Home

Lorena and Darius had declined to meet with Jacob. That was one apology he was just never going to get to make. Some mistakes you just have to live with and learn from.

Jacob and Haldir spent a few weeks in Savannah seeing the sights and meeting with Haldir’s old friends. But all Jacob could think about was Eliza. Visiting her home changed him. He knew about what had happened to her because Haldir taking him there, Jacob seeing it for himself, made him feel more connected to her. She wasn’t just some woman he hoped to fuck someday. She was a sweet baby that died too young. She was her father's perfect little girl. She was someone that needed to be loved and protected.

Jacob packed up his bag, making sure to get his uncle's clothes. He grabbed Eliza’s cradle from the floor and then he took another look around the room and grinned. He liked seeing his mother's old stomping grounds. Jacob thought that of all the time he spent with Haldir, that this part of his trip had been the best. He had learned the most from coming to Savannah.

He met Haldir in the foyer and this time, Jacob took Haldir’s arm. He knew exactly where he was going. Home.

When they reappeared it was in front of his parents house in Virginia. Jacob walked to the door and let himself in. Haldir closed the door behind him.

“Momma! Dad! I’m home,” Jacob yelled as he set his things down.

Logan was the first to appear from his Den and he nearly leaped across the room to get to Jacob. He threw his arms around him and said, “Damn boy, I’ve missed you. Don’t you ever leave here again.”

“I won’t Dad.”

Then Tessa came from the kitchen and pushed Logan aside. Her belly was sticking out under her maxi dress. She was only a few months along but having alpha twins was causing her to get big quickly. “Look at you Momma,” Jacob said as he put his hand on her belly. He could feel the life inside flowing into his fingers. Two little heart beats pulsed through his fingertips.

Jacob put his arms around Tessa and kissed the top of her head. He hugged her gently and took in her scent. “Where’s Marissa and Erik?”

Tessa pushed away from him and said, “Erik’s still at school.”

“What about Marissa?” asked Jacob.

Then he smelled it, apple pie. Eliza.

“Here she is!” Eliza said as she walked down the stairs with Marissa on her hip. Tessa smiled and released Jacob. He walked slowly to Eliza. She was in jeans and a white t-shirt with brown boots that came to her knees. Her chestnut brown hair pulled into a high ponytail. Her red pouty mouth was curled up into a wide smile.

Jacob thought he was imagining it all for a moment. But ,then, when she reached the landing Jacob reached out and ran his hand through his sisters hair. Eliza handed Marissa to Jacob and he pulled her close and kissed her head. He breathed in her scent. It still smelled thick with jasmine. She was so big, she couldn't even sit up alone the last he saw her.

“Hello Marissa, do you remember me honey?” Jacob whispered in her ear. “Jacob,” Marissa said as plain as day. “That’s right, I’m your big brother Jacob.Oh, I’ve missed you so much.” He planted another kiss on her cheek. He looked back to Eliza, “What are you doing here?”

“I told you Jacob, someone needed my help.”

Logan said, “ When we found out your mom was pregnant again, I didn’t want her to work anymore. She needs to take it easy and rest. So, Tessa asked Eliza to come work as a healer for the Pack. She told us once she got here that you two had already met.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming here Eliza?”

“We witches have to have some secrets,” Eliza said with a wink as she tickled Marissa under her chin.

Jacob smiled at her then took Marissa to Tessa.

“No, no, give me that little angel,” said Haldir, taking her from Jacob’s arms.

Marissa played with the metal chain mail that hung from Haldir’s shirt. Haldir tickled Marissa’s plump little belly and she giggled.

Eliza came closer and Jacob took her hand, holding it by his leg. Tessa and Logan weren’t blind to what he did and when they noticed it, Tessa winked at Logan in acknowledgment.

Tessa was very fond of Eliza. They had the same kind of background, a lot of parallels in their lives, a lot in common. Eliza has been like Tessa’s right hand since she came. They sat up talking most nights about their families and histories. Their parents were friends and it gave them both a lot of comfort to talk about them since they weren’t living in that realm anymore. Tessa knew as soon as Eliza admitted she knew Jacob already, that Haldir had a hand in it. The woman he envisioned for Jacob. Tessa most definitely approved.

And, yes, Logan was very happy to hear that she had Alpha blood in her veins.

“Do you guys mind if I borrow Eliza for a little while?” Jacob asked. He wanted to be alone with her as soon as possible.

“Go on,” said Tessa with a knowing smile.

Hand in hand Eliza and Jacob left the house.

“She’s perfect Haldir!” Tessa said once the couple was gone.

Haldir smiled and said, “I know. Jacob’s a lucky man.”

“I hope you don’t mind if I stick around for a little while Logan. I wanted to catch up with my children,” said Haldir.

Logan said, “We wanted to talk to you about that. Let’s go into the den and get a drink.”

Haldir kept Marissa in his arms and followed Logan and Tessa into the den. Haldir sat on a brown leather sofa across from Logan's desk. Logan fell back into his leather desk chair and sat Tessa on his lap, her arm around his neck. He put his hand on Tessa’s belly and rubbed gently while he planted a kiss on Tessa’s nose. Haldir glanced at the two of them and chuckled. As much as he didn’t like Logan, watching a big bad man like him act like a love sick schoolboy around Tessa was amusing.

“You can put Marissa down on the floor. She likes to get up and go,” said Tessa. And, she did. As soon as Haldir put her down, she pushed herself up to her feet and went for the bookshelf where she proceeded to pull every book within her reach off the shelf. Haldir had a big raspy laugh over it. “She must keep the two of you busy.”

“Haldir, I know you and I don’t get along well,” started Logan, “but I love my wife and you love your daughter. Tessa wants you here now. Permanently. Wants all her family with her. And I can always use extra eyes watching over my children.I’m asking you to stay Haldir,” said Logan.

Haldir didn’t expect that. “You really want me here Logan?” Haldir knew without that Logan did not want that, but he really loves Tessa.

“It doesn’t matter what I want. Tessa wants it. Teddy wants it. And now Eliza, you’re family to her too. Tessa is going to need more eyes watching out for her now. All that matters to me, Haldir, all I care about is that my family is safe. If having you around makes them safer, then that’s what I want,” said Logan.

Haldir looked at him and scrunched up his face, he thought about it all for a minute.

“I’d like that Logan.”