

"Doing better now that I don't have to worry about being Alpha. This is my new home. Chris said I should just stay on at the house, and I did for awhile but I think everyone needs their time and space to grow." Giving me a wonderful smile, I couldn't help but return it.

"My thoughts exactly." I murmured at him softly. Feeling him take my hand we went into the house and he started to show me around. It was tidy, outfitted with greens and browns. Catching a glimpse at one of the pictures on the mantle, I walked slowly over to it. In the picture Chris and I were grinning like fools as Catherine stood behind us with a knowing look. Hearing him come over my shoulder I looked over at him.

"She really loved that picture of you three. She loved you too Lexi, always said you were just what that bone headed son of our needed." Giving me a small smile, I tried to return it and felt the tears well up. Feeling his arms come around me, I kept mumbling I was sorry to him. Feeling him shake me lightly I looked up at him.

"Don't you dare. You didn't do that to her and it wasn't your fault she got taken with you. If it wasn't her it could have been Chris or your little human friend at the time. They needed someone to hurt you with. Don't you go blaming yourself." Nodding at him through watery eyes. I laughed lightly into his chest.

"I'm sorry. I've been such a weepy mess these past few weeks." Giving him a small smile as he passed me a tissue, I wiped at my eyes.

"You've been through a lot." He said simply. Hearing the door open we both listened as footsteps approached the living room.

"Dad, whose luggage is out on your porch?" Chris asked stepping into the room. Catching my scent and the sight of me he sucked in a breath.

"Lexi..."

"Hi Chris." I mumbled out weakly.

"I thought you were joking in your letter. If I had known you were really coming back I'd have been by they gates ready to meet you!" Rushing towards me, he quickly pulled me into a hug and sniffed my hair. Squeezing me tightly I lightly patted his arms so he knew I couldn't breath. Releasing me softly he looked at my face.

"You look like hell." He said on a soft laugh. Giving him a crooked smile I gestured at the picture.

"I got emotional on your dad. We were talking about how rude you were to kick him out of the house and forcing him to move way over here." I teased him lightly. Hearing him and his dad laugh I squeezed him tightly for a minute before pulling back.

"Are you back for good?" He asked hesitantly. Looking up at him I nodded. The whoop of joy as he scooped me up and twirled me around had me laughing at him. 

"Chris, put me down!" I pleaded.

"Never! Let's get you over to the house, we can get you some food since I'm sure you're starving and put on a movie." Laughing lightly at his antics, I waved goodbye to Mr. Gates and promised I'd come back to visit him soon. Striding out of the house, we got lots of looks as we walked to the main house. Striding in, Chris went to the phone and ordered in. Taking us into the living room, he threw me onto the couch. Laughing at his antics I looked up into his eyes and saw him just staring at me.

"What?" I asked shifting nervously.

"I just missed you." He said with a shrug.

"I missed you too." I told him, biting my lip I wondered whether I should go on when a knock came at the door before Matt and Frank walked in. 

"Hey man, grabbed that suitcase from over at your dads, still don't see why you couldn't..." Seeing me, Matt and Frank stopped.

"Lexi!!" Both boys yelled out in unison before running and jumping over the couch to hug me. Laughing I hugged them both back.

"When did you get here? Why were you with old Man Gates??" Laughing at their silliness, I explained I just got back around 20 minutes ago. Seeing them look me over I turned around for them.

"I'm ok guys. I promise. I just needed some time." I told the three of them. Seeing them all look at me expectantly, I just groaned and told them where I had been and what I had been up to. When I got to the tales of learning how to be a baker all of them high fived each other.

"What?"

"You can make us cinnamon rolls." Matt said with a shrug. Punching him on the shoulder I just stuck my tongue out and told them the rest of my story, sitting back for minute I let them digest it before the questions started.

"Why did you have to leave us? You could have come back here." Frank shot out.

"I needed time. With humans I knew if I needed to it was a simple take down, werewolves aren't like that. I just needed time to find myself and stop feeling scared." 

"Did you tell Xavier you were coming back?"  Looking at Chris I hesitated to answer that question.

"No..." I finally said. "I'm still a bit peeved at him. I forgive him but I'm angry. I know I need to get over it but I want just a bit more time to be pissed." Hearing them all laugh I looked between them.

"What?"

"You and Chris can be pissed at Alpha Xavier, together now." Matt said laughing. Looking at Chris for an explanation I waited.

"I was a little mad he lost you." Chris said with a shrug.

" A little? Lex, he was ready to murder the guy!" Frank said incredulously.

Hearing the doorbell ring for our pizza, we quickly started to talk about what movie we were going to watch. Falling back into the old rhythm I started to fell at peace and relax.