Katja Pt. 22

Erik grinned and grabbed the box with the refillable cup thing and tossed it to him, "Here, use this. Just put a spoonful of grounds in it, it's not perfect, but it does the job."

He walked over and handed Tony his coffee and he sat down in the other chair. "I was distracted because I have a problem."

Tony raised his eyebrows, "Like what?"

Erik took a drink and set his cup on the table. "You and Ariel know who Geoff's and Aileen's other mother is and that Brigit is my mate along with Katja. Everything is good to go with that, Katja and Brigit have joined enough times that they know how the other feels so Katja doesn't have a problem with any of it."

Tony took a drink of his coffee and nodded, "Yeah, you told us about it. It was hard to believe, to say the least, but understandable once you explained. Is Brigit having a problem?"

Erik shook his head no, "Absolutely not. We're all very happy with the arrangement, most nights at home, after the kids go to sleep, she comes to be with us. The problem right now, Katja and I were talking over a video chat, then Brigit joined me, in the flesh so to speak, and we we're all just talking together like we do at home once the kids go to sleep. Well, apparently, Aileen sensed her mom, and came running out to the living room and jumped up on the couch with Katja waving and saying, "Hi daddy, hi mommy, I love you."

Tony's eyes went wide as he heard. "So, what happened next?"

Erik picked up his coffee and took a drink and set back down. "Well, both Brigit and myself said hi back to her and told her we loved and missed her. Katja pulled Aileen onto her lap and held her as Aileen said to us, "I miss you too daddy, are you and mommy coming home soon?"

"Brigit was holding on to my arm and I felt her tremble a bit. I told Aileen we'd hopefully be home next weekend. Then she just nodded, pouting a little and said to us; "Oh, okay. I wish you and mommy could come home now." Then she pouted again saying, "And then maybe mommy can be with us too like our mommy here." She smiled up at Katja, then at me and Brigit saying, "I taught Niall a new trick, I'll show you when you both come home."

Erik looked at Tony, "Brigit started to cry slightly and I could feel what she was feeling, she wants to be with our kids in the worse way. She normally comes to be with us once the kids are asleep and she's gone before they wake up, so they hardly ever actually see her. She told me once that both her and Bast were becoming more... human, for lack of a better term, from all that was happening and once Briast was created. She just really wants to be part of their lives, like Katja is. We had talked a little about once, but it was like "it would be nice if I could" kind of thing. So, I didn't think at the time it was this serious, but it is."

"So, I told Aileen, I had to go and see all of her uncles, but I promised her, that when we come home, I'll try to figure out something."

Tony sat there and listened to this all. Nobody else would be able to see it, but he could, Erik was really torn up over this. He knew how he felt about both his mates. "So, did you?"

Erik nodded and shrugged, "I think so." He proceeded to tell Tony what he thought about, and how just about everyone knew about it, maybe not all, but close. "I figured that maybe, instead of Brigit sort of hiding it, she should just join us when she wants, not just when the kids are asleep, that way she could spend time with the kids and us, be a real family. Of course, we'd have to make sure the kids knew not to talk about it to anyone outside the family. But I don't think that's a problem."

Tony nodded, the chuckled shaking his head. Erik looked at him, "What?"

Tony grinned, "Did you ever imagine, like ten years ago, that we'd be even having a conversation like this? It's a bit surreal."

Erik looked at him and chuckled. "No, I sure as fuck didn't. But what's even more unbelievable to me, is you using the word surreal, in a sentence, correctly I might add. You've been reading again I see."

Tony laughed, "No. I heard it in a movie."

Erik nodded, "That figure's, if you did read it, you'd probably wouldn't be able to pronounce it."

Tony grinned and shook his head. "Look bro, I really feel you're overthinking this all. Do what you said, it makes sense to me. Who's going to know? Even on the off chance that if someone outside the family saw them together, Aileen looks like her, so you just say she's an... aunt or cousin or whatever. Unless you think Brigitte might have a problem with it all."

Erik shook his head, "No, she won't. Since she's more or less named after her, she knows about her and loves her as much as the Geoff and Aileen do."

Tony shrugged, then smiled, "Then just do it, go with your gut instinct." He snorted a laugh, "With you, it's normally right anyhow."

Erik sort of thought he knew why it was, but he didn't want people to know that yet. He was still wondering about parts of it, like being told it was too soon for him to know all about it. He nodded, "I guess you're right. Thanks for letting me bounce it off you."

They talked about the job here a little until they finished the coffee, then Tony went to his room to clean up a little and wait for it to be time to go an eat. He figured he'd give Ariel a call to pass the time. He guessed she'd either be at home, or maybe over Kat's.

Ariel was over at Katja's since both their mates were away. The children were down in the rec-room watching the latest dragon movie. Again.

Katja and Ariel were sitting in the kitchen, having a cup of tea. Ariel thought Katja seemed a bit preoccupied, so she asked her what was wrong. Since Ariel knew all about them, she told her what happened.

Katja shook her head, "Ariel, I've joined with Brigit enough times since this all started, that I can feel what she does even when we're not joined now. She was in tears and her heart was breaking, when Aileen pouted and said to her and Erik, "Oh, okay. I wish you and mommy could come home now. And then maybe mommy can be with us too like our mommy here."

Katja took a drink of her tea, and sighed, "Since she's so young, I think Aileen just has a hard time understanding why her other mother isn't around to be with her more often, like I am with the three of them. Brigit joins us once the children are asleep and is gone before they wake up."

She shook her head, "Geoff understands it, I think, but even he would probably like her around more often. He told me once that she does talk to them, just like Briast does."

Ariel looked at her and shook her head, then asked grinning, "Did you ever think, that we'd be having this conversation, ever, when we were younger and in training?"

Katja looked at her stunned, then she laughed a bit. "Ah... No. I never thought I'd meet someone like Erik, let alone all... this."

She sighed and took a drink of her tea and looked at her cup. She missed Erik a lot herself, it hit her a little hard when she got up this morning and he wasn't spooned up to her like normal and she had to make her own tea. She also missed what she shared with Brigit every night, and not just the sex, she loved her as much as she loved Erik. She just really loved what they all had together.

She put her cup down, "Well, after that, Erik said to Aileen; "Kitten, I have to go and see uncle Geoff, Tony, Azlan, and Axel. I promise, when we come home, I'll try to figure out something, okay kitten?"

"This made her smile at least and she said to him. "Okay daddy, tell them I said hi."

"Erik smiled again at her, and told her; I will kitten. Now why don't you go and play so I can talk to your mothers for a couple minutes before I have to go and get Uncle Tony. I love you kitten."

"Aileen smiled at them saying. "Okay daddy, I will, I love you too and tell uncle Tony I love him. Bye mommy, I love you too."

Katja looked at Ariel, "Ariel, it broke Brigit's heart when Aileen said to her; "Bye mommy, I love you too." I could feel the pain she felt."

She sighed, "I really hope Erik can figure out a way. We have something... wonderful here, and even saying that, doesn't really describe it. Sometimes, I just can't believe it, and all that's happened to us."

Erik made himself another cup of coffee and looked at the clock, did a little math for the time change. 'No, too early yet. Besides, I want to talk to Brigit first.'

He set his coffee on the table and got his work computer and started it up. He figured he'd work on a few things until it was time to clean up for dinner to sort of keep his mind off it for now. Talking with Tony helped, but he really wanted to talk to Brigit and maybe ask Katja what she thought.

He sighed once more as he made a mistake from not paying attention, his mind on other things. He backspaced to erase the sentence and sat back for a moment. He couldn't lie to himself, even he'd be happier if Brigit was around more. She was his mate, no more, no less than Katja was, and it did hurt not having her around more often. Just like when he'd talk things over with Katja, it would be nice to do the same with her too. And to just... spend time... together with both his mates, not for the wonderful sex, but just to be together.

He leaned forward and opened up his check list and started going through it and once again ran things over in his mind. 'Like Tony said, her and Aileen look a lot alike. So, if someone did see her by accident, she was a long-lost aunt or something.'

He thought that would be a good idea. He sighed, he'd have to see what Brigit thought about it all, but he did think that this would be the best thing for all of them. Granted, he guessed she couldn't be there all the time, but even if it was only a few days a week, it would be better than it was now for the kids and the three of them. He sighed once more, and went back to work on his list.

There was a knock on his door and he looked up from his computer and was surprised to see it was almost time to go. He got up and answered it and it was Tony, "Hey, come on in. I was working and lost track of time. Just let me make a head call and put my boots on."

Tony grinned, "When you gonna learn to set your alarm when you're working? You know this always happens."

Erik shrugged, "Maybe I should. I'll be ready to head down in a minute or so."

A few minutes later, they walked down to meet everyone outside the building. Once the van pulled up, they all got in and headed out. As they drove, the driver pointed out other places to eat and a few fast food places and convenience stores if they needed anything. They finally pulled up to one of the big chain steak houses and they all piled out.

Like this morning, the driver greeted the hostess and she said they had a table ready for them. They all sat down and ordered what they wanted. The service was fairly fast and they soon had their meals. Everyone talked a bit while they were eating, asking about other people they knew and how they were, and once done eating, they paid and went outside. The driver smiled, "We've got time, if anyone wants to go over to the convenience store over there." He pointed to one across the parking lot. "Go ahead and I'll wait."

Erik and Tony decided to take a walk over and they got some stuff to hold them over for a few days. Basically, everyone got the same thing, mainly some snacks and something to drink. Once they were done, they walked back and got into the van and headed back to the base.

Once back, they got out of the van and Geoff, Erik, Nigel and a few others talked a bit more, then they all headed inside after they agreed on what they'd do first tomorrow. Erik and Tony walked up to their rooms and said goodnight, then they went into their rooms. Erik made a bathroom visit, then put the stuff he got away and in the fridge. He had just made a cup of coffee, and he smiled as a set of pale arms went around him and Brigit kissed the nape of his neck saying, "Umm... good evening my mate." Erik smiled once more and turned around in her arms and ran his fingers through her hair and pulled her to him and kissed her. Well.

Brigit smiled as she felt her knees get a little weak from her mate's kiss. Erik grinned, "Good evening my mate, I love you."

She grinned back as she rubbed against him. "I love you too Erik." This time it was her turn to kiss him and Erik thought his head would explode. He smiled, "I missed you my mate."

She laughed, "I missed you too love." Erik grabbed his cup and pulled her over to the couch and they sat down. They talked a little, then Erik put his cup down on the table and pulled her onto his lap and held her. "I think I've come up with a solution."

Brigit smiled happily and hugged him back, "Tell me love."

Erik leaned his head against hers. "Let me tell you my thoughts on it all first and then I'll tell you."

"Once you left, I started to think about it all. I know how bad it affected you talking to Aileen and that you wished you could be with us and the children more often. Katja and I feel the same way about you, we both love you as much as we do each other, we're mates. So, like I said, I started to think about it. Look love, most everyone from the family knows we're mates, they don't know everything, but they know we are."

She nodded, "I guess you're right."

Erik nodded, "Well, I had been thinking about it all day since you left, trying to think up a solution, but my thoughts were jumbled and random, I was having a hard time thinking anything up. But finally, my little voice said to me, "Since everyone knows, what's the big deal? Who are you keeping it from? Just make sure the kids know to keep the details to themselves, that way you can spend all the time you want with them at home. You normally join us every night after the kids go to bed anyhow, and to tell you the truth, I figure they know or at least sense it. Maybe not everything, but enough to know we're mates. So, if they know, again, what does it matter? We explain it to them, I think they'll understand, and they'll all be happier because they can see and be with us all more often."

He held her a little tighter and kissed her once again. "So, I'm thinking on all this, and finally, my intuition tells me makes perfect sense. Then once the other people got here, and after we talked a bit, Tony and I walked back here to our rooms. But he was a bit worried, because I was so distracted when we went out to meet the others, he asked if anything was wrong. I told him to come in and we talked about it. After I told him everything, he grinned and shook his head, then said to me. "I really feel you're overthinking this all. Do what you said, it makes sense. Who's going to know? Even if someone outside the family saw them together, Aileen looks like her, so you just say she's an aunt or cousin or something. Unless you think Brigitte might have a problem with it."

"I told him she wouldn't, since she's more or less named after you, she knows about you and loves you as much as the Geoff and Aileen do."

"Then he shrugged saying, "Then just do it, go with your gut instinct. With you, it's normally right anyhow."

He held her a little tighter, "Brigit, I think I know why it is, and I think you do also. But I'm still wondering about parts of it, and I was also thinking it was too soon for me to know all about it like I was told."

He smiled and stroked her arm making her smile, "Just as I'm sure the One wouldn't even let us be mates if it wasn't allowed, I figured it would probably the same for us being more of a normal family. But no, the One said to us earlier, "All you have, is your reward for this." So, I said, "Thank you father for this gift."

"Then the One said to me, "You're welcome my son, but it's not so much a gift, as it is an inherent quality in you. As you're so fond of saying my son. There is still much that is hidden from you, but it's not the correct time for you to know my son."

"So, I said, "I understand father, maybe not all of it, but I do. As my teacher is so fond of saying, "Everything must happen at the proper time, or it may not happen correctly."

"Then I heard a chuckle, "And that is why you were directed to my daughter's priestess my son. She is much wiser than she knows. Be well my son, I love thee."

He kissed Brigit once again, "So, I said "Thank you father, I love you also."

As Erik held her, he asked, "So my love, what do you think? Will it work and is this what you want, to be more of a normal... for lack of a better term... family?"

Brigit turned in his arms slightly and smiled at him. "I love you Erik, and I think everything you told me is right. Why are we trying to hide it? I'm not ashamed of anything we're doing, I've joined with Katja enough times that I always know what she's feeling and she doesn't have a problem with any of it, I wouldn't be here right now if she did. And, I'm very sure the children must know we're mates. I've also talked to Bast about it, since your both hers also, and my sister certainly doesn't have a problem with any of it."

She kissed him, "I think, that maybe, since this all so new, we're a little leery about it all and that Anthony was right, we're overthinking it and worrying for no reason. Granted, we'd still have to be careful, as none of us want to answer any questions about something that's our business alone."

Erik nodded and kissed her, "I agree, I've talked to Katja many times about it, I've always been worried a little about how she'd accept it all. But she told me the same thing you just did; she knows how you feel."

Brigit kissed him, "So, what next my love?"

Erik smiled, "I think we'll wait a little and we'll call Katja and tell her what I came up with. I'm sure she'll agree, but she might have some more insight on it all. However, I do think we should wait until this trip is over and we're home to tell the children, in person, together."

Brigit nodded, "I agree love, that would be the best way." She kissed him. "I also need to tell you something, after I left you, I went to my home in the Ether, and you're right, I was upset and distraught. I thought to myself that I hoped you'd come up with a way. I thought to myself, I'm a goddess, why couldn't I come up with an answer? My thoughts were just as jumbled yours love were, I guess. Then I heard; "Fear not my daughter."

"I looked up and saw the One there with me. The One is normally a being of pure energy and light, but at that moment the One took on a featureless human shape, and said to me, "My son, your mate, has already came up with an answer my daughter. I'm sorry you had to experience this, but it was the only way for you all to grow. The answer was there all the time, my son just had to put his mind to it to hear the answer."

"So, I asked, "He has?? Thank you, father, I think I understand now. This is part of the change?"

"Your very welcome my daughter, it pleases me you understand what I had to do and it is. But everything will be as you wish, your mate still needs to figure out a couple things, but he will. Due to all of you being upset, it has affected him and he hasn't been able to look at the problem unemotionally. But he has come to his senses, so to speak, and will come to the correct conclusion shortly."

Brigit kissed him and snuggled up to him a little more. "Then the One chuckled a bit saying, "I'm quite proud of him, he knows, and guesses, more now than before, of what we talked about. There is still much that is hidden from him, but it's still not the correct time for him to know. As I've told you my daughter, be prepared for some questions when you join him later, he might understand even more than we thought. Be well my daughter."

She kissed him, "I thanked the One, then was told; "Your welcome Brigit, when you talk to my granddaughter later give her my love. The One chuckled, "I love that little girl. If not for her, you all wouldn't have been steered to the right decision."