Dawn Reclaimed

"Who loves you babe?" Ginger snorted drunkenly as she hoisted her drink. "Wear 'em in good health."

"Thanks."

Claire's mother was even having a good time. Sipping on a glass of bubbly and chatting with Janine. Congratulating her on her efforts. Claire wondered if her mother had any idea that she was consorting with vampires. And werewolves, there were a fair number of women that she recognized from the house, no doubt standing in for Grant, playing guard dog in his absence.

The party was winding down. Most of the food devoured. The last bottle of bubbly uncorked, being split between Ginger and her mother. The room was a litter of paper plates, wrapping paper, and party favors. "Jan, be sure you get one of those centerpieces," Claire ordered.

Jan selected one and blew out the tea light. "Thanks. Good luck."

Claire returned her smile. "I'll call you if I need a sitter."

"No problem. I'd be happy to help out."

Dena gave her daughter a tight squeeze. "Honey, I'm so happy for you." She planted a wet kiss on Claire's cheek. "You're going to be a beautiful bride. As a daughter of mine, what choice do you have?" She fished around in her Coach purse and dropped a pair of pearl stud earrings Claire's hands. "For luck. These belonged to your grandmother. She wore them on her wedding day and I wore them on mine. Now, you'll wear them on yours. Love you."

Claire slid the earrings into her earlobes and fastened them in place, fearful that she'd lose them. "Love you too, mom."

Ginger stumbled by and draped an arm over Claire's shoulders. "See ya tomorrow." She swayed drunkenly. Snickering as Robbie impatiently jangled keys in her direction. "Looks like my ride is ready to go." She planted a big sloppy kiss on Claire's cheek. "Love ya babe."

Claire shook her head as Robbie navigated Ginger to the door. Waving. Perhaps that was the scariest part of getting married, knowing that no matter how much your life stayed the same. Things were going to be different. You were going to be different from this point forward.

"You ready to go?" Janine asked. "I promised Grant that I'd take good care of you. Tomorrow is your big day."

Gina prattled around the house all day. Going through the motions of showering and dressing, but feeling no real incentive to do it other than the fact that she should. She was grateful to whoever stocked her fridge and pantry. Not that eating held any more interest than bathing and grooming. She'd been tempted on a number of occasions to pick up the phone and press one of the numbers encrypted into its memory. Janine, Dane, Carter, just to hear a voice. She'd never felt so alone before. She tried watching TV and listening to some music, but nothing filled the emptiness inside of her. She was a stranger in her own home.

Hunter felt foreign in his own skin. He'd let the wolf take over after Gina left and let the wolf control him for longer than he should have. He made rounds through the house. Checking on Mouse. Fast asleep with a stuffed wolf he'd given her for her birthday years ago, clutched under her arm. Daniel snored lightly, turning in the bed when Hunter opened the door. The light shone under Tristen's door. Lightly he knocked before barging in.

"Come in," Tristen answered. He glanced up from a back issue of Maxim and eyed his father. "I wondered if you were going to come back. Do you do this a lot? Creep around the house in the middle of the night when no one is awake?"

"More often than you know." Hunter sank onto the edge of the bed. "You guys are more important to me than you realize."

"Why didn't you ever tell us? Why weren't you ever around? We needed you after mom died. But you were never there. You were too wrapped up in yourself to pay attention to your kids. We needed you. We still do."

"Son, you'll never know how much I regret that. I should have been braver than I was. I should have thought of you more than I did. I guess I got lost in my pain. I didn't know how to deal with her loss, or how to deal with you and your brother and sister. Mouse was so little and dependent for everything."

"Are you back now? For good?"

"I'm going to try."

"If you can't do it. Don't try. Loosing you again is too hard, on all of us. Either be here or don't be here. I can't go through it again, neither can Daniel, and it isn't fair to Mouse. I lost mom too, lost both of you."

Hunter turned and faced his son. He reminded him of Grant. He had Grant's facial expressions and mannerisms. The same fierce glint in his eye and set to his jaw when he defended those he loved. "I can't change what happened."

"No. But you can change what's going to happen."

"I can," Hunter agreed. Determined and promising himself that he was going to give it everything he had. His kids needed him. And he had deprived them of a father long enough.

"Dad, can I ask you about the woman in the garage last night? What was that?"

"A mistake, a terrible mistake. You shouldn't have seen that," Hunter answered.

"Dad, I'm a grown man. I can take it." Tristen snickered. "Didn't look like a mistake to me."

"Trust me. It was. She doesn't belong here. She has to go back to her world. Back to where she belongs."

"And you just let her go?"

"What else was I supposed to do?"

"Go get her. Convince her that right here is where she needs to be."

"I can't do that. She made her decision." Hunter hung his head. Feeling the sting of Gina's absence more acutely than ever before.

"Maybe she doesn't have all the facts. Maybe you could change her mind. Turn up the charm and win her back."

Hunter grinned. "You think your old man's still got it?"

"Stud." Tristen playfully kicked his dad. "Now go get the girl."

"I'll think about it."

"Don't think too long. If you don't go for her, I might. She was awfully pretty. Had a nice ass too. Maybe she just needs an introduction to the younger side of the family." Tristen slid his dad a slanted mischievous grin. Knowing his words had hit their mark. "Wonder if I still have that box of Trojans Extra Large around here somewhere," he said grinding it in.

"Boy." Hunter said in a low warning growl. Territorial. Gina was his.

"Dad. Get the girl."

"Stay out of my business."

"Night, Dad," Tristen chuckled. Knowing eventually his father would cave. Hop in the car and go after her. Maybe not right away, but someday, he would.

Grant stripped and threw his clothes in wild abandon. Eagerly anticipating the hunt. The pack gathered loosely around him, some already transformed, some not. The Great White Wolf, white as snow. And his mate, back as pitch howled in anticipation. Grant half expected to see Hunter show up. But, wasn't surprised when he didn't. Tristen drew the unlucky straw, and had to stay behind to guard their home. This was a night of celebration. Grant let their wild howls and excited barks charge through his soul. Surrendering his form, he gave himself over to his wolf. Taking his rightful place, flanking the black wolf. United as one, the pack charged into the night.

The clatter of dishes and glasses awoke Claire with a start. "Good morning. Today is your special day," Janine said cheerfully. "I simply couldn't let you sleep it away."

Claire threw back the covers and sat on the side of the bed. "What's all this?" She asked eying the cornucopia of breakfast delights spread out on the table.

"Well I didn't know what you wanted so I asked Anna to make everything. I wish I could join you, but..."

"I get the picture," Claire said as she poured a cup of coffee from a white plastic carafe. "Tell Anna that this looks wonderful." She sipped the coffee trying to wake up a little. Forcing herself, she dug in. Breakfast wasn't her thing. But, she'd eat every last bite to appease her hosts. Pissing off a vampire was probably not a wise thing to do.

Janine sat as far way from Claire as she could. The smell of the food made her nauseous. At one time, pancakes were her favorite. Now she couldn't even be within twenty feet of them. "I'll be back," she said cheerfully.

"Claire." A light feminine voice said from the doorway.

"Hi." She recognized the woman. Not a vampire, not a human, not a Wolf, the woman was something else entirely. Hoping her gesture wouldn't be considered rude Claire divvied out her plate and handed it to the woman. "Tala, isn't it?"

"Yes. You remembered. Thank you," Tala said taking the plate from Claire and picking at the edges of a waffle. She pulled up a chair and sat across from the small rolling cart from Claire. She noted that Claire's body temperature rose slightly, that there was a undertone of pungent scent to her natural aroma, and that her pupils dilated slightly. "We still make you nervous."

"A little. I'd be lying if I didn't admit that. But, I think I'm getting used to you," Claire answered. Pushing a bit of pancake floating in a moat of syrup and melted butter around on her plate, she focused on her food.

"That's good. You're one of the family now. I've got to admit. You've been good for Grant and I couldn't be happier for the both of you. Grant is like a brother to me." Tala set her plate to the side, leaning closer to Claire, "That makes you my sister."

"Thanks." Claire said shyly.

"What's it like?" Tala asked. She'd been watching Claire from a distance for weeks. Watching her totter around the compound, getting bigger and bigger as the life blossomed inside of her.

"What's what like?" Claire asked curiously.

"Being pregnant."

"Oh. Well, I can't lie. I wasn't expecting a baby. It just kind of happened, an accident, for lack of a better word. I don't regret it and I'm more than a little nervous about the delivery and what will happen afterwards. You know. If I'll be a good mother." She snickered, "If I'll ever fit into my jeans again. I guess having a baby is the scariest and most wonderful thing that's ever happened to me. Can you... are you trying?"

Tala shot Claire a shy smile. "No one seems to know if I can or what would happen if I did. Drew and I, well, we don't fit into any category. Drew's brother was like us and he was able to, but his wife, was human. I am not."

"But, you're not entirely not human either." Claire sat her mug down. Studying the longing that reflected in Tala's brown eyes. "I wish I knew what to say."

"I didn't want kids for the longest time. I had always helped out the pack with caring for the young ones, I thought I was enough."

"But seeing me has changed your mind," Claire said with a tinge of regret to her voice. She would never intentionally make someone feel bad about the lot life had cast them.

"Not entirely. Loving Drew changed my mind. I was a little like you, Claire. I thought my life was going in one direction. One of my choosing, and then he came in and turned everything upside down. I've never regretted the decisions that I made. Drew was the best thing that ever happened to me. Whether we have children or not, or what those children might become, I don't regret loving Drew, not for one second."

Claire smiled. "I have a feeling that this child is going to be surrounded by more love and affection than any child on the planet. This is one lucky baby I'm carrying. Lucky to have people like you and Drew watching out for him." She placed a gentle hand on Tala's, "I hope it works out for you and that you get exactly what you want."

"Thanks," Tala said, squeezing Claire's hand. "I'll see you at the wedding."

"Aren't you done eating yet?" Janine huffed. Hurriedly whisking the away the cart, she pushed Claire toward the shower. "We've got to get ready."

"But the wedding isn't till five thirty tonight," Claire protested.

"Yes, yes, but ... oh, just hurry up and grab a shower. I'll be back," Janine said, Herding Claire into the bathroom.

"Janine, I haven't exactly decided what I'm going to wear."

Janine smiled coyly. "Yes, you have." And then she shut the door in Claire's face.

Tristen made a few calls. Promised a few IOU's and got the necessary information. He snuck a peek in on Mouse and Daniel and slid out. His dad was a pathetic mess, hanging half in and out of his bed, staring at the ceiling. If he wouldn't go get the girl, Tristen was just going to get the girl and bring her to him. He wished his car were roadworthy. But, instead, he took the truck.

Grant paced around the bluffs nervously. Making sure all the final preparations were in order. The vampires did a nice job. A white tarp was stretched across the ground. An arbor was decorated with delicate ferns and white roses woven into the archway. The white tent looked ridiculous against the natural backdrop. But, the weather was too unpredictable and although it was an evening wedding the sun would be out. Tables were scattered about decorated in richly colored navy and wine tablecloths. Tea lights danced merrily in their glass holders. The cake, Anna had really out done herself, looked exactly like the picture he'd shown her. Everything was perfect.

Slowly guests were beginning to filter in. Gathering in the tent to keep out of the sun until Claire's big moment. "Glad you could make it, Thomas," Grant said in an attempt to offer an olive branch. Grant understood the complexity and depth of Thomas's feelings for Claire. It didn't change things. But, he understood how deeply Thomas was hurting. If he had lost Claire and been attending the wedding as a guest, losing to Thomas, he'd feel exactly the same way.

"I would never disappoint Claire like that," Thomas answered. Being here was hard enough. The offer of friendship and thanks was almost intolerable. Grant gloating and rubbing his nose in his defeat, he could have handled. Turning his back, Thomas began to chat with an overly excited and exuberant Ginger.

Dena tromped her way along the narrow and mud slicked path. She hadn't been out here in ages. She'd traded in her spiked pumps for a brand new pair of soft leather hiking boots. Rubbing an annoying blister on the back of her heel with each step. Carhartt wasn't her favorite designer. But, the boots were durable enough for this god awful wilderness. She imagined that she'd be wearing a soft pink designer suit to her only daughter's wedding, not jeans and a t-shirt. She sputtered and spun as a low hanging branch snagged her bun. Tugging her hair free. Irritated by the sound of laughter, familiar male laughter, coming from behind her.

"What's so damn funny?" she huffed. Raking a glare over her ex-husband, she frowned deeper. He looked at ease in the woods. Comfortable in his worn jeans and faded plaid shirt, if he'd had a coonskin cap on he could have passed for Daniel Boone instead of a schoolteacher.

"Here." Blake snapped off the twig firmly twisted and snarled in his ex-wife's coiffure, prim, platinum blonde bun.

"Thank you," Dena sputtered. Smoothing down the now unruly rats nest of curls and tangles that had fallen from her bun.

"I see you remembered the way," Blake said falling into step beside his ex. Steadying her by the elbow as she sidestepped a decaying log.

"You drug us out here every weekend for years. How could I possibly forget?" She slid in a thick puddle of muck, teetering wildly. Twisting free of the strong hands that gripped her waist to prevent her fall.

"And you haven't been back since," Blake said with a hint of grudge in his voice. His ex wasn't always the shrew that time had transformed her into. Once, long ago, in another life, she was funny, sweet, open, and loving. She was a wide eyed, shy, young college student fascinated by the world around her, deeply in love with life, and him.

Dena shot her ex a glance. At one time, he'd brought out the best in her. Encouraged her dream big dreams. Dared her to take big chances and go out on a limb. He made her laugh, and in the end made her cry. She fell in love with the boy that he once was. The man he grew up to be, she loathed. He'd go about with his head in the clouds, always chasing after some crazy idea while she was left behind to worry and hold things together. He took her for granted. And in the end, she'd done it on her own for so long, that she simply got tired of dragging him along with her and cut him loose. "No, I have not." She haughtily held up her head and gathered up her dignity, tromping on ahead.

Blake took his time, meandering behind his ex. Identifying the trees by their bark. Looking for the scrabbling little tracks left by the woodland creatures. Inhaling the crisp, fresh, pine scented air. He trotted to catch up. "I think the woods have a certain majestic beauty. You should take the time to enjoy nature more often."

"And you..." Dena shook her head. "Never mind." She breathed a relieved sigh as she emerged into the clearing. Going for the cover of the tent. Leaving her ex behind to marvel in the 'majestic beauty' of the woods. To her the woods were nothing more than a cold, muddy, damp bunch of trees.

Claire lounged in a bathrobe as the women fussed about her. Her hair was wound up into a chignon at the back of her scalp. Wispy curls of blonde cascaded around her cheeks, cupping her carefully made up face. With each second the clock ticked, she got more and more nervous. Janine had not given so much of a hint as to what she was going to wear. "Janine. Am I getting married in this bathrobe?"

Janine snickered and shot a look at the women dutifully assisting her with the makeover. "No." she applied one last brush of power to Claire's nose. "Finished." She yanked Claire out of the chair. "You're wearing this." She said holding up a beautiful, white leather dress with beads and fringe around the bottom and at the neckline.

"I'm not going to fit into that," Claire said dubiously.

"Trust me." Janine said smiling. "It'll fit. It always fits. This dress has been handed down from bride to bride, well, since the beginning. The goddess made this herself. The dress always fits. I can't explain why, magic perhaps. But look at the difference in height between Anna and myself, yet the dress was the perfect length for both of us. Don't question the magic. I don't."

Claire slid off her robe, still doubtful about the stretching abilities of leather. She really didn't believe that the dress had been the perfect length for Janine at five-foot two and Anna, standing proudly tall and willowy at five-foot eight. There was no way the dress shrank to fit Tala's size six frame or would expand to fit her large maternity sized body. Carefully, not to muss her hair, Janine and Alex slid the dress over her arms and down her torso. With a few tucks and adjustments, the dress, fit like it was made exclusively for her. "How?"

"I told you, magic," Janine snickered.

"But, I'm going to get awfully warm in this leather." The dress had short bell cap sleeves. And the high for the day had topped out in the mid eighties.

Janine tossed a pair of matching white leather moccasins at Claire and helped her balance as she slid them on. "This robe is used in our transformation ceremonies," she explained as she slid the heavy white leather robe trimmed and lined in white soft fur over Claire's shoulders. Tying it in place with thick leather straps.

"You mean when you..." Claire envisioned the women in the room human, frightened, clutching the ends of the robe for strength and warmth, had worn the heavy garment.

"That's what I mean. Claire, I'm not suggesting that you ever consider becoming what we are. There's much to sacrifice. And our way of life is not an easy one to choose. But, for you, this is your transformation. Your life is no longer your own. Just as Grant's life no longer belongs solely to him. You belong to each other now. Halves of the same whole, having you wear this dress and this robe, is an honor for us."

"Thank you." Claire looked up meeting the myriad glances of hypnotic shining eyes in shades of brown, green, blue, hazel and somewhere in between, "Thank you all."