The Rest of It

"Oh, honey, come here."

Tessa held the door open for the golden brown wolf, then shut it behind her. She waited with a blanet and as soon as Gretchen shifted back, Tessa wrapped it around her. and rubbed her hands up and down Gretchen's arms.

Gretchen shivered as her fear and anger overwhelmed her. Her teeth chattered and Tessa pulled her in close to her chest. "Tessa, I saw it, I saw everything they did to me. Tessa, I know who it was, I saw him."

Tessa put her hand on the back of Gretchen's head and whispered in her ear. "It's ok, honey. That world is behind us. All that is over. You're safe here, Gretchen."

Gretchen pulled away and looked in Tessa's face. "My parents found me, Tess. Mommy and Daddy found me laying there like that."

As her eyes filled with tears and she tried to swallow them away, Tessa blinked away. "Oh, Jesus. Teddy."

Gretchen sobbed against Tessa's chest as Tessa ran her fingers through Gretchen's hair.

"Why did Damien do that to me, Tessa? I told him I wasn't ready."

Tessa led Gretchen to the bed and then sat down beside her. "You know, a long time ago, before you were born. Your father did something quite similar to me." Tessa smiled to herself. "We had got into this huge argument and didn't speak for about a year when, out of nowhere, I got an inviitation to his wedding. He sent me a picture of your uncles to lure me in."

Gretchen chuckled through her tears. "That sounds like you."

Tessa nodded. "The whole thing was a big conspiracy that Teddy and the whole damn Hexom family cooked up to get me there. Then, when I did, your uncles bit me and my ass was trapped." Tessa shook her head. "I was so angry with them all, especially your father. I felt so betrayed and stupid for falling for it all."

Tessa took Gretchen's hand and looked at it. "In the end, I realized that what your father did, it really was for the best. I was a fucking mess. My life was garbage. He knew I'd never accept Logan and Jacob and any semblance of a normal kind of life. So, he did what he did. Gretchen, Damien, he knew you would never willingly relive that nightmare. That you were content to just drug yourself silly every night. But, that's not living, Gretch. After my parents died, I did the same thing. I got fall down drunk every chance I could to hide from my pain. It's not worth it, baby. I denied myself happiness and a family for so long. Don't do that to yourself. Damien is crazy about you. Don't throw him away for trying to do the right thing by you."

Gretchen pushed her tears away. "Oh, shit, I hit him Tessa. I punched him right in the mouth. I told him I hated him and to stay the fuck away from me. He must be so angry."

Tessa wiped Gretchen's cheek. "Trust me, he isn't. He loves you, Gretch. You know he does."

Gretchen smiled then blew out through her mouth and nodded. "Why are you here anyway?"

"Haldir came for us this morning. Figured you might need us."

"Thank you. I hate to think of what I might have done if Logan hadn't shown up. I was so angry."

"Don't even worry about it. I'm always angry at Logan. The make up sex is unreal, but, then again, so is angry sex."

Gretchen laughed. "Jesus, Tessa."

"So, did you guys?" Tessa asked as she raised her eyebrows.

"No!"

"Girl, I'm teling you, you don't want to turn down this opportunity. When a guy thinks he's in the doghouse, he'll do just about anything to rectify that. You need to put that boy to work, Gretch. He'll suck your toes if you ask him to."

"Well, I am in heat."

"There you go."

Gretchen laughed and said, "Thanks for coming. I needed this."

"Un-un Gretch, what you need is that cool drink of water waiting for you out there. He wants to be there for you, just let him. Now, get dressed. Haldir and Logan have some explaining to do. You know, those fools have been keeping all the details from me? You best believe my dear husbands are going to be paying for that error in judgement tonight when I get back home. I don't know why they think they can get away with that. I always end up finding out."

"Dammit. There's more to all this, isn't there?"

Tessa nodded. "I expect so. Are you ready to hear the rest of it, honey? I'll be right there with you. I don't get the feeling either of us are going to like what we hear."

Gretchen sighed as she looked in Tessa's eyes. "Can't stop now."


Logan, Damien and Daniel were waiting in the Great Hall to hear from Tessa. Logan went to the stone fireplace and stoked the fire with a poker as Jason came into the room. Jason had a look of shock on his face when Logan looked up and nodded his head in acknowledgement. Jason lowered his head in respect then went to his side.

"How's it going, son?"

"I'm well. How is...how is everyone?" asked Jason nervously.

Logan smiled as he looked to the fire. "She's doing good, Jason."

Jason crossed his arms and sighed. "Thank you for that."

Logan patted Jason's shoulder then sat down on the hearth. Jason sat beside him in awkward silence.

"So, are they treating you good here?" asked Logan.

"Yes," Jason said with a quick smile.

Logan scratched his beard. "Good. Good."

When Gretchen and Tessa entered the hall, Tessa saw Logan and Jason sitting by the fire. A warm smile came to her lips and she walked over to them. Jason stood and Tessa threw her arms around him then hugged him tightly as she rubbed his back. When she pulled away, she asked, "How are you getting along Jason?"

His cheeks flushed with color and he said, "I'm alright. Thank you for asking, Tessa."

"I told you, you can call me Momma like everyone else does."

Jason smiled and said, "Someday."


Damien was looking out the window with his arms crossed , watching the rain fall down over the forest. He glanced over briefly to Gretchen as she sat across from Haldir. Looking back to the window, he took a deep breath then shook his head and turned back around. He walked to the table and sat down beside Gretchen. She looked over to him and he took her chin in his hand. "I don't care that you're angry at me, Gretchen. I'm here whether you like it or not." Then, he leaned down and kissed her forehead. "You'll just have to get used to it."

Tessa took a seat next to her, then put her hand on Gretchen's. She took a deep breath then said, "Tell me everything, Pap."

Haldir pulled on his beard and glanced over to Logan who gave him a nod. "You remember that woman that Jake was mated to, the one that rejected him?"

Gretchen nodded. Haldir glanced to Tessa. "She was the one who tried to kill you, Tessa."

Tessa's eyes shot over to Logan. He got up and walked over to her, then stood behind her with his hands on her shoulders.

"What does that have to do with anything?" asked Gretchen.

Haldir sighed. "After all that happened, your father...he went after her. He wanted revenge for his family being ripped away from him like that."

"He killed her?" asked Gretchen.

Haldir nodded. "So, the man that killed Billy. He was Lorena's father."

As the pieces began to fall in place, Tessa put her hand over her mouth. "Oh, no."

Haldir looked at the table then licked his lips. "It was a daughter for a daughter, Gretchen. He was coming after you for being a half blood , but being Teddy's daughter, that put you at the top of his list."

Gretchen closed her eyes and shook her head. "Daddy. He's...he's not alright, is he?"

Haldir shook his head as his eyes teared. "No, he isn't."

Tessa pushed herself up and left the table then paced in front of the fireplace. Logan said, "Tessa, it's not your fault."

"When the hell does this family have to stop paying back it's karma in blood? When is it enough?

Logan took Tessa's face in his hands. "We didn't start this thing, Tessa. We just got dropped in the middle of it all."

Daniel leaned forward in his seat. "Tessa, that burden was your family's to carry, because the Fates knew that yours was the only one who could. You and your brother have too long been ashamed of your gifts. Don't be. They were given to you for a reason."

Tessa put her face in Logan's chest as he wrapped his arms around her. "When does it end?"

Daniel stood and walked to them. "There will come a day, Tessa. Someday all this suffering will make sense. You'll see. Just have faith in the paths that are laid before us. Do you trust me, Tessa?"

Tessa looked up from Logan's chest and faced Daniel. Daniel offered Tessa his hand. "Trust me."

Tessa glanced up to Logan and he said, "It's up to you, sweetheart." Tessa hesitantly put her hand in Daniel's. As the visions from his mind flooded into hers, Tessa gasped and laughed as tears streamed down her cheeks. Daniel took his hand away from Tessa and smiled. "You understand now?"

Tessa nodded and smiled through her tears. "Yes. Yes, I understand. Thank you."