Chapter 386: 2-2

. Chris POV The sun was barely out and I was already showered, downstairs making some coffee, a habit I couldn’t shed despite the heat and humidity that were a constant on the island. I rubbed my face roughly, only to hear a deep chuckle behind me, “Did you sleep?” I could hear the humor in my father voice and while I was grateful beyond words that he had given up so much to follow us, not once but twice, I was in no mood. “Did you think some bad was going to happen?” he asked when I didn’t answer this time with much less humor, “I mean, you know if something – even the smallest thing – had happened Lucy would have called you immediately, or brought Kayla home,” I nodded. “I couldn’t shut it off… my thoughts… I mean I started thinking about what movies they watched and if something would bring on a flash back for her, then I thought about how others could have said something that would set her off, anything. They went to bed when Ben noticed she was beat, they changed and they put on a movie, Lucy said that Kayla was out in five minutes… the older ones played games quietly up front and after two a.m. I haven’t heard from Lucy,” I mumbled pouring a cup of freshly brewed. Dad poured his own cup, coming to the table to join me after, “So… you’re disappointed that she had a good time?” my eyes darted to his. “Of course not, I wanted her to have a nice time-” “And she did…” he said waiting for me to go on. Sighing heavily, “Pops, I’m entitled to my worry… I know nothing bad could’ve happened, but that doesn’t mean I can just shut it off-” “Then how are you supposed to enjoy the good times?” “And this is a good time?” I asked sarcastically, with a bit too much snap, but he didn’t answer immediately, only stood and poured another cup of coffee. When he was just about to leave the room, dad came over again, “When Kayla gets home, and tells you about her night, you come let me know if this was one of those good times, Chris,” and with that he left me alone to stew. After finishing my cup of coffee, Fiona and Quinn were both awake, with their morning cups of milk ready, I changed them into fresh diapers and headed outside sitting them down to drink. As they drank, I noted that soon, all the kids would be able to venture outside here, not just Kayla and the twins. Their eyes were getting more accustomed to the light after having spent their whole lives in that prison. Kayla’s eyes adjusted and healed when she had her first change, shifting into her wolf earlier than any of the other children. Although, now that we learned she was an Elemental Wolf, it did make sense. The rest of the morning came and went, waking the kids up, keeping to our schedule, but I kept my eyes on the clock every free moment I could until Rainy came to me. “You okay?” she asked me. Blinking, “How – how are you so calm?” I whispered despite being alone with her, her smile was there but it didn’t meet her eyes. “Your parents have the kids occupied, Michelle, Nicole, Quinn and Fiona are down for their naps, lets go sit on the deck...” she replied taking my hand and leading me back there. Instead of finding her own chair, Rainy gave me a light push, then came and sat on my lap. Sighing I held her close, needing that comfort, “You remember when you told me about all the things I would get to experience?” her tone wistful. I nodded against her, “Kayla is having one of them right now,” she whispered her voice thick, “I mean it’s not the same… because well her sleep over is with Ben, and Lucy is there, but it’s her first one… and she’s having it…” she pulled away, her eyes glassy. “I’m too old to have those experiences you mentioned-” I shook my head furiously from side to side, “No it isn’t…” I demanded but I could tell Rainy had already thought about all this, her expression hard and determined. “It is… but – Kayla is having one of them right now, she’s already missed so much… I’m just so happy – so – so happy, that she isn’t missing anymore… it’ll be hard, like you said, but all I could think was ‘that Kayla has someone like you.’ Ben is older, he cares for her and he’s putting in so much effort to make her at ease, they’ll have their bumpy roads but I don’t think this experience is going to be one of them,” she whispered blinking her tears away. “Plus it’s like Shavon said… she’s branching out, I don’t want her to be in a self made cage Chris… that’ll just mean that all those that hurt us were winning.” Ten years of that is enough… I exhaled deeply pulling Rainy against me wanting no space between us, feeling her tense and then relax, I held us in that position just enjoying in having her in my arms. We were parents and mates, but she was nowhere ready for anything more, but this, the closeness she could handle now. Walks at night, and hugs, moments where we were just building our foundation were slowly helping her and us. “We both know the world is filled with darkness Chris… and unfortunately, the kids know that too, but I refuse to focus on the bad,” my little love said with fierce determination. Around twelve in the afternoon just as Rainy, Juliet, Mom and Shavon were making lunch for the kids, Lucy and Kayla came from the back onto the deck, sliding the glass door open entering with large smiles on their face. “Hi papa,” Kayla greeted me first surprisingly, placing the box in her hand on the counter before climbing up on to one of the stools. “I borrowed?” she checked with Lucy, on her wording, turning back to me, “I borrowed this from Chelsea, I saw Bens’ sister playing with her friends so I brought it for me to play with Bailey and Michael,” she said tapping on the box that I still hadn’t focused on. My eyes were solely on her face, her eyes, bright and open, she wasn’t squinting; they weren’t watery because they hurt but she was fighting sleep… the dark bags had lessened. They weren’t completely gone but I could see the difference. “Have you ever played?” she asked her blue eyes wide and waiting, bringing me back, glancing down I noticed that it was ‘Twister.’ The large red font, the green, yellow, blue and red circles, I eyed her again. “No… I’ve never played… I guess… you’ll just have to show us…” I said being honest… oddly this wasn’t one of the games Rainy enjoyed in her youth. “The boy – Kieran – he was the spinner person, and you have to put your hands and feet where it lands,” she said, she didn’t play but she thought it would be fun to play at home, Chelsea let her bring it over, Lucy said over the link. “Did you have fun?” I tried to ask lightly, looking for signs of discomfort but Kayla didn’t have any I could see. She nodded, “I played with Ben… we played… Connect Four, but it was big, like as tall as me!” she lifted her hand to show me, again the small smile on her lips were in place. “Oh… did you have dinner?”