Marley couldn’t believe how well Dane’s father was treating her and the personal care he was taking with her. He patiently asked her questions about everything she remembered. Not once did he make her feel stupid or odd the way her own father did. The one thing Marley didn’t understand was why Joseph looked older. Dane had explained how the Gargoyles stopped aging in their mid to late thirties.

When he wheeled her back into her room, Grace was waiting on her.

“Aunt Marley, look! I got an otter. They’re my favorite.”

“I thought dolphins were your favorite.”

“They were, but now I like otters. You wanna hold it?” Grace asked as Jonas rolled her bed back in place.

“Sure.” Marley took the plush toy from her niece. Images of a nursery in Dane’s apartment flashed through her mind, but it must have been from a dream. Dane didn’t have children. Everything was still a muddled mess. At some point, she even imagined a boy around Grace’s age speaking to her silently, telling her to trust Dane and his Grandpa.

“I’ll be back to check on you in a little while,” the doctor said, patting Marley on the arm.

“Thank you, Dr. Mooneyham.”

“Now, what did I tell you to call me?” he chastised with a wink.

“Thank you, Dad,” Marley amended.

“Dad?” Lucinda asked.

“Marley’s family now,” Jonas said. With no further explanation to her mother, he left the room.

“You have two daddies like I do,” Grace said.

“So do I,” a little boy added as he entered Marley’s room after knocking softly. Even though she’d never met the child, Marley knew he’d been the voice in her head.

“You do?” Grace asked him.

“Yes. I’m Connor,” he said, holding his hand out for Grace to shake.

“I’m Grace.” The two kids shook hands like they had just made a secret pact.

“Lots of people have two fathers. That just means we’re extra special.”

“You think so?” Grace asked, thoroughly enthralled with the boy.

“Yes. I’m glad to see you awake, Marley. You’ll be feeling better soon. Nice otter.”

Marley offered the toy to Connor, and he took it over to where Grace was sitting. As he handed it to her, Connor rattled off random facts about the sea creature she doubted many adults knew. Grace was enraptured, not once interrupting.

“Where’s his mother?” Lucinda asked.

“Probably down in the morgue with her husband. Dante is the Chief Medical Examiner for New Atlanta,” Dane explained.

“There sure are a lot of chiefs in your family. Is Isabelle a chief of some sort?” Lynette asked.

“No. Izzy’s a doctor like our father.”

“Wow, brains run in your family,” she said.

Marley relaxed against her pillow as much as possible. The pain was easing even though she hadn’t been given any pain medicine in a while. She was still unclear as to what happened to put her in the hospital in the first place. Since she couldn’t remember, it was either something horrific or she’d bashed her head good.

Dane’s father hadn’t said when she could go home, but it wasn’t something she was looking forward to. She loved Cammie, but Marley would rather have Dane taking care of her. He had an important job to do, so he probably wouldn’t be able to look after her much longer. He had stayed by her side unless he had a call to take. She was enjoying being around him, and she was glad she wasn’t alone to deal with her family. It didn’t surprise her that her father wasn’t there. If he had been, she figured he would be telling everyone how to do their job. He and Dane would butt heads, and Marley didn’t want her fiancé subjected to that. She had seen the ring on her left hand, and she remembered Dane proposing. Everything after that was vague. She did remember his words of love, and his actions proved what he’d said was true.

Looking into his face, Marley felt that love. If she never found out what caused the predicament she was in, Marley would be okay as long as she had Dane in her life.

 

 

Watching Connor interact with Grace had Dane longing for a child of his own. Until he started dating Marley and a future with his mate was imminent, he’d never given much thought to being a father. Now, it was forefront in his mind. First, he needed to get Marley better so he could take her home. He had bigger things to worry about than whether or not they eventually had children.

Speaking of home, according to Trevor, all that was left for Dane to do was purchase his and Marley’s bedroom suite. Their clothes as well as all of their personal items had been moved. Jasper and Nikolas had refused to let the mates do all the work. If Dane knew Nik and Sophia, the two had fussed the whole time – Sophia insisting she wasn’t working too hard and Nik insisting his daughter was going to arrive into the world arguing with him, too. Since Sophia was a half-blood, she thought she was practically invincible.

Dane was beyond blessed with his new family, biological and by virtue of the Clan. When he transitioned and Tessa was telling him everything would get better, he didn’t believe her. Now, he could look back and smile at how right she’d been. Everything was beyond better. The last few steps to making his life perfect were getting Marley home, mating with her, and then making her his wife. As soon as they could both clear their schedules, he was going to take her on a honeymoon anywhere she wanted to go.

Unable to keep from touching her, Dane sat next to her on the bed and held her hand. His shifter was being uncommonly calm around their mate. Dane figured the beast knew Marley was in no shape to have sex. When visiting hours were over, Dane convinced Lynnette to take Grace and Lucinda home. As much as he liked having Grace there, Marley needed to rest and relax without having too many people hovering. He promised to keep them posted as to Marley’s recovery, and when he had her settled at home, he’d invite them over. They finally agreed when Marley didn’t wake up to tell them good night. His girl really did need her rest.

It was another three days before Jonas felt Marley was strong enough to go home. The abrasions were barely pink, and the laceration on her head had healed remarkably fast due to Dane’s venom. Jonas removed the staples, and the spot was still tender and gave Marley a mild headache, but both issues would be completely gone in a few days. Jonas told Dane his mate was also doing well emotionally, and that was because she had Dane there with her. Jonas suggested Dane either tell Marley the truth of what happened or get her into therapy where she could remember on her own.

Dane didn’t let anyone know Marley was being released. The Clan had good intentions, and they had been a godsend in helping get their new home set up, but he wanted Marley to have time to become accustomed to their house and being in a new place before they ascended on her. Marley’s life had been turned upside down, and he wanted to tilt it upright.

Caroline happened to be at the hospital visiting Jonas, so she came upstairs to help Dane get Marley out of the hospital. She had sat with his mate while he went furniture shopping. Caroline was completely different than his adopted mother. Dixie Abbott had been wonderful to Dane. She still was. Dixie was older, but she had given Dane everything a boy could ever want, and he loved her. He talked to his mother on the phone at least once a week, and she was looking forward to meeting Marley.

Caroline was loving, but she was more like a friend than a mother. He hadn’t felt comfortable enough calling her “Mom.” That was probably due to Dixie being his mom and still being in the picture. He didn’t want to disrespect her in any way. Since he never had a father around when he was growing up, calling Jonas “Dad” came naturally.

Dane and Marley thanked Caroline, and she told them she and Jonas would check on them in a couple of days. As soon as Dane had Marley settled in his car, he said, “I have a surprise for you.”

“Really? You haven’t left me alone for five minutes. When did you have time to get me a surprise?”

“I might have had a little help.” Dane had already told Marley she was going home with him. He even told her in front of Cammie, so Marley knew there were no hard feelings.

“Well, don’t keep me in suspense, Chief.”

Dane was almost afraid to ask because her memory was still iffy, but he took a chance. “Do you remember me proposing to you?” he asked, lifting her left hand and kissing the ring.

“I do.”

“Do you also recall what we talked about on our way to Chez Vaison? I showed you several houses for sale in the area.”

Marley thought for a second and nodded. “Yeah, we both liked the same one. Is that what this is about? You want to show me a house?”

“Something like that.” It didn’t take long for them to reach their new home. After making their way down the long driveway that stretched between tall trees, Dane pushed the button on the opener and waited in front of the garage as the door rolled up.

“Why do you have the clicker?”

“The same reason I have the keys. It’s ours, Sweetness. Welcome home.”

“You bought me a house?” she whispered.

“I sure did. I didn’t want to start our new life together living in my little apartment, and no offense to Cammie, but I’d rather not share a house with your best friend.”

“No wonder she was all weepy.”

Dane shut the motor off and hurried around the car to help Marley get out. Having already seen the house, he knew what she was walking in on. He had been overwhelmed, and he knew about it. He picked Marley up and carried her through the door. “I know we aren’t married, but I feel it appropriate to carry you over the threshold into our new house. Our friends brought most everything from both our places, so hopefully it won’t take long to feel like home.”

Marley leaned her head against Dane’s. Tears were leaking from her eyes, but Dane knew they were happy tears. He’d felt the same emotions when he first saw everything in place. “It already feels like home, because you’re here with me,” she said before kissing him.

A mud room led into a spacious kitchen with state-of-the-art appliances. Both of them liked to cook, so that had been a huge selling point. Dane placed Marley on her feet and gave her plenty of time to look around at the house and furnishings. “I let Cammie and Trevor pick out the furniture. If there’s anything you don’t like, we can take it back and swap it for whatever you want.” The bedrooms were on the second floor, and Dane hesitated before taking her upstairs. He knew once he got her up there, he’d not want to come back down for days. “How about we rest for a little bit on the couch before we go upstairs? Are you hungry or thirsty?”

“I would love some pizza. No offense to your father, but hospital food sucks.”

“One pizza coming right up. You want the usual?”

“Yes, please. And I’d love a beer. I know there’s still medicine in my system, but I want a little normal in my life tonight, you know?”

“Like I said, anything you want. You’re home now, Baby, and I’m gonna give you whatever you want.”

“Even if it’s you?” Marley asked coyly.

 “Especially if it’s me. I’m yours forever.”

“Thank you. Not just for the house, even though it’s more than I ever dreamed of having. But thank you for loving me. I never thought I’d find someone to make me feel so special.”

“You never have to thank me, but you’re welcome. I’ve waited a long time to find my forever, and you’ve given that to me, so thank you.”

Marley tugged at Dane’s shirt, pulling him down for a kiss. “We’re really doing this,” she said as she looked around again.

“We really are. Let me get the pizza ordered. You sit down and get comfy.” Dane was glad Marley wanted normal. The fates knew what they were doing in putting them together. Dane was a no-nonsense kind of guy. He liked a laid-back life, and Marley was the same. She was a down-to-earth kind of woman. His kind of woman. If he never took her to Chez Vaison again, she would probably be fine with that, but Dane would most definitely take her there at least once a year. It just wouldn’t be on the anniversary of their engagement. While that was something to celebrate, Dane refused to remind Marley of the day she was attacked. Her birthday was close to Valentine’s Day, and as cheesy and commercialized as the holiday was, he could see the two of them celebrating their love at the fancy restaurant.

After he placed a call for their food, Dane grabbed two beers out of the fridge and took them to the living room. “Do you wanna watch a movie or something?” he asked, sitting down next to his mate and handing her a beer.

Marley picked at the label. Without looking at Dane, she said, “Actually, I want you to tell me the truth.”

“About?” Dane knew about what, but he was afraid how Marley would react to the truth. Jonas had suggested being honest with her, and Dane had promised to never lie to her.

“About what really happened. I know I didn’t go back to your apartment. That all had to have been a dream. I was driving your car though, right?”

“That’s correct. After we left Chez Vaison, there was a group of Unholy downtown. I stopped to try and keep them from creating too much trouble while I waited on backup to get there.”

“And? Dane, please. I’d rather you tell me what happened so I can deal with it at home with you here to help me through it instead of having the memories come back while I’m at work pouring hot coffee.”

Dane took Marley’s beer from her and placed both bottles on the end table closest to her. He then held both her hands while he told her everything that happened, at least as much as he knew considering he hadn’t been there. He explained how he had to listen while Mason relayed what was happening, unable to get to her in time. “Mason did his best to get to you before Jasper and I arrived. There were just too many for him to deal with alone. I’m so sorry I asked you to leave the area and drive back to my apartment. I should have taken you home. I’m sorry, Sweetness. I failed you.”

“Please tell me you caught the bastards!” Marley raged.

“We didn’t go after them. You were our priority right then, but Julian is working on locating them. Frey has already doubled patrols. Since the Gargoyles were seen with the Unholy, it’s only a matter of time until they show up again.”

“But they are Gargoyles. Didn’t you tell me the only way they can be taken down is decapitation?”

Dane was glad to hear Marley remembered what he told her when he’d been explaining about Goyles. “There are certain poisons that can incapacitate us, even full-bloods. Gregor and Tessa have gone in search of those poisons. They aren’t something you can order off the internet without drawing a lot of attention, especially if you’re ordering them in large quantities.”

Dane kept waiting for Marley to say something about the events which led up to her jumping, but she never did. “I don’t want to push, but did anything I explained spark a memory?”

“Not really. It kind of freaks me out to know I was taken, but I’ll take a few days to process it all. Oh, Dane, your car! I wrecked your Porsche!”

“Baby, it was just a car. It can be replaced. You can’t.”

Marley buried her face in her hands, but Dane pulled them away. He hadn’t even thought about the Boxster until she mentioned it. That’s how little it meant to him compared to his mate. She was all that mattered.