Chapter Seven – Elizabeth

Elizabeth wanted the evening to last forever. But she certainly wasn’t ready to stay the night. She also thought it would be best for Dean to break the news he’d found his mate to Louise and Zak, without her here. She didn’t want to seem like an intruder in their lives, and she truly hoped that wasn’t what they would think of her.

This evening with Dean was the most fun she could ever remember having. He was funny, and open, as if he wanted to let her into his life, and make her part of it. But Louise, Zak, and Storm were already a huge, established part of his life. There was no way she wanted Dean to have to choose between her and them.

“Can I get you anything else?” Dean asked.

“No, I can’t eat or drink another thing. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He turned his head to look out of the window where the darkness was now complete. “Can I show you something?”

Elizabeth nodded. “Sure.” Her interest was piqued.

“Come with me.” He got up from his chair and came across the room, offering her his hand. She slipped her hand into his, feeling the warmth of his skin, and the strength of his body when he pulled her to her feet.

“Where are we going?” she asked as he led her from the room.

“I thought we could go and enjoy the stars.” He went to the closet under the stairs and fetched her a coat. “You might need this.”

“Are these the children you’ve fostered?” Elizabeth took the coat from him and put it on over his sweater. She was certainly going to be toasty and warm.

“They are.” He stood next to her and admired the photographs on the wall. “Amazing how many kids have been through this house. How many have slept under my roof, and then went on to make their own lives and find their own happiness.”

“This must be Louise and Storm.” Elizabeth pointed to the newest photograph on the wall, which showed a picture of a young woman holding a baby.

“It is.” He smiled. “I have to keep taking photos of Storm, she grows so fast.”

Elizabeth turned to look at Dean. “You love them a lot.”

“Yes, Louise is like a daughter to me. And Storm, well, she’s a revelation. Makes me wish I’d fostered younger children.”

“Like Kit.”

“Yes, like Kit. We made a good team, though. I took the older kids, he took the younger ones. As much as we could, anyway. No child went without a bed if either of us had a room free.”

“And what now?” Elizabeth turned back to the photographs on the wall. All the faces were smiling. Some held up medals or trophies, others a fish, and one was leaning against a car.

“I know Kit still hopes to carry on fostering, as long as Suzie doesn’t mind. But when they have kids of their own…” Dean shrugged. “I’m hoping someone will step in and fill the void.”

“And what about you?” Elizabeth hadn’t had time to think about the implications of living with a man who fostered children. Was it something she could learn to enjoy? Would she have to accept being called names because of her birthmark? She knew not all kids were cruel, but those that were could cut deep with their taunts.

“I planned to. After Louise and Zak move into their own place.” He threaded his fingers through hers as he took her hand once more. “But that is now a joint decision.”

“I’d have to give it some thought.” It was an honest answer. She couldn’t make such a huge decision, without first learning all the job entailed. Not that it was exactly a job, more of a way of life.

He lifted her hand and kissed the sensitive skin covering the back of it. “There’s no hurry. No need to make any decisions now.”

“I know it’s your passion…” Elizabeth pulled her hand out of his. This was all a dream; she’d thought that they would simply fit into each other’s lives, but it wasn’t as simple as that. For most couples, it would be a matter of discussing where they lived, and how they would fit in around each other's jobs. But for Elizabeth and Dean, it went much deeper. He loved fostering, and she had no idea if she was capable of being a foster parent.

“It’s OK. You are my passion too.” He pulled her toward the back door and she was glad when he opened the door and they went out into the cool night air.

He walked sure-footedly in the dark, and she followed him across the grass to a bench in the corner of the garden. The moon had risen high in the sky, its light shining down brightly. Not the best night for stargazing, but when Dean put his arm around her and she laid her head on his shoulder, it didn't matter. She was where she was supposed to be and if she closed her eyes, she was certain she could see her own galaxy of stars. Her mind exploded in a riot of color as she snuggled next to him. He ignited her passion, and her need for a deeper meaning to her life.

Placing her hand on his, where it rested in his lap, she said, “I know how much fostering means to you. I know how important it is, too, from what Suzie tells me. I just need to think how I fit into all this. I want to try to open myself up to everything life has to offer. Everything you have to offer.”

“We’ll take it slow. Together.”

“I just don’t want you to resent me, if fostering is something I can’t do,” Elizabeth said.

“Never.” He pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head. “Look, if it wasn’t for the shifter mating bond, we would’ve met, talked some, gotten to know each other, and figured out our lives together over months, if not years.”

“And we are on fast forward.” Elizabeth was still sure this was all a dream. Until it sunk in properly that Dean was in her life, making any decision was going to need time.

“Exactly.” He pulled away from her and stood up. She immediately missed the warmth of his hands around hers. “My bear wants to meet you.”

That was the strangest sentence she had ever heard. “I would like to meet him too.” Her voice didn’t sound as excited as she felt inside. It wobbled with nerves. And who wouldn’t be nervous about meeting a bear?

“He won’t hurt you.” Dean looked around. “It’s dark enough that no one else will see me.” He held out his hands as he backed away. “But please don’t scream. Because if someone did happen to see a big grizzly bear here with you, they might think I’m trying to eat you. I don’t want to be shot, or pepper-sprayed.”

“I’m not the screaming type,” Elizabeth assured him.

“Have you ever come face to face with a bear before?” he asked.

“Nope, funnily enough, I haven’t.” She moved to sit in the center of the bench. “But I’ve always thought it would be amazing.”

“He likes you a lot already,” Dean told her. “And is out to impress.”

“He has an ego?”

“Oh, yeah.” Dean grinned. “Stay right there. You’ll see for yourself”

He stood up straight, and after one last look around, turned back to face her. Then the most incredible thing happened: the air around Dean shimmered, and she heard a faint popping and sizzling before her newfound mate disappeared from this world.

Elizabeth held her breath. For some reason, she had not anticipated this. She wasn't sure what she had thought would happen, but disappearing entirely had not been it. Then, just before she began to panic, thinking Dean had gotten lost in… well, wherever it was he’d disappeared to, a large dark shape, low to the ground, began to loom in front of her.

“Amazing.” Elizabeth leaned forward but didn’t get up. She didn’t want to spook him. She should have asked Dean who exactly the bear was. Was it Dean inside a bear body, or a wild bear? Dean had said his bear wanted to meet her; that made it sound as if they were separate entities.

However, when the bear had fully materialized and approached her slowly, she could see the shadow of Dean in his eyes. They were the same, linked on some molecular level she would probably never comprehend.

Dean was like her little bit of magic.

“Can I stroke you?” Elizabeth extended her hand but waited for the bear to give her permission in whatever way he chose. The bear turned his head to one side and looked at her kind of funny, before taking a step closer and reaching out his snout. She edged forward and touched the tip of his nose, before running her hand along his snout and up between his eyes to stroke his forehead.

“You are all kinds of handsome,” she crooned as her hand smoothed his fur. The bear closed his eyes in bliss. “You like that, huh?”

Elizabeth, feeling braver, got up and stood by the side of the bear. He was huge, much bigger than she expected; his shoulder was nearly as tall as hers. If she had met him in the wild, she would have been terrified, but here in Dean’s backyard, knowing it was Dean inside this bear, she felt safe, protected.

“You wouldn’t let anything hurt me, would you?” she asked, and then leaned forward and buried her face in his thick luxurious fur. As she pulled back, she ran her hand across his back. “You have silver hair.” It was true, the ends of his fur were a silvery color, and as she pulled back and the moon shone down on him, Elizabeth could see his silver-tinged fur more clearly.

It made him unique.

Elizabeth sank down onto her knees and wrapped her arms around the bear’s neck and cuddled him as if he were a giant plush toy. “One day, will you show me the mountains?”

The bear turned to her and nodded before licking her hand. Then he pulled away and walked a few steps backwards from her before the air shimmered once more, and the man she was falling in love with, stood looking at her.

“We would be honored to take you into the mountains. How about tomorrow?” Dean asked.

“I have to meet Suzie at Bear Brides for her last fitting.” Elizabeth could just make out the vague silhouette of the mountains in the moonlight. “But I’m free in the afternoon.”

“The afternoon it is.” He took her hand and they walked back to the house. “I’ll make a picnic.”

“I’d like that.” She stopped outside the back door. “I should go.”

“Are you going to stay with Suzie?”

“Yes. I think it might be a good idea. Since I’m going to Bear Brides with her anyway.” Elizabeth moved to take off his coat and sweater.

“No, keep them on. Give them back to me tomorrow. Or give me them back never.” He leaned forward and kissed her lips. “What is mine is yours.”

“Dean, I…” She looked into his eyes and saw the deep, deep longing lodged there, and let her words slip away. It didn’t matter what she said. That was the truth he lived by now.

And part of her was ready to live by that same truth. Their lives were gradually entwining, and she wanted them to be bound together forever. And ever.

“Goodnight,” she said hoarsely and kissed his cheek, before turning and walking away without looking back, because to look back would be to give into temptation.

As she got in the car, she caught her reflection in the rearview mirror, and put her hand to her face. Not once this evening had she even thought about the raised red mark on her face. It didn’t matter to Dean, and at last, she thought that maybe it didn’t have to matter to her.