A Life or Death Struggle Ch. 01

"I'm okay," Beth murmured. Cole dropped an arm around Beth's shoulder and led her from the restaurant.

"God don't let me screw this up," Cole thought as he held the car door for her.

CHAPTER TWO

"This house is amazing," Beth murmured. Cole nodded.

"Growing up here was a wonderful experience. My parents were very loving to my brothers, sister and me," Cole agreed as the car came to a stop behind a forest green Jeep Wrangler. "Ready?" he asked. Beth gave a nervous smile and nodded. "My parents are harmless," Cole told her, sliding out of the car. He walked around the car and opened the door for her. "My brothers on the other hand ..." Beth looked up as two tall men with golden blond hair and striking green eyes strolled towards them.

"Oh my," Beth murmured.

"Cole, you pain in the ass, it took you long enough to get here!" one of the men exclaimed, punching Cole playfully in the shoulder.

"Good to see you to Charles. Back of Xavier," Cole growled, seeing his younger brother looking at Beth appreciatively.

"She's gorgeous," Xavier rumbled in his deep voice as he ran a hand through her hair.

"She's mine," Cole shot back.

"I'm not property so both of you just back off!" Beth shouted. She brushed Xavier's hand away and as she did, a wave of energy left her hand, sending Xavier backwards; he landed on his back twenty feet away. "Oh God," Beth groaned. She stuck her hands in her pockets and watched as Cole's parents and sisters rushed from the house.

"You brought an unstable witch to our home?" Cole's father growled as Cole wrapped an arm around Beth's waist.

"I'm sorry, that hasn't happened to me in nearly a decade," Beth apologized, her eyes wide, unsure.

"Your power is tied to your emotions?" Cole's mother asked.

"Can we hold off on the inquisition for a few minutes?" Cole asked. "This is Beth, Beth, you've already met Charles and Xavier. This is my father Dominic and my mother Marie," Cole introduced. "And my sisters Rogue, Sydney and Rachel," Cole added.

"Hello. I'm sorry about before, I hope Xavier isn't too badly hurt," Beth murmured.

"Damn, you must be one powerful witch," Xavier commented, brushing himself off and cracking his neck. Beth winced at the sound.

"I'm not that powerful usually," Beth admitted. Cole gave her a piercing glance and she shrugged.

"Let's go inside. I would love to hear all about the girl that has stolen my son's heart," Marie insisted. Beth followed Cole inside.

"Is there a bathroom I could use?" Beth asked. Cole led her to the half bath between the living room and the rec room.

"Are you alright?" Cole asked. Beth glanced at him before pushing past him to get into the bathroom. Cole sighed when he heard the sound of her retching and he slipped inside the bathroom, closed the door and knelt next to her. He held her long hair away from her face and rubbed her back. "Beth?" Cole murmured. Beth sighed and leaned against the wall. "Are you okay?" Cole asked again.

"Peachy," Beth said sarcastically. Cole frowned when he saw how pale she was. "I'll be fine once I stop puking my guts out," she told him. "Have you told them?" Beth asked.

"No, not yet," Cole answered.

"Your dad didn't seem thrilled with the idea of you bringing a witch over," Beth reminded him.

"He doesn't mind witches as long as they are in control of their powers," Cole said. Beth took a deep breath and stood carefully. "You okay?" Cole asked.

"Yeah. Go back and be with your family, I'll be out in a minute," Beth murmured. Cole nodded and slipped from the bathroom.

"You brought an untrained witch into my home, are you insane?" Dominic asked Cole the minute he walked into the living room.

"Dad, it isn't like that. Beth is normally very in control of her powers," Cole argued.

"Well she wasn't today and she could have hurt your brother," Dominic said.

"I'm sorry for that," Beth said softly from the doorway.

"My God Beth, you've gone completely pale! Sit down!" Marie exclaimed, ushering the her to the couch. "Would you like some tea?" she asked.

"Tea would be lovely," Beth answered with a small smile. When Marie returned a few minutes later with a cup of tea, Beth smiled again and thanked her politely.

"Are you ill?" Marie asked kindly.

"Not exactly," Beth murmured. Marie studied Beth carefully and her eyes widened with surprise and then narrowed as she turned her eyes towards her son.

"Cole Marcus Black, kitchen, now," Marie growled. Beth looked at Cole; he could read the question in her eyes and he nodded. Beth swallowed as she watched Cole head for the kitchen, his parents following close behind.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Marie wanted to know.

"It's complicated," Cole began.

"What didn't he tell us?" Dominic asked his wife.

"The reason that Beth's powers are on the fritz is that she's pregnant," Marie told her husband.

"Yours I assume?" Dominic asked his son.

"Yes," Cole and Marie said together. Cole didn't know why he was so surprised; nothing escaped his mother.

"Are you going to make her your mate?" Dominic asked.

"If that's what she wants," Cole answered. Before anything else could be said, Charles burst into the kitchen.

"I know you guys are having a serious conversation in here, but Thomas and his family just drove into the yard and they're hurt," Charles announced.

"We'll discuss this later," Marie promised before following her husband out to the yard.

~~~~~~~~~~~

"What's going on?" Beth asked. Cole sighed.

"Thomas is part of our pack, he and his family live on the outskirts of our land. Their home was attacked this afternoon," Cole answered.

"Cole!" a young woman ran into the living room and flung herself at him.

"Hi Chloe," Cole said with a small smile.

"When did you get back?" Chloe asked.

"About a half hour ago," Cole answered. "This is my girlfriend Beth," he added. Chloe turned to look at Beth, her eyes full of disgust.

"You're dating a normal?" Chloe asked.

"Not really a normal," Cole argued.

"I'm a witch," Beth said.

"Show me something," Chloe insisted.

"That isn't such a good idea Chloe. Beth's powers are a bit off right now. She sent Xavier back twenty feet," Charles said from the doorway.

"Hmpf. So Cole, how long is this little romance of yours going to last? Are we still fulfilling our parents wishes in the spring?" Chloe asked.

"No Chloe. Beth and I aren't going to break up, and it was just your desire," Cole said.

"How do you know you won't break up?" Chloe asked. Before Cole could answer, Beth's cell phone rang and she answered it quickly. Instantly, Beth wished she hadn't taken the call.

"What do you mean Luka's missing?" Beth asked. Cole let out a soft growl at the sound of another man's name passing by her lips. "Have you called the police? Yes, I know you can't file a missing person's report until ... oh for crying out loud Georgia, why don't you call Jimmy? He's a Private Investigator ... Laura, just call Jimmy and if Luka gets his ass to work and he's been getting stoned again, call me right away," Beth instructed, hanging up the phone.

"Who's Luka?" Cole asked.

"My pastry chef," Beth answered, rubbing her eyes tiredly.

"Does he flake out a lot?" Cole asked. Beth groaned at the well timed pun and Cole grinned.

"No, not often, but about every six months, he goes off and gets stoned; forgets about everything else. If he's gone out and gotten stoned, then he's either had a fight with his parents or his ex-girlfriend on visitation rights for his son," Beth answered. She slid her phone back into her purse and sighed as Cole's mother walked in with Chloe's family.

"Beth, this is our good friend Thomas and his wife Kerri; these are their boys Paul and Davis and you've met Chloe," Marie introduced.

"She's a witch, one who can't control her powers," Chloe informed her parents.

"You allowed an unstable witch in our territory?" Thomas asked, his eyes narrow.

"Thomas is in charge of our security. She's alright Thomas," Dominic said as he walked in.

"But if she's unstable ..."

"Just some hormone changes," Marie said lightly. Beth shifted nervously in her seat.

"Still ..." Thomas trailed off as Beth stood up suddenly and made a mad dash for the bathroom. Cole sighed and met his father's gaze over the heads of their guests. The look on Dominic's face was a mixture of compassion and laughter. "You allowed not just an unstable witch but an ill one into the territory? Are you mad?" Thomas asked.

"She isn't ill and she isn't normally unstable," Cole growled.

"Then what is she then?" Thomas shot back.

"Pregnant," Beth said from the doorway. The look of horror and fury in Chloe's face would have been funny to Beth if they hadn't been directed at her. Cole stood as he watched the color drain from Beth's face moments before her knees gave way. Gravity pulled Beth's body down quickly, her head hit the end table next to her with a sickening thud. Cole hurried to her, scooped Beth up in his arms and carried her back to his former bedroom while his mother called for the healer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"She'll be alright," the healer told Cole nearly an hour later.

"What happened?" Cole asked.

"Beth is human Cole. She may be a witch, but she's still human. Her body isn't used to carrying the child of a were," the healer said.

"Will she miscarry?" Cole asked.

"No. I'm leaving these herbs here. Mix them in a cup of tea once a day and make sure she drinks them all. In a few weeks, her body should adjust and we'll be able to tell how many she's carrying, and if the baby or babies will have a more human appearance or a wolf appearance," the healer answered. Cole nodded and took the packet from her and watched as his father led the healer to her car.

"Go sit with her. Beth will need some company when she wakes up," Marie told her son. Cole nodded, handed the packet to his mother and headed for his old room.

"Cole?" Beth asked groggily.

"Hey, how do you feel?" Cole asked.

"Fuzzy," Beth groaned, touching the lump on her head.

"You'll be okay in a day or two," Cole promised. He looked up as his mother walked into the room with a tray of soup.

"Are you hungry?" Marie asked.

"A little," Beth murmured.

"Have some soup and tea," Marie said, setting the tray over Beth's legs. She patted Beth on the shoulder and turned to her son. "Your father and I would like a word with you," Marie told Cole.

"I'll be right back," Cole promised, following his mother out of the room.

"Are you going to mate with her?" Dominic asked his son.

"I've answered this already Dad. Only if that's what Beth wants," Cole answered.

"So you're going to allow her to take your child or children away?" Dominic growled.

"Dad ..." Cole began.

"How could you allow this to happen?" Marie asked.

"It wasn't planned," Cole told his mother.

"Why didn't you make sure she was on the pill?" Dominic asked.

"My brain melted?" Cole asked. Dominic chuckled and shook his head.

"How do you know she isn't infected with any of those STDs?" Dominic wanted to know.

"Because she was a virgin," Cole answered.

~~~~~~~~~~~

"Are you sure you're okay to go into work?" Cole asked.

"Don't you have a job to do?" Beth countered.

"Yes, but right now your health is more important," Cole told her.

"I'm fine Cole," Beth told him. Cole gave a wry smile as he drove her to the restaurant. "Oh, bring your family tonight, I want them to see that I'm self sufficient," Beth added. Cole nodded as he pulled to a stop out side of the restaurant. "I'll see you in a few hours," Beth told him as she got out of the car.

~~~~~~~~

"This is one of the coolest places in town," Xavier commented as Cole met them out front of the restaurant.

"The food is great," Cole said with a grin.

"No restaurant is great," Dominic grumbled as he followed his son into the restaurant. Cole waved to Beth who was talking with a young man at the bar. "Your girlfriend is flirting," Dominic said.

"No, she isn't," Cole said easily, leading his family to the bar. "Hi Parker, how about a ..." before Cole could finish his statement, Parker slid a bottle of Sam Adams across the bar. "Thanks," Cole said.

"Do you want some wine Beth?" Parker asked.

"Just an Italian Soda Parker," Beth answered.

"One apple Italian Soda coming up," Parker said, turning away from them.

"Our table will be ready in a few moments," Beth told Dominic.

"Can I get you guys anything?" Parker asked the rest of the clan.

"Beth, your table is ready," Ben announced.

"Thanks Ben," Beth said with a smile.

"So which one of you picked the restaurant?" Marie asked. Before anyone could answer, Ben hurried back to the table, a look of panic on his face.

"What's wrong?" Beth asked.

"Joe's back," Ben told her. Beth stood up quickly and followed Ben to the main dining room.

"Call the police," Beth said quietly. Ben nodded and slipped away. "What are you doing here Joe?" Beth asked gently.

"I just want to see my son," Joe told Beth.

"Melly didn't bring Zach with her Joe," Beth said.

"I haven't seen my son in three weeks! The frigid bitch is keeping him from me!" Joe shouted.

"I can't have you harassing my waitstaff," Beth told him firmly.

"She can't keep my son away from me!" Joe exclaimed.

"How long have you been off your meds Joe?" Beth asked softly.

"I WANT TO SEE MY SON NOW YOU FUCKING CUNT!" Joe screamed. Cole stood up and headed towards Beth but she motioned him back.

"Joe, I understand you want to see Zach, what good father wouldn't want to see his son," Beth said, her voice low, soothing.

"Where's Zach?" Joe asked, his voice breaking.

"He's with mom, safe. You know that Melly would never hurt Zach, she loves him," Beth told him.

"I just want to see my son," Joe whispered, sinking to his knees on the floor. Beth knelt down next to him and wrapped her arms around him.

"Look at me and listen to me," Beth said quietly. Joe looked at her. "The reason that Melly hasn't let you see Zach in the last few weeks is he's been sick. She called you and told you he had been sick and not to visit him; he was too contagious. He's better now and she was going to take you to see him in the morning," Beth said. She glanced up at Cole as she felt hot tears leak onto her shoulder. "When did you last take your meds Joe?" Beth asked again.

"Last week," Joe admitted. Beth sighed and reached into her pocket and pulled out a plastic bottle. She opened it and dumped the contents into her hand.

"Take these Joe," Beth told him. "Cole, hand me that glass of water that Melly is holding," she added. Cole wordlessly handed Beth the glass of water who passed it to Joe. Joe swallowed the pills.

"Is everything alright ma'am?" an officer asked. Beth looked up and nodded.

"Everything's fine officer, just a misunderstanding," Beth answered. She turned to Melly. "Call Doctor Fisher," she instructed. Melly nodded and pulled her cell phone out of her pocket.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I'm sorry about that," Beth apologized.

"Can we go somewhere else?" Marie asked. Beth sighed but nodded.

"We'll go back to my place and I'll have our meals delivered," Beth answered. "Just give Ben your orders on the way out. Here's my address," she added.

"This is your house?" Rogue asked when the van pulled into the driveway.

"Yes," Beth said, looking up as Ben drove up with their meals. Beth handed Ben her keys. "Take them into the kitchen for me Ben while I make sure Joe is okay," Beth told him.

"Why is Joe so important to you?" Dominic asked.

"He's my brother," Beth answered.

"Food is in the kitchen," Ben said, walking out of the house and tossing Beth the keys.

"Thanks Ben. Have a good night," Beth said with a smile.

"How is it everyone at Gambit knows your name?" Marie asked as they all walked into the house.

"It's my restaurant," Beth answered.

"Your restaurant?" Charles echoed.

"Yes mine. I bought it, I developed it and I created the menu," Beth said, taking a bite of her pasta.

"Very nice," Marie complimented. Beth gave a small smile.

"So what's wrong with Joe?" Rachel asked.

"He's bi-polar," Beth told them.

When they finished eating, Beth cleared away the dishes and took a moment in the kitchen to collect herself. "Are you okay? I'm sorry if my parents are overwhelming you," Cole said, walking up behind her.

"It's okay. I'm just tired," Beth told him.

"Should I have them leave?" Cole asked.

"No, I'll be fine. I just need a minute," Beth murmured. Cole gave her a gentle squeeze and returned to his family.

Later that night, after Cole had seen his family off, he returned to the living room. "Beth?" Cole called softly. He smiled when he saw her laying on the couch, half asleep.

"Did I pass?" Beth asked sleepily.

"With flying colors," Cole said with a smile.

"Good," Beth mumbled. Cole smiled again and scooped Beth into his arms. Just as he tucked her into bed, the whole house shook, jarring Beth awake. "Stay here," Cole instructed.

"What is it?" Beth asked.

"Your barn is on fire," Cole announced, grabbing the phone and dialing 9-1-1.