Rosy:

I watch the buildings come into view as Micah drives along the gravel driveway. I feel the strange feeling of familiarity, something telling me I have been here many more times than the one time Justin had bought me home. Home, yes, it feels right. The faint pull within me, urging me somewhere else, somewhere further, is almost non-existent beneath my weakness and exhaustion. Finally the car comes to a halt in front of the long building and I watch the doorway eagerly but I am disappointed when full-grown toms come from the building not the young kitts I want to see.

"Let's get you inside and comfortable in the lounge room," Micah says gently. I don't say anything in answer. Although I am feeling much better I am still very aware of the fact I had been very sick the two days we spent at some hotel. I have vague fever distorted memories of the time, blurry images and garbled voices that tease at the edges of my mind.

"Once I'm sure you're okay I will go and get the boys just like I promised," Micah says in a tone I know he means to be reassuring.

I glance up into his face and once again I am lost in his eyes. Something about them pulls deep inside me until my head hurts and I close my eyes against the pain. Even then the colour and shape of his eyes remain clear in my mind as I wait for the pain to ease.

"Another headache?" Sam asks beside me and I nod cautiously. How can I explain that is it not like normal pain but more like there is a vacuum where something vital once was.

"Do you need help getting inside?" Micah asks in concern and I turn away from the sound of his voice. He is the one who causes this pain, just his scent or the sound of his voice can intensify it.

"Sam can you help me please?" I ask reaching out towards him.

"I'm right here," Sam murmurs reassuringly. A large rough hand takes hold of mine as I shuffle across the seat to emerge from the vehicle. I am aware of those who came out of the building talking quietly to Micah and Steven. I pick up the faint distant sound of someone walking towards us. Coarse sand crunches underfoot and I know it is where a narrow channel of sand stone runs through the short thick grass where the pink crocus flowers peep through after several wet cloudy days. I can almost smell their soft floral aroma with the hint of spice to it.

"Rosy! Rosy are you okay?" Sam demands beside me and the image of the soft pink flowers in a bed of green grass disappears from my mind. One moment it is there clear and crisp, the next it is gone and I only vaguely remember some thought has passed through my mind.

"Rosy!" Mitchell's voice is thick with concern and I glance around dazedly to find him only a few steps from me as he comes over to us.

"Hi Mi ..." I catch sight of something behind him. What I was saying is lost as I stare at the small group standing back watching us. My attention is totally riveted on the one male and three female forms, something deep inside me comes surging towards the surface and I take several steps towards them. A detached part of my mind is aware of someone walking towards them to take a small form from the hip of one woman and I narrow my eyes as my cat pushes to the front. All my senses strain, seeking ...

"I didn't dare believe it when they told me you were alive!"

Even over the distance separating us I look into the face that is so like mine and yet so different as she stares at me in wonder, her mouth opening and closing, nothing more

coming from it as a tall good looking tom stands beside her. I glance at the older woman in the middle, human, and I wonder at this for a moment before glancing at the figure that hovers beside Steven who is holding a small boy. His eyes are the same shape as Steven's. The small boy even has the same facial features though they are almost babyish, barely a toddler. I glance back at the human woman and frown.

" Rosy, Rosy listen to me!" Suddenly Micah is in front of me, looking into my eyes and I take a step backwards as I blink and shake my head.

"Who are they?" I demand in a low hiss. I can feel the anger radiating from my cat because of the interruptions. Something important is hovering at the edges, just out of my reach.

"Rosy you need to go inside now," Micah says in a low urgent tone.

"Get her inside! Drag her inside if you have to!" Mitchell snaps in a hard tone of command. I feel Sam catch hold of me but I shrug out of his grasp as Micah pushes me back behind him. I hear the frightened gasps from the two females and the human woman and glance their way to see Steven shepherding them towards the bigger house. Suddenly there is a fast moving car pulling to a halt just the other side of the vehicle I had been in and four strangers get out. A dark haired, middle-aged man comes around the front of the vehicle, I can feel his eyes boring into me. The hair on my arms and the back of my neck stands on end as some instinct warns me of danger from this tom.

"Oh God I'm sorry," Mitchell whispers and I look his way startled. "Tawny Rosalind McIntosh Williamson, I charge you with Abandonment of your kitts and with knowingly consorting with Rouge Weres. There may, or may not be, further charges depending on the results of ongoing investigations."

"What?" I ask stunned. My mind can't take in what has just happened and I glance around unsure of who to watch, finally my eyes come back to my brother and the tortured expression on his face. Some part of me is intensely aware of the tom who looks like an older, darker version of both my brothers.

"Tawny Rosalind McIntosh Williamson, I charge you with Abandonment of your kitts and with knowingly consorting with Rouge Weres. There may or may not be further charges depending on the results of ongoing investigations," Mitchell says in a voice that threatens to break. My mind struggles to comprehend what he is saying, my head hurts and I press fingers against the thick scar above my temple.

"Get the hell off my sister's territory Cantrell Yates," Micah snarls savagely. "You as well Kurt Black! You're not welcome here! Mal Inness, Marcus Farlow, if you are in on this then you're not welcome here either! "

I turn to look towards where his voice comes from. He is between those from the other vehicle and me. Mitchell moves to stand shoulder to shoulder with Micah as some of their friends from inside the building move to stand with them as well. Sam is tugging at my arm but I keep shrugging his hold off until he tries to slip an arm around my ribs. I side step nervously and glance at the new comers curiously. A thickly built, grey haired tom takes a step to the side and watches me closely. I blink as I look back at him. He tilts his head to one side and reaches up to scratch just above his ear. He smiles at me and I smile back at the charming older tom.

"I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it myself," He says softly.

"Cantrell ..." Micah growls in warning.

"I'm going, I'm going," He says lifting his hands in a harmless gesture. "Come on Kurt, we need to talk."

"No! I came here to officially lay charges against her and take her into custody," The dark haired tom snarls.

"You saying I am incapable of carrying out my duties as an Alpha?" Mitchell demands in a cold hard voice.

"Now you wouldn't be planning on playing your niece and nephew off against each other would you Kurt?" One of the other strangers says dryly as he moves to stand with his feet slightly apart as if bracing himself for something.

"Personally I thought it was a bad idea coming here," he continues.

"Get off my sister's territory!" Micah snarls again and Sam catches hold of me and begins to drag me backwards towards the building.

"You will not be told again!" Micah snarls viciously.

I find myself pushed through the doorway and Sam closes the door behind himself as he forces me to walk along the hallway. With the closed door between the open hostility and me I find I am shaking as I allow Sam to guide me to the lounge and seat me there. He takes hold of my hands and begins rubbing them briskly, I realise they are cold. I glance away from the door out into the hallway, my unease making me swallow nervously.

"Do they hate me?" I ask when Sam glances up at my face from where he is rubbing my hands.

"They don't hate you sweetheart," Sam says gently. "They're just worried you've done something that endangered the welfare of your sons."

I look away from him and glance around the room. I study the small table and three chairs pushed up against the wall under the window, one chair has sides on it to keep a small child from falling off. The thought that I am forgetting something important niggles in the back of my mind as I notice the tabletop has been recently replaced with an easy clean surface.

Exhaustion makes my eyelids heavy and I yawn as Sam urges me to lie down on the lounge. I allow my eyes to drift closed telling myself it's only for a few moments. I will sit up fully awake when Micah comes in and I will demand he lets me see my sons.

Micah:

"Get off my wife's territory!" Mitchell snarls beside me. I roll my shoulders and take a threatening step forward as I hear the door of the Quarters close.

"We can see Rosy has been ill," Mal Inness says calmly. "Clearly youse were too busy ensuring she received proper medical care to inform the Board of her reappearance."

Kurt Black lets out a low snarl and glances at Mal, "Don't hand them excuses!"

"Doc just turned into the driveway," Dwayne says evenly.

"You four get in your car so you can get the hell off my sister's property as soon as Doc's car is out of the way!" I snap tightly.

"Come on gentlemen," Cantrell says as he opens the front passenger door. "A Board representative can make contact via phone. I take it the Clan will accept the call,"

"I am not leaving here without ..." Kurt snarls angrily.

"If I have to repeat my order to leave they will be carrying your sorry arse off the property!" Mitchell snarls in a low commanding tone. I can feel the power and dominance start to radiate off him like heat off a stove and I am not surprised when Kurt looks at his nephew in surprise.

"Kurt," Marcus Farlow says in a low warning tone. "One of us can call tomorrow morning to set a date and time to decide if there is to be a hearing."

The noise of Doc's car arriving and parking halts the argument temporarily and Doc climbs from his car quickly. He glances from person to person with a tight expression on his face before meeting my eyes levelly.

"I hope my patient has not been upset in any way," He says firmly.

"I laid formal charges against her then Sam took her inside," Mitchell states with an edge to his voice. Doc glances at the four unwelcome visitors and Mal Inness gives a nod, Doc hesitates a moment before returning the silent greeting.

"Frank contacted me asking, no begging, for permission to supply you with enough blood products for a small war or to prevent a werecat bleeding to death." Mal says quietly. "How quick do you need it here?"

"Yesterday," Doc says tightly.

"Frank will need permission to come onto the Clan territory," Mal says as he glances towards Mitchell. Kurt hisses beside Mal but Mal takes no notice as he watches Mitchell.

"Call him and I'll talk to him," Mitchell says in a commanding tone. Kurt growls low in his throat as Mal takes his mobile from his shirt pocket and begins using it.

"You want your niece alive to face the charges don't you!" Cantrell snaps taking several steps towards Kurt as Mal moves towards Mitchell as he holds his mobile to his ear.

"It's Mal, I am handing the phone to Mitchell McIntosh," Mal says without a greeting before holding the phone towards Mitchell. I only listen to Mitchell's conversation with half my attention as I watch Kurt and Cantrell facing off over several metres. I am shocked by Cantrell's seeming support for Rosy. As far as I know there had only ever been an uneasy truce between them since before our marriage. I want to get inside to be with Rosy but the conversation seems to take forever and I have no intention of heading inside before the four unwelcome visitors' leave. I barely notice as Doc takes the mobile to give instructions, or is it a list of what he want? I'm not sure as I meet Kurt's eyes and return his hard glare. A cold feeling washes over me and it is all I can do not to growl at the unspoken intimidation I feel radiating from him.

I am faintly aware of silence falling between the others, and then Mal and Marcus climb into the car. Kurt growls low in his throat before turning and getting into the vehicle, Cantrell getting in slowly last.

"I'll be back," Kurt Black growls just before Marcus Farlow starts the vehicle.

"I will be here waiting old man," I growl, my tone thick with challenge. I can feel my inner cat close to the surface wanting to break free as I pull my lips back in a parody of a smile. I catch a fleeting glimpse of something in Kurt's eyes, and then he looks towards Marcus.

"Why are we still here?" Kurt demands angrily.

I watch as the car turns and heads out along the driveway, I don't move until it turns onto the main road and accelerates away. I turn around to go inside where Sam and Rosy are but Mitchell is standing not far from me, he takes a deep breath and starts speaking before I do.

"I had to do it, I had to be the one who laid the charges. I couldn't let anyone else lay the charges and take Rosy away from here, away from us, her family." The words pour out of Mitchell and my anger at his actions begins to evaporate. I remember that, even though they had not grown up together, Mitchell was as totally loyal to his sister. He would not wish any harm on her.

"I need to go to my wife," I say and head inside. I am aware that most of the warriors are still outside and I have no doubt that they stayed in case I took exception to what Mitchell had been forced to do. In fact the more I thought about it the more I am thankful he thought to act as he did or otherwise Rosy would have been torn from us once again.

I pause in the hallway to take several deep breaths and calm myself, I don't want to storm into the lounge room where I can hear Sam talking and upset Rosy. I walk into the room calmly and take in where Rosy is stretched out comfortably on a lounge with Sam nearby while Doc is taking her blood pressure.

"How is Rosy?" I ask with a glance at Doc's face.

"She needs to rest,"

"I want to see my boys!" Doc and Rosy answer at the same time and Rosy sends Doc a quick frown before looking at me imploringly.

"Please! I'll rest once I have seen my boys! Please!" Rosy begs, her eyes filling with tears. The desperation in her eyes tears at me. Keeping the boys from her is hurting her and I don't want to hurt her.

"Even just a few minutes visit before Rosy rests," I say looking towards Doc, then Sam. I turn towards the hallway door as the front door slams and rapid footsteps come down the hall.

"Where is Micah!" Jazzy's voice is sharp and terse and then she is storming in through the door I am facing. "I have bought my nephews over to see their mother!"

I automatically take a step back as I see the small bundle Jazzy holds in her arms, not only has she bought Terry, Dacey and Wynn to see Rosy but Cameron as well. There is no time for me to protest or try to stop the three boys as they move past Jazzy into the room. Dacey stops in his tracks as he spots Rosy, his eyes and mouth open wide, tears filling his eyes.

"Mummummum!" Dacey's words slur together as he catapults himself towards her. Rosy barely manages to kneel on the floor before Dacey and Terry descend on her hugging her and sobbing frantically. I feel myself tearing up as I watch Rosy holding our sons, she slowly lifts her head, her still beautiful face streaked with tears. She looks at Wynn who stands in front of Jazzy watching uncertainly, he has his left thumb in his mouth and is twisting his thumb nervously.

"That's your Mummy Wynn, your Mummy," Jazzy says gently in an encouraging tone. I can only watch silently with a thick lump in my throat as Wynn glances up at Jazzy who gives him an encouraging smile and motions towards Rosy.

"Wynn's Mummy," Jazzy says softly. He glances at Rosy, back at Jazzy who nods and then he walks towards Rosy slowly. Everyone is silent as Dacey and Terry each slip an arm around Wynn pulling him into the group hug with their mother. I watch Rosy look up at Jazzy and smile through her tears.

"Thank you," Rosy manages.

"There's nothing that could have kept you away if you had known Micah and your boys were here," Jazzy says confidently. She gives Rosy a smile and looks down at the bundle in her arms. "When you're ready I'd like to introduce you to your nephew,"

"Okay boys," Doc breaks in after a minute or two. "Let your mum sit down and you all can sit near her."

"Come on boys," Command as I walk over to them. "Let your Mum sit down."

"Dad!" Wynn immediately disengages himself from Rosy and his brothers and clings to my right leg. I reach down and lift him into my arms automatically, I glance at Rosy and she is gathering Terry and Dacey close as she sits on a mattress on the

floor, her eyes glued to Wynn as if expecting him to be whisked away. I don't hesitate as I move to sit near her, my left knee touching her right knee. I shift Wynn to sit on my left thigh facing his mother as I hold him loosely with one arm.

"Just give him time Sweetheart," I say softly, the endearment coming as if we had never been apart.

"Look! Them are happy tears! Her is happy her home!" Dacey says seriously as he strokes Rosy's wet cheeks.

"Look some my tooths fell out and I can whistled now!" Terry exclaims excitedly and immediately makes a sound that sounds more like a gust of wind than a whistle.

"Oh wow!" Rosy says. She dutifully examines the gap from the missing teeth, one on the top jaw, one on the bottom. I notice the quick little glances she sends towards Wynn even as she seems to give her full attention to Terry and Dacey. I watch as she raises her head and looks towards the doorway, I turn my head as well and see Jazzy talking quietly with Lydia, Sasha and Lana. Rosy immediately gets to her feet as she fixes her gaze unwaveringly on them, a low growl comes from her as she raises a hand towards that thick scar that disappears into her hairline. I get to my feet putting the three boys behind me as they watch their mother tensely.

"Jazzy," Mitchell hisses quietly as he starts to usher her out of the room. Lydia and Lana who is carrying Kyle follow as Steven takes up the rear position but Sasha stands staring at Rosy. Clint Burgess moves to stand beside Sasha and Rosy switches her gaze to him.

"How many times does Steven have to tell you to stay away from my ssss..." Rosy's angry words end in a hiss of pain as she grabs her head with both hands, her knees buckling beneath her.

"Doc!" I yell as I manage to catch her before she hits the floor. I cradle her against my chest as she holds her head in her hands, her fingers and knuckles white from the pressure of her grip. Soft whimpers of pain are coming from her and her eyes are squeezed tightly closed.

"Put her on the lounge!" Doc orders. I hurry to do as he says but as I go to lay her down she grabs at my forearm, her eyes flying open.

"It's okay," I say softly, soothingly. "Doc will give you something for the pain." I say as I see her pain clouded eyes. I hold her hand as Doc moves to her side, I can only watch and listen as he quickly examines her.

"Where's Drew?" Rosy's voice is weak but the words are unmistakable and I let her hand drop from mine as I step back.

"Shhh, you're with family now." Doc murmurs quietly. "Try to rest for now,"

"Is Rosy okay? Is my sister going to be alright?" Sasha demands from behind the lounge Rosy is laying on. I turn away and walk to where Sam has the three boys, he gives me a concerned look but I don't meet his eyes as I take Wynn from him.

"She's just confused," Sam says quietly. I ignore him as I glance at the three boys, I hesitate a moment then glance back at Rosy on the lounge. I want so badly to believe what he said but the fact she called for Dorrington gouges deep wounds in my heart.

"She needs quiet so she can sleep," Doc says and I glance at his face.

"I'll put her in her old room," I say and move over to scoop her up into my arms. She is impossibly light and I cradle her carefully as I round the lounge and head for the sunroom.

"I am going to sit with her for a while," Sasha says firmly behind me.

"Won't do any good trying to tell you she would probably sleep better with no one in the room would it?" I ask dryly.

"If you think you can keep me away from my sister you have another thing coming Micah Williamson!" Sasha snaps. My steps falter for a moment as she sounds eerily like how Rosy used to, then I gather myself and resume my steady walk.

Rosy

I sniff the air as I sit up slowly, I can smell delicious aromas of cooked food and even though my mouth waters it is not this which woke me. I swing my legs over the side of the bed and look around the room. The colours reflected on the wall near the window tell me it is around sundown and I get to my feet slowly and reach for my jacket on the end of the bed. I barely take the time to follow my sense of smell and use the toilet before I turn and walk silently along the long room towards the muted sounds of cutlery on plates. I hesitate a moment at the doorway as I glance into the lounge room, no one glances my way and I turn away as a yearning stronger than my hunger pulls me outside. The evening breeze is cool and there is little warmth in the ground beneath my bare feet as I find myself walking away from the building.

Once again the familiar urge drives me, it's much stronger now, more urgent. I pause for a moment and slowly turn towards the west. The breeze blows into my face and I close my eyes as I breathe deeply. There is a deep strumming, almost like a heartbeat that resonates through me. I stumble forward a step before opening my eyes, I begin walking at a steady pace oblivious to everything except whatever it is that urges me onward. I feel my inner cat begin pacing, she halts her movements then begins once again. I can feel her agitation and suddenly she is demanding I stop.

No no no! We can't loose him again!

"Who?" I mumble aloud in my confusion. Suddenly I am gazing into a pair of eyes, I know every little fleck, every shade of colour by heart. Slowly I look back the way I came and spot Micah as he comes out of the shadows and breaks into a run as he heads towards me. I turn and face him, waiting for him to reach me. I raise a hand and point in the direction I had been walking.

"I got to go that...," I say calmly as he comes to a halt in front of me. My voice trails off as the sound of a dingo howling in the distance reaches my ears and I turn my head to look in the direction it came from. The image of Hank's snarling face fills my mind and I shudder as I rub my upper arms with both of my hands.

"He's still hunting me," I whisper to myself.

"Rosy!" Micah's sharp voice penetrates the haze in my mind and I turn my head to look at him warily.

"What are you doing out here in the cold with your jacket barely on and no shoes on your feet?" Micah asks and gestures back towards the buildings. "Dinner is ready, don't you want to eat?"

"I got to go that way," I say turning back towards the west. Again I hear a dingo howl but this time Micah must hear it as well because he growls low in his throat and I see him looking in the direction of the howl when I glance at him.

"It's Hank," I say firmly and Micah turns his head to look at me. "He has been tracking me, hunting me,"

"We're going back to the Quarters," Micah says firmly as he grasps my upper arm. I hesitate a moment but when another howl is heard I shudder and follow him with no argument.

"Hank is one of the rogue Weredingos?" Micah asks.

"Yes," I only have enough breath for the one word at the pace Micah is setting. The yearning need to keep travelling dims beneath my need to keep the kitt I carry safe.