Chapter 28

Chris sighed quietly and sipped his glass of mead. The Captain and three officers had come to collect Walt, and with their superior riding in the squad car this time—escape wasn’t going to be an issue.

That didn’t mean it was over, and all involved knew this. There had been a short pause as they registered what had just happened and then it was gifts and yule as if none of it had happened. He supposed that was a good thing, they weren’t going to dwell on it and ruin the festivities. Knowing what his friends had gone through in the last year…their resilience no longer surprised him.

He smiled at Kassandra when she paused to seek him out and connect briefly. His Kassandra, his heart. Chris wasn’t sure which gods had deemed him worthy of her, but he would do all in his power to make sure that never changed.

Glancing down into his glass, he thought of waking to find her standing in the room across from theirs, at three in the morning. She was pondering, in her manic way how it should be changed for a nursery. A nursery. He was going to be a father. With his past, he never would have conceived that was in the cards for him, but he’d take it. He watched his beautiful wife bounce over and hug Gwen after she opened her gift of chains and other jewelry crafting items.

On the way here today, they’d discussed changing the house around to make a playroom for the children. Chris didn’t care what she did to the house, he’d build her a whole new one if that’s what she needed. What had crossed his mind was when the children from this eclectic group reached their teens and came into any powers or talents they had. He’d be…well, old, and wasn’t sure how he would ever keep up.

“Serious thoughts.” Patrick said quietly from beside him.

Chris blew out a breath. “Hard not to have them.” He smirked.

Patrick inclined his head slightly. “I feel that.” He motioned to the others around the room. “But this is important too.”

Chris glanced back to the group. “It is.”

Rhonda came over and handed Patrick a cup and then sat beside him. He watched the adoration on Pat’s face as he looked at her. Chris imagined, if it were at all possible with Rhonda’s scarring, they wouldn’t be far behind in starting a family.

Gwen laughed, bring his attention back to her. As grandparents went, blood relation or not, she would be a sage and loving owner of that title. In fact, if he could not bring his condescending family into his child’s life things would be much better.

Dade leaned around and whispered in Cora’s ear. She blushed and kissed the hand bearing his wedding ring. Chris grinned, there would be children there soon. He thought of the scary, but generous Momma G, no worries on their child straying from a straight line of faith.

Tara picked up a pillow and tossed it at Dex… who caught it and gave her a playful snarl. It was too early to be certain, but he sensed something between them and he had a feeling it would be more volatile than his and Kasey’s had been. May the Gods help Dexter keep his sanity.

“Christopher.” Kasey said in her quiet warning tone.

He glanced back to her and smiled. “Pondering the future, sweetheart, nothing more.”

Her green eyes held his for a moment before her expression lightened and she went back to chatting with Jean.

Patrick chuckled quietly beside him, but didn’t say a word.

When Kasey got up and bounded into the kitchen, Kevin sat beside Jean. Chris had to give it to him, his persistence was like no other. She smiled hesitantly and accepted the small gift box he held out to her. As she opened it, Kevin glanced briefly to a few of the others in the room. Those with the strongest magic, himself included. Curious. Taking a sip, Chris watched Jean lift a gold chain from the box and smile at Kevin. There was a small key on the end of it and although the cliché meaning of it was obvious, Kevin’s slight nervousness was more than odd.

Jean put the chain around her neck and held her hand over the pendant that hung just past her collarbone. Kevin looked entirely too relieved she accepted it. Chris had to wonder just what the not so boyscout man had done to the pendant.

He looked around at the others to see if anyone else had caught all that. Dex gave Kevin a brief look and then to his gift around the woman’s neck.

Chris raised an eyebrow.

Aye, I caught that too. Patrick’s voice filled his mind.

Moving just his eyes Chris glanced to the weary detective beside him.

When the time presents, I’ll tell you how Kevin came to be in my life. I met him through my ex-partner before he retired. Let’s just say our baby-faced boy wasn’t always on the right side of things. He came from a rough start, Councilor.

Chris looked at Pat for a moment, not sure if he needed to think a reply or how that worked exactly, so he inclined his head in agreement.

While I have your attention…when I’ve been cleared to do more than adorn a damn chair, I’m planning a wee trip. Patrick smirked. We’ll call it a scouting adventure if, you like. Your skills would be greatly welcomed.

Exhaling softly, Chris turned to look at Kassandra, knowing full well how that talk would go.

We’ll leave it at that for now. Let’s appreciate the holidays and joy around us for a time.

Nodding, Chris watched Kasey come back into the room and sit on the arm of a chair. He got up and went over, picking her up, and sitting back down with her in his lap. She leaned into him and searched his eyes.

“I know it’s not over, but I just want to pretend for today.” She bit her lip, her eyes watching him.

“We’ll end it when the time is right, sweetheart.” He kissed her mouth softly. “Just know I will do everything in my arsenal to keep you, our child, and our friends safe.” He held her eyes with his, waiting for the meaning of his words to register.

She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “I know you will, Chris, and if your heart is true, I won’t stop you.”

He hugged her tightly against his chest and looked across the room as Patrick’s appraising look. The resolve he felt inside was mirrored on the detective’s face. Turning his head, he noticed the other men in the room kept giving each other the same look, between smiling at the women around them. This was far from over.

Chris caught up with the conversation and laughed when Dade bolted from the room as Leena teared up with overwhelming emotions, again. The jokes would follow him forever much as the love in this group of people would be their infinite strength.

Those hunting one of their friends would not succeed. No darkness would be allowed to come to those in this room, or any they loved. Ever. Whether it was him preventing it, or one of the others no harm would come. How this ended for the criminals wanting payback, only time would tell.