Familiar Faces

When the four reappeared, it was to an ancient city built into a forest. They were met at the gates by a tall man with long black hair.

“Haldir,” the man said. Haldir Bowes his head slightly.

Then he looked to Logan and Tessa and said,” Welcome to the North Woods Logan and Tessa, my name is Nicholas, I am Lord if this city.” Then he patted Marissa’s head and said, “ Hello little one.”

Haldir said, “ Tessa needs help Nicholas.”

“Yes of course, please follow me. We’ve been expecting you.”

After going up a stone staircase, they crossed a library then entered a door to an infirmary. Haldir entered first with Marissa and then Logan entered sideways, making sure not to hit Tessas’s head on the doorway.

Then he saw a face he hadn’t expected to.

“Hello darlin’.”

Tessa looked up from Logan’s chest and saw her late husband, her sweet Jacob. He looked just as he did the last she saw him. Light blonde hair and blue eyes. A dimply wide smile and big muscular arms.

“Jacob. Am I dreaming? Is that really you?” Tessa asked.

“Sure is.” He said as he stood up from the bed. “Logan lay her down here.”

Logan put his knee on the bed and laid Tessa back on it then placed a kiss on her forehead. There was a beautiful woman there with a healers bag. Tessa recognized her.

“I know you. You’re Imara. You’re Eliza’s mother,” said Tessa.

“That’s right Tessa.Please gentleman, can you wait outside while Nicholas and I take care of your wife.”

“Of course,” said Jacob as he put his hand on the middle of Logan’s back. “ C’mon Logan.”

Logan looked back at Tessa. She said, “ It’s ok Logan. I’m right here”

Then he let Jacob lead him out the door where Haldir and Marissa were already waiting.

“ Jesus Jacob!” Logan threw his arms around his brother that he hadn’t seen in over 20 years. “God I’ve missed you.”

“I know, I’ve missed you too Logan,” said Jacob. Then with a back slap, Logan let his brother go.

“And who is this beautiful little princess?” asked Jacob as he tickled Marissa’s belly.

“This is Marissa,” said Logan.

“Wow, she really looks like Tessa huh?” asked Jacob.

Logan looked at his brother and said, “ Yeah. She does.”

“Can I hold her?”

Haldir smiled and handed Marissa to Jacob. “Hey Marissa, I’m you Uncle Jacob.”

“Jacob,” said Marissa.

“That’s right,” said Jacob. “Wow she said my name.”

Logan said, “My oldest son, we named him after you, she's been practicing.”

Jacob looked over at Logan and grinned. “Really? What’s he like?”

Logan said, “ Oh shit Jacob, he’s just like you. Everything. He looks like you, acts like you.”

“Damn, that must’ve pissed you off,” said Jacob jokingly.

“No, not at all,” said Logan seriously. “When you were gone, Tessa and me, we were a mess. Our boy, he saved us. Seeing him everyday, it was like you were still with us.”

Jacob smiled and then gave his brother another hug.

“She’s in the best hands Logan. They’ll be fine. I promise,” said Jacob. “Here, let me take you all to our house so you can get cleaned up.”

Logan said, “ No I can’t leave Tessa.”

Jacob said, “ Nothings going to happen to her here Logan. We’ll come back as soon as you get settled. She’s safe now.”

“C’mon Logan,” Haldir said.

Logan looked back at the door then turned around and followed Jacob and Haldir.

When they arrived at Jacob’s home, Logan looked up and took in the architecture. It was a green wooden cabin and had beautiful hand carved mouldings. There were many windows, but none had glass, just shutters. The door way was rounded and had a speakeasy window.

When Logan entered there was a small kitchen to the right and a living room to the left that had a fireplace and 2 plush sofas.

“This way Logan,” said Jacob.

Logan followed Jacob up a short staircase to a hall with several doors. Jacob led Logan to one where Haldir was waiting with Marissa. The bed was quite large. Enough for Logan and Tessa to fit comfortably.

Haldir said, “ I’ll see you all later for dinner. I need to go see some folks.” Then Haldir gave Marissa to Logan and left the brothers alone.

“This is your place? It’s nice Jacob.”

“This is our place Logan. You, Tessa, Marissa and me. That’s if you think you can handle the competition,” Jacob said with his signature dimply grin.

Logan’s face got serious. “ Jacob, the way I treated you and Tessa. The way I acted. The jealousy, all that shit. That was just the alpha in me. My pride. I didn’t mean it. I love you both so much. I wanted it to work but I was just so fucking jealous. I’m so sorry. If I could take it back Jacob, I swear I would.”

“I know Logan, it’s ok. It doesn’t matter now. We’re all here together now. Like we always were meant to be. It’s all about Tessa and what she needs right now.”

Logan nodded, “ Right.”

“Listen, you and Marissa get cleaned up and I’ll meet you downstairs. I’m sure you guys have to be hungry by now.”

Jacob started walking out the door then stopped and looked back at Logan. “Logan I’m so fucking happy you guys are here.”

“Yeah, me too Jacob.”

After getting changed, Logan brought Marissa downstairs where Jacob had laid out some finger foods.

“Sorry I don’t have any man sized food Logan. We have our meals together as a community here. We don’t keep a lot of stuff in our houses.”

Logan raised his eyebrow. Jacob could already hear his brothers thinking. “Yeah, we’re a bunch of goddamn hippies. Sorry bro.”

“Logan sat down and put Marissa in the high chair that someone had brought Jacob. He gave Marissa some cheese and some apple slices before he started eating some himself.

“What the hell happened Logan?” asked Jacob.

“We made a lot of enemies after you died. We settled a lot of scores. Made a deal with the Order in Savannah. But my son Jacob, he did something that made them angry. We think maybe they did it in retaliation. But we just don’t know. Everything happened so quick.”

“You’re other children, are they going to be safe there?”

Logan ran his hand across his mouth.” God I hope so. I barely had time to say goodbye to them.Tessa and the babies were losing blood fast.” Logan paused and his eyes watered. "You really think she’s going to be ok?If anything happens to our babies, she’ll be destroyed.”

“ They’re going to be fine Logan. We’re all going to be one big damn happy family.”

After feeding Marissa, Jacob took her and held her until she went to sleep. “Damn, I’m sorry I missed out on all this. You know Logan, this is all that matters. Marissa, Tessa, you, your sons. I know you’re their father, but I hope you don’t mind me being a part of this. I’ll love them like they’re my own Logan. I’ll be good to them all. I won’t overstep my bounds. I just want my family back. All of you.”

Logan looked down and thought for a minute. “You really think we can make all this work?”

“I’ll try my hardest Logan. I don’t want to lose you guys again.”

“You won’t Jacob. No matter what happens with the three of us. You can’t lose us.”

Jacob carried Marissa as he and Logan walked back to the infirmary. The door was open and they heard talking. Logan walked through first and saw Tessa sitting up in bed talking to Imara and another couple he didn’t know. But the man, he looked nearly identical to Teddy.

“Logan these are my parents, Jasper and Isabelle Mason. Mom and Dad, this is my husband Logan and of course you already know Jacob.”

Logan put his hand out for Jasper.”It’s an honor, sir.”

Then he put out his hand to Isabelle but she just laughed and leaned in to hug him. “It’s so good to finally meet you Logan. And where is my grand baby?” Isabelle said as she looked past Logan to Jacob.

“Hand her over Jacob.”

“Yes ma’am,” Jacob said as he gave Marissa to Isabelle.

Isabelle teared up. “ Oh Tessa, she’s beautiful. She looks just like you as a baby.”

“Thank you,” Tessa said.

Imara spoke up and said, “Gentleman, your wife lost a lot of blood so she will be weak for a while, but she will be just fine with a little tender loving care from the two of you.”

“And my sons?” asked Logan.

“Your sons will be fine. Sleeping comfortably in their mother’s womb. Tessa needs lots of love and comfort. I’m sure the two of you can handle that,” Imara said with a wink.

Isabelle said, “ Jasper why don’t we take Marissa on a tour while the three of them catch up for a little bit.”

“Sounds like a good plan,” said Jasper. He then moved closer to Tessa and gave her a kiss on her cheek. “Rest well, my baby.”

Then Imara, Isabelle and Jasper left the three of them alone.

Tessa pulled her legs to the side of the bed and tried to stand but her knees buckled. “ Tessa what are you doing?” Logan said as he leaped forward to catch her.

Tessa looked at him with tears in her eyes then looked at Jacob and blew out a long breath through pursed lips. Logan looked back at Jacob who was also teary eyed. Then Logan sighed and said, “Oh go on then,” as he backed away.

Jacob sat beside Tessa and threw his arms around her. He breathed in her hair and said, “ I love you so much darlin’. Oh I missed you so much.All this time, I thought about you. How you tried to save me. Everyday I think about you.”

“I missed you too Jacob. We missed you so much. This is so wonderful. I can’t believe you’re real.”

Jacob leaned back and looked at Tessa’s face then kissed her. She cupped his face with her hands as he kissed her then started to kiss down her neck to the mark that still remained. He kissed it gently then lifted his head to face. “Tessa, you’re all going to stay here with me. We’re going to be a family again.”

Tessa looked to Logan. “That’s right sweetheart.”

“Are you sure that you’re alright with that Logan?” she asked.

“I’m sure,” he said.