Against the Odds

Normal?

**Hey guys! Make sure you read my last author's note. Thank you for reading!**

"No."

"Yes"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"Diana you cannot wear sneakers and leggings to Lyla's Luna ceremony!" Xavier argued back.

"Why not?" Diana whined. The beta was not inclined to wear a fancy dress and uncomfortable shoes. She knew this was important to him and Lyla, but she does not like wearing fancy clothes.

"This is a big deal and you know it! It's been a month since the battle and she's finally fully healed. Just please, do this for me. I want this to be special for her." Xavier spoke sadly. He has yet to forgive himself for what happened to Lyla and the death of Silas. If he had only been the Alpha he's supposed to be and the mate Lyla deserves, she would have never been taken and Silas would still be alive.

Diana noticed his change in attitude and attempted to comfort him by wrapping an arm around his shoulders, "None of it was your fault, X. You have to remember that," she squeezed him a little tighter, "Cordelia was the one who started all this, you were the one who ended it. As for Silas, he made the decision to save Lyla before we even stepped on the battlefield. He knew what he was doing, and he was okay with it. It's not your fault, X." Diana couldn't stress enough how much it was not his fault. She came home every day to see Kai grieving the death of his father. Kai had been a ghost of himself the first few days after the battle, he stayed in their room all day doing nothing but wallow. Diana had to bring him food and help change his clothes. Diana took some time off her beta duties to be there for him full time. She did her best to support Kai through the grieving by being there for him. Overtime, he started to become himself again, little by little.

"You know, ever since meeting Malakai you have really gotten good at this emotion thing." Xavier chuckled a little bit.

Diana playfully punched his arm, "Shut up you jerk. I'll always be an emotionally closed off, badass, bitch."

Xavier scoffed, "I never said you weren't. All I'm saying is you have gotten a lot better at talking to people. You've warmed up, you're not so cold anymore. I'm proud of you, D."

"Okay, you sap. Who's talking? You didn't even tell me you had a mate and now here I am getting dressed to the nines to go to her Luna ceremony!" Diana exclaimed.

Xavier spun his head to look at Diana, "You're actually going to dress nice for tonight?!"

"Are you kidding me? Of course, I will. I'd do anything for you and Lyla." Diana promised.

&

After leaving Xavier's office and making her way back to her house, Diana was relieved to see Kai cooking something on the stove that smelled delicious.

She snuck behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist, "Hey, babe. How was your day?" She asked him. She was curious to know whether or not Kai spent his day holed up in their room grieving or doing things around the house. She had caught him doing odd jobs to keep himself distracted, like cleaning all the doors in the house, rearranging the decorations in the living room, and putting up a picket fence around the front yard.

Kai turned around in his mate's arms, "It was good. I got you something," He smirked mischievously, turned off the burner and lead Diana upstairs to their room.

"Oh, moon goddess what did you do?" She groaned out.

"Don't worry. You're going to love it...I hope." Diana's eyes widened in surprise and concern. What has he been up to?

Once they made it to their room, Diana spotted a large white box wrapped in blue ribbon on the bed. She sat down on the bed and held the box in her lap, "What's this, Malakai?"

Malakai just smirked and said, "You'll have to open it to find out."

Diana tentatively untied the ribbon and lifted the top of the box to reveal a sleek and simple black dress. The dress is sleeveless with a v-neckline and a high to low skirt. It's loose enough to allow her to move around but tight enough to show off the body she worked hard for. It was at the perfect length, reaching her knees. Just the material in her hands made her feel almost regal. The fabric felt soft and smooth, like she could melt into it.

"Kai..." She was at a loss for words. No one had ever bought her something so thoughtful before. He knew she didn't want to wear an over-the-top uncomfortable gown to the ceremony so, he got her a dress the suited her perfectly.

"This is beautiful, Malakai. You didn't have to get this for me," She stood up and planted a passionate kiss on his lips, "I love you, so much. Thank you." Kai kissed her forehead as a way to say 'you're welcome' even though he believed she didn't need to thank him. As her mate, it was his duty to encourage her to feel beautiful and confident with herself by any means necessary.

"Now, I need to finish lunch then get ready for tonight. Do you want sweet tea or water with your stir fry?"

"Umm...let's go with sweet tea today."

And for a moment it felt like normal. No stress of impending doom. No grief over the loss of a loved one. No worries over healing wounds.

It was just Malakai and Diana once again. They were ready to take on anything together, even a very long and tedious Luna ceremony that has to be done by supernatural law.