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Most people were happy or at least okay with the relationship status of Merrick and Zoe, but there were some that weren’t. Rose only found out while killing time between classes checking what was going on in the Facebook world of her friends back home. And there he was in her ‘People You May Know’, a picture of Merrick and Zoe. Rose sighed, they looked so happy in the picture and just because she was feeling a bit masochistic that morning she clicked to view his profile. And there staring her in the face was Faelan’s cherub face sandwiched getting kissed by his father and Zoe on the cover image as she clicked the ‘About Me’ she felt a twinge of heartbreak mixed with jealousy and a tiny bit of relief as she saw his marital status of in a relationship with Zoe. “Well that didn’t take long. But I didn’t think it would. They were already practically dating only having taken that break because Faelan was born.", she sighed. It still hurt to think he was happy with someone else, but he deserved that chance to be happy to have someone who could be there with him and Faelan. And knowing that maybe he’d actually found love again, she knew he’d loved Leslie and that was stolen from him then maybe she could actually find love eventually. She wasn’t going to hold her breath on her finding love any time soon. She smiled a little closing out of the app as she remembered Donovan telling her that when she was ready to try dating again he’d be there waiting. She wasn’t sure how long he’d be waiting and if by then he also wouldn't have moved on. She pocketed her phone and went to her clinical class, right now she just needed to focus on school and missions romance could wait.
The update to facebook ended up causing an uproar at the Boston house shared by two of Merrick’s sisters and Zoe’s brother. Josalyn was the first to notice the change to her brother’s status. “Well saw that coming…”, Josalyn muttered. “Saw what coming beautiful?”, Robert asked leaning over her shoulder to look at the computer. “Oh he’s finally dating her. As an outsider with no real investment I say it took him too long.”, Robert said kissing her cheek. “Because I say you find a beautiful woman that you can love you go for it not twiddle your thumbs.”, he added. Josalyn rolled her eyes. “You were persistent I will give you that Rob.”, she sighed smiled as she glanced to her left ring finger and the canary diamond that weighed upon it. They were already starting to plan the wedding for the spring after graduation. She knew that her great grandmother wanted the wedding at the Saint Leonard’s church where she and Winston had been married but Josalyn wasn’t exactly religious let alone Roman Catholic level so that’s not where they wanted to have the wedding. They wanted to have it outdoors somewhere they just needed to decide on where. “Yes well persistence pays off. I hope that this means your brother can be happy.”, Robert commented.
“What about our brother being happy?”, Emma asked walking in eating an apple. Josalyn sighed, she knew Merrick had blocked Emma on Facebook after her comments during the summer to Zoe when their great grandmother had her pacemaker surgery. “Who’s happy?”, Talia asked raising an eyebrow putting some books into her bag, her inducer on, as she was getting ready to head to classes with Alexander. Alexander handed her another book she’d forgotten and looked at Robert and Josalyn with a raised eyebrow. Josalyn glanced up to Robert who offered no help just shrugging. Josalyn sighed. “Well...um no freaking or getting mad either of you. But Merrick and Zoe are dating. He updated his profile and posted a few pictures from some trip to upstate New York where they went this past weekend on a little vacation. Didn’t realize my brother the fighter was also a romantic.”, Josalyn explained. “THEY ARE WHAT!”, Emma and Alexander shouted in unison. “Isn’t it bad enough my little sister is dating your little brother? Must my older sister date your older brother too?!”, Alexander groaned running his hands through his ivory white hair.
Talia didn’t care much of either direction but patted Alexander on the shoulder to offer what comfort she could for a topic she didn’t care about. “I said no freaking out. We already knew they were best friends and apparently a little more than that before Faelan was born. I say if Zoe can make my brother happy and love my nephew so be it. We don’t get a say. And if my brother makes Zoe happy that’s all that should matter to you Alexander. You know Merrick wouldn’t ever mistreat her. And seriously look at this picture, that look like she’s not happy?”, She asked rolling out of the way bringing up Merrick’s cover photo of the two kissing Faelan. Alexander grumbled. “I still don’t like this. But I don’t control my sister’s life.”, he frowned looking at the picture. She did look happy in the picture with Merrick and Faelan and he remembered she looked happy holding Faelan during the summer. Emma was still silently fuming till finally she exploded. “This is bullcrap! I have not gotten rid of unworthy trash like Katherine, Leslie and Jenna just for Zoe to get my brother. She doesn't deserve him. So guess I’ll be getting rid of her too.”, Emma shouted. Josalyn and Alexander both looked to Emma a little confused by her saying she’d gotten rid of Katherine and Jenna, they already knew what happened to Leslie. “Excuse me? My sister is not unworthy trash. You talk like that again and I’ll break your ‘perfect’ fucking face and not heal you. And don’t even think about going after my sister. My dad warned everyone that if she’s touched he’ll ship that person’s head in a box to their parents.”, Alexander said sternly narrowing his eyes at Emma.
Now Talia was interested. Alexander was getting angry and threatening violence. She always liked when he got more authoritative and violent. “Emma Grace you will not go after Zoe. Now what do you mean you got rid of Jenna? She made that choice because she was too afraid to be a mother to a mutant.”, Josalyn questioned standing up. “Well yeah she wanted to run, but was also too afraid to actually do it. So I had her do it anyways. And to make it so she’d not come back I wiped Merrick and Faelan from her and her parents minds and had them leave to never want to return to Bayville.”, Emma shrugged like it was nothing. Josalyn’s eyes went wide. “EMMA GRACE! How could you!? How could you do that to Faelan!? I don’t care if you thought Jenna didn’t deserve Merrick, we all knew she’d never have him. But to take her away from Faelan, our nephew, that’s just...that’s deplorable. She could have changed her mind, she could have learned to love Faelan and his mutation. Faelan deserved that chance to have his mother! I just...I can’t even right now. I’m going to classes. You need to stay the hell out of trouble. Do not and I mean it DO NOT even contemplate going after Zoe DeLuca. She is making them happy. And if you try to ruin Merrick and Faelan’s chance at being happy I’ll personally beat the fucking shit out you little sister.”, Josalyn said poking her sister in the chest for emphasis before walking out.
Robert sighed and squeezed past his future sister-in-law and their roommates to follow Josalyn needed to go to work anyways. Alexander just shook his head. “I may not like my sister being with your brother, but go after her and I’ll go beyond just beating the shit out of you and I’ll straight up kill you. Let’s go Talia.”, Alexander said taking Talia’s hand. Talia shrugged a little. She personally didn’t see any issue with what Emma had done or was maybe considering doing. But in that sadistic way her and Emma were very much alike. Talia walked out with Alexander leaving Emma standing there alone. Alexander took out his phone as they walked. “Who are you calling?”, Talia questioned. “My sister. If Emma is even considering putting her on her radar she deserves the warning. And I highly doubt anyone else knows what Emma did to Faelan’s mother. I can’t be sure that Josalyn would actually tell her brother because Emma is already on thin ice with him that might push Emma into complete disownership. And as mad as Josalyn sounded I doubt she wants him to stop speaking to Emma all together.”. Alexander explained hitting the contact for his sister. Someone needed to put her on alert about Emma and also let her and Merrick know what Emma did to Jenna. He didn’t think it should be him, but he had little faith that the Bryant-Frosts would actually communicate this all.
Zoe had stayed the night at the Haven with Merrick and Faelan and was still snuggled in the blankets on Merrick’s king size bed when her phone started buzzing on the nightstand. Merrick was already up having changed and fed Faelan, leaving Faelan in the living room with his mother while he came back upstairs to get dressed for work. He was pulling out clothes from his closest silently, between Faelan’s teething and their bedroom activities she was probably tired so he wanted to let her sleep. He sighed hearing the phone buzzing. Mornings weren’t her thing he knew that and she didn’t seem to be stirring for the phone. So he walked over and looked at it seeing the caller id said ‘Alexander’. He sighed debating letting it go to voicemail but nudged her anyways. “Hey hellraiser… Your brother is calling.”, Merrick said nudging her a little holding out the phone. Zoe grumbled a little opening her eyes. “Sleeeep.”, she muttered. Merrick kissed her forehead and put her phone in her hands still buzzing. “Phone.”, he simplified walking back to his closet to get dressed. Zoe’s eyes opened slightly looking at her phone and then looked at him before hitting answer.
“Fratello mattina. Che cosa devo il piacere? (Morning brother. What do I owe the pleasure?)”, she questioned, in her half awake state slipping into Italian. Alexander raised an eyebrow at how many rings it took for her to answer. “Zoe you realize I’m not fluent in Italian like you and dad. I learned Greek. If you like I could start speaking Greek to even the odds. What took you so long to answer?”, Alexander answered walking with an arm around Talia. “Oh sorry. I’m not exactly awake. Merrick handed me the phone and said you were calling. Mornings aren’t really my thing. Even less when Bryant-Frost men keep me awake all night.”, Zoe smiled looking over at Merrick who was undressing. Merrick looked over his shoulder with a wink tossing his t-shirt into the laundry hamper. Alexander rolled his eyes a little, this would take some serious adjusting to. “Yeah that’s partially why I’m calling. It became social media news that you’re dating him.”, Alexander explained. Zoe sighed and sat up in the bed leaning back against the massive wood headboard. “And your point would be what dear brother? Because if this is a phone call to bitch that you don’t approve of my boyfriend I can hang up right now.”, she stated. Merrick smirked a little buttoning up his light blue shirt for his shift at Walmart. “No I’m not calling to lodge my complaint about your choice in boyfriend. I’m calling with a warning because there are certain siblings that aren’t willing to bite their tongue.”, Alexander explained.
“Let me guess….Emma.”, Zoe groaned. “That’s a good guess. She had a little flip out this morning when Josalyn saw Merrick’s facebook. Josalyn and I agree that she’s not to go after you and if she does she deals with us. Apparently Leslie isn’t the only of Merrick’s women Emma got rid off.”, Alexander explained. “What do you mean by that?”, she questioned. Merrick raised an eyebrow as he continued to get dressed. His hearing was good enough that he caught what Alexander was saying about Emma and getting rid of women. “Apparently she got rid of Katherine, Merrick’s first if memory serves, and Leslie which we know about. Well most recently she just admitted to having used her powers to get Jenna to not just give up Faelan but she cleared the girl’s and her parents memories of Merrick and Faelan implanting a suggestion to leave and never return. I wanted to let you know. Josalyn and I have warned her to not go after you, but I wanted to give you the heads up because I don’t trust Emma to heed the warnings. You can tell Merrick if you like or not that’s your discretion. I’ve gotta head into class. Speak with you soon.”, Alexander information. Zoe was looking at Merrick she could hear a rumbling growl and see his hands clenching and claws starting to form. “He’s in the room and I’m going to wager heard everything. I’ll talk to you soon I’ve got...well I’ve got a big bad wolf to sooth.”, Zoe said hanging up and climbing out of the bed wrapping her arms around Merrick hugging him tight from behind.
“Merrick…”, Zoe whispered not sure what she should even say right now. He had just learned that his own little sister was responsible for Jenna walking out of Faelan’s life. Zoe knew that for Merrick personally Jenna wasn’t someone he loved or wanted, but she was Faelan’s mother. And given how much family means to Merrick, she knew just how much Jenna not wanting Faelan hurt Merrick. Merrick clenched his jaw his hands balled into fists his claws piercing his own palms as he tried to control his anger. “I can’t… I’ll kill her. I don’t care as much that she apparently messed with Katherine, I haven’t talked to or even thought about Katherine in years. Last I knew she was rather happy being a nun, waste of a great body but whatever. I’m still always angry under the surface about Leslie. And I always will be. What Emma and Talia did to her wasn’t necessary, the woman never did anything but love me. But Jenna... “, he shook his head trying to get his thoughts in order and the rage in control. At the moment he felt like a bull seeing red. Zoe just hugged him a little tighter and rested her cheek against his back in her silent way of just wanting him to calm. She could hear the rumble of thunder that was his growl as she pressed close to him.
“Yes Jenna was an idiot for what she did. She she tried to play me, but I was handling it. I just… I don’t get it. My own sister would do all this to others just to hurt me. If she wants to hurt me come for me directly. Don't go after others. And certainly don’t do things that will hurt my son. He’s just a baby he doesn’t deserve that kind of pain.”, he shook his head with a slight shudder of anger. “Everything I’ve done for Emma. I helped raise her. I was the one she walked to. I was her first word. I taught her to ride a bike. I spent all these years protecting her. In high school when someone would dare to call her names like whore or cunt I’m the one that was slamming that individual into a wall or stuffing them into a locker explaining that no one talks like that about my sister.”, he sighed wondering what happened. Where had he gone wrong with Emma. “I’ve done everything a brother should and then some for her like I have for all my siblings. And this… this is how she repays that. She lashes out and hurts people that are close to me. And now she’s done the worst thing she could she lashed out and hurt someone that is important and should have been close to my son. This… this I cannot forgive. I can’t believe I’m saying this...but she’s not family anymore.”,he concluded.
Zoe blinked, not family anymore. She hadn’t been sure there was ever anything his family could do bad enough to get him to disown them. Family means everything to him, he was truly a pack creature. So to be willing to excommunicate someone from the pack just never seemed possible. And here Emma had found the one thing that Merrick would not tolerate. She’d done something that would hurt Faelan. “Merrick… I’m. I don’t really know what I should say. I can’t say I fully understand how you feel, but in some ways I do. I love Faelan and he deserved to get the chance to know his mother. As someone who didn’t get to know her father till late in her life I know what is it to have just one parent trying to be both roles. And I mean... I know I’ll never be his real mother but as long as I’m here I’m going to love and protect Faelan just if he was mine.”, she spoke softly. Merrick nodded a little unclenching his fists as they returned to normal though his palms were still bleeding. He took a deep breath and slowly released it switching the animal characteristic to the spiny mouse so that his palms could at least slowly heal. Zoe let him go a little and moved to stand in front of him wanting to check on his hands knowing he’d been pressing his claws into them.
She blinked taking his hands and seeing the skin starting to slowly regenerate and looked at him with a raised brow. “How?”, she questioned. “Spiny mouse, they are able to regrow skin. Little trick I picked up using to save on trips to the Hamilton clinic when I was with Rose.”, he explained. Zoe nodded, right of course he’d have to figure something out for healing back when he slept with Rose. Her understanding things between them was always a bit more painful in the bedroom because of their animal natures. He had a permanent scar on his left shoulder to prove that. Her permanent reminder that he’d been someone else’s. She shook the thought away of any doubts. Rose had her shot and she blew it. It was her that he loved now, and he actually said the words to her. She had what many had tried to obtain without really trying to get it, she had his love. “Will you be okay?”, she asked looking up at him lightly placing a hand on his cheek. “Yeah. I’ll live. After my shift I might hit the gym just to punch a few things but otherwise I’ll be okay. I’ve gotta be, for Faelan. Thank you.”, he answered leaning down giving her a light kiss. “Why are you thanking me?”, she asked a little confused. “Just for being you. I should head to work. Faelan already had breakfast and is downstairs with mom. So you can either go back to bed or start your day. I’ll see you later.”, he explained giving her another kiss. “I love you.”, he added. Zoe smiled and leaned up grabbing another kiss before he could leave. “I love you too.”, she smiled watching him head out of the bedroom.
Merrick did stick to his plan in regards to eliminating all contact with Emma. He did tell his parents about why he was doing this and they understood. So when the holidays came Emma was not invited to come down to the Haven. And during Hazel’s holiday party that Merrick and Zoe attended he wouldn’t even look at or acknowledge that Emma was in the same room. Instead he and Zoe kept their distance from her speaking with various people who were interested in donating to the animal sanctuary instead. Emma was rather irate that Merrick was ignoring her and shutting her out like this. To her it made no sense, she’d gotten rid of Jenna which allowed Merrick the freedom to name and raise Faelan as he saw fit without Jenna trying to influence or leverage Faelan against him. In her mind she’d done him and Faelan both a favor. But no else else seemed to see it that way. And then to watch Merrick walking around the party with their Nana on his left arm and Zoe on his right just made her even more irritated. She was told time and time again she was not allowed to go after Zoe. Even Hazel had told her if she tried anything against Zoe she’d face consequences. She spent the party trying to contain her own anger that it seemed everyone in her family preferred Zoe to her. She ended up leaving the party early with the Harvard student Alan who a few weeks prior she’d been on a couple failed dates with because he was being too forward for her taste. Tonight however she just didn’t give a crap, she still had no plans to sleep with the man but she could certainly toy with the idea
Over at the Institute Kyle was trying to adjust to his new life, surrounded by strangers. Sure they were all being very nice to him. But they weren’t his family and at night in the quiet is when he missed his parents the most and not thinking about the hour call Donovan or Rose just to hear a more familiar voice. He didn’t mind the Kearney twins Evan and Hiro they both were nice enough to him. And there is Ororo who was always sweet to him. Some people when they spoke to him he felt they were walking on eggshells because he was the only student who had really felt true pain and loss as they all and their parents around. Around Ororo he never felt like that, she just genuinely seemed to be a nice girl, she treated everyone nicely at the school. Though there was one fellow student that Kyle noticed Ororo was always the nicest too, Stephan Wagner. He didn’t seem like a bad guy, maybe a bit of an introvert or at least low self esteem but otherwise not a bad bloke. Kyle did wonder if maybe she was just extra nice because Stephan had the low self esteem. Stephan’s parents both seemed nice enough. Kyle had a bi weekly meeting with Stephan’s mother Isis who is the resident psychologist. Mostly it was just to see how he was adjusting to living at the school, but the first few meetings were more talking about the ordeal that had brought him to the institute. He was really trying to adjust and to maybe like living there. But he just missed home and England. But he reminded himself he said he’d try and a few months didn’t really seem like trying.
Kyle wanted to get to know Ororo better, but she was one of those popular girls both at the institute and at their regular school. It was rare she didn’t have a group of people around her. So getting her alone was basically impossible. The closest to alone Kyle seemed to get was during lunch which they had at the same time without any of the Kearney/Delaney guys around. Even then Kyle may have gotten to sit with her at her table but it was hard to get a word in edgewise with her human friends talking. Some of her friends tried chatting him up mostly they all wanted to try and make him say certain words because of his British accent. Which he didn’t mind too much at first, but after a while it got on his nerves. And it didn’t help that ororo stepped in and told her friends a few times to let him alone about his accent. The idea of her kind of swooping to his defense was nice but humiliating all at the same time. And when he thought maybe he’d get a chance to spend some time alone with her Stephan Wagner would be around. And even if Ororo didn’t say it Kyle had gotten the impression she fancied the older bloke. Kyle didn’t want to dislike Stephan he wasn’t a bad guy it was just he did find it a bit baffling that Ororo seemed to have the preference for a owl like sphinx. So Kyle suffered silently making do with what he had which was hanging around her in group settings. Ororo never even noticed that Kyle was trying to get her attention since he never did or said anything direct.
Kyle wasn’t the only one wishing they had time alone with a certain girl. Tristan was feeling more obligation than boyfriend since moving in with Blaire and her friends. They’d all been very nice to him and helpful. But with his doctors appointments and that his doctor said it wouldn’t be till after the new year for his second back surgery he was limited on what he could do. So he still needed someone to drive him to his physical therapy and doctor appointments. Many times it was Blaire who figured out how to work them into his schedule to go with him, but on those times she couldn’t one of her friends found a way to get him there. And then there were days he didn’t have appointments but they all had work or classes so he was stuck at the house alone. For someone who’d never not been active this was driving him stir crazy. It was nearing the holidays and Tristan was just getting depressed and frustrated with his physical therapy and otherwise cabin fever. Tonight Blaire had said she’d be home and they’d get to go out maybe catch a movie so he was anticipating getting to actually go out and do something as he sat in his wheelchair wandering around the house waiting. He watched at the hours passed slowly and started to wonder what was taking her so long. He wanted to call and see what was taking her but he couldn’t find his cell phone which didn’t make him any less annoyed. He was certain he’d left the volume up so if she’d called he would still have been able to find the phone to answer. So he was starting to wonder if she’d just forgotten about him and their date.
Over at the Worthington office Blaire had been stuck in a meeting room with a number of the legal team as they were working on a contract for buying out another large company. It shouldn’t have taken so long but the lawyers for the other company were being, well in Blaire’s opinion dicks about the wording of various clauses. During a few break she sent a quick text to Tristan to tell him she was running late and she’d text him again when she was about to leave the office, apologizing for being so late. Tristan of course never saw that text nor did he get the message when she was leaving. Instead he was just stewing in the living room annoyed. he saw headlights in the driveway and grumbled turning his chair so he had his back to the foyer not feeling overly in a friendly sort of mood. Blaire came in her brief case, almost bursting with the papers she had to work on, in her right hand and holding her backpack from classes with her left. Blaire sighed and saw the back of his head and the chair and set her stuff down taking off her jacket before walking over and leaning, which with her heels and him sitting was just the right height so that her breasts sat on his head. “Hey handsome. Sorry I’m late. Like I told you it was madness at the office. What should have been a cut and dry contract finalization turned into hours of bullshit.”, she greeted bringing her hands down to try and touch his chest. Tristan snorted a little moving her hands.
Blaire raised an eyebrow and stood up walking around to look at him. “What’s wrong?”, she asked. “You didn’t tell me anything.So I don’t know who you told but it wasn’t me. I’ve been sitting here, like every other day, waiting for you. You ran so late we can’t go to the movie and I got hungry so I ordered a pizza and already ate.”, Tristan spoke a bit coldly. Blaire placed her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at him. “Excuse me Tristan Alexander Whitland? You want to lose that attitude before I slap it out of you? I sent you a text message two hours ago saying I was going to be late because the other lawyers were being dicks and that I’d send you another text before I left the office. Then I sent you another text before I left about thirty minutes ago which is about how long it takes to drive from the office in Boston back home.”, Blaire said with attitude right back. She was tired and annoyed from the long day and coming home to this was not helping that. “No you didn’t.”, Tristan argued. “Where’s your phone?”, Blaire demanded. “I don’t know. I haven’t been able to find it. But I know I didn’t leave it on silent so it would have rang if you sent those texts.”, he countered. “Uh huh…”, Blaire rolled her eyes starting to looking around the house and went into their bedroom checking the bed and around it. And found it on the floor under the nightstand. “FOUND IT!”, she walked out holding up the phone.
“It fell under your nightstand. And want to know why you didn't get my messages?”, She asked trying to power it on and getting the ‘low battery’ message. “You need to charge it.”, she said tossing at him. “Want to apologize now or later asshat?”, she asked folding her arms across her chest. Tristan looked down at his phone glaring before picking it up and chucking it at the wall cracking the screen. Blaire blinked looking over at the phone. "Really? Didn't realize I was dealing with a toddler instead of a grown ass man who's older than me.", she questioned glaring at him. "Oh yeah grown ass man that can't leave the fucking house without help. Who you guys rock/paper/scissor to determine who's dealing with me that day. Me coming here was a mistake. I'm trapped in this god forsaken house all damn day, I can't drive yet, I can only walk short distances on my own. I can't even work. And I'm treated basically like a child. So I'm not a fucking man cause you don't treat me like one.", Tristan argued glaring back up at her. "They have these things called taxi cabs and buses. The city bus stop is one block over and guess what is wheelchair accessible. You can go anywhere you fucking want when you don't have appointments and we're not here. No one rock/paper/scissors about who's driving you that day. I have rearranged my life for you Tristan, because I love you and I want to be at all these appointments. Because I want to know what's going on. The others help because they want to and they love you like a brother. You're family Tristan. If I treat you like a child perhaps it's because you are acting like one. I sure the fuck don't treat you like a child in the bedroom. Which speaking of your ass can sleep in their alone for a few nights. I'll take the couch or bunk in Hope's room.", she countered pointing to the bedroom.
Tristan silently glared and rolled away picking up his phone and going to the bedroom not saying another word. He plugged his phone into the charger setting it on his nightstand and carefully tried to get out of his jeans and shirt before getting into bed. For the first time he was going to bed angry. Blaire sighed and silently went into the bedroom, Tristan opened one eye wondering if she was coming to apologize. But instead she didn't even look at him and went to her dresser taking out a pink silk cami and matching shorts. Tristan raised an eyebrow trying to think if she'd given up on the couch idea. She removed her belt, then untucked her white dress shirt unbuttoning it and tossing it into the hamper followed by her cream colored bra, then unzipped and stepped out of her high waist camel leather midi skirt then removed her cream colored thongs before getting into her pajamas. She kept her back to him for most of it but she was aware of him watching her. She was in a way doing this on purpose to show exactly what grown men get versus the child he is acting like. She grabbed her pillow from her side of the bed and walked out shutting the door without a word to sleep on the couch. Their roommates arrived home and all looked curiously at Blaire sleeping on the couch, but none dared to ask and instead just stayed out of it going to their bedrooms.
Tristan hadn't slept well. He'd forgotten to take his muscle relaxers and hadn't done his evening stretches, Blaire often was the one that reminded him and sometimes helped him do his stretches and told him to take his muscle relaxers before bed. He reached over to his nightstand grabbing his phone and powered it up. Within seconds of its powering up the text message tone he had programmed for Blaire sounded twice. He groaned feeling guilty, she had texted him. He carefully sat up in the bed looking at her empty untouched side with its missing pillow and frowned. He brought up the first message. "Hey sorry I'm running late. The other company's lawyers are such dicks and are being picky about everything. Not sure how long I'll be. Text when I leave. Love you.", he read the message through the spider cracks of his screen. Then he pulled up the next messaged and groaned again. It was a picture of her cleavage where she'd obviously unbuttoned it just enough to show the lace detailing of her bra with a message. "Sorry we'll miss the movie. Hope these will be a good consolation prize.", he frowned. She'd come home ready to make up running late and he was a complete ass. He set the phone down and carefully got out of the bed his back stiff and sore from not doing his stretches and forgetting his muscle relaxers. He held the edge of the bed and did a few of his stretches he’s supposed to do in the morning. He looked to the medicine bottles on the nightstand and grabbed just his pain medicine taking a couple dry, he didn’t want to take the muscle relaxers.
He felt horrible as he replayed the fight in his head. He’d thrown his phone into a wall because he didn’t want to realize him not getting her messages was his own fault. He had acted like a child and she called him out on it without holding back. He carefully got on a pair of his shorts before getting into his wheelchair to quietly roll out of the bedroom. He peeked into the living room and could see her sleeping on the couch, her black hair a mess on the pillow with her right arm hanging off the edge and the blanket mostly on the floor. He frowned she was usually the type that when she slept she mostly stayed in that one position and her side of the bed was always so neat. He knew her well enough that she was not having a good night sleep. And that made him feel worse, it was her bed he’d slept on and because of his back she’d taken the couch where she knew she’d be uncomfortable. Even fighting with him she still put him above herself. He sighed and rolled closer carefully moving her arm back onto the couch and fixed the blanket to cover her. He decided he needed to do something to apologize as he rolled to the kitchen locking the wheels of his chair and getting up using the Counter to brace himself if he needed. The physical therapist said standing and trying to walk short distances at home was good so he figured he could at least make her breakfast before his back decided it’d had enough.
He rolled out to the living room with a tray on his lap containing orange juice and a plate of eggs in a basket with breakfast sausage. “Ahem….Blaire?”, he said softly trying to get her attention. She didn’t stir, so he spoke a little louder. “Blaire?”, he called again. Blaire grumbled turning her head to look at him. “Yeah?”, she questioned. Tristan nodded down to the tray on his lap. “Look I’m sorry about last night. It’s just…”, Tristan sighed trying to think how he should apologize for his behavior. “Just you are depressed and having a shining moment because you aren’t used to needing help.”, Blaire finished the sentence sitting up. Tristan nodded. “Yeah basically. I’ve been self dependent most of my life, yeah dad was there when I needed him but I didn’t need him for everyday life. And I’ve never not worked, even when I was little I had chores or something to do around the ranch. Here I just feel like I’m that house guest who overstayed their welcome.”, he sighed rubbing the back of his neck. “And I shouldn’t take that out on you. You have been amazing. You got on a plane and flew to Texas when I got hurt. Other than dad I can’t think of anyone that would have traveled that many miles just to see me and know I’m alive. Then without me asking you offer to have me move in with you so I could be near some of the best doctors the country has and I’d have you for my support system. And your friends were amazing and actually planned on me moving in before you even did and have been here for me too. And I know that you’ve rearranged your schedule, had to get extensions on assignments and such to go to my appointments because you want to be there with me. You ask questions that I probably would never have thought to, because using human medicine isn’t normal to you and you worked at a healer’s clinic. And I’ve become dependent on you and in a way I hate that. Last night I didn’t do my stretches or take my muscle relaxers like I’m supposed to because I just forgot, you always remember. I appreciate everything you and your friends have been doing for me. But I just… I need to find a balance because I can’t be so dependent on you and them.”, he explained.
Blaire listened and nodded a little. “So I’m saying that I love you and you are the most incredible woman in the universe, and I don’t think or feel that I deserve you. But I don’t want to go to bed angry or alone again and I don’t want you to sleep on the couch.”, he said finally stopping his apology. Blaire sighed her shoulders sinking a little. She hadn’t liked going to bed angry. They’d never really had a fight before, and not counting the summer she went on the rodeo with him before college they’d never spent this much time together. A fight was bound to happen eventually. Not every couple can be like Bianca and Gabriel who had never fought. Hope and Jessa fought often and broke up often too. Her parents had fights because when you get two different opinions of stubborn people in a room they are going to butt heads. “I understand Tristan. I really do. Neither of us are the dependent type. I try to let you do things for yourself because you need to do them. For example the only time I help with you getting undressed is when I’m undressing you for the point of having sex with you. I don’t want you to think any of us consider you a burden or treat you like a child. We want to help and be here for you. And I hate when I can’t go to an appointment because I have questions. I want to know that you are getting better, know if there’s anything that I can do that will make this recovery easier for you. Like some of the times I have been late getting home aren’t always because of classes or work.”, she started to explained.
Tristan raised an eyebrow. “Where are you then?”, he asked. “Your physical therapist had recommended deep tissue massages to help your back as an alternative to the muscle relaxers which I know you don’t like taking anymore medication that minimally needed. I checked to see if your insurance would cover the cost of massages, which your doctor recommended getting every couple weeks, but it won’t. And I know massages can get expensive generally costing about seventy dollars per session. So I picked up night classes at Cortiva Institute over in Boston to learn massage therapy for myself so then I’d be able to do the massages your doctor recommended for free and whenever you needed them. I hadn’t wanted to say anything till we actually got into more of the actual practice rather than just talking theory of technique. Kind of wanted it to be a surprise.”, she answered. Tristan sighed and frowned but it slowly turned into a smile. She was taking night classes because she wanted to be able to give proper massages to help his back. “God you’re amazing..”, he smiled. “Remind me how a schmuck like me from a ranch in Oregon got this lucky?”, Tristan questioned with a soft laugh. “Born under a lucky star? That ranch was owned by Rose’s maternal grandparents, so you had that tie in. Being the sweet dirty minded cowboy that you are and well being damn fine helped too.”, Blaire answered. Tristan smirked. “Some lucky star. Remind me I need to call and just tell Rose thanks. So no more sleeping separate?”, he asked offering up the tray.
Blaire looked at him skeptically taking the food. “Tristan I love you, you know that. You want me back in the bed after one night, well that you’ll have to earn back. I know you’re sorry, and I accept the apology like I hope you accept I’m sorry for some of what I said last night in anger. But you don’t want to be treated like a child, you want more independence. Okay, show me that you aren’t a child and I’ll come back to bed with you.”, she explained. Tristan frowned a little but nodded. “Alright. Fair enough I guess. I hard to earn my place in your bed once before, I can do it again. I just don’t like you sleeping out here on the couch. I can sleep on the couch, after all it’s your bed.”, he countered. “You most certainly will not. With your back you aren’t sleeping on this thing. I can deal with the couch for now. I would prefer you prove yourself sooner than later. Cause well this isn’t a comfortable place to sleep and….”, she sighed looking at him in his wheelchair shirtless in just a pair of shorts. “God I’m horny.”, she chuckled. Tristan smiled and laughed too. “Well you did say that’s the one place I wasn’t treated like a child…and we don’t have to do it in the bed.”, he offered with a smirk. Blaire giggled shaking her head. Tristan shrugged. “Just a suggestion, cause between that strip show last night and getting that cleavage message this morning…”, he smirked. “Hmm… let me eat and think about it. You want some of this?”, she suggested starting to eat some of the breakfast he made. “Sure.”, he said taking the fork from her and helping her eat the plate. The sooner the plate was empty the sooner he might get an answer. With the plate empty Blaire looked at him setting the tray aside. “Alright come on handsome let’s park that wheelchair somewhere that we won’t be seen as easily by our roommates.”, She giggled getting off the couch and moving to sit down on his lap instead. Tristan smirked, so maybe she might not be agreeing to sleeping in the bed with him again just yet but it was a step closer.
It only took a week before Blaire gave up on the couch and returned to her bed with Tristan. Her point had been proven and really she was the one suffering not him. But he’d started doing his stretched and taking medication without any reminders. He’d gotten a cane and started walking around the house and even walking from the front door to the road and back to show he was serious about his recovery. She still watched silently from a window when he’d go outside, the last thing she wanted was him to slip and take a fall. But he had at least shown he could be more independent. The last day before she said it was enough he’d taken a cab and went to the grocery store with only his cane and used the cart as a way to keep himself up to buy some groceries and pick up flowers for her. So when she came home that night he was in pain, but he’d not used his chair till he had gotten home. He learned that he didn’t have to rely on her or the others for everything and proved he could handle more on his own and so no more cold bed for him or uncomfortable couch for her. Their roommates were glad that was over, because them sleeping separate was weird.

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Most people were happy or at least okay with the relationship status of Merrick and Zoe, but there were some that weren’t. Rose only found out while killing time between classes checking what was going on in the Facebook world of her friends back home. And there he was in her ‘People You May Know’, a picture of Merrick and Zoe. Rose sighed, they looked so happy in the picture and just because she was feeling a bit masochistic that morning she clicked to view his profile. And there staring her in the face was Faelan’s cherub face sandwiched getting kissed by his father and Zoe on the cover image as she clicked the ‘About Me’ she felt a twinge of heartbreak mixed with jealousy and a tiny bit of relief as she saw his marital status of in a relationship with Zoe. “Well that didn’t take long. But I didn’t think it would. They were already practically dating only having taken that break because Faelan was born.", she sighed. It still hurt to think he was happy with someone else, but he deserved that chance to be happy to have someone who could be there with him and Faelan. And knowing that maybe he’d actually found love again, she knew he’d loved Leslie and that was stolen from him then maybe she could actually find love eventually. She wasn’t going to hold her breath on her finding love any time soon. She smiled a little closing out of the app as she remembered Donovan telling her that when she was ready to try dating again he’d be there waiting. She wasn’t sure how long he’d be waiting and if by then he also wouldn't have moved on. She pocketed her phone and went to her clinical class, right now she just needed to focus on school and missions romance could wait.
The update to facebook ended up causing an uproar at the Boston house shared by two of Merrick’s sisters and Zoe’s brother. Josalyn was the first to notice the change to her brother’s status. “Well saw that coming…”, Josalyn muttered. “Saw what coming beautiful?”, Robert asked leaning over her shoulder to look at the computer. “Oh he’s finally dating her. As an outsider with no real investment I say it took him too long.”, Robert said kissing her cheek. “Because I say you find a beautiful woman that you can love you go for it not twiddle your thumbs.”, he added. Josalyn rolled her eyes. “You were persistent I will give you that Rob.”, she sighed smiled as she glanced to her left ring finger and the canary diamond that weighed upon it. They were already starting to plan the wedding for the spring after graduation. She knew that her great grandmother wanted the wedding at the Saint Leonard’s church where she and Winston had been married but Josalyn wasn’t exactly religious let alone Roman Catholic level so that’s not where they wanted to have the wedding. They wanted to have it outdoors somewhere they just needed to decide on where. “Yes well persistence pays off. I hope that this means your brother can be happy.”, Robert commented.
“What about our brother being happy?”, Emma asked walking in eating an apple. Josalyn sighed, she knew Merrick had blocked Emma on Facebook after her comments during the summer to Zoe when their great grandmother had her pacemaker surgery. “Who’s happy?”, Talia asked raising an eyebrow putting some books into her bag, her inducer on, as she was getting ready to head to classes with Alexander. Alexander handed her another book she’d forgotten and looked at Robert and Josalyn with a raised eyebrow. Josalyn glanced up to Robert who offered no help just shrugging. Josalyn sighed. “Well...um no freaking or getting mad either of you. But Merrick and Zoe are dating. He updated his profile and posted a few pictures from some trip to upstate New York where they went this past weekend on a little vacation. Didn’t realize my brother the fighter was also a romantic.”, Josalyn explained. “THEY ARE WHAT!”, Emma and Alexander shouted in unison. “Isn’t it bad enough my little sister is dating your little brother? Must my older sister date your older brother too?!”, Alexander groaned running his hands through his ivory white hair.
Talia didn’t care much of either direction but patted Alexander on the shoulder to offer what comfort she could for a topic she didn’t care about. “I said no freaking out. We already knew they were best friends and apparently a little more than that before Faelan was born. I say if Zoe can make my brother happy and love my nephew so be it. We don’t get a say. And if my brother makes Zoe happy that’s all that should matter to you Alexander. You know Merrick wouldn’t ever mistreat her. And seriously look at this picture, that look like she’s not happy?”, She asked rolling out of the way bringing up Merrick’s cover photo of the two kissing Faelan. Alexander grumbled. “I still don’t like this. But I don’t control my sister’s life.”, he frowned looking at the picture. She did look happy in the picture with Merrick and Faelan and he remembered she looked happy holding Faelan during the summer. Emma was still silently fuming till finally she exploded. “This is bullcrap! I have not gotten rid of unworthy trash like Katherine, Leslie and Jenna just for Zoe to get my brother. She doesn't deserve him. So guess I’ll be getting rid of her too.”, Emma shouted. Josalyn and Alexander both looked to Emma a little confused by her saying she’d gotten rid of Katherine and Jenna, they already knew what happened to Leslie. “Excuse me? My sister is not unworthy trash. You talk like that again and I’ll break your ‘perfect’ fucking face and not heal you. And don’t even think about going after my sister. My dad warned everyone that if she’s touched he’ll ship that person’s head in a box to their parents.”, Alexander said sternly narrowing his eyes at Emma.
Now Talia was interested. Alexander was getting angry and threatening violence. She always liked when he got more authoritative and violent. “Emma Grace you will not go after Zoe. Now what do you mean you got rid of Jenna? She made that choice because she was too afraid to be a mother to a mutant.”, Josalyn questioned standing up. “Well yeah she wanted to run, but was also too afraid to actually do it. So I had her do it anyways. And to make it so she’d not come back I wiped Merrick and Faelan from her and her parents minds and had them leave to never want to return to Bayville.”, Emma shrugged like it was nothing. Josalyn’s eyes went wide. “EMMA GRACE! How could you!? How could you do that to Faelan!? I don’t care if you thought Jenna didn’t deserve Merrick, we all knew she’d never have him. But to take her away from Faelan, our nephew, that’s just...that’s deplorable. She could have changed her mind, she could have learned to love Faelan and his mutation. Faelan deserved that chance to have his mother! I just...I can’t even right now. I’m going to classes. You need to stay the hell out of trouble. Do not and I mean it DO NOT even contemplate going after Zoe DeLuca. She is making them happy. And if you try to ruin Merrick and Faelan’s chance at being happy I’ll personally beat the fucking shit out you little sister.”, Josalyn said poking her sister in the chest for emphasis before walking out.
Robert sighed and squeezed past his future sister-in-law and their roommates to follow Josalyn needed to go to work anyways. Alexander just shook his head. “I may not like my sister being with your brother, but go after her and I’ll go beyond just beating the shit out of you and I’ll straight up kill you. Let’s go Talia.”, Alexander said taking Talia’s hand. Talia shrugged a little. She personally didn’t see any issue with what Emma had done or was maybe considering doing. But in that sadistic way her and Emma were very much alike. Talia walked out with Alexander leaving Emma standing there alone. Alexander took out his phone as they walked. “Who are you calling?”, Talia questioned. “My sister. If Emma is even considering putting her on her radar she deserves the warning. And I highly doubt anyone else knows what Emma did to Faelan’s mother. I can’t be sure that Josalyn would actually tell her brother because Emma is already on thin ice with him that might push Emma into complete disownership. And as mad as Josalyn sounded I doubt she wants him to stop speaking to Emma all together.”. Alexander explained hitting the contact for his sister. Someone needed to put her on alert about Emma and also let her and Merrick know what Emma did to Jenna. He didn’t think it should be him, but he had little faith that the Bryant-Frosts would actually communicate this all.
Zoe had stayed the night at the Haven with Merrick and Faelan and was still snuggled in the blankets on Merrick’s king size bed when her phone started buzzing on the nightstand. Merrick was already up having changed and fed Faelan, leaving Faelan in the living room with his mother while he came back upstairs to get dressed for work. He was pulling out clothes from his closest silently, between Faelan’s teething and their bedroom activities she was probably tired so he wanted to let her sleep. He sighed hearing the phone buzzing. Mornings weren’t her thing he knew that and she didn’t seem to be stirring for the phone. So he walked over and looked at it seeing the caller id said ‘Alexander’. He sighed debating letting it go to voicemail but nudged her anyways. “Hey hellraiser… Your brother is calling.”, Merrick said nudging her a little holding out the phone. Zoe grumbled a little opening her eyes. “Sleeeep.”, she muttered. Merrick kissed her forehead and put her phone in her hands still buzzing. “Phone.”, he simplified walking back to his closet to get dressed. Zoe’s eyes opened slightly looking at her phone and then looked at him before hitting answer.
“Fratello mattina. Che cosa devo il piacere? (Morning brother. What do I owe the pleasure?)”, she questioned, in her half awake state slipping into Italian. Alexander raised an eyebrow at how many rings it took for her to answer. “Zoe you realize I’m not fluent in Italian like you and dad. I learned Greek. If you like I could start speaking Greek to even the odds. What took you so long to answer?”, Alexander answered walking with an arm around Talia. “Oh sorry. I’m not exactly awake. Merrick handed me the phone and said you were calling. Mornings aren’t really my thing. Even less when Bryant-Frost men keep me awake all night.”, Zoe smiled looking over at Merrick who was undressing. Merrick looked over his shoulder with a wink tossing his t-shirt into the laundry hamper. Alexander rolled his eyes a little, this would take some serious adjusting to. “Yeah that’s partially why I’m calling. It became social media news that you’re dating him.”, Alexander explained. Zoe sighed and sat up in the bed leaning back against the massive wood headboard. “And your point would be what dear brother? Because if this is a phone call to bitch that you don’t approve of my boyfriend I can hang up right now.”, she stated. Merrick smirked a little buttoning up his light blue shirt for his shift at Walmart. “No I’m not calling to lodge my complaint about your choice in boyfriend. I’m calling with a warning because there are certain siblings that aren’t willing to bite their tongue.”, Alexander explained.
“Let me guess….Emma.”, Zoe groaned. “That’s a good guess. She had a little flip out this morning when Josalyn saw Merrick’s facebook. Josalyn and I agree that she’s not to go after you and if she does she deals with us. Apparently Leslie isn’t the only of Merrick’s women Emma got rid off.”, Alexander explained. “What do you mean by that?”, she questioned. Merrick raised an eyebrow as he continued to get dressed. His hearing was good enough that he caught what Alexander was saying about Emma and getting rid of women. “Apparently she got rid of Katherine, Merrick’s first if memory serves, and Leslie which we know about. Well most recently she just admitted to having used her powers to get Jenna to not just give up Faelan but she cleared the girl’s and her parents memories of Merrick and Faelan implanting a suggestion to leave and never return. I wanted to let you know. Josalyn and I have warned her to not go after you, but I wanted to give you the heads up because I don’t trust Emma to heed the warnings. You can tell Merrick if you like or not that’s your discretion. I’ve gotta head into class. Speak with you soon.”, Alexander information. Zoe was looking at Merrick she could hear a rumbling growl and see his hands clenching and claws starting to form. “He’s in the room and I’m going to wager heard everything. I’ll talk to you soon I’ve got...well I’ve got a big bad wolf to sooth.”, Zoe said hanging up and climbing out of the bed wrapping her arms around Merrick hugging him tight from behind.
“Merrick…”, Zoe whispered not sure what she should even say right now. He had just learned that his own little sister was responsible for Jenna walking out of Faelan’s life. Zoe knew that for Merrick personally Jenna wasn’t someone he loved or wanted, but she was Faelan’s mother. And given how much family means to Merrick, she knew just how much Jenna not wanting Faelan hurt Merrick. Merrick clenched his jaw his hands balled into fists his claws piercing his own palms as he tried to control his anger. “I can’t… I’ll kill her. I don’t care as much that she apparently messed with Katherine, I haven’t talked to or even thought about Katherine in years. Last I knew she was rather happy being a nun, waste of a great body but whatever. I’m still always angry under the surface about Leslie. And I always will be. What Emma and Talia did to her wasn’t necessary, the woman never did anything but love me. But Jenna... “, he shook his head trying to get his thoughts in order and the rage in control. At the moment he felt like a bull seeing red. Zoe just hugged him a little tighter and rested her cheek against his back in her silent way of just wanting him to calm. She could hear the rumble of thunder that was his growl as she pressed close to him.
“Yes Jenna was an idiot for what she did. She she tried to play me, but I was handling it. I just… I don’t get it. My own sister would do all this to others just to hurt me. If she wants to hurt me come for me directly. Don't go after others. And certainly don’t do things that will hurt my son. He’s just a baby he doesn’t deserve that kind of pain.”, he shook his head with a slight shudder of anger. “Everything I’ve done for Emma. I helped raise her. I was the one she walked to. I was her first word. I taught her to ride a bike. I spent all these years protecting her. In high school when someone would dare to call her names like whore or cunt I’m the one that was slamming that individual into a wall or stuffing them into a locker explaining that no one talks like that about my sister.”, he sighed wondering what happened. Where had he gone wrong with Emma. “I’ve done everything a brother should and then some for her like I have for all my siblings. And this… this is how she repays that. She lashes out and hurts people that are close to me. And now she’s done the worst thing she could she lashed out and hurt someone that is important and should have been close to my son. This… this I cannot forgive. I can’t believe I’m saying this...but she’s not family anymore.”,he concluded.
Zoe blinked, not family anymore. She hadn’t been sure there was ever anything his family could do bad enough to get him to disown them. Family means everything to him, he was truly a pack creature. So to be willing to excommunicate someone from the pack just never seemed possible. And here Emma had found the one thing that Merrick would not tolerate. She’d done something that would hurt Faelan. “Merrick… I’m. I don’t really know what I should say. I can’t say I fully understand how you feel, but in some ways I do. I love Faelan and he deserved to get the chance to know his mother. As someone who didn’t get to know her father till late in her life I know what is it to have just one parent trying to be both roles. And I mean... I know I’ll never be his real mother but as long as I’m here I’m going to love and protect Faelan just if he was mine.”, she spoke softly. Merrick nodded a little unclenching his fists as they returned to normal though his palms were still bleeding. He took a deep breath and slowly released it switching the animal characteristic to the spiny mouse so that his palms could at least slowly heal. Zoe let him go a little and moved to stand in front of him wanting to check on his hands knowing he’d been pressing his claws into them.
She blinked taking his hands and seeing the skin starting to slowly regenerate and looked at him with a raised brow. “How?”, she questioned. “Spiny mouse, they are able to regrow skin. Little trick I picked up using to save on trips to the Hamilton clinic when I was with Rose.”, he explained. Zoe nodded, right of course he’d have to figure something out for healing back when he slept with Rose. Her understanding things between them was always a bit more painful in the bedroom because of their animal natures. He had a permanent scar on his left shoulder to prove that. Her permanent reminder that he’d been someone else’s. She shook the thought away of any doubts. Rose had her shot and she blew it. It was her that he loved now, and he actually said the words to her. She had what many had tried to obtain without really trying to get it, she had his love. “Will you be okay?”, she asked looking up at him lightly placing a hand on his cheek. “Yeah. I’ll live. After my shift I might hit the gym just to punch a few things but otherwise I’ll be okay. I’ve gotta be, for Faelan. Thank you.”, he answered leaning down giving her a light kiss. “Why are you thanking me?”, she asked a little confused. “Just for being you. I should head to work. Faelan already had breakfast and is downstairs with mom. So you can either go back to bed or start your day. I’ll see you later.”, he explained giving her another kiss. “I love you.”, he added. Zoe smiled and leaned up grabbing another kiss before he could leave. “I love you too.”, she smiled watching him head out of the bedroom.
Merrick did stick to his plan in regards to eliminating all contact with Emma. He did tell his parents about why he was doing this and they understood. So when the holidays came Emma was not invited to come down to the Haven. And during Hazel’s holiday party that Merrick and Zoe attended he wouldn’t even look at or acknowledge that Emma was in the same room. Instead he and Zoe kept their distance from her speaking with various people who were interested in donating to the animal sanctuary instead. Emma was rather irate that Merrick was ignoring her and shutting her out like this. To her it made no sense, she’d gotten rid of Jenna which allowed Merrick the freedom to name and raise Faelan as he saw fit without Jenna trying to influence or leverage Faelan against him. In her mind she’d done him and Faelan both a favor. But no else else seemed to see it that way. And then to watch Merrick walking around the party with their Nana on his left arm and Zoe on his right just made her even more irritated. She was told time and time again she was not allowed to go after Zoe. Even Hazel had told her if she tried anything against Zoe she’d face consequences. She spent the party trying to contain her own anger that it seemed everyone in her family preferred Zoe to her. She ended up leaving the party early with the Harvard student Alan who a few weeks prior she’d been on a couple failed dates with because he was being too forward for her taste. Tonight however she just didn’t give a crap, she still had no plans to sleep with the man but she could certainly toy with the idea
Over at the Institute Kyle was trying to adjust to his new life, surrounded by strangers. Sure they were all being very nice to him. But they weren’t his family and at night in the quiet is when he missed his parents the most and not thinking about the hour call Donovan or Rose just to hear a more familiar voice. He didn’t mind the Kearney twins Evan and Hiro they both were nice enough to him. And there is Ororo who was always sweet to him. Some people when they spoke to him he felt they were walking on eggshells because he was the only student who had really felt true pain and loss as they all and their parents around. Around Ororo he never felt like that, she just genuinely seemed to be a nice girl, she treated everyone nicely at the school. Though there was one fellow student that Kyle noticed Ororo was always the nicest too, Stephan Wagner. He didn’t seem like a bad guy, maybe a bit of an introvert or at least low self esteem but otherwise not a bad bloke. Kyle did wonder if maybe she was just extra nice because Stephan had the low self esteem. Stephan’s parents both seemed nice enough. Kyle had a bi weekly meeting with Stephan’s mother Isis who is the resident psychologist. Mostly it was just to see how he was adjusting to living at the school, but the first few meetings were more talking about the ordeal that had brought him to the institute. He was really trying to adjust and to maybe like living there. But he just missed home and England. But he reminded himself he said he’d try and a few months didn’t really seem like trying.
Kyle wanted to get to know Ororo better, but she was one of those popular girls both at the institute and at their regular school. It was rare she didn’t have a group of people around her. So getting her alone was basically impossible. The closest to alone Kyle seemed to get was during lunch which they had at the same time without any of the Kearney/Delaney guys around. Even then Kyle may have gotten to sit with her at her table but it was hard to get a word in edgewise with her human friends talking. Some of her friends tried chatting him up mostly they all wanted to try and make him say certain words because of his British accent. Which he didn’t mind too much at first, but after a while it got on his nerves. And it didn’t help that ororo stepped in and told her friends a few times to let him alone about his accent. The idea of her kind of swooping to his defense was nice but humiliating all at the same time. And when he thought maybe he’d get a chance to spend some time alone with her Stephan Wagner would be around. And even if Ororo didn’t say it Kyle had gotten the impression she fancied the older bloke. Kyle didn’t want to dislike Stephan he wasn’t a bad guy it was just he did find it a bit baffling that Ororo seemed to have the preference for a owl like sphinx. So Kyle suffered silently making do with what he had which was hanging around her in group settings. Ororo never even noticed that Kyle was trying to get her attention since he never did or said anything direct.
Kyle wasn’t the only one wishing they had time alone with a certain girl. Tristan was feeling more obligation than boyfriend since moving in with Blaire and her friends. They’d all been very nice to him and helpful. But with his doctors appointments and that his doctor said it wouldn’t be till after the new year for his second back surgery he was limited on what he could do. So he still needed someone to drive him to his physical therapy and doctor appointments. Many times it was Blaire who figured out how to work them into his schedule to go with him, but on those times she couldn’t one of her friends found a way to get him there. And then there were days he didn’t have appointments but they all had work or classes so he was stuck at the house alone. For someone who’d never not been active this was driving him stir crazy. It was nearing the holidays and Tristan was just getting depressed and frustrated with his physical therapy and otherwise cabin fever. Tonight Blaire had said she’d be home and they’d get to go out maybe catch a movie so he was anticipating getting to actually go out and do something as he sat in his wheelchair wandering around the house waiting. He watched at the hours passed slowly and started to wonder what was taking her so long. He wanted to call and see what was taking her but he couldn’t find his cell phone which didn’t make him any less annoyed. He was certain he’d left the volume up so if she’d called he would still have been able to find the phone to answer. So he was starting to wonder if she’d just forgotten about him and their date.
Over at the Worthington office Blaire had been stuck in a meeting room with a number of the legal team as they were working on a contract for buying out another large company. It shouldn’t have taken so long but the lawyers for the other company were being, well in Blaire’s opinion dicks about the wording of various clauses. During a few break she sent a quick text to Tristan to tell him she was running late and she’d text him again when she was about to leave the office, apologizing for being so late. Tristan of course never saw that text nor did he get the message when she was leaving. Instead he was just stewing in the living room annoyed. he saw headlights in the driveway and grumbled turning his chair so he had his back to the foyer not feeling overly in a friendly sort of mood. Blaire came in her brief case, almost bursting with the papers she had to work on, in her right hand and holding her backpack from classes with her left. Blaire sighed and saw the back of his head and the chair and set her stuff down taking off her jacket before walking over and leaning, which with her heels and him sitting was just the right height so that her breasts sat on his head. “Hey handsome. Sorry I’m late. Like I told you it was madness at the office. What should have been a cut and dry contract finalization turned into hours of bullshit.”, she greeted bringing her hands down to try and touch his chest. Tristan snorted a little moving her hands.
Blaire raised an eyebrow and stood up walking around to look at him. “What’s wrong?”, she asked. “You didn’t tell me anything.So I don’t know who you told but it wasn’t me. I’ve been sitting here, like every other day, waiting for you. You ran so late we can’t go to the movie and I got hungry so I ordered a pizza and already ate.”, Tristan spoke a bit coldly. Blaire placed her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at him. “Excuse me Tristan Alexander Whitland? You want to lose that attitude before I slap it out of you? I sent you a text message two hours ago saying I was going to be late because the other lawyers were being dicks and that I’d send you another text before I left the office. Then I sent you another text before I left about thirty minutes ago which is about how long it takes to drive from the office in Boston back home.”, Blaire said with attitude right back. She was tired and annoyed from the long day and coming home to this was not helping that. “No you didn’t.”, Tristan argued. “Where’s your phone?”, Blaire demanded. “I don’t know. I haven’t been able to find it. But I know I didn’t leave it on silent so it would have rang if you sent those texts.”, he countered. “Uh huh…”, Blaire rolled her eyes starting to looking around the house and went into their bedroom checking the bed and around it. And found it on the floor under the nightstand. “FOUND IT!”, she walked out holding up the phone.
“It fell under your nightstand. And want to know why you didn't get my messages?”, She asked trying to power it on and getting the ‘low battery’ message. “You need to charge it.”, she said tossing at him. “Want to apologize now or later asshat?”, she asked folding her arms across her chest. Tristan looked down at his phone glaring before picking it up and chucking it at the wall cracking the screen. Blaire blinked looking over at the phone. "Really? Didn't realize I was dealing with a toddler instead of a grown ass man who's older than me.", she questioned glaring at him. "Oh yeah grown ass man that can't leave the fucking house without help. Who you guys rock/paper/scissor to determine who's dealing with me that day. Me coming here was a mistake. I'm trapped in this god forsaken house all damn day, I can't drive yet, I can only walk short distances on my own. I can't even work. And I'm treated basically like a child. So I'm not a fucking man cause you don't treat me like one.", Tristan argued glaring back up at her. "They have these things called taxi cabs and buses. The city bus stop is one block over and guess what is wheelchair accessible. You can go anywhere you fucking want when you don't have appointments and we're not here. No one rock/paper/scissors about who's driving you that day. I have rearranged my life for you Tristan, because I love you and I want to be at all these appointments. Because I want to know what's going on. The others help because they want to and they love you like a brother. You're family Tristan. If I treat you like a child perhaps it's because you are acting like one. I sure the fuck don't treat you like a child in the bedroom. Which speaking of your ass can sleep in their alone for a few nights. I'll take the couch or bunk in Hope's room.", she countered pointing to the bedroom.
Tristan silently glared and rolled away picking up his phone and going to the bedroom not saying another word. He plugged his phone into the charger setting it on his nightstand and carefully tried to get out of his jeans and shirt before getting into bed. For the first time he was going to bed angry. Blaire sighed and silently went into the bedroom, Tristan opened one eye wondering if she was coming to apologize. But instead she didn't even look at him and went to her dresser taking out a pink silk cami and matching shorts. Tristan raised an eyebrow trying to think if she'd given up on the couch idea. She removed her belt, then untucked her white dress shirt unbuttoning it and tossing it into the hamper followed by her cream colored bra, then unzipped and stepped out of her high waist camel leather midi skirt then removed her cream colored thongs before getting into her pajamas. She kept her back to him for most of it but she was aware of him watching her. She was in a way doing this on purpose to show exactly what grown men get versus the child he is acting like. She grabbed her pillow from her side of the bed and walked out shutting the door without a word to sleep on the couch. Their roommates arrived home and all looked curiously at Blaire sleeping on the couch, but none dared to ask and instead just stayed out of it going to their bedrooms.
Tristan hadn't slept well. He'd forgotten to take his muscle relaxers and hadn't done his evening stretches, Blaire often was the one that reminded him and sometimes helped him do his stretches and told him to take his muscle relaxers before bed. He reached over to his nightstand grabbing his phone and powered it up. Within seconds of its powering up the text message tone he had programmed for Blaire sounded twice. He groaned feeling guilty, she had texted him. He carefully sat up in the bed looking at her empty untouched side with its missing pillow and frowned. He brought up the first message. "Hey sorry I'm running late. The other company's lawyers are such dicks and are being picky about everything. Not sure how long I'll be. Text when I leave. Love you.", he read the message through the spider cracks of his screen. Then he pulled up the next messaged and groaned again. It was a picture of her cleavage where she'd obviously unbuttoned it just enough to show the lace detailing of her bra with a message. "Sorry we'll miss the movie. Hope these will be a good consolation prize.", he frowned. She'd come home ready to make up running late and he was a complete ass. He set the phone down and carefully got out of the bed his back stiff and sore from not doing his stretches and forgetting his muscle relaxers. He held the edge of the bed and did a few of his stretches he’s supposed to do in the morning. He looked to the medicine bottles on the nightstand and grabbed just his pain medicine taking a couple dry, he didn’t want to take the muscle relaxers.
He felt horrible as he replayed the fight in his head. He’d thrown his phone into a wall because he didn’t want to realize him not getting her messages was his own fault. He had acted like a child and she called him out on it without holding back. He carefully got on a pair of his shorts before getting into his wheelchair to quietly roll out of the bedroom. He peeked into the living room and could see her sleeping on the couch, her black hair a mess on the pillow with her right arm hanging off the edge and the blanket mostly on the floor. He frowned she was usually the type that when she slept she mostly stayed in that one position and her side of the bed was always so neat. He knew her well enough that she was not having a good night sleep. And that made him feel worse, it was her bed he’d slept on and because of his back she’d taken the couch where she knew she’d be uncomfortable. Even fighting with him she still put him above herself. He sighed and rolled closer carefully moving her arm back onto the couch and fixed the blanket to cover her. He decided he needed to do something to apologize as he rolled to the kitchen locking the wheels of his chair and getting up using the Counter to brace himself if he needed. The physical therapist said standing and trying to walk short distances at home was good so he figured he could at least make her breakfast before his back decided it’d had enough.
He rolled out to the living room with a tray on his lap containing orange juice and a plate of eggs in a basket with breakfast sausage. “Ahem….Blaire?”, he said softly trying to get her attention. She didn’t stir, so he spoke a little louder. “Blaire?”, he called again. Blaire grumbled turning her head to look at him. “Yeah?”, she questioned. Tristan nodded down to the tray on his lap. “Look I’m sorry about last night. It’s just…”, Tristan sighed trying to think how he should apologize for his behavior. “Just you are depressed and having a shining moment because you aren’t used to needing help.”, Blaire finished the sentence sitting up. Tristan nodded. “Yeah basically. I’ve been self dependent most of my life, yeah dad was there when I needed him but I didn’t need him for everyday life. And I’ve never not worked, even when I was little I had chores or something to do around the ranch. Here I just feel like I’m that house guest who overstayed their welcome.”, he sighed rubbing the back of his neck. “And I shouldn’t take that out on you. You have been amazing. You got on a plane and flew to Texas when I got hurt. Other than dad I can’t think of anyone that would have traveled that many miles just to see me and know I’m alive. Then without me asking you offer to have me move in with you so I could be near some of the best doctors the country has and I’d have you for my support system. And your friends were amazing and actually planned on me moving in before you even did and have been here for me too. And I know that you’ve rearranged your schedule, had to get extensions on assignments and such to go to my appointments because you want to be there with me. You ask questions that I probably would never have thought to, because using human medicine isn’t normal to you and you worked at a healer’s clinic. And I’ve become dependent on you and in a way I hate that. Last night I didn’t do my stretches or take my muscle relaxers like I’m supposed to because I just forgot, you always remember. I appreciate everything you and your friends have been doing for me. But I just… I need to find a balance because I can’t be so dependent on you and them.”, he explained.
Blaire listened and nodded a little. “So I’m saying that I love you and you are the most incredible woman in the universe, and I don’t think or feel that I deserve you. But I don’t want to go to bed angry or alone again and I don’t want you to sleep on the couch.”, he said finally stopping his apology. Blaire sighed her shoulders sinking a little. She hadn’t liked going to bed angry. They’d never really had a fight before, and not counting the summer she went on the rodeo with him before college they’d never spent this much time together. A fight was bound to happen eventually. Not every couple can be like Bianca and Gabriel who had never fought. Hope and Jessa fought often and broke up often too. Her parents had fights because when you get two different opinions of stubborn people in a room they are going to butt heads. “I understand Tristan. I really do. Neither of us are the dependent type. I try to let you do things for yourself because you need to do them. For example the only time I help with you getting undressed is when I’m undressing you for the point of having sex with you. I don’t want you to think any of us consider you a burden or treat you like a child. We want to help and be here for you. And I hate when I can’t go to an appointment because I have questions. I want to know that you are getting better, know if there’s anything that I can do that will make this recovery easier for you. Like some of the times I have been late getting home aren’t always because of classes or work.”, she started to explained.
Tristan raised an eyebrow. “Where are you then?”, he asked. “Your physical therapist had recommended deep tissue massages to help your back as an alternative to the muscle relaxers which I know you don’t like taking anymore medication that minimally needed. I checked to see if your insurance would cover the cost of massages, which your doctor recommended getting every couple weeks, but it won’t. And I know massages can get expensive generally costing about seventy dollars per session. So I picked up night classes at Cortiva Institute over in Boston to learn massage therapy for myself so then I’d be able to do the massages your doctor recommended for free and whenever you needed them. I hadn’t wanted to say anything till we actually got into more of the actual practice rather than just talking theory of technique. Kind of wanted it to be a surprise.”, she answered. Tristan sighed and frowned but it slowly turned into a smile. She was taking night classes because she wanted to be able to give proper massages to help his back. “God you’re amazing..”, he smiled. “Remind me how a schmuck like me from a ranch in Oregon got this lucky?”, Tristan questioned with a soft laugh. “Born under a lucky star? That ranch was owned by Rose’s maternal grandparents, so you had that tie in. Being the sweet dirty minded cowboy that you are and well being damn fine helped too.”, Blaire answered. Tristan smirked. “Some lucky star. Remind me I need to call and just tell Rose thanks. So no more sleeping separate?”, he asked offering up the tray.
Blaire looked at him skeptically taking the food. “Tristan I love you, you know that. You want me back in the bed after one night, well that you’ll have to earn back. I know you’re sorry, and I accept the apology like I hope you accept I’m sorry for some of what I said last night in anger. But you don’t want to be treated like a child, you want more independence. Okay, show me that you aren’t a child and I’ll come back to bed with you.”, she explained. Tristan frowned a little but nodded. “Alright. Fair enough I guess. I hard to earn my place in your bed once before, I can do it again. I just don’t like you sleeping out here on the couch. I can sleep on the couch, after all it’s your bed.”, he countered. “You most certainly will not. With your back you aren’t sleeping on this thing. I can deal with the couch for now. I would prefer you prove yourself sooner than later. Cause well this isn’t a comfortable place to sleep and….”, she sighed looking at him in his wheelchair shirtless in just a pair of shorts. “God I’m horny.”, she chuckled. Tristan smiled and laughed too. “Well you did say that’s the one place I wasn’t treated like a child…and we don’t have to do it in the bed.”, he offered with a smirk. Blaire giggled shaking her head. Tristan shrugged. “Just a suggestion, cause between that strip show last night and getting that cleavage message this morning…”, he smirked. “Hmm… let me eat and think about it. You want some of this?”, she suggested starting to eat some of the breakfast he made. “Sure.”, he said taking the fork from her and helping her eat the plate. The sooner the plate was empty the sooner he might get an answer. With the plate empty Blaire looked at him setting the tray aside. “Alright come on handsome let’s park that wheelchair somewhere that we won’t be seen as easily by our roommates.”, She giggled getting off the couch and moving to sit down on his lap instead. Tristan smirked, so maybe she might not be agreeing to sleeping in the bed with him again just yet but it was a step closer.
It only took a week before Blaire gave up on the couch and returned to her bed with Tristan. Her point had been proven and really she was the one suffering not him. But he’d started doing his stretched and taking medication without any reminders. He’d gotten a cane and started walking around the house and even walking from the front door to the road and back to show he was serious about his recovery. She still watched silently from a window when he’d go outside, the last thing she wanted was him to slip and take a fall. But he had at least shown he could be more independent. The last day before she said it was enough he’d taken a cab and went to the grocery store with only his cane and used the cart as a way to keep himself up to buy some groceries and pick up flowers for her. So when she came home that night he was in pain, but he’d not used his chair till he had gotten home. He learned that he didn’t have to rely on her or the others for everything and proved he could handle more on his own and so no more cold bed for him or uncomfortable couch for her. Their roommates were glad that was over, because them sleeping separate was weird.