Little Red (Jacob Seed)

11. Family Dinner

Jacob drove the truck towards Joseph's region, the cult compound, with Rieka sitting in the passenger seat beside him. He glanced over at her and noticed her playing with her fingers, even though her hood hid her face he knew that she was still nervous. He turned his attention back to the road and placed his hand on her knee. The contact instantly comforted Rieka, surprising her a little, she smiled to herself before gently placed her hand on his. The soldier spent the rest of the drive subconsciously tracing invisible shapes up and down her thigh.

Neither of them had really dressed up for the dinner. Jacob wore his usual outfit and Red wore jeans, a tank top, and her usual hooded coat. He had assured her that the dinner didn't require anything fancy.

They eventually pulled up to Joseph's house and climbed out of the truck. Jacob led the woman up to the front door, as he knocked on the door she remained behind him. The door opened and the pair where greeted by a smiling Joseph, Rieka hid behind Jacob's arm. "Hello brother, it's good to see you again. The others are already here" Joseph greeted the herald and rested his hand on the taller man's shoulders. "And who is this?" the father asked and guided Jacob to step to the side, revealing the short woman.

"This is Rieka, my new medic" Jacob introduced them cautiously.

"You never brought your other medics to dinner" Joseph raised an eyebrow but let it slide. "That doesn't matter, come in my child" he smiled and placed his hand on Rieka's shoulder, guiding her into the house and Jacob followed behind.

The father led the pair into the living room where John Seed was sitting comfortably on the sofa. He turned his attention to the three people and raised an eyebrow. "This is Rieka, a friend of Jacob's" Joseph introduced her to the youngest brother.

"Jacob doesn't have friends" John laughed to himself but nodded at the girl anyway before glancing her up and down. He couldn't help but notice the way that Jacob watched her protectively.

Rieka turned her attention to the woman who walked into the room, Faith Seed. She was a little taller than Rieka but also a little younger than the dark haired girl. "Hi, I'm Faith" the young woman walked over and took the other woman's hands in hers. Rieka looked her over once, she was wearing a white dress and no shoes, the woman thought it was strange but didn't comment on it.

"Rieka" She smiled. She couldn't deny that something about Faith was welcoming and calming but she also knew that it was probably the bliss having that effect so she tried to ignore it.

"Why don't you help Faith in the kitchen" Jacob suggested when he saw John's gaze on Rieka. Red nodded lightly before being guided into the kitchen by Faith.

"How do you know Jacob?" Faith asked as she let go of her hands and returned to cooking the meal.

"I'm his medic" Rieka smiled before assisting the younger girl with the cooking.

"You must be a pretty special medic for him to bring you here" Faith giggled and looked around Red's hood to smile at her.

"Yeah, well, I guess we have become friends" Rieka smiled back before gingerly lowering her hood and removing her coat, she didn't want to seem rude in anyway. Faith took the coat from her and left the room with it before returning.

Meanwhile, in the living room, Jacob sat beside John on the sofa and Joseph sat opposite them in an armchair. "A little young, don't you think?" John asked in a hum, looking over at his eldest brother.

"What are you talking about?" Jacob asked, sighing and turning to John with a blank expression.

"Rieka, she can't be much older than Faith and surely isn't even as old as me" John shrugged, thinking back to the look of nervousness and innocence on the girl's face.

"I don't know what you are suggesting John" Jacob shook his head, a hint of a warning in his eyes.

"Lust is an awful sin to be burdened with Jacob" the youngest brother smiled teasingly. Honestly, John was happy as long as Jacob was happy. However he took his role as the annoying little brother very seriously.

"John, you do not need to preach to me about atoning for a sin that I have not committed" he defended himself, he had been actively avoiding that particular sin and would not be accused of committing it. Sure, Jacob didn't avoid lust because of Eden's Gate or because of their teachings, he avoided it to protect Rieka. He avoided it for her sake.

"Jacob is right John, this is not the time to discuss sins and atonement. We should welcome Rieka with open arms, she will be apart of the family" Joseph smiled, putting an end to the potential argument. If Jacob, the must untrusting and cynical of the brothers, trusted her than Joseph trusted her.

"So what exactly is your relationship with her?" John asked after a moment of silence, genuinely curious.

"John" Jacob growled slightly, warning his brother to drop it.

"Sorry" John chuckled and shook his head.

The two women then walked into the room and told them that the meal was ready. They all walked into the dining room and sat around the table. Rieka sat next to Jacob, John sat opposite Rieka beside Faith and Joseph sat at the end of the table beside Faith and Jacob. Rieka awkwardly held Jacob's and John's hand as Joseph said grace, before they all began to eat their meal.

"So tell me, Rieka, why did you agree to becoming Jacob's medic? I have never seen you in church" the father asked casually.

"I patched Jacob up one day when he passed by my cabin, some time later he offered me the job and the offer was too good to refuse" Rieka explained with a smile, deciding to ignore the part about not going to church.

"You are not a member of the church?" Joseph asked, unfortunately not dropping the subject.

"...I'm not really a believer, but I respect your beliefs..." the woman smiled, hoping not to offend any of them.

"The path to Eden is clear to those who have faith" the sister smiled warmly at Red.

"I didn't mean any disrespect" Rieka apologised, looking down at her food.

"Don't worry child, you are not beyond salvation. You're not here by accident or by chance. You are here by the grace of God" Joseph assured her.

"Joseph, leave her be" Jacob sighed, looking at his brother.

"Very well..." Joseph agreed and they returned to silently eating her dinner. Rieka smiled softly at Jacob even if he didn't see it. She smiled at the man who protected her and made her feel safe, even against his own family. Joseph smiled to himself when he saw her smile at his older brother, seeing the admiration and affection in her eyes.

After eating Rieka offered to help Faith clean up and the brothers went and sat in the living room. After cleaning up Faith gracefully glided into the living room and sat beside John on the sofa, John sat between Jacob and Faith while Joseph sat in the armchair opposite them. Rieka walked into the room and paused for a moment when she realised that there wasn't anywhere for her to sit. Jacob noticed her concern and held back is smirk before spreading his legs slightly and patted his knee. Rieka blushed before walking over to him, not looking at any of his siblings.

Once she reached the eldest brother she hesitated, Jacob found her shyness endearing and wrapped his large hand around her arm. He pulled her down so that she was sitting sideways on his thigh, so that she was still facing all of his siblings. Faith smiled at her, John chuckled fondly at his brother's actions, while Joseph watched them carefully. Joseph is a man of God and there are some things that he wouldn't approve of his brother and Rieka doing, at least for now.

John had to admit that Jacob had found a beautiful woman, the youngest brother couldn't help but wonder what she saw in the soldier. Of course John loved his brother dearly but he knew that he could be a very cold and harsh man, not exactly relationship material. When Jacob pulled Rieka down to sit on his knee, John smiled mainly because of her reaction. The cute blush on her cheeks as she glanced at the eldest brother lovingly, even if neither of the pair noticed it.

Joseph paid more attention to Jacob as Reika sat down. The way his hand subconsciously stroked up and down her back fondly and soothingly, the slightly softened look in his eyes whenever she walked into the room, the way that he had to suppress a smile. Joseph knew his brother well and thought that Rieka would make a great addition to the family.