A few days later

"So we aren't going to the craft hall?" Menza looked so confused as she stared up at me. Her cute little nose scrunched up slightly and her head tilted just a fraction. She looked so fucking adorable that I had to smile.

"No." I shook my head slightly. "We're going to spend the morning having fun." We had both been working hard and I knew she would never ever complain or ask for a break. She would keep moving forward no matter how long it took her to get things done. I was realizing I needed to be the one to say stop or no, just to give her a break.

She tilted her head a bit further, those big brown eyes looking even more confused. "So we are going to stay home?" She asked it slowly and I nodded at her. She was just... She was just so fucking cute.

I reached up and nudged her chin with a knuckle and smiled. "Yes. We are going to take little miss outside and we are going to play for the morning." Working was good but even I knew we needed to have time off. I had been running my drills non-stop for nearly three months with so few breaks and even my wolf knew that we needed a break. Even Menza needed a break no matter how much she would adamantly deny she needed one.

"But I was working on-"

"Nope!" I grinned at her as she wrung her hands in front of her, that small confused look turning to a nearly perturbed concern. She didn't want the break. I could tell she didn't but I also knew she wouldn't exactly say that. I bent down so she was forced to meet my gaze. "We are going outside and having fun." Her cute little bow shaped mouth pressed into a thin line and that small line between her eyebrows deepened with her perturbed irritation. She gave a small huff that had me laughing as I stood up straight and then pulled her close, giving her a tight hug.

She was such an adorably amusing little thing. "It will be fine. You can work on whatever you want after lunch but right now we're going to relax and have fun." I nodded as I kept my voice firm, letting her know she wasn't going to wiggle out of it. Her hands came up and lightly touched my sides and there was a strange rolling in my stomach at the movement so I cleared my throat. "Isn't that right, baby girl?" I looked at Maeve bouncing in her saucer and she gave a small squeal and bounced quickly. "See? Even little miss Maeve agrees." I slowly let Menza go and despite the line still between her eyebrows her mouth was no longer pinched.

"Well if she agrees I don't have much choice." She gave a small nod at that and I chuckled, throwing a wink at her before I moved over to the love of my life. I picked her out of her saucer and she babbled at me, reaching up to grab at my face. I mouthed one of her hands with a low and playful growl and she kicked out her legs with another screeching laugh, her other tiny hand batting at my face.

"We're just going out to enjoy the weather and perhaps roll around in the dirt." I looked at Menza and she gave me an almost disgruntled look at the words and it made me laugh. "Come on. Grab that table cloth and some toys for the little miss." She nodded quickly and I moved to the door as I grabbed one of Maeve's hands, gently nomming on her tiny wrist. "Nomnomnom gunna eat you!" I gave another low growl that had her giggling so hard she was nearly shaking in my arms as I carried her outside.

The light was bright and the air was still warm. I knew fall was coming but the days were still warm and the sun was still bright. I wanted to enjoy it while it lasted. Maeve flung herself forward, giving the cutest little growl as she tried to chew on my cheek. I chuckled, letting her do her best to drown me in drool as I moved down the porch stairs. The day was a nice one and I knew I made the right choice to take the morning off.

"Come outside!" I turned and called it out and Maeve babbled rapidly. "It's beautiful out!" It really was. I turned my face up into the sun with my eyes closed and my chest tightened at the thought that my Chrissie would never get to experience this day, get to come outside and play with her daughter. My first instinct was to push it away and shove it down but I flexed my free hand and relaxed, letting the melancholic and pained feeling move through me. I let it wash over me, let myself miss my sunshine, her warmth and her love.

It wasn't long before Menza was outside. I could hear her bare feet on the wooden porch and then on the stairs. She had this wary presence but it held an unexpected warmth that made me want to smile. "Do you think..." I swallowed before opening my eyes. "Do you think our loved ones are still with us?" I turned to look at her and she held an armful of toys and that blue checkered blanket. "Do you think they give us good days? Or send us things that make us think of them?" I turned my face back to the sunshine and Menza made a low humming sound.

"I would like to think that as long as we love them, that we remember them, they are never truly gone from us." She shifted on her feet and I looked back over at her. She looked a bit confused before she let out a small sigh. "But religiously, I am unsure. It is up to Mene for your Chrissie and for my mum?" She gave a sort of helpless shrug. "I do not know what mundanes believe happens to those that die. What happens to their souls. I like to think that maybe, just once, Mene reached out and guided my mum across the veil that was not of her own making. That she touched her, guided her to where mundanes go because she gave birth to me and I am of them both." She gave another small shrug before letting out a shaky breath. "But I feel she is still with me because I still love her." There was a small firmness to her voice that I nodded at.

"I agree. I think Mene was there for your mother like she was for my Chrissie." I nodded at that and Menza looked up at me in what seemed to be shock. "She gave the world you, and that is an act that deserves the attention of our goddess, don't you think?" I raised an eyebrow and watched as her cheeks flushed darker and she pinched her lips together and looked away. The image of her blushing made a rather intense sense of satisfaction through me and my wolf. "Come on, Enza. Let's get set up." I jostled Maeve in my arms and she screeched, clapping her tiny hands together. I walked further out onto the lawn and Menza was quick to follow.

It wasn't long before we had the blanket set out with Maeve's toys resting on it. I set her down on it, putting her on her tummy. She grunted and immediately rolled over. "Such a big girl." Menza's voice was happy and soft before she bent down and kissed one of Maeve's chubby cheeks. Maeve squealed at her and reached up, touching her face with her sticky hands. "You are growing so big and doing so well." The praise made Maeve giggle and babble as she stared at Menza, her eyes bright and that adorable little smile on her face.

I got down and stretched out along the table cloth. I went to my side and looked at Maeve with my own smile. "I can't believe I helped make you." My voice hitched only slightly and she turned her head and smiled at me, babbling at me very seriously. "I love you. You're all that's precious to me." I reached out and brushed the backs of my fingers over her sticky cheek and she attempted to roll towards me and I chuckled at her disgruntled look when she couldn't do it.

"She's a very precious girl. I bet Chrissie is watching her grow with all the pride in the world." Menza's voice was soft and sweet and it made my breath hitch in my chest as I watched as she reached out and traced that sweet little curve of Maeve's nose. I leaned closer to Maeve and kissed her cheek as she reached down and grabbed her feet with a rapidly babbled set of words.

"I know she is." It hurt to think that Chrissie was missing all these milestones, missing seeing how our beautiful little girl was growing but I knew she would be proud, wherever she was, she would be proud. "Your mum was the best thing I had, Maeve." I swallowed hard. "It hurts that I'm here and she isn't." A soft touch brushed my forearm and I knew it was Menza trying to give me comfort. It was her fingertips and I shifted my arm closer, letting her fingers move across my skin before I covered her hand with my own. The touch was comforting and I appreciated it as I let the pain of losing my female move through me. I had no clue where I would have been without Menza. Drunk in a ditch somewhere, with Maeve taken away from me for her own safety was the most likely scenario.

"Thank you." I flicked my eyes to Menza and her cheeks were flushed slightly. She glanced at me for only a moment before she looked at Maeve. I gave her hand a squeeze, pressing her fingers into me a touch more. "For being here with me." I knew there was no choice on her side for it. She was living with the choices that had been made for her but the fact she was still here, still helping, still guiding me in my grief, meant the world to me. "For helping me through this." I stared at her intently and she finally glanced back up at me and her cheeks flared that much darker. She gave me a rather shy smile that had my own smile tugging up my lips. She was far too adorable.

Maeve let out a burst of babble that had me letting Menza's hand go and reaching out to rub Maeve's tiny tummy. Menza's hand slowly slid off my arm and I fought back the shivers I got from the move. "Sweet girl!" I sat up as I grabbed her, sitting her down as I grabbed her worm pillow, wrapping it behind her so she could sit unassisted. I pulled some toys towards her before I nodded, feeling pleased that she would be well occupied. "Well." I looked at Menza and she glanced at me before looking away. "This isn't much for fun, is it?" I watched her intently and she frowned just a fraction before looking at me, her little nose wrinkled in confusion and I grinned before reaching out and poking her. "You're it!" I scrambled off the blanket and bolted across the lawn.

"Hey! That was unfair!" Menza shouted it and when I looked over my shoulder she was on her feet, her hand grabbing her skirt and lifting it as she bolted after me. I laughed loudly, dodging out of the way whenever she tried to swipe at me. "Stand still!" She huffed it as some of those tight curls starts to escape her braid. She looked so disgruntled it made me laugh and then I felt it, the tiniest little thump against my hip. "You're it!" Menza called it out as she grabbed her skirt in both hands and took off.

I blinked in shock before grinning and taking off after her. My wolf huffed his amusement as I chased after her. I was surprised at how wily she was. She would dance out of my reach and duck under my arm whenever I tried to touch her. She was giggling uncontrollably and her smile was so wide it was infectious. She looked so very sweet and my heart turned over in my chest, even as she spun around my hand, arching her body so I wouldn't touch her.

"How on earth are you this fast?" I huffed it out between my bouts of laughter and she laughed back as she bolted around the checkered blanket. She was breathing hard and she looked at me intently, looking more than ready to bolt one way or the next depending on which side I went around. I grinned at her, liking the playfulness she was putting out. It was a new facet of her that I had never seen before and it made me grin. "I'm going to tag you." I put on a stern face and she laughed before turning around and bolting towards the large oak tree.

Maeve laughed loudly as she shook one of her rattles and I moved to stand beside her. "Can you believe this, sweetheart? She might have me beat." I crouched down and kissed her head before I stood up fully. "I'm going to catch you." I put as much warning into the words as I could and Menza just peaked around the tree and laughed, sticking her tongue out at me. That had me bursting into laughter. "You're in for it now!" I bounded for the tree and she laughed loudly, dashing around the tree once I tried coming around it for her. "Mene you are fast!" I puffed slightly, grinning as she giggled and took off back towards the house.

She slipped just a fraction and I took the opportunity as I managed to catch up to her. I scooped her up once I was close enough and she laughed loudly, her laughter shaking her in my arms as I gave a playful growl. "I told you, I would catch you!" I bounced her slightly and it just made her laugh louder.

"I slipped! That's the only reason you caught me!" She stuck her tongue out at me again and I held her close to my chest before I spun her around in retaliation. I grinned, chuckling as she laughed freely, one of her arms going around the back of my neck.

"Well I still caught you so I win." I stuck my own tongue out at her and she crossed her eyes at me and I laughed again, unable to help myself. I looked down at her, a wide grin on my face. Her cheeks were flushed and she was panting from the run but her eyes sparkled and she looked so carefree and open in that moment. Like she was actually happy and I felt so fucking proud of that. Maeve screeched loudly and I chuckled again as I bounced Menza in my arms. She was so slight, she weighed practically nothing.

"Shall I drop her in the dirt, Maeve?" I swayed Menza back and forth as she laughed, her arm tightening around the back of my neck. Maeve babbled and I nodded sagely in agreement. "The dirt it is." I carried her towards the large pile of dirt we had made from when I had done the yard and Menza was laughing so hard she could barely tell me to put her down. "Queen Maeve said in the dirt pile. I'm sorry. Just following orders." I faked dropped her and she laughed harder, her shoulders shaking as she gasped for air as her eyes sparkled. I grinned down at her, enjoying how happy she was. She wasn't like this all the time and I liked seeing it on her.

"Have mercy!" She managed to wheeze the words out and I hummed slightly.

"Mercy? Nah." I let her drop. She yelped but as she fell she grabbed my collar and yanked me down as well. I hit the pile of dirt shortly after she did and let out a gut wrenching laugh. It made my stomach cramp but I didn't care as I lay on the pile of dirt next to her. The laughing was enough to bring tears to my eyes and I glanced over at her and she was holding her own stomach, wiping at her face. Dirt smudged across her cheek and her clothes and I grinned at her. I hadn't had this much fun in ages.

She let out a heaving breath, giggling as she did so. She grinned at me and I looked at her in return, my own grin making my face ache. She wiggled a bit closer and I leaned over, my heart pounding hard in my chest as how perfect and lovely she looked in that moment. The sun made her skin glow and her eyes sparkle with a vitality that I had never seen on her before. She cleared her throat, smoothing down her shirt before her brown eyes met my own.

"You're it." She shoved me before she scrambled to her feet and took off again. I laughed harder at that and got to my feet.

She was nearly halfway across the yard and I took off after her. My wolf even yipped in my head excited for the playful chase. We ran around and around, and she kept dodging me, much like she had the first time. I managed to snag her again, lifting her up as we both laughed so hard it was hard to breath. My chest felt both light and happy and tight as I looked down at her. I cared about this little half-shifter. I cared about her a lot. The thought was sobering but I had no time to dwell on it as I smelled smelled him and froze.

The whelp was standing at the edge of the yard, watching with narrowed eyes. What are you doing here? I shoved the words at him as I slowly set Menza down on her feet. His gaze moved from where Menza was standing next to me, to me.

Menza is supposed to be at the craft hall. What the hell are you doing? His words held a bit of censure and I bared my teeth as I looked over at him. I knew I gave him leave to be with Menza there, to protect her while I was doing my drills but I didn't appreciate the attitude. I had a sudden urge to gather Menza up and put her inside. The possessiveness I felt was bone deep and it unsettled me slightly but it didn't stop it from being there.

Having a break, whelp. She deserves a break. I narrowed my eyes before forcing myself to look away from him. Menza looked uncertain as she looked between the two of us and I reached out, pressing my hand to her lower back, stepping closer to her.

"Hi, Simon." Menza waved at him slightly, sounding uncertain and unsure and I watched as her brother gave her a rather carefree smile.

"Hi. I was just wondering why you hadn't come to the craft hall." His voice was easy and low and Menza glanced up at me before she smiled. It was reassuring and I flexed my hand on her back. I wanted to tell her no but it bit my tongue.

"We are having fun." Her voice was soft and soothing and I pressed my hand more firmly to her back, moving close enough my side bumped hers.

"I could tell." His voice held none of the agitation he had shown as he moved closer to us both. "I'm glad you're having fun, fluff for brains." He gave her an easy grin before he glanced at me. Get your fucking head on straight, Brochan, and think about what you're doing with my sister. The words were filled with censure and heavy dislike and I fought the urge to bare my teeth at him again.

Maeve screeched from her spot on the blanket and Menza glanced up at me. I nodded at her, giving her a half smile and she beamed back at me before she quickly moved back towards Maeve. She held out her hands, calling out to my daughter as Maeve screeched, her own arms held out. Mind your damn business. I glanced at her brother and his eyes narrowed as he crossed his arms over his chest.

I didn't like whatever it was he was attempting to imply.

Menza and I were friends.

Just friends.