'I signed the divorce papers.' Valentina made the announcement in the living room where everyone was gathered watching a new TV series she didn't know.
With the exception of Clarissa and Jeffery who were in the tent, everyone else heard the announcement.
She held on to Nicholae's hands as she did so.

'I won't over react because I know there's a rational explanation coming.' Osei calmly stated.
Valentina smiled at him. Sometimes he showed the smart sides of him. And then there were other times when he acted like he did with Erik and Ma G.

'Better be a hell of an explanation because I recall you being like 'fasma fire' on the previous papers and now you're all yes?'

'Alright Cayden. One that's not the spell and two, I do not sound like an old lady who's lost her voice.' Valentina laughed.

Nicholae took it from there.
'The possession brought a lot of things to light. And they were very... well.. enlightening.'

Cayden gasped.
'Man, that was poetic. But what exactly did we learn?'

'Well, first of all, we know the mastermind behind the demon and other attacks. The mistress is behind everything. We know that she has so many spies everywhere, even at the Manor.'

'We are all following so far, and the divorce works here how?' Semi looked at her silently asking.
A simple nod and smile on her direction sufficed.

'We need all the allies we can get. And right now isn't a good time to be exiled from the Manor. I have too many targets on my back and so do you now. Tchkovsky animosity cannot add to the list until after we have unmasked our friend.'
Osei, Cayden and the twins simultaneously scoffed at the term 'friend.'

'I'll return to the Manor and have the papers sent.' Nicholae went on.

'And who's telling Niko about this plan?' Valentina did not forget about him when she brought up the divorce with Nicholae and Fauna. She considered a lot of things, like Sonya as an ally for one. It was the necessary of two evils, unless they proved to become one if all was as Valentina suspected.
She was far from pleased with giving Sonya what she wanted. Also she ached because just when he recognized her as his mother, she'd be losing the right to be called that.
She would have a private discussion with him.
'We'll tell him together.'
From their body language everyone understood and was on board with the divorce.

'So y'all just going to stand there and hold hands the whole time?' Cayden asked them.
'Nicholae's head over there blocked my view of the screen. You realize we've missed essential parts of the episode already.'

Danielle looked managed to look amused and exasperated at the same time.

Nicholae pointed at Cayden but said nothing at his sly grin.
Valentina settled between his legs and joined them in watching the high school show.

'The thing is I can relate to this on some level.' Cayden said after the current episode ended.

'I can't. I didn't have friends in high school.' Osei confessed.

'Of course you didn't. You have this scary hit man look about you.' Cayden pretended to be oblivious to Osei's angry scowl.

'I know you're looking at me with that killer look and you're making my point right now, man.'
Semi laughed tapping Osei's arm draped across her belly.

'High school wasn't all that for me either.' Semi told them.
'It was fun and all but when you had a cranky witch for a grandma, life wasn't like those in the Tv shows.'

'High school was fun. But nothing beats college.' Danielle softly contributed.

Cayden laughed.
'The first semester for me. Before I got kicked out.'

'You got kicked out of college?' Valentina was surprised.
So was everyone else who knew how much the Lynch name was worth.

'What college was this exactly?' Nicholae cocked his head.

'The University of south Cornelius.' He said proudly.
'I went to Nortpoint College.' Valentina excitedly pitched in.

'Isn't after your grandfather named Cornelius?' Danielle stated the obvious.

'Yes. He kicked me out. Good times.'
He nodded at Nicholae.
'Weren't you homeschooled?'

'Well no. Tchkovskys have a private school at the Manor.'

'Which is your...'  Cayden waited.

'Whatever.'
They all laughed at his expense and he laughed along.

'I was in school for Psychiatry.'

'Psychiatry?' They all said. With the exception of Osei, everyone else was surprised at Cayden's revelation.
Liza snorted.
'What did she say?' Valentina hated that she couldn't understand the wolves. She always felt she was missing important conversation.

'She can't take him seriously.' Semi translated.

'What I want to know is how a shrink would help at on the farms.'
Unless the Lynch has sold all their reserves to another party, Valentina didn't see how Cayden's degree would have helped.

'So like Agribusiness, Agriculture and Botany.' Danielle said.
'No. Like business, hospitality, management.'

Yes, Danielle wouldn't know about the farms. She was new.
'We call it the farms but they aren't farms. More like hunting grounds.' Cayden explained the entire concept to her.
The farms were something of a haven for werewolves and other shifters on a full moon.
There they could hunt, run wild, and not break any laws.
Best thing was that the wildlife on the reserves were all reared by the Lynch's. Others, like the rarer species were bought from other breeders from near and far.
Valentina remembered her first time on the great property. Then, she was a teenager and Aaron when snuck her onto one of the many compound to watch him hunt and to hunt with him.
One of the few times she'd thought about her dear friend.
She still wondered about the truth behind his so called betrayal.

'Honestly, why become a shrink?' Nicholae posed the question to Cayden.
'No offense, but you aren't really the caring type. And you don't have a way with your words.' To support his point he briefly mentioned the incident at the banquet.

'He's a great listener.' Osei said in his defense.

'Thanks, man.' Cayden patted Osei on the shoulder. 'I didn't look like it then, or now...'
With his tousled dark hair, his faded jeans and bare feet, he did not look anything like a shrink.
'But trust me. I clean up really nice.'

Liza said something again which Lupé seemed to agree with.

'She said seeing is believing.' Semi laughed a little.
Their conversation continued and then circled back to the show.
It felt weird for all of them to be sitting right there watching Netflix as if they were having a normal day.
It wasn't perfect, no one in their little ensemble was.
But Valentina looked around and chose to bask in the momentary peace.

'Heads up, we've got company.'
There was a collective groan.

'Calm down. It's Rex and Niko.' Osei chuckle lad popping his knuckles.
'And his driver. I've been meaning to talk to that one.'

Valentina felt Nicholae stiffen behind her.

Cayden happily paused the show.
'Ay, little man.' He jumped out of his seat.
'Of all you blood suckers, he's the only one I actually like. You are a distant third.' He said to Nicholae.

'Well Liza, there's no second. It's just a first and a third.'

Niko ran out the wagon and passed his friends straight to Valentina with Rex at his heels.
'Mama! Mama!'
He jumped into her arms.
'I heard Papa was awake. Where is he?'

She pointed at Nicholae who just got out the porch. Niko wiggled down cautiously examining his father from a distance, his smile dimmed.
Nicholae got down on his knees, opened his arms and beckoned his son to him.
The sheen on his eyes reflected by the rays of the sun.
'It's okay Niko.' Valentina said giving him an encouraging nudge.
Then he barreled right into Nicholae's open arms.

'I'm glad you didn't die.' He whispered to his father, tightening his arms around his father's neck.
'Come on buddy, I am not going to leave you. Didn't I tell you it's us against the world.'
He nodded with a testy smile.

'Niko, I'm sorry. For hurting you and Rex. Can you forgive this old man?' He whispered into his son's ears.
Valentina wondered what he was talking about. But that question could wait.
'It's okay Papa. Fauna told me that wasn't you. And I believe her. I'm just glad you're back.'
Niko buried is face in his father's chest.
Nicholae carried him and kept him there allowing him to hide his face as he cried.

Nicholae looked at her weird.
And what was that about?

Valentina was so involved in her emotions she didn't notice Nicholae's smile failed to reflect in his eyes.

The others allowed them a private moment as they discussed the developments with Niko.
The poor thing looked devastated.
She could only imagine what he was thinking.
They could have said the world was ending and Valentina was sure that'd be the look he would have.
'We are going to get married again Niko. We'll be a family again so don't look so bummed. Can I see a smile?' Nicholae attempted coaxing the smile from Niko's pouty lips.

Niko crossed his arms and flared agriculture at her.
'I'm still going to call you Mama. You promised and so you can't take it back.'

Valentina gave him a mock salute.
'Yes sir.'
His mood brightened again. He gave his father and Valentina a hug.
He was delighted to finally have Nicholae awake. And that meant the trip he promised him was back on schedule.
'Okay, buddy. Go and play, I'll catch up with you. I have to talk to Valentina for a second.'

'About giving me a baby sister or brother.'
Nicholae visibly flinched.
'No, that's a discussion for another decade.'
She successfully shooed him off without any other questions that would give Nicholae a heart attack.

'You don't have to let him call you Mama if you don't want to. I'll have a talk with him.'
Valentina places her hand on his. 'I'm fine.'

'No. I mean it. It's just weird that he should suddenly start calling you that.'
Valentina paused, a weird thought poked her brain.
'To be honest with you Cole, I am so happy. But if this isn't something you want him to...'

'No. No.' He grasped her hand in his and played with the ring she now wore in her married finger.
'Of course. It's just he always told me he'd never call anyone that. I'm only surprised that's all.'

Valentina was glad he said that because now her being called Mama felt even more special.

'I'm happy he's able to accept you as my wife. You are still my wife and the love of my life even after the papers have been signed. I'll never stop loving you.'

She wrapped herself around him and sighed.
She could stay in this second and day forever.