Ten-And the crash…

The group of six walked into Marcia’s diner looking the worse for the wear. Marcia looked up at them and laughed saying “ Y’all look like you’ve been through the wringer” and Damon says “yeah. The wringer’s name is Andrea.”

They all sat down and ordered their meals. Andrea looks at Rafe and says “Now hear me out..” and everybody groaned. She looks back at Rafe and asked “Did I break them?”

He smiles and said “no baby. But you are a little whirling dervish that is hard to keep up with.” She scrunches her nose and says “I’m not a dervish. I’ve never been to a monastery in my life” and everyone laughs while Rafe explains she’s just a ball of energy that they had a hard time keeping up with.

She said sorry. Then said “what I was saying before… can I go back to my own name? Don’t they know I’m here anyway? Aren’t we like 99% sure it was them at that restaurant? So, can I?”

Rafe shakes his head saying “Not yet, moonbeam. I’m not sure that Edward is alone in this and it isn’t safe yet” She slams herself back in her seat and crosses her arms over her chest, huffing. Damon laughs and says “and that’s what a pouting pixie looks like”

Rafe smiled down at her and whispers “I’m sorry, baby.. it’s only a little while longer.” She sits up glaring at Damon and says “why do you always complain when I call you out of your name, Sparky? It’s not fun at all. And I know you’re name is Damon…it’s just habit now and I don’t want this name I have right now to become anyone’s habit. I love my name. It’s the only thing my mother gave me. And it’s mine. I miss it. So, I am going to pout and I’m not going to like it!”

Everyone around the table felt horrible seeing her sad face and Madilyn said “Luna… it would be my honor and privilege to always call you Ariadne when we are together “

And just like that…the little pixie perked up and smiled her brightest smile and ran around the table to hug Madilyn and said “Thank you, Madilyn..it would mean so much to me. I would like for us to be friends. Can we be friends?” And Madilyn hugged her back, nodding and giggling. Gavin mutters “crisis averted “ and the table erupted into laughter.

After everyone had eaten and were enjoying coffee and dessert.. Andrea climbed into Rafe’s lap and snuggled into his chest. Gavin says “ She’s so tiny she practically disappears in your lap” and Rafe just looks down adoringly and smiles. He said “I think she’s crashing. Time to head home” She whispers home.. my first home… and everyone felt their heart break.. just a little.

Andrea didn’t make it out of the parking lot before she was asleep. When they got home Rafe told Jax to meet him in his office after he put Luna in bed. Rafe opened the bedroom door, and pushed through to the bedroom, lying Andrea on top of the covers, while I got her dressed for bed. A damned near impossible task…one because she was a wiggler, even in her sleep and two because his mind kept deviating into lascivious thoughts with each inch of skin he exposed.

Walking into his office, Jax was sat there on his tablet. Rafe asked what he was doing. He glanced up saying he had hacked all the security cameras around the restaurant to see if he can get a heading for old guy and hoodie man…and Rafe said “Really? You’re giving people odd names now too?”

He shrugs and says “it’s fun” and grins. They sit there going over the days details when Jax sits up straight in his chair.. He says “Eureka!” And Rafe asks what the fuck? Jax says “I just always wanted to say it! Anyway, I found their direction. Now I can hack into those security cameras. You should probably alert Damon and his trackers. This might be a long night”

Rafe says “ We can’t kill them. Hell..we can’t even attack them. We have to wait to see their real intentions. But we can watch them. And we can capture them. And we can interrogate them…with just a smidgeon of violence.” Jax busted out laughing “A smidgeon?” Rafe shrugged and said “Or a lot of violence. My pixie is rubbing off on me”

Rafe links Damon to alert his team and choose three to be ready to roll out. Damon came back with “Yes, Alpha” 5 minutes later..Damon strolls in and says what’s up and Rafe explains what Jax is doing and he wants a team to head that direction and they will be given updates as they go and they are only to watch and report.

No contact unless initiated against them.. then tell them to arrest if possible… kill..if not. Rafe stands up and says” I wanna go have a chat with Edward” Jax follows him out and says “Oh Goody! Are we gonna get to use a smidgeon of violence?” Rafe mutters shut the fuck up and Jax cracks up while Damon asks what the fuck’s a smidgeon? Making Jax laugh harder.

Entering the cells always gives Rafe an unsettling feeling. He preferred negotiating and rationalizing to bloodletting and violence. Not that he wasn’t violent. He is the deadliest Alpha in the territories but it isn’t who he is.

He walks up to Edward’s cell. He said “have you thought of anything else you might want to use to plead your case.” Edward looked up and spit at Rafe.

He sneered “You’re a disgrace. Your father would be so ashamed. You have weakened this pack and when Alpha Hellier kills you this pack will rise again” Rafe laughs. And laughs! Then he gets serious. “You will tell me everything! Starting with why you betrayed this pack. My father!? My father would be ashamed of ME? You got it twisted, you old fuck! He would be ashamed of you!! The man he knew he loved from the boy he grew up with! His best friend! His damned Brother!!! And how, pray tell, have I weakened this pack?”

You took that half-breed whore to mate and weakened the bloodline. Your father would never have permitted it!” Edward spits out. Rafe sighs “ All this because you’re a bigot? All this because you are worried My Pups won’t measure up? Are you insane? There will be a council meeting in the morning to determine your fate. Jax will be the tie-breaker. Have a wonderful evening!” And with that, he turns and walks away.