Leader: Book Three (Princes of Prophecy 3) (16 page)

He carries me back into the room and I smile the whole way. “I can walk you know.”

He kisses my head. “You don’t have to.”

“Mitch said I’ll be walking out of here today. You’ll have to catch me later to carry me anywhere.”

He laughs. We turn toward the opening door. Mitch and Jess come in and I notice how much they look alike standing there together. They both have those big infectious smiles. “I’m so glad you could make it today. Jess has everything ready for you.”

“Thanks Jess.”

She comes over and takes my hand. “My mom can tell you how it all works. I made it so it’s lighter and pretty for you.” I laugh watching her put the pink brace on me. When she’s done I move my hand and my fingers move.

“Look honey!” I give him a finger wave and sign, ‘I love you’.

He laughs and signs it back. Mitch is bouncing. She explains the band and puts a mark on me for tomorrow. She tells me they’ve been making them so long they almost don’t need the fittings and measurements anymore. Jess rolls her eyes shaking her head.

I get the brace on my foot and Jess loosens my sneaker then slides it on. “Perfect.”

I agree. This is awesome. I don’t remember what happened, but not being able to walk right or hold things sucks. If I could remember maybe it wouldn’t be so weird. I can’t complain after hearing how Little Ben fought everyone to keep me with him and the boys. He did all the hard stuff while all I did was sleep and wake up.

“What we’re doing is retraining your muscles to do what they’ve always done.” I nod. “You know I love my doctors; they help me figure things out when I need them, but they’re always wrong about people. Since your hip and lower back are responding and holding you up, I think it’s just a matter of time. Don’t get too impatient and make every little thing you accomplish another milestone. Walking is a little different, you need to think and plan the movement at first. Let’s try for one of those milestones.”

I slide off the table and take Little Ben’s hand with my new braced hand. I stand and don’t feel any different. He steps back and I try for a step forward. My foot drags. “Good! You lifted it up Lily. Now, close your eyes and think about what that looks like. Lift your heel, then toes and knee and take that step.” She’s so happy I smile and do as she says. “Yes! Just like that!”

I open my eyes and Little Ben is smiling at me. “One more for me Little Mamma.”

“Oh, I love the Little Mamma!” Mitch claps.

I laugh, she’s so damn cute. I step and do it right then take another. “I got this.” I pull my hand away and use my pointer finger on the center of his palm. “With one finger.” I step beside him and turn.

He laughs and hugs me. “You got this Lily. Like everything else you do, you make it look easy.”

Mitch claps again. “Go and conquer the world Lily. Jess can adjust anything you need. She has one she’s working on for a different shoe, she’ll explain when she’s done with it.”

“Thank you so much. It feels good to walk right again. I don’t really know how to thank you.” I hug her.

“Go live your dream Lily. Everyone deserves...”

“A future,” Little Ben and Jess say laughing.

Mitch gives them a look. “Well they do.” She walks out and I smile. I’ve never seen her mad.

“You shouldn’t mess with her. Her ability to believe that is what keeps her motivated to do these miraculous designs for us.” They both give me a surprised look.

Jess looks at Little Ben. “I’ll go apologize for us.” He throws her chin.

I take his hand. “I feel like walking. Want to go see the horses?”

“How about I drive to the Therapy Center and we walk from the lot to the stable.”

“Oh ye of little faith.” He makes a face at me. “Maybe you’re right.” I smile for him knowing he’ll smile right back and he does. He drives then we walk.

I’m trying to give him the time he missed with me, but I miss my little misters. As we’re walking through the stable he turns me. “You want to go pick up the boys?”

“Oh my God yes! I wanted to spend time with you, but I miss them.”

He laughs. “Me too. We’ll go steal them back from my mom and I’ll get us home.” He pulls his phone and walks away.

I laugh and walk to a door to pet a horse that’s watching me. “Hi there, big guy.” He pushes his head against me and I lose my balance falling on my ass laughing.

“Fuck. I’ll call you back.”

I laugh harder at his expression. “I’m okay. Relax.”

“I just spent a fuckin’ month watching you sleep. I don’t know how to relax with you!”

Dammit! I feel the tears fall. “I’m sorry, but I don’t remember the month you just had. I woke up to two babies and a body that didn’t work! I didn’t cause that month Little Ben.”

He’s shocked. His hands push his hair away and he lifts me up. “You’re right, I did. I don’t mean anything, but I don’t ever want to see you hurt. Ever. I’m rethinking more kids so you won’t have that pain.”

I start laughing and can’t stop. He kisses me and I stop. “I’m sorry, but I’m a woman – the very definition of pain. You can’t take it all away. I don’t even want you to. Although a cure for PMS wouldn’t go unappreciated. What happened isn’t your fault, honey. Someone shot a missile, I can’t even believe I’m saying that, but they did and I got hurt because of it. I don’t blame you, so stop beating yourself up. I’m going to fall, I’m going to hurt and I want more kids, so deal with it like you do everything else. Now take me to steal my boys back and relax.”

He looks at me weighing all I said. I love how he does that. He smiles. “Yes ma’am.” He bends to kiss me. I hear clapping and laugh. “I think we have an audience,” he says against my lips.

I turn and smile. “Next show at six.” I turn back and whisper to him, “Get me out of here.” He laughs and lifts me up.

My mom didn’t think we’d last as long as we did. I’m still smiling. We make it into the house and get the boys changed and start feeding them. “I love this. I can do everything!”

She’s so excited to hold a bottle. I feel like a shit for yelling at her about getting hurt. I did that. I told Dakota to shoot the fuckin’ missile down without checking where she was then I yelled at her. Fuckin’ jerk is what I am. It’s good that she didn’t just let it go. I didn’t even realize I was shielding her until she said it. I was making decisions for her without her input. I have to watch that. Getting her back was a gift that shouldn’t be a prison for her. Being an old lady is already a restricted position. I have no right to take more from her. We’re sitting side-by-side on the couch so I bend and I kiss her smile. “I love you Little Mamma.”

She smiles and starts burping Phoenix. “Love you too, my handsome Prince.”

When the boys are done, I move the table and put the boys in their seats on it so they can see us. I hit the stereo and put my hand out for her. “Amanda said Bob learned to walk better by dancing. It gives you all the different foot movements so your steps are sure. Dance with me Lily.”

She giggles, making me smile, then takes my hand. We start slow then move to faster. She’s laughing and I twirl her seeing the boys smiling. “They like to see you laugh.”

She looks. “Teller is kicking his feet.”

I stop and pick him up. He laughs and I’m surprised. I’ve never heard him laugh. “Hold him, I have to get something.” I get the harnesses from their room and put one on her then put him in it. “If it gets to be too much tell me.” She nods dancing around with him. He’s laughing with her. That’s so fuckin’ cute. I record them with my phone and send it to my mom. Phoenix makes his noise reminding me he’s here and wants to dance too. I put the harness on and dance with him. He doesn’t laugh, but he’s smiling. When I move closer to Lily and dance with her he laughs, she kisses him then twirls away and he laughs again. Fuckin’ cute. She misses a step and trips, but I catch her. I hold her waist and slow us down. She’s tired, but I wait until she says she’s had enough. It doesn’t take long.

I get Teller back in his seat and he kicks his feet. “You like dancing my little man?” His arms move up and down like a little bird making me laugh. “Cute.” I put Phoenix on the side of him and turn them so they can see each other. They’re moving in their seats. Lily is just watching them. “They’re so fuckin’ cute.”

“They are. I can’t believe they’re here.”

I think about her being in a coma. She went to sleep one day and woke up with kids. That has to be a hell of a shock. “You’ve adjusted to all this so easily I forget that to you it was one day.”

“I guess when you’re the one taking care of all of us it’s hard to see it as one day. It’s really weird to be told about a month I didn’t live in.”

“I’m glad you’re here now and we have this.” I pull her on my lap and kiss her. She doesn’t let me go and I’m hard before she pulls away. Jesus.

She has a confused look on her face. “I don’t know what I can do. Am I allowed to make love after the babies? How long do I have to wait? I should have asked Jess.”

Fuck. “The doctor said six weeks.”

“I feel fine. I haven’t had any problems have I?” She turns red.

“No baby. You had a pad under you right after but there were no problems. We kept you clean and dry so you wouldn’t get an infection. You didn’t.”

She looks away. “You did that?”

I turn her face to me. “I would do anything to make sure you’re safe and comfortable. The last thing your body needed was having to fight an infection. It isn’t something to be embarrassed about. It was a medical thing, nothing more.” I kiss her lips.

“So if I haven’t had any problems and I feel fine, I can have sex?” She looks hopeful.

“No. You have never had sex. Love makes all the difference in the world, if you don’t feel it, that’s sex.”

She rolls her eyes at me. “Shit you make this harder than it needs to be.”

I laugh. “I don’t mean to. I can call Amanda or Samantha and ask, but the doctor said six weeks. Of course you were in a coma for most of that.” She’s not smiling. “We can work around...” My phone rings. “Hold on babe.” I smile when she growls at me. “Yeah Tess?” She doesn’t usually call me.

“Stop messing with her and tell her if she feels fine, she’s fine. We healed her and that means everything. She’s confused enough!”

“Yes ma’am.” I keep the smile off my face, but I want to laugh. She doesn’t say anymore so I look at my phone. “She hung up.”

“Tess called to yell at you for me?” She’s smiling.

I look at her. Tess doesn’t yell at people. She saw this conversation and called to yell at me. What the fuck is up with that? “Apparently I need to stop messing with you. She said if you feel fine, you’re fine.”

She cracks up. “I heard.”

“I’ll make dinner. We need to wait until after Alex shows.” I look at my watch. “Which will be in a little more than an hour.” I slide her over.

“What ever happened to the quickie?” She pouts.

I hold her chin. “It’s been a month of me not loving your body. There will be nothing quick about this.” I watch her shiver and kiss her lips.

“Fuckin’ men,” she says as I’m walking to the kitchen and smile.

I get dinner on the table and bring the boys in, sitting them so they can see us and each other. Alex shows early and Lily has a big smile as he sits with us. I roll my eyes at her and make him a plate. She loses the smile realizing he’s not leaving sooner but eating with us and I laugh.

“Alex is working with Jared in the Lab,” I tell her.

“Today I helped Trapper in the garage. He sees with his fingers and ears. I showed him how to put the new tires on. He has smart fingers.” He’s smiling, proud of Trapper.

“That’s good. Jax said he’s a good mechanic.”

He nods bobbing his head up and down. “He is. The kids even listen to him now. Jax says he schools them even though they don’t go to school ‘cause it’s summer right?” He’s confused.

Lily laughs. “You’re right Alex but ‘schools them’ means teaches them.”

“Then he does school them in the summer. Ha. Summer school!” He laughs.

She leans over and kisses his cheek. “You’re cute. I like your jokes.”

He’s beaming. He’s so fuckin’ cute. I hope that never changes. The boys start moving around and Lily tells him about dancing with them and the boys laughing.

He looks at them. “I never heard them laugh. You make them happy Lily. I’m glad you woke up to make everyone happy and laugh.”

I laugh. “Me too.”

He’s bobbing his head again. “Dad says you never gave up and wouldn’t let her go. That’s why she’s awake, ‘cause you believed. We believe too ‘cause that’s what Brothers do.”

Lily starts crying. Fuck. She stands up and walks out. “Keep watch on them Brother. I’ll be right back.”

“We’re good.” He starts eating.

I walk out looking for her. Her steps didn’t go far. She’s in the living room. “Babe?”

She looks at me with tears rolling down her face. “Brenda said you wouldn’t leave me. She fought with you about it. Phoenix died and Jeremy held on to him and got him back. You did that for me didn’t you? You wouldn’t let me go. Did you see all this happening?” She pulls her shirt up and wipes her face. It’s such a little kid thing to do, just seeing it throws relief on me and I have no idea why.

She knows about my abilities. I have no reason to hide here. “I don’t see like you’re thinking of it. I catch feelings, words stand out, a memory hits me. No, I didn’t see it, but I did know something would happen. I didn’t know when, I didn’t know how or what exactly would happen, but it would.”

“You didn’t let me go. That’s why Pres said you showed everyone what all in means because you never let me go.”

“Never. I didn’t know what else to do but hold on to you. We fight for every fuckin’ thing that’s good in this world Lily. I wasn’t letting the most important thing in my world go without fighting. Giving up has never been an option for me. Certainly not with you.”

She watches me then smiles. “Thank you.”

I walk to her and hold her against me. “Why were you crying? You know I would never give up.”

She wipes her face with her shirt again and I smile. “We were so close to losing us, a baby too. You didn’t let it happen. I don’t remember any of it, but you didn’t give up. I think it all just hit me when he said they believed too. Everyone gave that to you knowing how you are.”

I nod. They did. Some thought I was crazy, some thought I was in denial, but the family believed because I did. “Let’s get you a clean shirt and get our boys their bath. Then I can show you.”

She says she can do it so I let her go. When I walk in the kitchen it’s all clean and Alex is dancing for the babies. They’re laughing and I crack up. He freezes embarrassed. “Good job Brother. Laughing is always a good thing.” I take Teller out and hand him to Alex then pick up Phoenix. We dance. Alex laughs when Teller does. He’s so fuckin’ cute. I’ve always had a soft spot for him and he earns that place every damn time I see him.

When the song ends he puts his phone in his pocket. “It’s bath time now.” I nod and follow him up the stairs.

Lily has the water in the tub and their little seat things in it. I ask if she wants to do the bath thing. “I think this is a Dad and Alex thing. It’s important for him to spend time with you and the boys. He’s so happy with them, let him have this.”

I’m relieved. I kiss her and bring Phoenix in the bathroom. I enjoy my time with Alex too. I don’t know if he’ll ever have the chance to be a dad, but he’d be a good one.

We get the boys washed and dressed. He gives me a funny look. “Lily is awake now. I like bath time, but she should feed her boys too right? Do you need me for that anymore Little Ben?”

I smile. “Lily likes you spending time with the boys for their bath, but she does like feeding them. I think we got it covered now. Thanks Brother.”

His head is bobbing. “I can call Dads now. We changed times, but now I can call them at the right time. Ally will be happy too ‘cause I will call at the right time.”

I hug him. “Go call your dads and Ally. Thanks for your help Brother. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He walks away and I laugh. Lily comes in smiling. We feed the boys and get them into bed. I take their monitor, set it on the nightstand and turn. My beautiful girl is watching me. “Your hair is longer.”

I nod and walk to her. “You’re beautiful Lily.”

I undress her then me. I put her foot brace on the chair but leave the one on her hand. I lift her up kissing her and lay her on the bed. “I’ve missed this hand on my chest.” I tell her kissing her hand. “And these lips kissing me.” I taste her pretty little smile. Moving down I flick her bar with my tongue getting a moan. “I missed hearing that moan that says I’m doing it right.” I take her other bar and suck hard then move down. Her hand is in my hair already. I’ve always tied it, but not for Lily; she likes it down and I give her that, liking the way it looks falling across her stomach. Her bar is gone and I want it back. I kiss her and reach for the nightstand. She grunts. “Your bar was taken off because of the catheter. I want it back.” I pull the box and take a ring out then reach in for a condom putting it by her pillow. When her ring is in I kiss it then flick it getting another moan. “There’s my Lily.” I put my mouth on her loving the sounds and her hands grabbing my hair. Nothing is slow here, I know what she likes and what it takes and give it to her. When her hands loosen on my head I move back up kissing her as I go. “Such a beautiful moment, hearing you come for me.” She kisses me and I can’t wait. I grab the condom and she looks confused. “You can get pregnant because of the hormones.” She nods. I’m not telling her my mother told me, but smile as I lift her up and slide her on me. She moans all the way down. Jesus it’s tight. “Feels so fuckin’ good babe.” I angle her out and start moving. Everything is running through my head; the angle of her neck, the way her hair falls and lightens with the light hitting it, her every breath. I watch her slide on me and jump.

Her fingers dig into my arms making me move faster. The wind is incredible. “Feel it baby. It’s holding us together.” This is more intense than it’s ever been and I take it all in, loving every second, feeling us as one. She’s gripping me hard and I’m gone. It’s been too long, but I love the feeling. Moving her faster I’m fighting for breath. “Now Lily, come for me now.” Her body is shaking and she cries out. I explode pulling her against me and holding her down. Light is everywhere, the wind surrounds us. “I love you my princess.” My voice sounds far away to my ears. I fall back hearing that she loves me.