Kevin was sitting on his couch, flipping through the channels, trying to find something to watch. Most of his children were sleeping, and his mate Anne had gone to bed early with a headache. Katherine, the baby of the family, was asleep on his lap while he waited for two of his teenagers to be home by curfew. He jerked when his oldest child's voice sounded on his head.
"Dad?" Julian questioned hesitantly.
"What's wrong, Son?" Kevin replied as his next oldest child, Bethany, entered the living room and dropped into a chair.
"Lia hurt her ankle, and I am carrying her back to her house."
"How bad is it?" Kevin asked as he gently moved Katherine from his lap to the couch, careful not to wake her.
"Well, first she said she tweaked it, then she admitted it is sprained, and it will be morning before Lily has it healed. But it's Lia, so it could be broken in a dozen places, and she doesn't want to bother anyone with it this late at night," Julian grumbled in his father's head.
Kevin laughed out loud, causing Bethany to raise an eyebrow and look at her father. "I'll explain in a minute," he whispered to her.
Bethany nodded as she continued to watch her dad.
"Gods. She is just like her mother. They could be dying and would refuse to tell anyone because they don't want to be a bother," Kevin snorted through the mind link.
"I know, and that is why I need a favor."
"What?"
"Will you tell Tyson that Lia hurt her ankle? There is less chance of him killing you than me since I was with her when it happened."
"Sure. How far away from his house are you?"
"Well, since Lia is on my back, I would say a good thirty minutes or so."
"How did she hurt her ankle?"
Julian sighed down the link, "She tried to race me. I told her to stop, she ignored me, and then she tripped over a tree root."
"That sounds right," Kevin laughed through the link. "I will let her dads know."
"Dads? Both? You're going to tell Nick, too?"
"Yes. Both. We will see you soon," Kevin said before he cut the link with his son and turned to his oldest daughter, who was still watching him.
"Lia and Julian?" Bethany grinned.
"What else would it be at this time of night? Lia sprained her ankle, and Jules is carrying her on his back to get her home. They will be back in about half an hour. Would you watch Katherine for a while?" Kevin asked as he looked at the sleeping youngster on the sofa.
"Sure. If she wakes up, I will give her all the cake and cookies Lucy sent home with us," Bethany grinned.
"You are an evil child," Kevin told her stone-faced, holding it as long as he could before he grinned at her. "I have raised you right. Do not bother your mother unless the house is on fire or someone is dead or dying. I'll be back as soon as I can be."
Kevin grabbed his jacket from the hook by the door as he left. He put it on as he hurried toward the home Nick and Emma had used for years. It had been the one Tyson assigned to Nick when he was released from Moon Haven Medical Facility conditionally in an attempt to help Olivia with the complications she had when pregnant with Amelia. They had nearly died because Amelia was fathered by an Alpha who was not Olivia's mate. Nick had blamed himself and was so broken because of it. To see Nick now, happy and healthy, made Kevin happy for his friends.
He sighed in relief when the covered porch of Nick's home came into view. Nick and Emma were cuddled together on the front steps, looking up at the night sky. Kevin cleared his throat to get their attention and tried not to laugh when they both jumped when he startled them.
"Sorry to bother you," Kevin said. "But there has been a bit of an incident."
"What kind of incident?" Nick questioned.
"The kind of incident that only our two oldest would get into," Kevin grinned.
Emma laughed, "Which one is carrying the other because they got hurt?"
"You know our children so well. Lia sprained her ankle, and Jules is carrying her out of the forest piggyback," Kevin answered.
"I bet she went out to that spring to think," Nick said before kissing Emma on the cheek and standing. "Have you told Tyson yet?"
"No. I am trying to think of the best way to do it without him going all overprotective, Papa Bear," Kevin said as he scratched at his cheek.
"I would recommend you tell Olivia and let her tell Tyson," Emma suggested.
Nick wagged his finger at Emma and nodded. "Perfect! I got this."
"Good. 'Cuz I don't want it," Kevin laughed.
"Liv? You awake?" Nick asked through the mind link that was still intact between them from the Dark Moon Pack.
"Nick? Is something wrong?" Olivia asked.
"Lia and Julian were walking in the forest, and she twisted her ankle. He is carrying her back to the house now. It is nothing serious, but Kevin and I are going to walk out and meet them. Would you let Tyson know that we will be by to get him?"
Olivia laughed through the link, "I will tell him since you and Kevin are both chickens. You two can relax. He isn't going to roast you alive because his grown daughter sprained her ankle while walking in the forest."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome," Olivia replied before she cut the link.
Nick let out an explosive breath. "Alright. Livie called us both chickens and laughed at us, but she is telling Tyson."
"Then we had better go. If Tyson has to wait on us, it will make it worse. See you later, Emma," Kevin called over his shoulder as he and Nick jogged toward Tyson's.
-
"Anything important?" Tyson asked as he kissed Olivia on the head while she was cuddled to his side. He had noticed her mind linking with someone and wanted to make sure no problems needed to be addressed.
"Yes, but you have to promise not to get upset," Olivia told him as she sat up and looked into his eyes. "Promise me."
"Alright, I promise," Tyson replied, not liking where this conversation could go.
"Kevin and Nick are on their way here to get you. Lia sprained her ankle, and Jules is carrying her back here as we speak. She is fine. It is just her ankle," Olivia told him as she rubbed his leg, trying to keep him calm.
A growl rumbled from Tyson's chest as he sat without saying a word.
"You promised," Olivia reminded him as she stuck out her bottom lip in an exaggerated pout.
"I did, and I'm sorry. It's just that every skinned knee and bruise makes me think of almost losing the two of you. No matter how many years it has been, when something happens to either of you, I feel like I have failed to keep you safe as I promised," Tyson told her as he pulled her into his lap and hugged her.
"I know you do. Even though you have always done everything you can to protect us, and you have never done anything to hurt either of us, and we both know you never will," Olivia told him as she kissed him tenderly. "Now, go help Julian get our girl home. He has been carrying her piggyback since she got hurt."
"Oh? Do you mean just like when Kevin carried you home after doing the same thing while you were trying to get the perfect shot of that waterfall? I know that before Amelia was born, I said I wanted her to be just like you, but there were a few things you could have skipped," Tyson laughed as he kissed Olivia.
"Hey, don't blame me because I gave you exactly what you asked for," she giggled as a knock sounded at the door. Tyson sat Olivia off his lap as she said, "Don't be hard on Julian. You know he adopted her as a little sister the day she was born, and this wasn't his fault."
"I won't," Tyson grumbled as he reached the door. He opened it and took his coat from the wrack beside the door as he stepped onto the porch. He asked the men before him, "Where are they?"
"They should be close to the landing pad by now," Kevin answered, referring to the circle clearing the dragons of the clan used to take off and land when shifting.
Tyson nodded to his cousin in response as the three men began the trek to the pad. Kevin was being his usual light-hearted self as he sauntered along, wearing a grin. It did not take long before Nick had to ask why he was smiling.
"Kevin, what is with the grin? Lia is injured. Why are you happy?" Nick huffed, irritated that Kevin did not seem worried about his little cousin's injury.
"I was just thinking about how eighteen years, and a few hours ago, Tyson did the emergency remodel of his bedroom. That was a long night," Kevin said, still grinning.
"That is what you are thinking of? Not how we have Amelia and how much joy she has brought into our lives?" Nick asked.
"Of course, I am thinking about her. If Tyson had not done that demolition with his tail when he shifted, we might not have our favorite girl," Kevin answered.
Tyson chuckled, "I thought whichever daughter is the youngest is your favorite."
"Nope. It's always been Amelia. I might even like her more than all of my children...combined. Your mom is right. Werewolf pups are just cuter and snugglier than dragon whelps. It isn't my fault Amelia is so darn loveable. Just don't tell my kids," Kevin said, still grinning.
-
Amelia was half dozing as Julian carried her on his back. Her fingers were laced together to hold on, and her cheek was on his shoulder. Between the conversation they had, which helped ease her mind, and the gentle, constant sway as Julian walked, she could not keep her eyes open. She felt Lily become alert in her head as she began to hear voices in the distance. Within moments, she could make out Kevin saying something, followed by Julian.
"What are they not supposed to tell your kids?" Julian called out to his father, causing Amelia to raise her head. She groaned when she saw the three men walking towards them.
"That Amelia is his favorite girl," Tyson answered, smiling at Kevin, who was frowning at him.
"That isn't a secret. Lia is not only his favorite girl but his favorite child in all of Obsidian. Hands down, she is his favorite. We all know it," Julian said as he carefully lowered Amelia to the ground and braced her as she stood on her own.
"Are you alright?" Tyson asked as he took over, steadying Amelia where she stood. She could hear the worry in his voice as he spoke.
"I'm fine, Dad. Lily has been healing my ankle since it happened. I can walk now," Amelia smiled at her dad.
"Are you sure?" Nick asked. "One of us can take over if it hurts to walk."
"I'm alright, thanks to Jules. He helped me figure out a few things along with making sure I got home safely after I challenged him to a race and hurt myself by tripping on a tree root after he told me not to run," Amelia said as she stared at the ground.
"It doesn't matter as long as you are alright," Tyson told her as he embraced her tightly. He told the others, "I've got her from here."
Kevin nodded as he motioned for Julian and Nick to leave with him. He could feel how upset Tyson was that Amelia had been hurt, even though it was minor. His cousin needed to be alone with his daughter and family for a while.
"Dad," Amelia said, her voice muffled as her face was pressed against her father's chest. "Can't breathe."
"Oh," Tyson said as she let her go. "I'm sorry. I'm just…" he trailed off.
"I know. It's my birthday, which makes you remember how sick Mom got before she had me. It always makes you worry and be sentimental on my birthday, and I wouldn't have you any other way. It shows me how much you love us."
"I try to do that every day."
"You do," Amelia told him.
Tyson kept his arm around Amelia's shoulders as they walked home. Amelia set the pace with slow, carefully placed steps to prevent further aggravating her ankle. They had nearly reached the house when she broke the silence.
"Is Mom still up?" she asked.
"Of course. I could not have forced your mother to go to bed while you were still out," Tyson chuckled.
"Good. I want to talk to both of you."
"Is something wrong?"
"No," Amelia said as she smiled up at her dad. "I just know what I need to do now."