Always Mine

Always Mine

by Elle Woods

Wrath clicked his phone off, sighed, and leaned back in his father's chair. He would always think of it as his father's. Never his. He could only pray to the Scribe Virgin that he would one day be remembered as the King that his father had been. And, one day, it would be his own son sitting here behind this massive desk. Just as that thought was playing out in his mind, there was a light knock on the door.

"Wrath? Honey? OK if I bring you a little visitor?", asked Beth as she opened the door to his office. In her arms, smiling and gurgling and clapping his hands, was their son. Little Wrath had become the center of their lives since his birth. His first birthday was soon approaching, and with each day that passed, Wrath's love for his shellan and son grew more and more.

"Of course, my love," he answered. He had told her over and over that she never needed to knock, that she was the Queen of this home and she would never be interrupting him. But, Beth always knocked if the office door was closed. This was where the Brotherhood had their meetings, made important decisions and plans for their race. She always wanted the Brothers to know that she respected them and loved them. Queen or no queen...she was never going to do anything to make them feel anything but honored in her home.

"Someone just woke up from his nap and wanted to come see his Daddy," she said as she walked across the room, smiling. She placed the baby in his lap and she could physically see the stress and worry disappear from Wrath's face. He covered the little boy's face with kisses and Little Wrath giggled.

"Thank you, my love. This was just the thing I needed right now, my beautiful wife and our perfect son. Come, sit with us," he asked as he pushed the chair back a bit and reached for Beth with his free arm.

She came to him eagerly, always happiest when they were close like this. "Do you have a kiss for me too, love?" she asked, smiling.

"I do." Wrath gently pulled her to him, kissing her lips gently and then pulling her in closer and deepening the kiss. Her hands were in his hair and they explored each other's mouths as if this were their first kiss. That is, until Little Wrath blew a huge raspberry and clapped his hands proudly.

"This is his latest trick," Beth said, laughing as she pulled away from her hellren. "He's very proud of himself, as you can see!"

Wrath pulled the baby in closer to him, smelling his sweet baby hair and placing more kisses onto the boy. "I think you've been hanging out with your uncles, little one. Next we'll be seeing you sporting a Red Sox hat and seeing how far you can spit," he said with a grin.

"Wrath! Don't put ideas into his head! I can just hear the comments from those snooty glymera ladies now....Oh, he's obviously not being brought up in the true tradition and Oh, is this how the humans raise their young? I'll be happy when this party is over, some of those women stress me out."

"Beth, I was just joking around. LW is perfect and he will be an absolute gentleman at his party. At least, until he gets his hands on his special cake. What do you call it?", Wrath asked, rubbing her arm, sorry that he had said anything to worry her. She had put so much planning into this party and she wanted everything to be perfect. This was the first gathering to present Little Wrath to the glymera, and he knew she was worried that something would go wrong.

"I know, I know, love. I just need to forget what anyone else thinks and concentrate on what's important...our baby is turning one," she replied as she picked up the wriggling boy and held him. "Aren't you? You're turning one year old!", she cooed to him.

"And it's called a smash cake, you know, so that the baby can smash it? I almost forgot why I stopped in, did you hear from her yet?", Beth asked as she stood. "We were on our way to the kitchen for a snack."

"Yes, I just got off of the phone with her right before you came in, love. She'll arrive the night before the party and she said to tell you that she will help you in any way that you need," answered Wrath.

"Good, I'm so glad that I finally get to meet her! And it'll be good for you to have some time with her, love. I hope you can convince her to stay...family is important. I know that your sister means the world to you, Wrath," she said as she leaned down and gave him one more kiss before walking away. The baby was starting to get impatient and fussy, not liking that his snack had been delayed.

"Yes, she does. She does mean the world to me. I just wish I understood why she left in the first place," replied Wrath. "But, hopefully we can sort it all out. I do miss that crazy girl," smiling and shaking his head.

"You will, I have a good feeling about this. It'll be great, you'll see."

As the door closed and he heard LW squeal and giggle, he leaned back again. It had been almost three years since his sister had abruptly left New York. She had given him no reason other than that she needed some time on her own.

He had accepted that after knowing that she was safe and promised to keep in touch with him.

Tohr, his Brother, had not accepted her disappearance quite as easily.