The Patriarch ~ Renee & Nik

"It's occured to me that we don't know your name." Nik stated as he helped his mate sit down after they had all settled down outside in the garden under the glass gazebo which was Johnny's school project. The giant of a wolf chuckled as he nodded in return. "Indeed, and I think I'm to blame for that, I've allowed everyone to just adress me as the patriarch, it's become the norm, my actual name is Omer Jonathan Sovietro, and yes, I named Johnny after me, it seems he not only took after me in name but as the next patriarch." He replied as the Milfords seemed to be at unease when they heard that.

"You're unsure how you feel about that, as a parent I understand, you're better at it than I am honestly." He exclaimed and Renee chuckled as he handed the wolf a glass of beer which surprised him. "Just don't think about it." Nik advised as he nodded and the wolf drank his offered beverage. "Johnny is special, sensitive in the most incredible ways but also our special child, he's had to deal with a lot growing up and he's seen not only his birth parents struggle but Adrian too, —despite that he's grown up well, strong and extremely smart if not overly—." They all chuckle as Renee sipped on his apple juice.

"I guess, if he's to know that he's the next patriarch, tell him when all of this is over, let him adjust to that reality, acceptance isn't an easy thing for him but once he's committed to something, he sees it through, despite all the challenges he might face, it's why I allowed him to graduate early, he put his mind and strength to school and I know he'll make me proud, so if he's going to be ruling this city with iron fist, let him know, let him take time to think, he'll make the right decision for himself." Renee concluded as Nik nodded to his husband's words in support. "Oh I miss the days when you told your child to become a doctor and all they did was study and become that choice, nowadays with all these choices, at least then you could help them better their own lives." Johnny senior mused and they all laughed heartily.

"Those days are far gone, plotting your own child's future seems barbaric now with all the freedom, but back then when our parents chose for us, we knew we took whatever we were given and ran with it, or else the disappointment you'd see if you didn't do what they asked would eat you up, it —caused a lot of rebellious acts though, I guess it had its pros and cons." Nik retorted as his husband refilled his pint of beer. "Indeed, but we must embrace this new generation, they may have complicated the world, and languages but they have found a way to make the world simpler too, and convenient, hunting for food in a pack that was mostly made up of dominant wolves was not fun." Johnny senior mused as they all laughed.

"I can't imagine the competition for territory." Renee asserted as the more dominant men laughed. "It was ridiculous really, more deaths too." Nik was the one who replied as Johnny senior supported his statement. "I'm glad that age is over, but now this age has its own problems, we're constantly trying to guide our children on the right path but the world is also trying to give them way too many to follow, it's frustration really." Renee asserted as the giant wolf chuckled. "From anyone's point of view, you are doing a wonderful job Renee, these boys have all the love, attention and pampering of a mother, whereas they also have the stern, guiding and loving hand of a father, it's honestly all they need, you just need to believe that they'll follow what you're teaching them, and from the looks of it, they are." The wolf commended as Renee blushed but accepted the compliment.

"Thank you." Nik muttered as the wolf finished his second pint and Renee filled it up again. "I came here, to ask for forgiveness, my children have caused you all so much trouble, especially Neill, I honestly can't believe he came from me and sired Adrian, Johnny and the twins, they are vastly different from him, I thought he would leave them alone, let them be happy, —yet it seems he's bent on making your lives unbearable—." The wolf sighed as he drank. "I'd hoped that taking away their claim to my name and exiling them would work, I hoped it would, none of them it seems wishes for redemption, much rather the opposite." He explained and the two men sitting with him seemed to be taken off guard and surprised.

"You did that, to teach them a lesson?" Renee asked and the wolf nodded. "Don't be fooled my dear, my children deserved nothing less with the misery and treacherous behavior they had exuded, Kyle thank the Goddess woke up, I sent him overseas to attend varsity there away from the influence of his uncles, my fourth born, my daughter Sonia, —the only one I truly feel is worthy of everything recently came back to help with Jose, my mate along with her but she revealed to me that our second Alora had been poisoning her, making her weak, it's truly shocking, her own mother." Johnny senior all but confessed the matters that burdened his heart.

Renee didn't say anything, he just stood up and slid over to the wolf and hugged him. "I take it you don't have friends." He mused and Nik came over to pat the man on the shoulder. "I apologize, I get emotional when I drink." The wolf muttered as Nik chuckled. "That's the whole point my friend." He asserted as Renee released him from the hug. "Thank you my dear." The wolf asserted. "It's what friends do, I can't believe they would put you through so much it's truly painful, but let go of your burden, drink." Renee coaxed as they all laughed and fell into a somber mood.

"We are in no position to accept your apology though, you aren't responsible for the actions of grown men and women, they may be your children but they are well past the age of blaming you for their problems, you have nothing to apologize for, you did your part in their lives, they just chose to go the opposite way, and I'm sure at some point they'll come back, and beg their father and mother for mercy and forgiveness." Nik explained as the wolf he sat opposite from smirked. "Thank you, you're a lot wiser than you look." Johnny senior complimented as Nik laughed. "Hey, I'm raising six boys, with two more on the way, I have to be wise." He argued making them all laugh.

"I appreciate this, thank you." The wolf stated as for the time he sat there, he wasn't the patriarch who ruled the city with an iron fist, he was Johnny senior, drinking beer with his friends on a saturday afternoon under a very well built gazebo. "Nonsense we're glad you're here, despite the children's reservation, I think it'll be okay if you came more often, it'll break the ice seeing you try rather than just stay away." Renee assured as the wolf nodded happily. "I'll take you up on that offer then, —one of these days." He retorted as they went back to lighter topics, drinking and laughing.

The non- Conventional Date ~ Ari and Jax.

"What is this place?" Ari asked as they entered an underground arcade of sorts. "Babe, don't tell me you haven't been to an arcade before, hot wings, games, people fighting, dancing." Jax stated in fake surprise. "Don't do that." Ari chided. "Do what?" Jax rebuffed. "That thing you do when you realize I haven't been to something or eaten something, you make a whole big deal about it and then I have to indulge you." Ari pointed out as Jax fake gasped. "Me, —never baby, I'm just surprised you're the only one in our family who hasn't gone to the aracade, it's like not having skinny dipped, or not eating very greasy fries." And there he went on to make a big deal like Ari had said.

"What did I just say?" He pointed out as Ari tied his hair in a pony tail leaving some of it to frame his face, it was still long enough to brush up on his waist. "My beautiful mate, you know I like it when you play with your hair, making yourself all dolled up and sexy." Jax growled lowly as he moved himself and Ari to a wall where he caged him in. "Nah ah, —not happening you horny man." Ari protested. "I can't help it, you arouse me, draw me in and sensualize me, —I don't know if the last one is a thing but I gotta get you to smooch me, that's what people at the arcade do." Jax smoothly came closer as Ari blushed, his poor heart couldn't take much of his sexy mate.

"You can touch me anywhere you want." Jax whispered as Ari closed his eyes trying hard not to let Jax win but the moment he felt his hands on the eight pack then his carved v-line going lower, his self control was gone. "Jax, just kiss me and get this torture over with." He confessed as Jax did a triumphant cheer then picked up  Ari by his legs, placed them on his waist and kissed the day light out of him, it was rough, yet it evoked something in both of them, a passion they had for each other as they separated with dilated eyes transfixed on each other. "Hmm, feels good having you right here, when we get home, I'm going to put you in this position, no switching, —and fuck you." Jax all but whispered his statement slapping Ari's ass roughly but not harshly which made the witch blush hard, his light tan skin could not hide that.

"Can we play games now?" Ari asked a chuckling Jax whilst he hid in the crook of his neck. "Yes baby we can, all you have to do, is try get out of my grasp." He teased as Ari groaned knowing he couldn't which made Jax laugh. "Come on,  —you need to dance, get some cardio in." Jax asserted as he took Ari over to the colour coded dance machine. Ari could safely say he liked dancing. "You got me walking side to side." Ari sang along as he swayed his hips in front of Jax who just looked on with a smirk. "I been here all night, —I been here all day, and boy you got me walking side to side." He went on singing along and dancing too even after the game announced he won.

"You are a naughty little minx." Jax commented as they went over to more games, which of course Ari won at Jax's expense. "Yes, I won, give me my price!" The witch announced as he had won at the race car simulation machine, which of course Jax had let him win on purpose but to see his baby happy that meant more to him than winning, it was all for Ari and his baby, who would've believed it, him, a year in varsity, and already he had a baby on the way, he'd be a pops, that was a blessing in itself. "Your boyfriend?" The guy who was handing out tickets at the gamer booth nodded toward Ari who was slurping on a smoothie. "Yeah, my everything." Jax replied as the guy smiled. "Lucky guy, keep him safe." He answered and Jax nodded, he'd always do that, he'd always love him.

"Come on baby, there's more to see but you need to eat." Jax announced as Ari pouted in protest. "I know that pout, it's not gonna work, —come on, the restaurant we're going to is across the street." Jax coaxed as Ari stilled pouted. "I'll bring you here again okay, then you can play twenty more games and win alright." Jax sighed as finally Ari nodded. "Promise." He whined holding out his pinkie, Jax knew the moment he promised, crossing his pinkie with Ari's, he'd be held to that promise, so he sighed, the things we did for love, he crossed the pinkie. "Promise munchkin, now come on, you and junior need to eat." Jax stated as Ari finally accepted and they walked over to the restaurant.

"Babe, I thought we aren't going to fancy places." Ari exclaimed and Jax snickered. "This place isn't fancy but I can't let you eat from just anywhere now can I, I asked pops to give me the list of restaurants he usually takes dad to, since he's pregnant, —this was one of them, you don't like it." Jax told Ari who shook his head when his love assumed he didn't like his choice, he was just surprised at the anount of thought Jax had put into the somehow non conventional date. "I love it, it's warm and the atmosphere is so friendly, can we get a window table." Ari told him and Jax nodded placing a kiss on his temple. "Anything for my man." Jax sweetly muttered as he placed another kiss on his cheek.

"Table by the window please." Jax told the host as Ari looked around with a relaxed hand on his stomach, his baby was growing each day, from time to time he'd get small glimpses of him when he was born, and it always made him smile, the reassurance that indeed he'd bring life into the world. "So what are you thinking about?" Jax asked as he sat down opposite Ari after helping him sit. "Our child, this life we created, I cherish it so much." Ari replied as Jax smiled happily. "I'm glad you do, I was worried at first that you'd have me by my balls, —I'd gotten you pregnant just after high school, how would we be able to handle parenting so young." The kitsune confessed surprising Ari who looked at him with nothing but adoration.

"I'd never do that, our baby is a blessing, and with you by my side, why would I ever worry, besides I wanted an early start to this whole baby making experience." Ari mused as Jax grinned looking at his mate who glowed in the light, so beautiful. "Don't worry my love, we'll keep on with these experiences as you wish." Jax told Ari just as the waitress brought their food over. "Is that so, I look forward to it." Ari replied as he took a bite of his noodles and meatballs, his moaning had his mate quirking a brow. "You're moaning already, what about when I've begun my work." Jax teased. "I'll scream." Ari chortled as the kitsune gasped as his naughty mate giggled at his expense, this is what Jax had wanted for his baby, to forget he had responsibilities to get on with, to just laugh and be happy, eat and not care about everyone else, just be him, for a moment longer.

"So Johnny and Enzo agreed to help with the nursery surprise for dad, of course we're creating it with two solid colors first then the design, I'll see from there." Ari mentioned as Jax cut his second steak and fed it to his mate. "That's good, now both you and dad can stop worrying about not having the kids close, they'll be a door adjoined to us and opposite their room, convenient." Jax reassured and Ari nodded in support as they continued and finished their meal. "So wanna take a walk, digest, then we pass by the market, get you some fresh fruit, afterward we head home." Jax explained as Ari just smiled happily. "I'll do anything aslong as I'm doing it with you." He replied and the two just smiled toward one another, Jax called for the bill and paid, he helped his mate up and they made their way out hand in hand.

Johnny & Enzo plus the boys.

"I like this one Johnny." Mark told Johnny who looked over the item brought over to him. "This is nice, and the color too, get a bigger size, same colour and you can give it to Adrian, Martin, Kent, stop playing with the baby booties and toys, Mark already has a head start on what he's getting pops and Adrian for the baby, what do you have?" Johnny pointed out and the two had their jaws dropped, leaving the toys they ran over to where Mark was, he smugly pushed past them coming back to Johnny. "This is great, now go get more, I already got mine." He accepted the baby onesies as Mark took off into the store giggling.

"You bought stuff from half the shops on this block didn't you." Enzo accused and Johnny looked away whistling. "I knew it, I shouldn't have let you take that card, you'd over shop, —again." The demon dominantly growled as he grabbed Johnny by his waist and held him flush against his body and since Enzo was much taller than Johnny, he couldn't wiggle out of the hold without making it worse, so he blushed and hid in Enzo's crook. "You're not gonna say something to save your life?" Enzo asked and Johnny refused by shaking his head. "I didn't mean to overspend, it just happened, and besides, the money didn't actually have any real use." The wolf argued. "What about that trip we've been planning, just the two of us, it could've been added." Enzo explained as Johnny rolled his eyes.

"You already paid for everything, and paid for my car, plus pops, I just want to use my money sometimes, I know you can provide, you've proven it so many times, that at this point I know you've already made plans for our wedding." Johnny replied with a whiny chuckle as Enzo caressed his cheek then pulled him in for a slow beautiful kiss. "Ahem, we got these, —so if you stop smooching like pops and dad, it would be great." Kent asserted as Johnny and Enzo just looked at him in shock. "Okay my man, I got you." Enzo retorted as he smacked Johnny's ass and went to help Mark find whatever it is he was looking for.

"So, how did it go?" Johnny asked his little brother who'd been struggling with how overprotective his other brothers are, Martin more so since he punched a girl as school who had teased Kent about his freckles. "They agreed to let me handle it, but if I get picked on again they're going to intervene, promise or not." Kent replied as Johnny just shrugged. "That's the best you're gonna get out of them bud, they're both taking after Jax, he punched a girl for me too, of course she was being a real bitch—." Johnny paused as Kent stood there in shock. "You gotta pay me, you said a bad word." Kent immediately stated. "How much, and we forget this happened." Johnny immediately exclaimed.

"Hundred." Kent muttered. "Fifty." Johnny haggled. "Sixty and I won't tell older brother Enzo you broke his laptop." Kent gave his offer and Johnny was definitely in shock over this latest outcome. "You wouldn't." He challenged his fae little brother. "Pay up wolfie or else." Kent snickered and Johnny just paid up shaking his head in disbelief. "Nice doing business with you." Kent mumbled as he turned to skip away but he bumped into someone and stumbled back.

"Hey watch it!" Johnny growled as Kent moved on instinct back to him. "Hello Jonathan." Neill mumbled as Johnny growled but he quickly grabbed Kent and wrapped him up in his will. "That won't stop me sweet one, I have that lovely mate of yours, he didn't put up much of a fight when I had Mark in my grasp, now you're going to obey, —come willingly and your little brother here won't even be touched." Neill asserted as Johnny was completely helpless, he couldn't fight and protect Kent, outside Neill obviously had more men.

"Why are you doing this?" Johnny demanded. "Why does any father do anything really." Neill replied as Johnny felt the hands of someone much bigger clamp down on his shoulder and was escorted forward, he quickly grabbed Kent as a portal opened behind Neill. "Adrian if you're in range please find us, Neill has taken us, I'll do my best to keep them safe, but please hurry."  Before he was through he sent out a call for help, and he hoped it would reach Ari in time.

+++

Here we Go.

Saint Jay.