Rise and Shine

"Rise and shine, Gretch," said Tessa as she opened the curtains in the living room.

"What time is it?" asked Gretchen while she lifted her head and squinted against the light.

"It's nearly dinnertime," said Tessa as she sat down on the other couch across the room.

Gretchen pushed herself up on the couch and stretched out her arms as she yawned then said, "Are you fucking serious?"

Tessa said, "We didn't want to wake you, honey. You were having nightmares."

"What else is new?" asked Gretchen.

"I gave you a sleep potion, I hope you don't mind," said Tessa.

"No...no, I don't mind. I can't even totally remember them, just little flashes here and there, but they're fucking awful," said Gretchen.

"You're not going to want to take it every night, baby, but you've been through a lot. I don't think it's a bad idea for now," said Tessa as she folded Gretchen's blanket and put it on the arm of the couch.

"Thanks, Tess," said Gretchen while she searched through her bag.

Tessa sat down beside her and said, "Oh, honey, don't worry about that junk. I have some clothes you can borrow. It's not like I'll be fitting into them again anytime soon."

Gretchen smiled and put her hand on Tessa's round belly and said, "I can't believe you're having another baby. That's just crazy. Oh, wow, it's kicking me."

Tessa grinned and put her hand beside Gretchen's. "I know, it's funny how there was a time that I didn't even want any of this."

"Really? But the three of you seem so happy together," said Gretchen.

Tessa sighed as she put her feet up on the coffee table and then said, "We are happy...now. We definitely weren't in the beginning. I fought them tooth and nail."

"I can't believe that," said Gretchen. "You guys can't go a minute without put your paws all over each other."

"It's true, Gretch," Tessa said as she nodded. "I even left them once."

"Get the fuck out of here," said Gretchen.

Tessa smiled and said, "Like I said, we weren't always happy. All three of us did some shit that was pretty unbelievably terrible to each other. But, when you love someone, you work at it and you get through it...It doesn't hurt that the sex is fucking amazing, either."

"There she is...that's the Aunt Tessa I remember," laughed Gretchen.

"So, tell me about Damien," said Tessa. "Did you hit that or what?"

"Gross," said Gretchen. "I hate that prick."

"Oh, come on," said Tessa as she pushed Gretchen's shoulder. "Girl! That man is so fine. You can't tell me it didn't cross your mind."

Gretchen grinned and Tessa said, "Right. I knew it."

"Yeah, I can't deny that he's a fucking Adonis, but, Tess, he basically kidnapped me," said Gretchen.

"After I met your uncles, they marked me and kept me locked up in their house for months, Gretchen. Like I said, sometimes people do messed up shit to each other," said Tessa.

"This isn't one of those situations, Tessa. I don't even know why the hell those three were following me in the first place," said Gretchen.

Tessa smiled and said, "Are you serious right now? Look at you. Any man would want to rescue a damsel in distress with an ass like yours."

Gretchen laughed and said, "Thanks. But, I don't think that's what he was looking for. He has a mate bite, Tess."

Tessa pulled her lips to the side then said, "Hmm! I don't know what that's all about, but I know without a doubt that he's single and has been in the ten years I've known him and his family."

Gretchen curled her lips under and looked away then said, "Honestly, Tess, everything's all messed up. My head's not right. I know he couldn't have been involved in what happened to me, but my memories aren't right. Every time I'm near him I...it's like I fucking hate him but...I don't even know. I saw that bite on his neck and I was jealous. Isn't that fucked up?"

Tessa put her arm around Gretchen and said, "You don't have to figure this shit out right now, baby. Time never ends here, you go at your own pace. We're all here for you, whatever you need."

Gretchen put her head on Tessa's chest and asked, "Is it alright if I stay with you guys?"

"Of course it is," said Tessa. "But, I need to let you know something. Damien, he's still hanging around. He told Logan he wanted to stay for a couple of days and make sure you're alright."

Gretchen rolled her eyes and said, "Jesus, I don't know if I can deal with that."

"Maybe, the two of you need to talk whatever it is out," said Tessa.

Gretchen shook her head and said, "No, no, I don't want to see him again, Tessa. He makes me crazy. It's like...it's like I just want to lash out at him and hurt him. I don't even know why."

"It's alright, baby. Damien's a grown ass man, he can take it," said Tessa.

"No, I don't want to do that. He's...he's not important right now," said Gretchen. "I don't want to deal with him anymore."

Tessa gave an understanding smile then kissed Gretchen's temple and said, "You don't have to if you don't want to, Gretchen. All I'm saying is that...he's still here. You might want to find out why. Anyhow...why don't you go get yourself gussied up. Just because you don't want to talk to him right now doesn't mean you can't torture him with that bangin' body of yours."

Gretchen said, "Seriously, Tessa, you are a wicked witch."

"You better believe it," said Tessa. "Now help me up," she said as she gave Gretchen her hand.

Gretchen stood up and said, "When are you due anyways?"

"Ugh! Not soon enough. About a month from now," said Tessa as she pulled on Gretchen's arm.

"You girls about ready?" asked Logan as he leaned against the doorway.

Gretchen said, "Give me a few minutes, Uncle Logan. Tessa where are those clothes?"

Tessa said, "Just look in our bedroom. You're welcome to whatever, honey."

When Gretchen got to the top of the stairs, Logan looked back to make sure she was gone then asked, "You talk to her?"

"A bit. She has no idea, Logan," said Tessa as she walked into his open arms.

"Shit. So what do we do about that?" he asked.

"We stay the fuck out of it," she said.

"How do we do that? A man like Damien isn't the kind of guy you can just tell to fuck off," said Logan.

Tessa put her arms around Logan's neck and said, " We've been down this road before, and it never leads anywhere good. She has a lot of things going on in her mind. She needs time to figure that out. Trying to push Damien on her right now is just going to make things worse."

Logan sighed and said, "I can't believe I'm actually going to say this, but I wish Haldir was here. Teddy and Stella must be a fucking disaster. I wish we could get a message to them that she's with us."

"I know," said Tessa. "I'll keep trying to reach him in my dreams, but it's just too far for me I think or maybe it's his grief. He's completely cut me off."

"Does she remember anything?" asked Logan.

Tessa shook her head and said, "Not at all. Just some nightmares that don't make a lot of sense to her."

"So what happened with Damien? Why was she so afraid of him?" he asked.

"She's not for sure. Good news is though," Tessa said as she poked Logan's chest, "is that she is attracted to him. There's something there, baby, so there's hope yet."

As Gretchen came down the stairs, she asked, "So, do you think this will do, Tess?"

Tessa pulled away from Logan and looked Gretchen over and said, "Wow! Damien ain't never seen a woman that looks that good, I guarantee it."