Unhappily Ever After

Chapter 67 - Eira

Please note this is the second part of a double update. The final time skip now, lads. Six months have passed, and I think we all know what's coming :)

I helped Jess into the car and turned back to Eira. Lee was already settled in the driver's seat, and Bran was strapped into his booster seat. My sister was the only one who'd be staying behind. It had been her choice, really, but the number of seats in the car had been a factor.

"What're you going to do?" I asked her.

"Dunno. No raids on this week. Ebby needs some attention, I guess. And Dad was complaining that he was cold last week, so I could go and patch up his roof—"

I caught hold of her arm and squeezed. "I wouldn't. He's been in a foul mood recently. Wait for me, yeah? It'll only be a few days at most."

His complaint had actually been that the cold was making his pet mouse shiver. I reckoned it had more to do with old age than anything else, because how long did dormice live, anyway? The little bastard was seven years old now. It wasn't worth the risk to make a dying mouse slightly more comfortable.

My sister shook me off. "I only said I could."

Lee had started the engine. Strangely, that didn't light a fire under my ass, but we wouldn't have long before Jess needed to pee again, so I couldn't waste too much time. I got into the car and pulled the door almost shut.

"Just wait," I called again.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever," Eira scoffed. "Call me when my niece is born."

She slammed the door, nearly crushing my fingers, and Lee didn't wait any longer to pull off. We had a half-hour car journey ahead of us. I'd discovered since having a kid, however, that half an hour could feel like a lifetime.

***

It had been a difficult decision to go to Silver Lake. This way, Jess could give birth in a proper, clean environment with her mother and Evie to help her and doctors on hand should something go wrong. But there was the new and very real risk that I might get caught on the territory and get my entire family killed.

So we were being careful today. I would stay for the afternoon, and then I was going to steer clear until she actually went into labour, because there was only so long I could keep my scent off. And Lee would keep watch outside in a car with the engine running just in case any of the pack should come calling.

I'd used my mind to get us through the border, so I was already a little jaded by the time we pulled up outside Maggie's house. Maybe, if I was very lucky, she'd let me have a cup of tea or something.

I helped Bran out of the car, then Jess. Lee stayed where he was, and I couldn't help feeling a bit sorry for him. It was a cold day. I would have promised to bring him something warm if I'd thought I'd stood any chance of getting it

"Thanks again, by the way," I said, leaning over to thump him.

Lee offered me a lazy grin. "Don't mention it, Llewellyn. What are friends for?"

"Freezing their arses off for hours, apparently," I laughed. "Link me if your fingers turn black."

With that, I shut the door and went to join my family on the doorstep. They'd already rung the doorbell.

"We still haven't thought of a boy's name," Jess pointed out while we waited.

"No, we haven't, because it'll be a girl," I snorted.

"And if it's not?"

I shrugged helplessly.

"Well, I found one I liked. Rhydian. Rhys for short." Before I could answer, she put a finger over my lips. "Just ... think about it, would you? We need to be responsible adults and not decide at the last minute."