Full Moon Family Pt. 02

Thank you so much for stopping by! Here we have chapter 2 of Full Moon Family! Similarly to chapter 1 this story is a gay romantic drama with mentions of supernatural elements but no actual werewolves. Everyone involved in sexual situations is well over 18 years old. All characters are mine. I hope you enjoy!

Full Moon on Friday: Full Moon Family

Chapter 2

August 2029

Night of the Full Moon

The noise that night was unbearable. The echo of multiple howls punctuated occasionally by harsh yips and yelps a rang out for hours. Aric stood at the window staring out at the dark forest. There was too much noise, this was weird. He'd never heard a full moon like this one. A soft knock on his door made him jump.

"Yeah?" he said quietly.

Claire cracked the door open.

"You doin' alright hon?" she asked.

"I guess so," he said with a shaky sigh.

She pushed the door fully open and stood next to her tall son, wrapping an arm at his torso.

"Have you gotten any sleep?" she asked. Aric shook his head. "Come on hon, get into bed. It's late," Claire said.

She turned Aric towards the bed and got him settled under the blankets.

"I'm worried, mom. It's so loud tonight. It sounds like there's a bunch of wolves out there," Aric said softly.

Claire climbed onto the bed next to her son. He put his head in her lap, and she stroked his hair slowly.

"Darin will be fine, sweet boy. He can hold his own," she said. "He may be a little guy, but he's huge in his wolf form."

"I know," Aric said. "I hate this."

"I know, hon," Claire said quietly. "Just try to sleep. He'll be home in the morning."

Claire continued to stroke Aric's hair slowly, just like she used to do when he was young and feeling sad or stressed out. She continued until he fell asleep on her lap, his breathing deep and even. She leaned her head back against the wall and looked out the window, listening to the howls and yips, silently worrying until her eyes slid closed.

Day After the Full Moon

It was just after 6am, the sun struggled to push through the stubborn clouds that had trickled rain all night. The forest was misty and silent until a harsh cry of "ARIC!!" echoed through the branches, breaking the silence and sending birds scattering from their perches in the trees.

The scream was hoarse and rough, with a sob behind it. Aric jolted up and was across the room in seconds. His mother sat bolt upright on the other side of the bed where she had fallen asleep.

"Darin?!" Aric shouted.

He didn't bother to pull on a shirt or shoes as he ran to the door. Wrenching open the locks on the back door he flung it wide to find Darin hobbling forward holding a bundle in his arms.

"Help me!" he shouted. His skin was streaked with mud and blood, which ran from his nose down his chin and neck. "Come grab her, I can't..."

Aric ran forward, barely noticing the damp ground beneath his bare feet, and took Darin up into his arms along with the wrapped bundle.

"What the fuck is happening Darin?" Aric asked panicked, his breath fogging in front of him.

"Darin?! What's going on?" Claire yelled from the porch.

She had pulled on a robe to fight the early morning chill. Pulling on her gardening boots quickly she whisked down the back porch stairs. Darin let out a sob as he pushed the bundle into Aric's arms.

"Mom..." Darin sputtered as his eyes rolled back and he fell heavily forward.

"Fuck! Fuck! Mom here, can you take..." His shout trailed off as he glanced down at the bundle. A small girl was there, wrapped in one of the blankets Darin kept at his wolf camp. "Shit, mom it's a little girl," Aric said.

"What?! Here give her to me," Claire demanded. "Is she alive, what is happening?"

"I dunno, I dunno, just..."

Aric held out the girl to his mother with one arm, while trying to support Darin with the other. Claire cradled the girl in her arms holding her close. The girl shivered and whimpered slightly.

"Get her inside, I'm right behind you," Aric instructed. He crouched down and hoisted Darin's heavy frame up into his arms. "Come on pup, wake up," Aric muttered as he followed his mother up the back porch steps.

"What happened?" Jim asked as he hobbled down the hallway.

"We don't know Jim. Darin just showed up with a little girl and then passed out," Claire said.

"What in the..." Jim trailed off as he watched Aric, face a mask of panic and devastation, carry Darin inside. "Darin? Is he?"

"He's just passed out," Aric whispered desperately. "God fucking dammit."

Aric took Darin to the sofa and laid him down. His skin was cold and clammy, so he pulled the knit blanket off the back of the couch and tucked it around his husband. He turned and checked the wood burning stove.

"Here, Aric, I'll get a fire going," Jim said. He handed Aric a warm moist towel for him to clean up Darin's face. "Claire, sit down before you drop that girl."

Claire nodded her arms shaking with the weight of the child in her arms. Jim got the fire going in the small stove, and it gradually began to warm the room.

"This blanket is soaked; can you get her a dry one Jim?" Claire asked as she shifted in a rocking chair by the stove.

Jim nodded and hobbled as quickly as he could to the linen closet in the hallway. He returned with a dry, warm quilt. Claire held the little girl close to her as she unwound the dirty, wet blanket from her small frame and wrapped her in the warm dry one. The girl seemed to relax a little as the soft warmth wound around her.

"There now, doesn't that feel better?" Claire murmured quietly. "Poor sweet girl."

Claire rocked in the chair, holding the girl close to her. She looked worriedly over at Darin.

"Pup? Darin, come on, wake up," Aric said, his voice cracking slightly.

Aric had rubbed some of the dirt and blood off Darin's face and was brushing his hand through his hair now, dirt and twigs falling to the floor.

"Wake up, pup," Aric said shakily. He kissed his cheek, his temple, his cool lips. "Come on Darin."

He rested his forehead lightly on Darin's for a second.

"Aric," Darin croaked out.

"Fuck," Aric sobbed. "God, fuck, I thought you were dead."

He scooped Darin up, clutching at him.

"It's OK, baby. I'm OK," Darin rasped.

He weakly tried to grasp at Aric, who pulled back and wiped his hand roughly over his cheeks.

"What happened last night pup?" Aric asked.

"Where's the kid?" Darin asked.

"She's fine, mom has her, there," Aric said pointing to where Claire rocked slowly, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Good," Darin sighed, then groaned.

Aric ran a hand over him lightly.

"What happened?" he asked insistently.

"There were other wolves. New wolves in the area," Darin said, his eyes closing briefly. "They've been around the last couple months, like I told you."

"Aric!" Jim's voice had a tinge of surprised reprimand to it.

"I didn't want to worry you," Aric said quickly.

"They're only passing through," Darin sighed. "But they were gonna kill her."

Claire gasped and held the small girl closer to her.

"Why would they do that pup?" Aric asked gently.

He had started stroking his hand over Darin's dirty hair.

"She's small, the runt. Couldn't... she couldn't keep up; they left her behind. I found her just before her brothers came back to finish her off for fun. Fought 'em, they ran off," Darin said his voice getting softer the more he talked.

"Jesus," Aric muttered. "Are you OK pup? Were you hurt?"

"Some scratches, bites, I'll be alright," Darin said. "Just so tired."

"It's alright pup, sleep. Get rest, we'll take care of her," Aric said. He pressed a kiss to his temple.

~~

Hours later Darin woke to the sound of giggling and splashing. The sun had finally broken through the wispy clouds and was streaming through the front windows, although the curtains were lowered enough that the light didn't shine on his face.

His entire body, though warm from the sunlight and blanket, ached in a way it hadn't for a long time, grimly reminding him of the years he had spent fighting his siblings and parents during full moons on the compound. He grumbled a bit and looked around.

The knitted blanket that covered him was one that Claire's grandmother had made. He tsked knowing it was irreplaceable and likely now stained with mud and blood. Aric sat in an armchair near him, slouched low in the seat, snoring slightly from his crumpled position. Darin pushed himself up, eliciting a groan as his body protested the movement. He took the blanket off carefully, inspecting it for stains.

"You're awake," Aric said stretching.

"How could you use this blanket? It's an antique Aric," Darin said folding it gently and placing it along the back of the couch.

"I thought you were dying pup, I didn't really give a shit about a blanket," Aric said standing.

"Where's Callie?" Darin asked.

"Who's... oh is that the kid's name?" Aric asked.

"Yeah, she didn't tell you?" Darin stretched and groaned at the aches in his back.

"She hasn't said much. She's mostly talking to mom," Aric said.

There was another splash and a little amused cry as Claire and Callie giggled in the bathroom.

"Mom got her to take a bath," Aric said.

"I could use one too," Darin stood shakily.

Aric was next to him immediately.

"I don't know how long she'll be. She seems to be having a lot of fun," Aric said.

"I'll use the shower in our cabin," Darin said. He took a careful step and sighed out a long breath. "God, it was rough last night. I haven't had to fight like that in a while."

"Are you really alright?" Aric asked, wrapping an arm at Darin's torso.

"I really am. Just sore," Darin promised.

"I'll tell mom we're going out to the cabin," Aric said.

Darin nodded and slowly began to walk through the kitchen to the back door while Aric reported to Claire through the closed bathroom door. Aric hurried back to Darin and helped him down the short flight of stairs leading off the porch and into their cabin. Once inside, he pulled Darin to him in a careful but firm hug.

"I was so afraid that I lost you," Aric muttered into his shoulder.

"I'm sorry I scared you," Darin said.

"Come on, I'll help you."

Aric escorted him to the bathroom where he stripped off the filthy boxers and T-shirt. The bruising, bites, and scratches that marred his body sent a rising wave of anger through Aric.

"What the fuck?" Aric grumbled out.

"You should see the other guys," Darin said with a tight smile.

Aric frowned as Darin twisted the knob for hot water. He sank down onto the closed toilet lid waiting for the hot water to come.

"I feel like I could sleep for an age," Darin said. "This is worse than when you hit me with your pickup."

Aric snorted and began to strip off his clothes.

"Planning on joining me?" Darin raised an eyebrow.

"I was, unless... you don't want me to?" Aric said pausing his stripping.

"No please do," he said with a sleepy grin. "I could use the company."

Steam began to rise from the shower, so Aric finished taking off his clothes and the two men slipped past the crinkly plastic curtain into the stream of water.

"Oh my god," Darin groaned. "This feels amazing."

Aric cupped his face and kissed his lips tenderly. He grabbed the soap, rubbed it between his hands, then began gently lathering it over Darin's battered body.

He started at his chest, swiping away the blood, revealing shallow scratches and bite marks along his neck. His torso bore one deep set of cuts clearly from claws, but it was healing quickly thanks to his werewolf blood. Aric went to his knees, soaping up his legs, ankles and feet.

Darin sucked in a harsh breath through his teeth as Aric's hands brushed over his ankles. There were deep bite marks there.

"From the youngest brother," Darin said when Aric looked up at him. "A literal ankle biter."

Darin smiled but Aric's eyes were dark with rage. Darin traced a finger over Aric's tense jaw.

"Don't baby," Darin said. "Please, don't worry. I'm fine. I'll heal fast."

Aric grumbled and went back to carefully washing his husband. He put the soap away and rinsed his hands before pulling the shower head from its holder and running it over all the soapy places on Darin. He sighed contentedly, leaning against Aric.

Once the shower head was replaced, Darin washed his hair and face quickly, then turned leaning back against Aric. Now that he was clean and had rested a little, the familiar sexual urge had started to build inside of him.

Darin would be lying if he said watching Aric wash his entire body so carefully, so lovingly had not been a turn on. His cock had started to thicken as Aric's soapy hands worked over his skin and he had noticed Aric's own arousal as he worked. Even as he discovered more bruises and injuries, and his anger had grown, it had not been enough to quell the swelling of his dick.

Aric's arousal pressed on Darin's back as he gently kissed along his shoulders. His strong hands traced carefully down Darin's torso, tickling the skin as they went, further awakening the need in the werewolf.

Darin made a quiet growling in his throat as they swayed slightly. He ignored the twinging pain in his ankles, turned his head and pulled Aric down to his mouth. Their lips met and his tongue pushed forward insistently. Aric opened his mouth immediately, his own tongue coming forward to twist around Darin's, tracing the sharp points of his teeth.

Darin growled more loudly now, deep in his throat and Aric moaned pressing his erection harder into his back. He turned the smaller man around quickly, so they faced each other and pressed his cock to Darin's rolling his hips slightly. Darin's tongue plunged deeper into Aric's mouth, and he went up on his tiptoes snaking his arms around the taller man's neck.

"I love you, Aric," Darin growled when he paused his kissing.

Aric's hips writhed forward with a groan.

"I love you so much, Darin," Aric confessed.

He pressed his mouth to Darin's again, his hands traveling down to his ass pulling the cheeks apart, he circled one fingertip around Darin's tight hole.

"Hhhh yeah," Darin moaned.

Aric grunted and rolled his hips against him again as he pressed his finger forward carefully. He pumped it in and out for what seemed to Darin like an eternity.

Finally, Aric turned Darin around. He bent forward; arms pressed against the wall. Aric slid his cock through Darin's crack slowly spreading his dripping precum over his length. His fingertips pressed into Darin's hips.

"Oohhh, fuck Darin," Aric moaned. "You get me so fucking hard."

"Yeah?" Darin gasped out. "Fuck me then."

Aric panted as he pushed his swollen head into Darin's pleated hole. He groaned deep in his throat as it popped in sliding forward, deep into his husband.

"Ahhh, Aric, yeah, god," Darin groaned.

He pushed back roughly onto Aric's cock. Aric pulled out almost completely then thrust back in with some force, his balls slapping against Darin's.

"HHahh, yeah! Ughn fuck me!" Darin whined.

He was overwhelmed by two conflicting feelings, absolute arousal, and complete exhaustion. Usually, he would sleep at his wolf camp until about 2 or 3 o'clock in the afternoon then come back well rested and ready to fuck the rest of the day away. But today things had gone a bit off the rails.

"Oh, fuck, god, pup. You're so tight," Aric groaned. He began to pump into his husband in long, hard, fast strokes. He gripped one shoulder hard as his breathing turned to desperate pants. "Jesus! Fuck! I'm gonna cum."

"Yes, baby, ughnn, yeah!" Darin moaned.

Aric pounded forward with a shout, his cock spurting into Darin. He panted as he pulsed, rolling his hips slowly as his orgasm began to ebb away. He slid out of Darin and pressed a kiss to his shoulder, curling around him for a moment.

Then Aric turned the panting Darin around again and sat him down on the little bench seat in the shower. Darin leaned back, his eyes half lidded and glazed with lust. His cock twitched and dripped as the steaming water began to lose some of its heat.

Aric closed his lips around the tip of Darin's cock. He let out a quick gasp, one hand raising slowly to the back of Aric's head. His mouth slid slowly down Darin's steely length, taking it deep into his throat. Darin's hips pushed forward just slightly as Aric's nose pressed to his abdomen.

"Aaahhh, yeah, Aric," Darin groaned.

Aric brought his mouth back up Darin's cock, pressing his tongue hard at the underside. His cheeks hollowed at the tip as he sucked enthusiastically.

"AH! Fuck! Aric!" Both of Darin's hand twisted into Aric's hair pushing him back down over his throbbing dick. "Hhee yeah, make me cum! AH! Yeah!"

Aric began bobbing up and down Darin's length quickly sucking, dribbling, and choking on his cock. Saliva and precum gathered in Aric's mouth. He let it swish around freely, allowing it to messily drip down Darin's shaft and curl around his tightening balls.

Darin's hips began to rock upward. His pointed teeth gritted together as he thrust hard into Aric's mouth, bruising the back of his throat. Aric's eyes teared as he gagged on Darin's cock. A wash of warmth flooded him as Darin gripped his hair, savagely fucking his mouth.

"Oh, fuck, baby, I'm so close. I'm -- Fuck! I'm cumming!!" Darin cried out.

He pushed Aric's head down as his cock burst with his orgasm. He growled as the hot creamy spunk sprayed the back of Aric's throat. He swallowed hard and Darin twitched at the feel of his husband's throat moving around his cock. He thrust forward once more as his dick spurt again.

Aric held it in his mouth moving up and down the length of Darin's pulsing cock. He growled and whimpered as Aric sucked him dry and swallowed down every last drop he gave him. Panting hard, Darin untwisted his fingers from Aric's hair and lay back against the cold shower wall. The water that beat down on Aric's back had turned lukewarm and he was starting to shiver.

"Let's get out," Darin said sleepily.

"Yeah," Aric said, pecking a quick kiss to Darin's lips.

The men got out of the shower and had barely dried themselves before Darin crawled naked into bed curling up under the blanket.

"Stay with me, baby?" Darin asked, his eyes sliding closed.

Aric hesitated thinking of his mom in the house with Callie. He brushed a hand over Darin's damp hair.

"Let me go check on mom and Callie," Aric said. "Maybe, alright?"

Darin sighed sleepily and nodded. Aric planted a kiss on his temple before closing and locking the door securely.

Callie jumped a little when the back door opened. She hopped off the chair she had been kneeling on and ran to Claire tucking herself between the woman and the stove.

"Oh honey, it's OK. That's my son Aric, remember. He won't hurt you sweet girl," Claire said. She handed Callie a bag of chocolate Kisses. "Here are more Kisses. Think you can finish up the rest of 'em for me?" Claire asked, pulling a sheet of cookies from the oven.

"Yes," Callie whispered.

She made her way cautiously back to the table where two trays of warm cookies were cooling and started pressing the chocolate candies in their centers. Aric rubbed at the back of his neck, not really sure what to say to a kid. He decided on something easy.

"These are my favorites," Aric said smiling a little awkwardly at Callie.

She smiled cautiously back.

"Mine too," she whispered.

Aric leaned down and smiled genuinely at her.

"Thanks for baking," he said quietly, trying not to spook the girl.

She blushed and looked back down at the cookies, with a tiny smile.

"How's Darin?" Claire asked, turning from the dirty dishes in the sink.

"He's alright," Aric said, straightening up. "Sleeping now, healing quick as usual."

"That's good," Claire said with a sigh of relief. "What a morning, huh?"

"Hey, do you know what this is?" Aric asked, holding up a thick manila envelope.

"Hmmm, no. Where did you find that?" she asked, pulling some rubber gloves on and grabbing a sponge.

"It was tucked halfway under the doormat back here," he said.

"Strange," Claire said and set down the sponge again. "I didn't hear anyone at the door. Callie, did you?"

Callie sniffed at the air, a dark look coming over her face. She stared down at the cookies, her face flushed again, and she shook her head.

Claire pulled the gloves off, wiped her hands on a towel and reached out for the envelope. Aric handed it to her and sat at the table next to where Callie worked and grabbed a cookie, winking at her. She smiled a little.

The envelope wasn't sealed, only the metal brad kept it closed. She pinched it open and flipped up the flap pulling out a fat stack of papers. She stared down at the top page. After a moment she began to flip through the stack.

"What is it?" Aric asked, shoving the rest of the cookie into his mouth.

"Adoption papers," Claire said quietly.

Aric nearly choked on his cookie. He coughed and cleared his throat.

"What?" he asked.

Claire glanced at Callie.

"Sweet girl, why don't you go check on Poppa Jim in the other room? Take him some cookies," Claire said.

Callie nodded and stacked four cookies carefully into her little hands and went to the living room where they could hear Jim quietly exclaiming about how he was just thinking about cookies.

"Aric, I think these are adoption papers for Callie," Claire said sitting next to him and showing him the papers.

Aric paled and took the papers from his mother. Just under the top page was an original birth certificate with two photocopies. As he began to flip through the stack, he noticed that all the sections for the birth parents were signed. There were forged home inspections, also signed and everything was notarized. But every spot for the adoptive parents was left blank waiting to be filled in and signed.

"What the fuck?" Aric asked.

The two were so engrossed in examining the stack of papers they didn't hear the back door squeak open and closed.

"Where's Callie? Did something happen to her?"

Aric and Claire jumped at Darin's voice. It was rough and he sniffed madly around the room looking for Callie, eyes darting like a wild animal on high alert.

"No, she's fine, she's with dad in the other room," Claire said.

Darin released a long sigh of relief, his hand going to his heart for a second.

"I thought you were napping," Aric said.

"I thought you were coming back, so I came to check on you. Then I smelled those other wolves around the back porch," Darin said. He saw the thick stack of papers in Aric's hand. "What's that?"

"Maybe you can tell me," Aric said frostily, thrusting the papers at him.

Darin glared down at his tone but took the papers flipping through them. His nose wrinkled at the scent of the pack of wolves he'd encountered the night before wafting into his face as he flipped the sheets.

As he briefly skimmed the papers his face transformed from annoyed alertness to confusion. He studied the birth certificate for a moment, then looked between Aric and Claire.

"Are these adoption papers?" Darin asked.

"You don't know about this?" Aric accused.

"No Aric, I don't know about this," Darin spat back.

Claire stood quietly and grabbed a few more cookies from the tray before leaving the room.

"So, where did these come from?" Aric asked.

"Well, it smells like Callie's wolf pack, so probably from them Aric."

Darin walked to the fridge and pulled out the milk, pouring himself a glass, he poured one for Aric too.

"It's for..." Aric glanced toward the living room and lowered his voice. "It's for Callie. You sure you didn't make some kind of deal?"

Darin slammed the glass of milk he had poured for Aric down in front of him, frowning.

"You really think that I would go behind your back and make some shady, fraudulent adoption deal with a pack of wolves I've never met before? When I know you're struggling with the idea of being a parent? You think I'm that fucking conniving Aric?" Darin asked.

He snatched a cookie off the tray and bit it savagely, his teeth clacking together.

"What else am I supposed to think? You come home screaming, half dead, with a little girl passed out in your arms, then these just show up on the fucking porch?" Aric asked.

Darin rolled his eyes up to the ceiling, angry at the tears that had started pricking at his eyes. He took a gulp of the milk he'd poured as he tried to gain control of his anger.

"Wow, just... wow. They were going to kill her Aric," Darin hissed. "My family would have done the same to me. If I hadn't run off, they would have killed me. I know what it's like to be in that position. I didn't know they'd assume I was adopting her if I saved her."

Aric sighed and scraped his hand down his face. His fear was making him an asshole again. Darin making some kind of deal had seemed logical just a minute ago, but the thought of him making a choice like this without him, or a deal like this at all just didn't make sense. Not to mention that he had been in his wolf form on all the occasions he'd met these wolves. Aric saw with sudden clarity how off base his knee jerk reaction had been. He had to try to dig himself out of this hole somehow.

"It's just a little -- " Aric began lamely.

"A little what? Suspicious?" Darin interrupted as he rolled his eyes again and a tear escaped making a growl of frustration sound in his chest. He swiped it off his cheek quickly. "After that whole speech you gave me about how I'm good, how I'm not the worst thing that happened to you. Was that all just bullshit Aric?"

"Goddammit," Aric put his face in his hands for a moment, then scraped his hands down his face. "No, it wasn't bullshit."

Darin shook his head and snatched another cookie off the tray, biting into it viciously sending crumbs scattering into his lap. His teeth had grown to points, his nails sharpened stabbing deep into the chocolate kiss that crowned the cookie he clutched, so Aric knew he'd really fucked up, had really touched a sensitive nerve.

"I'm... fuck, I'm... I'm sorry Darin," Aric said.

"I didn't save her so we could adopt her," Darin said his voice still grumbling with an angry growl. "I saved her because I know what it's like to be cast aside for not being good enough. Werewolves can be so close minded. A lot of packs have tons of outdated ways and traditions they choose to stick to for no reason outside of 'it's the way things have always been done.' She deserves a chance with a family who can love her properly. The chance you gave me."

Aric stared at Darin. He had propped his elbows on the table, hands clutched at his mouth. God, he had really fucked up here.

Jumping straight to the conclusion that Darin had tricked and manipulated him. When had he ever done that? From the day Aric had hit him with his pickup he'd been almost 100 percent up front and honest. Why did being a parent freak him out so much, to the point that he questioned the one person in his life that was always there, always reliable, always loved him?

"Darin," Aric said brokenly. "I'm so, so sorry."

"For what?" Darin asked, angrily swiping at another tear that escaped his eye.

"I'm sorry for being so scared. For letting the fear take control of me and make me an asshole. I'm sorry for accusing you of manipulating a situation you were just thrown in to. I'm sorry for not being... a better spouse, a better partner. I'm sorry," Aric said, voice cracking.

Darin glared out the window for a minute, swiping away more angry tears.

"You've sent me on a roller coaster this weekend," Darin said. "I've never been more in love or more fucking angry and hurt by you."

"I'm --" Aric started.

"Yeah, I fucking know," Darin snapped. "You're sorry."

He sighed deeply, closing his eyes for a minute. Aric sat wringing his hands, not sure what to say, knowing 'sorry' would just bother Darin more. His gaze flicked between the ground and Darin as the werewolf sipped at his milk a little, shoving the rest of his cookie in his mouth. After he'd swallowed, he continued.

"I know you're sorry, baby," Darin said. The use of the nickname set Aric a little more at ease. "I just... I need a minute to be bratty and mad," Darin said.

"Alright, OK," Aric said. "That's fair."

Darin rolled his eyes.

"Glad you agree," he said snidely. He took a deep breath. "Sorry," he muttered.

He dragged his gaze back to Aric, who shook his head a bit.

"So, it's clear they don't want her. The adoptive parents' names are blank in here. It's left open for whoever wants to take her on I guess," Darin said.

Aric's stomach flipped uncomfortably.

"Was there a note or anything?" Darin asked. Aric shook his head. Darin sighed and shrugged. "I mean are these even legit?"

"We can have our attorney look them over," Aric offered.

"What do we do with the kid in the meantime?" Darin asked.

Aric winced. He knew they'd have to take her. They had plenty of space, she'd have a room all to herself at their house. There was no way Claire and Jim could look after her. It was one thing for his parents to hang out with her while he and Darin argued, but it was quite another to ask them to take on the entire responsibility of a small child. Jim's health was deteriorating so quickly it was unfair to ask Claire to take care of her. Aric scraped his hand down his face.

"I guess, we take her?" he said.

"I guess we could," Darin replied, raising one eyebrow slowly. "Are you... are you OK with that? We could just turn her over to CPS?"

Aric sighed and thought. What would happen to her during full moons? To the foster families she was placed with. To the other kids around her.

"She's a werewolf though, right?" Aric asked.

Darin suppressed another eye roll and just nodded instead.

"She's still small, can't really do too much damage at this point. It's only after 15 that we start getting... destructive," Darin said.

"We can't turn her over to CPS," Aric said with finality. "Regardless of how destructive or docile she is, she's still... they'd end up studying her for science or some shit."

"I don't feel... great about this Aric," Darin said with a sigh. "You've made it pretty clear that kids are not something you want."

"It's not that I don't..." he trailed off and pinched the bridge of his nose. "What else can we do?" Aric asked.

Darin leaned forward and cradled Aric's hands in his.

"Baby, I don't want this to destroy us. Don't you think there will always be a part of you that will wonder if I orchestrated this whole thing to trap you into being a parent with me? I couldn't handle your resentment." Darin said.

"Why would I think that pup? I trust you in everything else. You haven't lied to or manipulated me in any other way, you've been honest with me since day one. Not to mention, there have been some other things you've really really wanted, and you haven't tried to trick me into those much less serious things," Aric said.

"I still think living downtown would be dope. The suburbs blow," Darin said, brushing crumbs off his lap.

"See, that's what I'm saying. You're a brat, you say what you're thinking all the time," Aric said.

"Yeah, but isn't that the thing? You jumped to the conclusion that I had tricked you. Even though you knew in your brain that I wouldn't do that to you, I've never done that. How can I trust you won't do that again when shit gets hard, or you get scared?" Darin asked.

Aric sighed.

"That's valid. I did literally just jump to a crazy conclusion because of my fear. I can't promise it won't happen again. I'm only human, pup. But I can try. Will you let me try?" Aric cupped a hand to Darin's cheek.

Darin sighed and held Aric's gaze for a moment. He turned and nuzzled into his palm.

"Fine," he said. "But stop being an asshole."

"I can't promise that. Sort of like how you can't promise not to be a brat," Aric joked, waggling his eyebrows. Darin rolled his eyes.

"Whatever. Brat is encoded in my DNA. You are no more a natural asshole than I am a natural human," Darin said, looking down at his nails.

"Shall we bring mom and dad in on this conversation?" Aric asked.

"Yeah, Callie too probably. This is her life we're discussing after all," Darin pointed out.

Two Days After the Full Moon

"Are you sure about this Aric?" Jim asked.

He stood on the front porch with his son as Darin, and Claire loaded their bags into the back of the pickup. Callie was seated in the cab already, watching them.

"No, but what else can we do?" Aric asked.

"You can leave her with us, son," Jim said.

Aric sighed and shook his head.

"Dad, you and mom are retired. You're... not in a position to care for a kid," Aric said.

"If you need a break, if you need anything, please call us," Jim said seriously.

"We will, thanks dad." Aric pulled him into a hug.

Jim planted a kiss at the side of his head.

Claire enveloped Darin in a tight hug, then slid into the passenger seat and gave Callie a hug as well. She came up to the front porch and put her hands on Aric's shoulders.

"They're all set," Claire said. "You'll be fine hon."

She kissed Aric's cheek and hugged him hard.

"Thanks mom," Aric said.

"If you need anything -- " she began.

"Yeah, we'll call you," Aric promised. "See you in a month."

He went down the stairs towards the pickup. He and Darin slid into the driver's seat and passenger seat respectively. Callie was in the middle and slid a little closer to Darin as he buckled his seatbelt.

"Did you take that pill mom gave you?" Aric asked.

"Yeah, about 30 minutes ago. We'll see if it works," Darin said.

"What's wrong?" Callie asked quietly. "Are you sick?"

Darin glanced down at her as Aric started the pickup.

"I'm OK, I just get pretty carsick. Especially on these twisty mountain roads," Darin said.

"Oh," Callie said.

"Do you get carsick Callie?" Aric asked.

"No, I like riding in cars," Callie said with a small smile. "I don't have to run if we ride in cars."

Aric nodded.

"So not a werewolf thing," he said glancing at Darin.

"Told you," Darin said with a laugh.

He waved out the window as Aric started down the rutted driveway.

After about twenty minutes on the road, Darin was pale, greenish and staring out the window, his forehead resting against the cool glass.

"So, no go then?" Aric asked as Darin felt around for the glove compartment button.

"No," he groaned. "Now I just feel tired and queasy. In fact, I think I feel worse. Ugh I shouldn't have eaten."

"You needed to eat, pup," Aric said.

"That's what you said this morning, but what's the point if it has no time to make it through?" Darin asked.

He was feeling around in the glove compartment searching for the sick bags without actually finding them. Callie leaned forward and brushed his hand aside, pulling one from the box they were in. She pressed a bag into his hand.

"You want to stop, pup?" Aric asked.

Darin wouldn't open his mouth, but he shook his head. Aric glanced over.

"I'm gonna stop," Aric said.

He pulled to the side of the road smoothly. Darin popped his seatbelt and flung his door open, jumping from the car quickly. Aric climbed from his seat and went around to where Darin was leaning forward on his knees. His shoulders were quivering a little and he was holding back little hiccups.

"It's OK Darin," Aric said. "You're alright, pup."

Darin pulled in a deep breath through his nose and cautiously let it out through his mouth.

"Oh god," he groaned. "Going down is so much worse." He straightened up. "Just give me a minute, I'm gonna walk a little. Stay with Callie, huh?" Darin said.

He closed his eyes and wiped his forehead.

"Alright, pup," Aric kissed the side of his head, before giving Darin some space.

"Welp," Aric said sliding into the driver's seat, watching Darin walk slowly down the road. "Looks like it's going to be a long ride home. I think the medicine made him feel worse."

"Why doesn't he just throw up? Won't he feel better?" Callie asked.

"Well, you'd think so, but motion sickness is a little funny. Sometimes it sticks around even after. Usually, Darin doesn't feel better until we've been home for a while," Aric said.

"How many times will you stop for him?" Callie asked.

Aric glanced down at the little girl, staring up at him, with big brown eyes and dark blonde hair.

"As many times as he needs me too. Probably more than he asks," Aric said.

"You're nice," Callie said quietly. "My daddy never stopped for me. He told me I was too slow."

"I'll stop any time you need to Callie," Aric said.

"But it slows us down," Callie said, her voice still so quiet it was barely above a whisper.

"We're not in a rush, sweetie," Aric said.

He brushed his hand over her hair quickly. He felt his face flush when he called her sweetie. It had come out so naturally, he hadn't meant to call her that.

She had been shy with him the previous day, while they talked about plans for her, involving her as much as they could. Darin reminded him that he was a big guy, so she was probably a little intimidated. Aric wasn't sure how that worked since she'd been around werewolves her whole life. Darin was quick to point out that the biggest guys in her life to that point had probably not been the nicest.

Darin trudged back to the car, still clutching his sick bag in his hand unused. He scowled at the door as he opened it.

"Fuck," he grumbled.

"Hey, come on," Aric gestured down to Callie.

Darin flushed a little, but Callie shook her head.

"It's OK, I heard it before. My mommy said my brothers have shitty mouths," Callie said matter-of-factly.

Darin paused then threw his head back and laughed.

"Sounds like mommy does too," he said.

Callie giggled a little and nodded.

"Feeling better pup?" Aric asked.

"For now, but I think we've got a long ride ahead of us baby," Darin said sliding into his seat. "I'm sorry."

"That's OK," Aric said.

"Aric said we're not in a rush," Callie said. "He said he could stop any time I wanted."

"That's because Aric is a nice man," Darin said.

He leaned over Callie. Aric met him over the top of her head. The two men pecked a little kiss to each other's lips.

Thanks for reading! I hope you all enjoyed it. Next week will be part 3 and the conclusion of this little story. Hope to see you then! xoxoxo, JS