Norway

 

2056

 

The soothing sound of Itzhak Perlman’s violin floated softly from the overhead built-in speakers. The opening score of “Memoirs of a Geisha” was one of Banyan’s favorites, and Urijah played it often. At their request, Travis had incorporated a stereo into their home when he designed it. He had done such a wonderful job on the house in New Atlanta, they invited him to Norway to design the one in the clearing as well as oversee the remodel for the bed and breakfast.

“Tor, where’s your brother?” Banyan asked his young son while packing the cooler full of food.

“Not my day, Pappa,” the six-year-old responded while sitting at the table, drawing.

“He’s your twin. Every day is your day,” Banyan countered, knowing without looking the boy was rolling his eyes.

“I’ve got him, Dad,” Levi offered.

“Thanks, Bud.”

Banyan enjoyed the calm while he and Tor shared a sacred moment alone. He appreciated when Urijah chose the softer music to play rather than the hard rock he and Levi preferred. Not that he had anything against the louder stuff, but when Urijah chose classical, it meant he was feeling rather melancholy, and a melancholy Urijah was a loving one. With both of them being Alpha Gargoyles, they surprised their family and friends with how well they got along. The only time either one fought for dominance was in the bedroom, and that was fun.

When they built their homes, they had Travis cover one wall of both master bedrooms in thick stone. It was more resistant to being dented when they tossed each other around. When they weren’t having sex, their relationship was a true partnership in all matters.

Levi and his younger sister Nova had come to live with Banyan and Uri less than eight months after they completed their bond. When the two of them first discussed adoption, they opted for an older child since the older ones were harder to place. The day they walked into the office of Human Services, Levi and Nova were being brought in after having been removed from their abusive home. Both were battered and bruised, Levi more so than his sister. He had tried his best to protect her from the hands of their father, but he was only nine and no match for a grown man. When the case worker asked how she could help them, Banyan hadn’t hesitated to say, “We want them,” indicating the siblings. Urijah had agreed.

Banyan offered their parents a small sum of money to relinquish their parental rights, which they did so willingly. The adoption wasn’t immediate, but it was quicker than most considering Banyan and Urijah’s donations to several charities the judge was fond of.

It didn’t take Levi long to warm up to the males, but Nova was quite skittish given their size. It wasn’t until she was around the other males and their mates and she saw how loving and gentle they were with the females and other children that she began trusting her new fathers. When they made the trip home to Norway and Nova was surrounded by her grandmothers, she really opened up. Halina and Freyda became Nova’s favorite people, and the girl spent a lot of her spare time with them. When they returned to Norway with the adopted siblings in tow, their family surrounded them, wanting to hear all about the adoption and their plans to have more children.

When Urijah explained how they wanted to find a surrogate, Freyda immediately offered to carry their offspring. She had never had children of her own, and she wanted to know what it felt like to have life growing inside. Being older didn’t matter since she was Gargoyle, and a healthy one at that. Gautum supported the idea from the start, and things couldn’t have gone smoother. The twins were born almost a year to the day after Banyan and Uri brought Levi and Nova home to Norway. Tabor Bodolf Aldobrand Holgersen, better known as Bodi, was older than his brother, Gautum Torfinn Aldobrand Holgersen, by six minutes. Not wanting the kids to get in school and hate them, they chose Holgersen as the surname the kids used on a daily basis.

Bodi came streaking through the house without a stitch of clothing on with Levi close behind, carrying his brother’s shorts and T-shirt. Banyan chuckled to himself as he thought of his children. Each one was different. Torfinn was the quiet one. He liked building things, and spent a lot of time with Travis, learning about architecture. Levi was into sports, and he excelled at each one he played, but soccer was his favorite. Nova, who started off shy and reserved, came out of her shell the more she hung around Brynna. Bodi was the free-spirit and a miniature version of Banyan.

Nova walked into the kitchen carrying the newest member of their family, a baby boy named Finley Gunnar. Fin was also adopted and the love of Nova’s life. As much as she loved the twins, she loved Fin that much more.

Urijah was close behind their daughter with a backpack full of baby stuff. “We’re ready. Where’s Bodi?” he asked right as the boy ran back through the kitchen wearing only a shirt. Urijah snatched him up before he could elude his older brother any longer. “I’ve got ya, ya little devil,” Urijah joked as he secured his son under his arm so Levi could finish dressing him.

“Pappa, help!” Bodi yelled at Banyan as he wiggled in Uri’s arms. Levi playfully popped Bodi on the butt, and his little brother stilled his legs long enough for Levi to slide his shorts on. It was a move they practiced often. Nobody bothered trying to get shoes on him because they knew it was a fruitless effort, another way he was like Banyan. The weather was nice enough that it didn’t matter.

Nova cooed at her brother while Banyan and Uri finished getting their things together for their picnic. Although they were all together almost every day, Banyan and Uri made sure to do special things with their kids once a week. Their schedules weren’t hectic, and it didn’t take both of them working at the armory to keep up with the orders. When Levi had a game, they all went as a family to watch him and offer their support. To make it easier on the kids, they made New Atlanta their home during the school year, and they lived in Norway during the summer. All breaks from school were taken in Norway as well.

Now that Gautum and Tabor had retired, the two couples spent more time in the States than they did in their home country. Banyan built them a house not too far from where he and Urijah built theirs. Not only did the kids have their grandparents around, they also had the Stone Society family as well. Nova and Amelia had become best friends, and Levi got along well with Connor.

They were currently at their home in the clearing getting ready for a picnic when Banyan’s phone rang. “Babe, my hands are wet. Can you grab that?” he asked Uri. He wasn’t expecting any calls, but being King, he had to be available twenty-four seven.

“Banyan Holgersen’s phone. This is his personal secretary. How may I direct your call?” After listening for about a minute, Urijah’s face changed from mischievous to excited. “A girl you say?” Urijah wore the most beautiful smile Banyan had ever seen. His mate was breathtaking on a bad day, but when he smiled, it did things to Banyan’s heart he couldn’t begin to describe. When Uri caught his eyes, Banyan opened up his mind. They spoke to one another silently when they wanted some privacy.

This is Gloria Dunham. They have a baby girl whose mother died from complications of a wreck after they performed an emergency C-section.

Banyan smiled at his mate, and that was all the answer Urijah needed. “Gloria, we’ll be there sometime tomorrow.”

Banyan said, “Levi, please watch the twins, I need to call your Nana.”

“Got ‘em, Dad.”

Knowing his son did indeed have his brothers, Banyan placed the call to Halina to ask if she and Freyda would watch the younger kids while he and Uri traveled to the States for another addition to their brood. As he looked in at his family gathered in the kitchen, Banyan’s throat threatened to close, and his eyes threatened to leak tears of joy. For so very long, he hoped he and Urijah would become mates and have a small family. When he lost hope of having Uri, so too died the thoughts of children. He spent lots of years helping to finance homes for wayward children, but giving money wasn’t the same thing as bringing them into your home and giving them your love day in and day out.

When Uri and he mated, Banyan thought there was no better feeling than loving and being loved by his mate. He had been wrong. Knowing the five younger faces in that room were safe and secure – and returned their love– that was the best feeling in the world.

Urijah hung up the phone, and together, they took their children down to the fjord where they spent the day eating, swimming, and being a family. Tomorrow, they would travel to the States and add another child to their numbers. Banyan had no doubt she wouldn’t be the last.

While Urijah and Levi were splashing and swimming with the twins, Banyan and Nova sat on the blanket watching Finley sleep. The gold bracelet around his daughter’s wrist glinted in the sun, reminding Banyan how far he and Uri had come. When Urijah had shown Banyan Mishka’s wedding band, he had been torn about what to do with it. Banyan told him to hang on to it. He did, and when Nova and Levi came into their lives, Banyan suggested having the ring melted into a bracelet for their daughter. Adding more metal to it, Urijah did exactly that, and what once had been a sad reminder for Uri became a happy token of their future.

While Uri had been busy with the bracelet, Banyan had forged Levi his very own Mjölnir. They had given it to him for his sixteenth birthday. When they offered the pendant to him, Banyan explained how he was just as important as the twins and would forever be part of their family. The twins would also get their own talisman when they turned sixteen or they transitioned, whichever came first.

Nova often complained about being the only girl in the house, and Banyan promised her one day she wouldn’t be the only one. If the next daughter they brought home was half as loving and well-behaved as she was, they would be lucky. Banyan nudged his daughter to get her attention. “What do you think about the name Skylar for a baby sister?”