Pure Moonlight (closed)

[KieranSoares]

Brogan rose from her side with a gentle smile. "I'm gonna get Ruben. I think 'e needs t'see 'is Ma." He headed out and it wasn't long before Ruben entered quietly.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Hello, love." Selena murmured as her son came into the room quietly, looking at her as if she might disappear again. "Come and sit next to your ma. I could use the company."

 

[KieranSoares]

Ruben, almost a little too quick to oblige, was at her side and took her hand, kissing her cheek as if he was afraid she might slip away again. "You really scared us, Ma," he whispered.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm not going anywhere, my brave boy." Selena said as Ruben rushed towards her and kissed her cheek. "My sweet boy, I missed you so much."

 

[KieranSoares]

Ruben let his head rest against her shoulder as she assured him she wasn't going anywhere. "I missed you too," he murmured, his wolf ears laying back and letting her know just how worried he'd been. It had been all Telma could do to keep him from giving up hope when his mother hadn't woken for three days.

 

[heartofcourage]

Selena's heart swelled as her son held her so tightly. He needed her still, just as her father had told her. She let out a soft sigh and kissed his dark brow, nuzzling against her son as she soaked in the moment to cure her aching heart.

"I was afraid I was losing you." Selena said softly. "But I know that I can't keep you to myself forever. You have a lovely mate and a lovely life. In fact, you need to treat that young woman to anything she wants after all we have put her through."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm hoping to do that after you're on your feet and well again," Ruben agreed with a slight nod, though he wouldn't move his head from her shoulder. "I think we'll all need some time to set things right and repay the people who've been holding us up all this time."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Love, I'm not going anywhere any time soon." Selena murmured as Ruben refused to leave her side. "I promise you that. There's still a lot of life to be had and I have to be around to hold your cubs. You know that's what would make me the happiest woman in the world."

 

[KieranSoares]

"That might not be far off," Ruben told her softly. "Telma's been a bit off in the morning lately... But she's not sick. She hasn't said anything about it, but I remember it from when you were going to have Luna."

 

[heartofcourage]

Selena chuckled softly as she hugged her son a little tighter. "You'll be a good father. You already want to give your mate the world. Just pace yourself."

She pressed a kiss to his dark brow and thought about this next generation and how they would be born into a different world. It would be good for everyone. She would make sure that her grandchildren were well protected.

"I'll help you expand your cabin and your garden. I know you're always so busy with the lumber camp. Perhaps we could do it as a surprise for Telma when you go to Edinburgh."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You're not doing anything of the sort until Grandpa gives the okay," Ruben warned her softly. "You've always had a habit of overdoing things."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I promise, love. Your ma wants to be around for a very long time." Selena promised, laughing softly at the gentle warning in her son's voice. "I miss my little dark haired boy sometimes. We had some good times just the two of us."

She looked into his amber colored eyes and smiled. "But I'm very proud of the wolf that you became. You make me very happy, Ruben."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Do you think you can come out and sit with us? It would do everyone some good to see you," Ruben suggested softly.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You might have to help me, but I think I'm up to it." Selena murmured, pointing towards her robe for him to retrieve. "It'll be good practice for taking care of an infant." She smiled at him as she said that, kissing his cheek one more time.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ruben rose to fetch her robe, and he easily lifted her to her feet once she was ready. All his time as a lumberjack had made him more powerful than he looked. "I think half the clan is around the village waiting to hear if you're okay. The other half is holding things together in Inverness."

 

[heartofcourage]

"The world would not have stopped turning if I had died, Ruben. Not everyone needs to stop what they're doing just because I sleep for three days." Selena murmured, tying the sash around her waist before she looked up at her son. "We'll show everyone that I'm just fine and everything will go back to normal after that."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Dad's world would've ended," Ruben reminded her softly. "And mine and Luna's might have if not for Telma and Jan. And what about Ghell? Even Katina might not be able to save him from that."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Love, look at me." Selena said as she cupped her son's face in her hands, looking into his amber gaze. "People die. Sometimes it's sudden and sometimes you have a very long time to think about it. No matter what, you have to keep going. Don't let grief cloud your mind. It's hard. I know that very well but you have a beautiful life ahead of you. Ghell and your Da and my family would have been sad but they would have come out stronger for the experience."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Not Dad," Ruben still insisted quietly, but he let the subject go as he supported her when they stepped out into the den. Other than Vincenzo, a good portion of Selena's immediate family was there. Her mother, Luna, Brogan, Boar, Durban, and not surprisingly, Ghell and Taqu'un. Julia and Emma weren't there thanks to having their hands full keeping things running at home, but Marri was outside with Elise and Seamus, and Katina was there beside with Arin. Telma and Jan and Kreston were in the kitchen, but Kreston heard everyone stop talking when Selena emerged, and he looked back into the den and his heart swelled to see his beloved mate on her feet.

 

[heartofcourage]

Selena leaned against Ruben's side as he helped her to walk into the other room. She was surprised to see most of her family there, waiting for her to appear. Everyone went silent as they caught sight of her and she grew red in embarrassment.

"Don't let your conversations stop just because I'm in the room." Selena said softly as she was helped into a soft armchair with a long sigh. "I always knew that I was the one that kept this family going."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You can hardly blame us. It's not every day one o' th' strongest of us is bedridden," Durban reminded her softly as Kreston came to her side and took her hand.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, lucky for you I'm too stubborn to go anywhere." Selena said as Kreston came to her side and took her hand.

She could hear rattling in the kitchen as Telma got to work on a meal to feed everyone. It seemed that they really had done all that they could to keep things normal while she was lost in the twilight. Telma had been cooking for everyone, helping to keep them focused on the good that they still had.

"I'm fine. I promise." Selena murmured as she looked around the room at everyone.

 

[KieranSoares]

Slowly but surely, everyone got back to their former conversations, but Kreston wouldn't leave Selena's side. Ruben went to help Telma and Luna, and soon Jan arrived looking completely exhausted. He smiled to see Selena out with everyone but he didn't bother her, going into the kitchen to help Luna.

"Hey, Lu," Jan said breathlessly. He'd come back every day looking like he'd been put through a grinder, but he seemed a little more spirited now that Selena was awake and it wasn't all for nothing.

 

[heartofcourage]

Luna smiled as she saw Jan, kissing him on the cheek as he greeted her in his normal soft way. He had proven to her that he really did care about her and her family. He fit into her life so perfectly that it was almost startling that he hadn't been there the entire time.

"Sit down at the table. I'll get you something to eat and drink." Luna murmured as she shooed him towards the table and turned to get him a mug of ale.

She glanced towards her brother and Telma, pausing when she saw Ruben hovering around his mate in a protective stance. It was unconscious but it was there. When Telma would move, he would be there nuzzling against her cheek or her throat. He was marking her, making sure that his scent was on her fur. Luna had seen it many times from members of the tribe that knew their mate was carrying a cub, but had yet to tell them.

 

[KieranSoares]

Ruben paused once, noticing his sister looking at him. All he could do was smile and continue at Telma's side offering help where he could. Jan was watching this curiously as well. He'd gotten the chance to know Telma and Ruben a little better, and really most of Luna's family. Having never had much of a family beyond his parents, the idea of such a huge clan was fairly daunting and interesting to the Swede.