"I don't want him here!" Jake yelled. Everyone in the kitchen except Angela took a step away from him. It was later that afternoon and Charles had told Rebecca that he did want to stay and eat dinner with the family that night. He was upstairs but the rest of the family was down in the kitchen and Rebecca was telling them about their dinner guest.

"Jake, he's your father. You..." Rebecca started

"He is nothing to me! We don't need him around!" Jake yelled back and then he strode outside slamming the door behind him.

"Mommy, why is daddy so mad?" Laney asked from where she was coloring pictures with her Aunt Joey. Angela managed a smile for her little girl and kissed her head.

"Sometimes grown ups get upset baby girl but it'll be ok. You stay in here with your Aunt Joey and I'll go talk to daddy." Angela started for the door but Lane grabbed her arm and stopped her.

"I'm coming with you." he said. Angela nodded and the two of them walked outside.

"Jake's not happy about this, mom." Raquel said.

"Thank you for that obvious understatement." Bethany said running her fingers through her golden hair. Rebecca opened the oven and started pulling out the three steaming pans of Lasagna.

"I know he's not." she said as she sat them on the table.

"I don't blame Jake for not wanting him here." Jordan said sitting down in Kent's lap. "Dad ignored us girls and Lane but he was constantly riding Jake."

"I know he was." Rebecca said as she starting mixing up the vegetables for the salad. She was fighting back tears and nerves. She wanted her mate here. She wanted him with her. But she would not sacrifice her sons happiness for her own. If Jake and his father couldn't make it work then Charles would have to go.

"I still remember how pissed dad got every time Jake took a break from hunting and training to go serve in mortal wars. He just never could understand why Jake cared." Jordan said.

"I don't think Jake really cared one way or the other what the war was about. To him the shores of Normandy and the jungles of Vietnam were a happy vacay from dear old dad." Bethany replied

"All of that is between Jake and Charles. How do you girls feel about him being here?" Rebecca asked. Jordan, Raquel and Bethany just looked at each other and shrugged. Kayleb spoke up.

"If uncle Jake doesn't want him here than neither do I." he said.

"Your uncle Jake and your grandpa have their own issues. You don't need to be basing your opinion off of those. They don't have anything to do with you." Evan scolded his son. Kayleb rolled his eyes and went back to playing his psp.

"I don't care who wants to stay for dinner just as long as dinner is soon because I'm starving." Kent said matter of factly.

888

Angela and Lane found Jake pacing at the side of the house. Angela laid her hand on his shoulder and he stopped.

"I don't want him here." he said. "Not after what he said to you the last time."

"Jake that was five years ago and all he called me was a bitch. I called him much worse that day if you remember." she replied.

"Yea and if I hadn't held onto her the old man would probably be dead right now." Lane said remembering how hard Angela had struggled in his grasp while trying to get to Charles.

"You should have let her go." Jake said unable to stop his grin. "He'd have learned real quick that my Angela is a hell of a woman."

"I shouldn't have gone at him that way. It had been a bad day and he should have known better than to speak to my mate that way." she said smoothing out her sweatshirt. Both Lane and Jake laughed.

"That's what she calls a bad day?.Murder, kidnapping, fighting to the death..... I would hate to see what her worst day ever would look like." Lane said. Jake nodded.

"Total apocalypse?" he offered. Angela smiled and slapped both their arms.

"Can you try, Jake?" she asked going back to the subject of his father. Jake blew out a long breath and looked down into her dark eyes. He could see how much she wanted him to try but he didn't know if he could.

"Charles doesn't deserve for us to try." Lane answered before Jake could. Angela nodded.

"You're right. After how he treated you all growing up he doesn't deserve it. But what about Rebecca? Doesn't she deserve for her sons to try to make things work with their father so she can maybe have her mate back? Lane, we all saw how miserable you were when you and Joey weren't together. And Jake I remember those two weeks without you when Draco had you locked up. Imagine how lonely your mother is after all these years." Jake and Lane looked at each other and then back at Angela.

"Sometimes I don't like you very much." Lane said. "You're always right about everything and you make me feel like a horses ass." Angela smiled and kissed his cheek.

"That's what little sisters are for." she said. Jake grabbed her and pulled her to him.

"I'll try. I'm not making any promises but I'll try." he said. She nodded.

"That's all I ask."

888

Charles looked in the mirror and shook his head. He looked old and he looked tired. Maybe he should have taken the time to shave. But what the hell did he care anyway? It wasn't like he was worried about making a good impression on his family. But maybe he should try to look better for Rebecca....

His mind was suddenly taken back to the conversation he had overheard that morning. The story about his failure at hunting that night so long ago in that tiny village in Scotland.

He could smell the fear of the mortals and he could smell the bloodlust of the vamp. He gripped his wooden stake tighter and ran through the streets. He would not let harm come the mortals in his village. He smelled death in the air and knew he was running out of time.

Desperation powered his legs and he rounded the corner and froze. He was too late. A man was lying dead and the vamp had a....he had a baby in his arms. The babies black curls were pressed against the vamps face as he sunk his fangs into that helpless neck and drank deeply.

A woman, the child's mother, was screaming and sobbing. She was hurt and unable to stand but she was clinging to the vamps legs swinging her arms desperately and begging for her sons life. The vamp was so caught up in drinking the innocent blood of the boy that he didn't notice Charles approaching. Charles sunk the stake deep into his back and the vamp turned to dust...

But the damage had already been done. The boy fell lifeless to the ground next to his father. The mother crawled to the boy and to her husband and shook them both.. Then realizing they were dead she clung to them letting out howls of pain that were almost inhuman in their sound.

Charles had gone to her to check her for bites or injuries and she had turned on him swinging her fists and cursing. He had grabbed her arms to still her and she had looked at him with pure pain and hatred.

He had been shocked at her resemblance to his Rebecca and the child on the ground could have easily passed for his tiny Jake.

"You should have let him kill me! I don't want to live without them! My life means nothing to me without my son and my husband! Why didn't you let me die?" she demanded before breaking down into heart wrenching sobs and mournful tears.

Charles had gathered her in his arms and carried her to the safety of a nearby inn before going back to dispose of the bodies. He picked them up and carried them out into the hills. As the fire he set to them claimed their bodies he couldn't help but remember the woman, who looked so much like his Rebecca, begging for her own death...

It was then that he had begun to change. How could love be such a good thing when it caused those who felt it to wish for death? He never wanted to have his Rebecca feel that kind of pain. He wanted to know that even if he was gone she would be ok.

So he had shut his heart down. He became cold and indifferent. It had been hard at first but over the years it seemed to become natural to him just like breathing. Several times his armor had dented. With the birth of each of his beautiful daughters and his carefree youngest son his heart had fought to come back out and fill with love but he had seen how weak the love of a child could make a person and so he had shoved his heart back down and hardened it more.

He had trained Jake hard from the moment he could walk to be a perfect hunter. He could still see that dead boy that had looked so much like his oldest son and he never wanted to have to worry that his son would find death at the hands of a bloodthirsty vamp.

Now he was back home with his family and he found his heart fighting so hard to break free of the chains he had locked it in and he was losing his will to stop it. What if he had made a mistake all those years ago? Charles had lived a long time. Nearly 400 years and he had a beautiful family full of children and grandchildren to show for it but they didn't know him. They didn't know the man he had been before the night that changed him. They didn't love him. He had nothing. He was in a houseful of people who shared his blood yet he was completely alone.

He looked back in the mirror and was shocked by the tear he saw hanging desperately onto the corner of his eye and trying not to fall down his cheek. He could not remember the last time he had felt this kind of sadness or had allowed a tear to fall.

The tear hung there right on the edge for several more seconds and then gave up all at once and rolled quickly down his cheek becoming lost in his beard.

A knock came on the door to the room and Charles quickly wiped his face and hid the sadness he was feeling. He opened the door and had to lean back to look up into Greg's face.

"Dinners ready sir. Everyone is waiting on you." Greg said and then turned and walked away. Charles took a deep breath. He wasn't sure what the shaky feeling was in his stomach. Surely he was too old for butterflies.

Instead of serving dinner in the kitchen where the family normally ate Rebecca moved everything to the larger table in the formal dining room. She knew that at this table there would be plenty of room for everyone to have the space they needed. However she didn't think the table would be this divided.

The entire family was crushed down at one end of the table while Charles sat all alone at the other end. He didn't say anything about the distance just made himself a plate and began to eat. Rebecca could see his eyes darting back and forth between the many members of his family.

Meals were usually loud affairs but tonight there was silence. Rebecca cleared her throat.

"So Kaylee, how was school today?" she asked trying to end the awkwardness at the table. Kaylee shrugged and rolled her eyes.

"It was school. It always sucks." she replied.

"Kaylee language." Raquel scolded. Kaylee rolled her eyes again and lifted a forkful of lasagna to her mouth.

"Sorry... It always stinks." she corrected. Raquel shook her head but said nothing. Rebecca tried again maybe she'd get a better reaction from Kayleb.

"Kayleb, how was your day?" But Kayleb didn't even look up from his psp.

"Ok I guess." he said distractedly.

"Kayleb, what have I told you about bringing that video game to the table?" Raquel demanded reaching her hand out for it.

"I'm almost done with this level mom just give me a minute." he said. Evan's arm reached across the table and quickly yanked the game away.

"You heard your mother boy." he said. Charles looked at his son in law. He had tried to talk him into becoming a hunter when he had first mated with Raquel but Evan had not been interested. Charles had been disappointed. Evan would have been a good hunter.

"Thanks a lot dad!" Kayleb said angrily. Evan just smiled as he sat the game down on the table.

"You're welcome." he said. The table fell silent again and Rebecca decided that maybe the third time would be a charm.

"Laney, what about you darling? How was your day?" Laney looked up her golden eyes shining happily.

"It was great! I got to paint a pretty picture but Mrs. Smith wouldn't let me bring it home yet. She said it has to dry first." she said.

"How rude." Lane commented. Laney shook her head.

"Mrs. Smith is not rude, uncle Lane! She's a very nice lady." she said narrowing her eyes. Lane chuckled and Joey laughed.

"Your uncle Lane is probably just jealous. I mean have you seen his paintings?" she asked. Laney nodded and lowered her voice though her whisper could be heard around the table.

"He's not very good." Lane shook his head and went back to eating.

"Nice to know I have such a supportive mate and niece." he said. Joey kissed his cheek and he blushed and wrapped his arm around her.

Charles looked around the table. They all seemed to be relaxing now. Except for Jake of course. Jake was glaring at him and keeping one arm wrapped protectively around his mate.

Charles looked hard at Angela. He didn't like her. She was mortal born and mortal born women were weak just like that woman had been in Scotland all those years ago. He looked over at Joey then. She was another mortal born and she was so tiny she barely looked like more than a kid.

He found himself wondering about both these women. What were their stories and how had they come to accept his sons as mates? He had been around when his daughters had found their mates. And all of them were fully mated now except for Bethany and her mate Greg. He wondered why they hadn't fully mated.

Suddenly Charles's thoughts were interrupted when he heard Laney whispering to Angela.

"Mommy why is grandpa Charles eating down there all alone?" she asked. Angela glanced quickly down at Charles and then back at her daughter.

"I'm not sure, honey. Maybe he likes having space." she replied. Laney looked hard at her grandpa and Charles wondered what was going on behind those golden eyes. The girl looked like her mother but she had her father and his eyes.

Seeming to come to some sort of decision Laney grabbed her plate and stood up. She started to walk toward Charles on her chubby legs but Jake caught her around the waist and stopped her.

"Where are you going baby girl?" he asked gently.

"I'm going to go sit with Grandpa Charles. He looks lonely." she said matter of factly. Everyone at the table was silent once again. Rebecca felt tears in her eyes and quickly blinked them away. Charles just sat there in shock with his mouth hanging open.

"I don't think that's a good idea baby." Jake said to his daughter. He looked into her eyes and saw a stubbornness that matched his own and Angela's and he knew he wasn't going to win.

"Daddy, you always tell me to treat others like I would like to be treated and I wouldn't want to sit down there all alone." Jake sighed in defeat. How could he argue with that? His daughter had her mothers kind and caring soul and just like he could never say no to Angela he could never say no to Laney.

He released his hold on her and she kissed his nose and then walked quickly and with purpose down the table and climbed up into the chair next to Charles. She didn't say a word to him just sat her plate on the table and started eating.

Charles stared at her for several minutes waiting for her to speak but she didn't. She didn't even look at him as she went about eating her salad and lasagna. He looked over at Jake and could read the threat in his eyes. Did Jake really think Charles was a threat to this little girl?

Rebecca stood from the table quickly, grabbed her plate and left the room. She went into the kitchen, sat her plate on the counter and then gripped the sink with both hands as she broke down in sobs. She felt a gentle hand on her back and turned to see Bethany, Jordan and Joey standing behind her.

"Are you ok?" Jordan asked. Rebecca wiped her face and forced a smile.

"Of course I am. I'm just not feeling very well is all. I think I need to go lie down."

"Do you want him to leave? I'm sure Jake would be more than happy to toss his ass back out into the snow again." Bethany said matter of factly as she rubbed Rebecca's arm supportively. Rebecca couldn't help but laugh.

"I'm sure Jake would." she said. "But that wouldn't' be very fair to any of you. You need your father." Jordan snorted.

"I don't need his ass. He's never given a damn about me." she said. Rebecca laid her hand on Jordan's cheek.

"Do you remember when you were sixteen and you were going to your first coming of age dance? Do you remember the pink rose he gave you to wear in your hair?" she asked. Jordan thought back and smiled. That was the only happy memory she had of her father. That was the only time she had seen him look at her with something other then indifference.

"Mom I'm 130 years old and that's the only good memory I have." she said. Rebecca looked over at Bethany.

"Bethany, don't you remember that time when you were 17 that that boy broke your heart by running off with your best friend after courting you for weeks? Do you remember that your father sat you down and told you that you were too beautiful to worry about that stupid boy and if he couldn't see how special you were he didn't deserve you anyway?" Bethany thought back and felt tears fill her eyes but she blinked them away.

"I think he'd had a lot to drink that day." she said looking away from her mother.

"There is a good man in there. He just needs time and help to come out." Rebecca said. She prayed that Charles would stick around and that he really did want to change. Based on their conversation earlier she really did think he wanted a relationship with his children. Maybe he'd even find that he wanted one with her again as well... But then again she had always been a wishful thinker when it came to her mate.

"You know what I think?" Bethany said. "I think we were all better off when we thought he was dead." Rebecca felt pain twist in her heart at her daughters harshness but she knew that the harshness came from years of pain.

"Yea we probably we." Jordan agreed. Rebecca noticed that Lane was standing in the doorway but no one else seemed to have noticed him.

"I can't believe you guys." Joey said speaking up for the first time. Her voice which was usually soft and quiet sounded angry, loud and disappointed. "I thought that this family stuck by each other and loved each other no matter what? I mean hell I stabbed your brother with a knife, bashed his head in, and tried to stake him through the heart when I mistaked him as a vampire. I tried to kill Angela and I said horrible things but still you all welcomed me and I wasn't even blood.

"He is your father! No matter what he has done in the past he is your father and he is here now. How could you wish that he was dead again? Do you know what I would do just to get to see my father one more time. Even if it was just to have him yell at me or even ignore me! Just to get to see his face I would give almost anything! But I didn't get lucky like the rest of you. When my father died he stayed dead. I don't get another chance with him. Just like Angela doesn't get another chance with hers" Joey jumped when she felt strong arms wrap around her but then relaxed against Lane's chest.

(You ok?) he asked.

(I will be. I have you.) she replied. Lane kissed her cheek.

"Maybe my mate has a point." Lane said to his sisters. "Did any of us turn our backs on Jake even at his lowest moments?" Bethany and Jordan both looked down at their feet and shook their heads. "And none of you ever turned your backs on me either and hell even I thought I was a lost cause. While I agree that we should keep our guards up a little we can't turn our backs on him. We're a family and we gotta be there for each other."

"When did you get so damn smart?" Bethany asked Lane as she wiped a tear from her eye. Lane smiled charmingly.

"Angela keeps telling you all how great I am. Maybe you should pay attention." he said.

"You all go back and finish dinner. I'm going to go up to bed. I really am not feeling very well." Rebecca said and she left the room.

"That asshole better not hurt her Lane because I'll kill him." Bethany said as she pushed past him and back into the dining room. Jordan followed her.

"She wont' have to kill him. I'll do it myself." Lane said matter-of-factly. Joey laid her head against his chest.

"Arent' you always telling Angela to have faith in you? Why don't you try to have a little faith in him?" she asked softly. Lane laughed and hugged her close.

"Where would I be without you my little slayer mate?" he asked. She looked up at him her green eyes teasing.

"Drunk in a bar and getting the crap beat out of you by sub demons you owed money to."

"This is true." Lane agreed. He kissed her curly red hair and led her back to the dining room .

Charles saw everyone return except Rebecca. He wondered where she had gone but didn't have time to worry for long when suddenly a chubby little finger reached out and touched his beard. He jerked his head away and looked down at Laney who was grinning up at him.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Your beard is scratchy. It makes you look mean. But I don't' think you're really mean. I think if you shaved it off you would look handsome. Just like my daddy and my uncle Lane." she said. Charles didn't' know how to reply.

"Hey pipsqueak what about your uncles Kent, Greg and Evan?" Greg asked. Laney blew out an impatient little breath.

"You're handsome too." she said. Then she leaned toward Charles who found himself leaning down to meet her. She put her lips next to his ear.

"Not really, but daddy says it's not nice to say things that hurt peoples feelings." she whispered. As usual her whisper was loud enough to be heard clearly around the table. Lane and Jake laughed loudly. Charles's eyes flew to Jake.

This was the first time he had heard his son laugh. Never in all their years of spending time together had Jake laughed. Lane seemed to notice the way Charles was looking at Jake and he smiled.

"Yea it surprised us the first time we heard it too but ever since Angela and then the little niece of the year over their who called her uncle handsome came into his life he does that all the time." Jake glared at Lane who just shrugged. Charles realized he was still leaning down toward Laney and he sat up quickly.

"You don't' talk much do you?" Laney asked him. He shook his head. "Is it because you don't have anything nice to say? Because mommy taught me that if you don't have anything nice to say then you should just try not to say anything at all."

"Laney...." Angela said then she looked at Charles. "Sorry about her. She never meets a stranger."

"But mommy he's not a stranger. He's my grandpa." Laney said matter-of-factly. Charles felt his heart constrict in his chest. This chubby little girl with golden eyes was accepting him just like that. No questions asked she loved him. It was too much for his brittle heart to take just now. He stood up quickly and with a little wave to Laney he left the room.

"Did I do something wrong mommy?" Laney asked as Angela walked over and wrapped her in a hug.

"No my baby girl. As a matter of fact you did everything just perfect. You are my sweet little angel."

"Sweet little angel who thinks all her uncles other than Lane are ugly." Kent said.

"I don't think you're ugly uncle Kent. But you're not as handsome as daddy or uncle Lane." This caused everyone in the room to laugh except for Kent, Greg and Evan who all looked at each other and shrugged.