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The school year had now ended and everyone moved into the pack house. Melissa and John decided not to sell their homes but keep them for emergencies. Jordan terminated his apartment lease and Chris sold his and Allison’s home. The weeks passed with ease at their new home. Everyone was adjusting well, since no one was going to start school until fall term the summer was going to be calm and easy. Or so they thought.
Melissa was working a normal shift in the emergency room when she got called that a walk in was requesting her. She headed over to the lobby and saw Laura standing there alone. She walked over and asked if everything was okay and Laura had tears in her eyes already.
“Laura what’s going on what happened?” Melissa asked worried something happens to someone in the pack. Laura let out a nervous laugh but was struggling to breath out, Melissa pulled her aside and grabbed an empty bed pulling the curtain around them.
Laura took a few deep breaths and looked to Melissa and in a wavering quite voice said “I…. I had… I think it was… I think I had heartburn this morning.” And then the tears came.
Melissa knew instantly what she meant and what she was worried about. Melissa pulled her into a big hug and asked her very calmly.
“Do you know when your last cycle was?”
“Not since before We came to beacon hills, I lost it when i lost the Alpha Spark and I was weak and assumed it was just taking my body a while to rebalance. But today I don’t know.” Laura placed a hand on her flat stomach and took a few deep breaths.
“So I take it there is a chance you could be pregnant?” Melissa asked. Laura was overcome with a deep blush and nodded yes.
“Okay okay, let’s take some blood. I can call in a favor at the lab and have results in 15 minutes.” She pulled out some vials and drew her blood quickly.
Melissa was about to leave when Laura held her scrub, “can you stay with me?”.
Melissa noded then poked her head out and grabbed the first person she saw. It was a first year resident that was fairly new to the hospital.
“You. You take this to the lab. Run. I want you at a run. You flag it high priority and tell Wayne that it’s Melissa calling in a favor. You will wait there, if your attending needs you, you tell them Melissa said you are to wait there until results are in your hand before you leave. Undertood.”
The poor doe eyed intern nodded quickly and rushed down the hall.
Melissa went back to the table and hugged Laura, “oh sweet girl. I know how much this hurts to do alone. Just know no matter what you decide we will have your back. And I’m not worried about Chris at all. He loves you, and if you are pregnant or aren’t he will understand anything you decide. You have such a good support system here with us.” She sat with Laura and just rubbed her head, she knew that Laura would be missing her mother right about now.
Laura knew in her heart that she was right, Chris was amazing, she was worried becuase Chris was 11 years older than her but she didn’t care. He made her happy and he was kind, strong, loving and already an amazing father. Laura sat there thinking about the possibilities and being soothed my Melissa. Laura heard the tell tale signs of someone sprinting towards them and let Melissa know.
Melissa stood up and headed for the curtain sure enough the flushed intern was zooming over to her. She held out her hand and the young intern handed over the file.
“Thank you. Dr.Torres.” Melissa said graciously and closed the curtain.
She walked over to Laura and asked if she was ready. Laura noded and Melissa opens up the folder and read the results.
“Laura, you are pregnant. It’s positive.” Melissa read out and sat next to her. Laura burst into tears and hugged Melissa.
Suddenly all her fears disappeared, she no longer was thinking about anything other than this child and how good a life it will have. She placed her hands on her belly and rubbed it. Melissa smiled and wiped her tears away.
“Do you wanna know how far along you are? Or want to take some time?” She asked softly.
“If we are able to find out that would be good.” She answered trying to get the sniffling under control. Melissa went over to the nurse desk and asked for a them to call and ultrasound technician over.
They went back and talked until the tech showed up. Again since Melissa knew everyone the tech was super quick to come.
“Hi I’m Amber, if you could please lay down and lift your shirt up we can get started.” The tech placed warmed jelly on Laura’s belly and began to mess with the machine and spread it around looking for a good spot. “Well Laura, the little one is being shy but I think I just about got it.” As she said that the room was filled with the whomp whomp whomp of a babies heart beat. And Laura and Melissa both cried, using Laura phone Melissa recorded the sound and screen.
Amber began taking photos and said “so no gender yet but looks like you are 12 weeks roughly, right now is when we say you are out of the high risk and can start to tell people if you choose to. I will gather all your info so we can set you up with an OBGYN here or we can send it to your choice of hospital.”
The tech packed up and left the two of them.
“I’m 3 months along…. How did I not know…” Laura whispered running her hand along her belly and looking at Melissa.
“You’d be surprised how many don’t, and I blame the wolfy side for hiding the other factors. How are you feeling? Do you want to talk options?”
“I’ve decided. This little blob is going to be a Hale. I need to go talk to Chris. Thank you Mel. For everything.” She hugged her and headed back into her car loaded up with the ultrasound photos, then stopped by for a smoothie before heading home.
She walked into the pack house and judging by the cars out front a few people were come. She went inside and Allison and Isaac were just peeking out from the greenhouse windows, the back door was open so someone was out running the perimeter. She headed upstairs and went to Chris’s bedroom, really this was his office since they slept in Laura’s room mostly.
She walked in and saw he was not on a call so she went all the way over to his desk. Chris stood up and went to greet her and as he hugged her and kissed her Laura burst out into tears again. Her entire speech that she planned in the car; out with window the second he touched her. Chris panicked and jumped back and looked to see if she was hurt, when he saw he she was smiling but tears were rushing down her face.
“Hey, Laura Love, what’s wrong?” He wiped her tears away and held her face. She couldn’t even talk but she pulled out a single snapshot of her ultrasound and handed it to him.
Chris stared at the image and there is said Hale, Laura. She was pregnant. His jaw dropped open and then in a split second he picked up Laura and spun her around. Chris had a giant smile on his face and he kissed Laura again. “Everything will be okay. You are healthy, this baby is going to be so loved.”
Laura heard his reassurance and hugged him back, again all the fears disappeared. He moved her to his couch and sat next to her.
“When did you find out?” He asked staring at the ultrasound and back to Laura’s belly and back at the ultrasound.
“Just now, I went at to the hospital with Melissa. She did the blood test.” Laura answered him, letting their fingers intertwine resting on her belly.
“How far along are you? Do you know?”
“Actually not too long to wait. I’m already 3 months along. It was a surprise to me too. Had no idea until this morning. Mel said that it could be the shifter in me that hid the first symptoms.”
Chris was smiling he rubbed his hand along the still flat stomach and whispered “you are going to be one spoiled princess in this family.”
As soon as he said family Chris gasped and then burst out into a loud cackle of a laughter, he wiped a tear away at how hard he was laughing.
“I know this isn’t the time. But I can hear my father rolling in his grave at the thought of an Argent fathering a potential shifter.” Chris laughed again then placed a kiss on Laura’s belly.
“You know might not be a princess, you might have a little boy. They were being camera shy.” Laura teased poking her finger at her belly.
“So when do you want to tell everyone?” Chris asked Laura, pulling her into his lap and cuddling with her.
“You know nothing stays secret for long and I’m already 3 months so it’s safe to share. Why don’t we surprise them at dinner?” Laura replied resting her head back onto his chest.
Chris hummed in agreement and enjoyed his time. They laid there talking about plans for the future and if Chris was worried about having another child being so far in ages. They planned their future together on that couch. This family was ready for little feet to pitter patter around the house.
Eventually they wrapped up their talk and joined the others when they returned from their perimeter run. When they came down They saw Stiles working away in the kitchen and the others killing time in the living room waiting for dinner time. As they watched tv and the others arrived from their errands , Santiago left to go pick up Mel from work and have dinner together. Allison and Derek set the table.
A short while later Santiago and Melissa arrived, Melissa liked to shower and change after a shift so they waited for her then everyone sat at the table. Dinner was served and they ate comfortably together . As they winded down for desert the conversations moved to Isaac. It was a full house tonight.
“So when I was shopping in town Today, I saw a for sale sign at the flower shop, I went in and asked and the owner about it. she is retiring and no one in her family wants the business. And I kinda panicked and I told her my dream was to open a flower shop. She said that if I bough it the place the inventory she couldn’t sell I could keep. I know it’s a while away but still just seems like good timing. And she was happy to hear it would stay a small business so I think she would cut a good deal you know for the store.”
Everyone agreed that taking over am existing business and keeping it the same would be good for business and Everyone was super exited and buzzing about the new venture for Isaac.
“That’s great Isaac, now I feel like my announcement isn’t going to be as cool as your store.” Laura pouted in an over exaggerated way. Knocking into his shoulders with a little bump.
Cora teased her back and said “you finding a new new favorite snack isn’t exiting. That happens everyday.”
“Oh no. I guess I am boring. Well then I guess I’ll just hold on to this ultrasound photo a little longer until I’m more exiting.” She replied in a haphazard way, pulling up the photo between her fingers and smirking at them.
The table erupted into chaos, everyone was talking all at once in excitement. Laura couldn’t hold it in and started crying again holding Chris’ hand as everyone jumped up to congratulate her and him. The excitement for them was over whelming even Derek couldn’t control his eyes at his little pack growing more and more. They all sat back down and tears were shed all around, questions were being thrown left and right.
“Okay okay okay, look I’ve only known for like 5 hours so I don’t know anything either. Im 3 months along and don’t know what it is yet but the tech said it had a strong Heart.” Laura and Chris couldn’t stop smiling as she rested her hand on her belly.
Suddenly Allison started cracking up in laughter to the point of wheezing, “Is it terrible that I wish grandpa Gerard was alive just to send him that announcement post card, I bet you he is rolling in his grave right now.”
Laura looked to Chris and he just laughed. Looks like the Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Lydia was already making plans for everything, looking up the best OBs in the area and simultaneously planning a nursery. Laura wanted as relaxed and chill plan as possible. Only the medically required visits and no more. They all headed to the living room after dinner and watched a movie, no one stopped Jackson from picking The Princess Bride again even thou the entire pack could recite it word for word by now. Allison laid next to her dad and Laura, and talked about how exited she was to be the cool big sister. She was very exited for them.
As the weeks passed they prepared for the baby, nursery’s were built, Laura was now 4 and a half months along and you could see her belly protruding from her normally very slim form. They decided to keep the doctors visits to a minimum. Shifter pregnancies were very safe and stable so there was no need. They had a appointment today to get an ultrasound to check on the gender. Allison joined Chris and Laura to the visit. As the three of them waited around in the lobby of the clinic, Laura was eating a pack of gummy worms while Chris read up on the pamphlets. Turns out growing a baby and being a werewolf makes you extra hungry. At this point every single person knew to carry at least 2 snacks incase Laura got hungry. She may of may not have cried 2 weeks when she was in a Home Improvement store with Derek and Stiles until a kind employee gave her part of his lunch, so they learned quickly and carried lots of treats.
“Laura Hale?” A small nurse called out from the desk.
The three of them stood and followed her back. Laura did the usual procedure she knew it well since it was her 2nd visit here. Then she laid down and rolled up her shirt. The tech moved the ultrasound around and took measurements and photos, the room was filled again with the sound of the little ones heart and Allison cried.
“Would you like to know the gender?” The tech asked looking to Laura and the others.
Chris nodded to Laura and she agreed. “Yes please.” She went back to scanning and taking photos. Then said “there we go.” She has pulled up a clear profile of the face. And the three of them stared intently.
“Congratulations, that is your healthy little boy.”
The three of them gasped and then all of them started crying, and clutching each others hands. The tech cleaned up her belly and printed all the information and photos for them to take home. They scheduled another appointment at the 6 month mark and left.
They walked out of the clinic and headed home, as they drove home chatting about the baby boy to be. Chris saw Laura stare longingly at the Dairy Queen and read her mind. They pulled off into the drive thru and he got her her usual order of large blizzards for the trio. Laura ate her hers and happily returned to the conversation. As the drive continued and Chris took a few bites of his at red lights he saw Laura eyeing it as well. He laughed took one more bite and handing it over to her.
“I’m sorry! This little guy is making me soo hungry.” Laura whined then sheepishly took all of Chris’s ice cream. Then she was set for the remainder of the drive. Apparently 30 minutes is longer when your pregnant. They pulled up to the pack house and dinner preparation was in full swing. Today it was Melissa and Jordan doing the cooking. When they arrived everyone swarmed they hoping for an update.
Laura held out the photos and they were passed around. Since everyone was here already she couldn’t hold in the secret.
“It’s a boy!”
Everyone cheered and celebrated, Derek and Cora hugged her tightly, as did everyone else. Lydia was masterminding the nursery finishing touches. Plus the baby shower.
As they settled in for a rowdy dinner, always was loud when the entire pack was home, they caught up on the shenanigans for the day. The night was winding down and most of them had scattered to the living room while Cora and Jackson were on dishwasher duty after dinner.
When suddenly Stiles and Danny jumped up.
Stiles palms pulsed white and Danny’s hand had a glowing purple rune appear on his palm. Stiles called out “North Ward was breached!” Then Danny added “it’s supernatural!”
The pack all jumped up and Derek took control. “Isaac, Mel, Santiago, Laura and John stay here. The rest let’s move out.”
They ran out to the cars out back, Laura sprinted with them.
“No! We are not splitting up again. I’m pregnant not dead. We do this as a family.” She loaded in with Chris and left no room for arguing. They raced as far as they could but when the trees got too thick they exited the cars and raced on foot.
Stiles reached out to the land and sensed their movement, the intruders were moving slowly but not stealthily. “Half a mile out. It’s slowed down.” He called out while running.
Jackson took a deep breath in, “Werewolf!” As they came across a clearing Derek knew it would be best to meet them here. He tilted his head back and howled. When he did that Stiles placed his palm on the trees and felt out again.
“They changed direction, heading toward us.” He called out while the others formed a semi circle just like they practiced.
Jackson turned to the noise he heard, he was the best tracker and noted something strange. “It smells like blood,” he turned to look at Stiles who was also tracking their movement when Stiles looked confused.
“They stopped moving.” Stiles turned to Derek for directions.
“May be an ambush let’s cluster and approach.” The pods were made according to their training tactics. Lydia, Chris and Laura in one. Derek, Stiles and Allison in another and Cora, Jordan and Danny in the other. With Jackson as the loose rouge hovering between them.
The moved quickly toward the smell of blood, as they broke into another clearing the saw two rough forms. One was leaning against a tree slumped over, while the other was trying to hold him up against the tree. As the pack approached the one still conscious looked to Derek.
“Save Ethan…” then he also fell to his knees clutching the unconscious body to him.
That is when they realized the conditions they were in. Both of them were completely shredded, their bodies looking like they were stuck inside a wood chipper. You could see some of their bones from how deep the gashed were.
In a heartbeat Derek moved, and the pack followed. They laid them down and both Danny and Stiles went to work healing with magic while Allison and Jordan used the medical supplies to bandage as best they could.
The one who was struggling to stay awake looked up at Derek again, eyes fluttering. “Save Ethan. I’m fine help him please.”
Derek stepped forward and flashed his alpha eyes at him, “we have Ethan. you are safe here. We will help you both.” When the boy heard that he managed to flash his eyes for a second a soft yellow and just managed to tilt his neck up a little in submission before passing out completely.
The pack worked quickly but with the amount of injuries they had their supplies had run out. By now Allison was wrapping up the legs with strips cut from the backs t shirts and Jordan was doing the same.
“That’s all we can do here, we need to get them to Melissa. This one has a broken femur and I can’t set it here.” Allison called out tying up the last bandage around his foot. “He’s barely breathing but he’s here.”
Jordan had just finished wrapping up the second boy, he had more slashes than skin left on his back so it took a long time. “I don’t know if we can move this one. He’s got exposed ribs on both sides still. He isn’t healing.”
“Me and Danny can give them power from the Ley lines to stabilize them but if they are a threat it will give them strength.” Stiles called out his hands still glowing as he healed still.
Derek looked at the two shredded boys in front of him, no older than his Luna and little sister. “Do it.”
Stiles and Danny nodded. Stiles stopped healing and stuck his fingers into the ground . As while magic pounded from his hands and then slowly the earth below the boy was now glowing white. Danny had taken out a knife and sliced his right palm, he let the blood drip onto the ground and and began to chant, then he dipped his fingers into his blood and drew runes onto the few inches of skin not under bandages, they also started to glow Purple and even his eyes had a purple ring around them.
As he continued to chant, Stiles kept channeling the magic into the ground and trying to save these lives.
Jackson was the one to call out, “both their hearts are steady now.” Sure enough both boys were now taking visible breaths. They still did not open their eyes but it was progress.
“That’s as good as we are getting out here. Let’s move them to the Infirmary.” Derek spoke out. In the go bags they only had one collapsible stretcher. Derek made a note to add a second one to the supply list for emergencies. They rigged together a tarp into a second stretcher and they delicately transfers the boys onto them and they were carried out.
When they approached the cars Derek decided it was a better idea to keep the boys together, should they wake up and panic. Chris and Laura took the car back with Lydia. While the others kept walking . About a half a mile from the house the one that was conscious managed to flutter his eyes open again. Derek was standing beside him and instantly calmed him.
“Take it easy. You are fine, my pack is moving both of you to our infirmary. You’re both safe.”
“Thank you.” They boy managed to choke out before needing to close his eyes and rest.
A short distance later they came up on the house, the two boys were moved to the infirmary. Melissa and Isaac worked with Stiles to heal the one with the worst injuries. While Allison, Chris and Danny worked to stabilize the other. Magic was flowing, medicine both human and supernatural were being used. Bandages were being Changed and time flew by. Bones were being cracked and reset. The entire team was sweating by the time they were able to drop to a sedate pace, the worst was over. Now it was up to the boys to heal.
Melissa stood back and looked at the two of them and commented, “I have an idea. They are twins and pack heals so now that they are stable let’s move them together.”
Everyone looked around and knew it was their best bet. They moved the stabler of the two of them to the other bed and almost instantly they moved to face each other but didn’t wake up yet.
“Lydia and Laura fix up recover food for Danny and Stiles. They are drained.” Derek advised while reaching over to hand out those marathon fuel packets to the humans that were exhausted. The others moved around the infirmary but stayed close just incase.
Food was brought up and the healers refueled, Danny didn’t have much to go on but he checked the missing and runaway teens to see if there was anything in twin boys. Their faces were too beat up to run recognition software at this time. Laura was falling asleep on Chris’s lap on on of the beds. The other couples were paired up and loitering about waiting for movement.
An hour later both boys opened their eyes at the same time saw each other and managed to grimace as they felt their wounds now that they were fully conscious. Both tried to turn to look around and groaned loudly. Derek stepped forward to the foot of the bed.
“Stay down, you are safe here and need to recover.”
The boys looked at Derek and instantly recoiled and bared their throats even thou it hurt them to move.
“It’s okay. Stand down. I’m not asking for submission. You can rest at ease.” Derek spoke softly and calmly, it was clear these boys were terrified.
The stronger of the two, the one that was still standing when they encountered them looked at Derek and Stiles. “Thank you. Sorry… we didn’t know…. Didn’t know this was claimed land…just were running as fast as we could… didn’t stop…” he was pushing words out between breaths clearly still in pain. Jackson stepped forward and with a slow steady hand he placed one on to his shoulder and pulled some pain. Cora moved slowly and did the same to the boy who was still silent. He managed to smile at her but not yet form words.
Over the next hour the supers would take turns draining pain for a few minutes then letting the boys rest, soon their hearts were steady and you could see them perk up a bit enough to turn their heads. It was then that one of the boys stomachs made an audible growl.
“Have you eaten today? Are you both hungry?” Stiles asked already moving to a storage cabinet.
“We lost track of time where we were and when we escaped.” The boy in the bed replied.
Stiles heart broke and he handed both of them professional grade protein shakes that contained a days worth of calories in a single shake. Melissa moved the bed up so they could sit up and drink, and they managed to hold their own drinks. They inhaled the drink in seconds.
Without any hesitation Allison grabbed another 4 bottles and handed them two more and placing a 3rd on the nightstand. They boys managed to drink this one at slightly less of an inhale but it was still pretty quick. This seemed to boost them up a bit because the one they managed to smile and speak again.
“Thank you.” He croaked our clearly his voice had not been used in a while. Both boys looked longingly at the third shake and sheepishly accepted it when Stiles passed it to both of them. This one they managed to sip on at a normal rate.
“My name is Aiden, I’m sorry for the trouble. As soon as we can manage we will be out of your way.” He spoke out not managing to look Derek in the eyes anymore.
Isaac cautiously approached the two boys, Jackson and Cora flanked him but trusted his instincts. He moved to be right on the foot of the bed between the two boys. He hesitated and then gently placed a hand onto Aidens leg and sure enough he flinched and bared his throat.
“I know what you to have been thru. You don’t need to say anything. I can tell you that you will be safe here, and you will never be treated like that again. Not here, not by anyone.”
Both boys in the recovery beds look at each other and stuttered out “no it’s fine. We just ran away. We can’t, we aren’t, it’s not that-“
“Stop me when you believe me or if anything I say is a lie.” Isaac told them both and continued on “you listen to their footsteps , you know their mood by the way they walk, if they catch you smiling you stop, you know just by the way they move when it’s going to be worse, after making any noise you stop and hold your breath.”
“Okay okay.” Ethan whispered “I believe you.” He looked to his twin and begged with his eyes. “It can be different.” He asked.
Derek saw the hesitation in Aiden’s eyes and knew he had to let them decide. “It’s clear you two have been thru a lot. My pack is open to you if you want to join this family. But we are a family first, pack second. You can ask me, my Luna, my emissary, my hunter or any pack mate anything and everything you want.” He motioned as he called out ranks and pointed out who played a role here. “We will head upstairs to let you two talk in peace, for transparency this room is not soundproofed but we will respect your privacy. If you would like to speak to anyone please call out for them. This is open now and later, if you two want to leave. No one will stop you, but please fully heal first. We will help you both recover regardless of what you choose.”
Derek motioned for everyone to head upstairs, Melissa checked and removed an IV fluid bag for Ethan and checked his vitals.
“Santi, grab me another unit he needs one more.” She called out reaching a hand out to Santiago and she added it to his central line. She checked his toes and saw the blood flow was good again. The broken femur slowly healing it’s self. She checked in on Aiden on her way out the room and saw his head was resting awkwardly. She reached out and removed one of the pillows and adjusted his bed so he could watch Ethan easily.
When she did that Aiden took a breath and caught her scent. “You’re human?” He asked confused.
By now the others were all waiting near the door and they tensed up.
“Yes.” Melissa replied and finished adjusting the other pillow so the boys could talk as they were in the same bed.
“Sorry. I umm thank you. Just we haven’t met well I don’t know any nice ones.” He stuttered our not quite meeting her eyes.
Ethan helped out her brother. “We were taught that the only humans we will know are the hunters that want to kill us.” He Finished his sentence quietly realizing that there were 3 hunters in this room and all of them helped save them.
Derek waved Melissa and Santi over and they left them brothers to talk. As the pack sat around the living room, Melissa, Danny and Stiles were wiped out, the others were tired from the pain draining and general stress. So they curled up together. Santiago and Chris while clearly pro wolf they were still hunter’s at heart and they could not sleep with these new risks in the basement. The brothers were talking in hushed tones but the pack respected the privacy and let them be. It wasn’t until an hour later that Derek heard one of the two of them call out for the Alpha.
Not wanting to overwhelm them, Derek went down with only Stiles and Chris. The trio approached the boys and stood at the foot of their bed.
Ethan spoke out first, clearly he was the one that wanted to try. “We would like to join you, but we don’t want to hurt you at all. You have all been beyond amazing, we wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for your actions. But we need to tell you about us.” He finished calmly looking at his own feet.
“Everyone is entitled to their own secrets and life, you are more than welcome to charge as much or as little with me or anyone else.” Derek advised the two brothers. Stiles and Chris nodded in agreement.
This time it was Aiden who spoke. “You should know we are Beta Run Aways. We were taken from our parents and pack before our first shift. Our Alpha… he took us when we were 5. Slaughtered our pack. Then trained us from the age of 5. We have no one. No papers, no records. Only things we kept was our names. But you need to know. We have to tell you Who we ran away from.”
Both boys spoke in sync. “Deucalion.”
Chris and Derek replied in sync. “Shit.”