A World Where Shifters and Humans Collide

"And if we weren't where we were right now I would be doing the same. Of course, I'm not a love sick puppy. Not that you are of course :P We'll chat later."

Vane looked at his phone and grinned. After this whole mess is over, we'll be doing a lot of talking...and maybe something else too. XD xoxo, his message said and then he put his phone away.

He looked up at Raquel and looked around. "And where may Ian be?", he asked with a smirk.

"...Yes."

At her meek answer, Kit was hesitant. He gave her hand a light squeeze. "...Are you positive? If you're not ready, I understand and I'll step down. You don't have to rush. I can tell that "Josh" still hasn't completely left your mind. Or what he's done.", he told her, almost spatting out the name of the other man.

Kit's eyes, hidden behind contacts, gazed into Haley's. "I would never hurt you, but I know trust is hard to give to someone. Are you certain you're okay with me?", he asked her.

He saw her take out her phone and text someone. "Sister?", he asked with a knowing look.

"I'm not sure yet," she admitted. "I was thinking about it...and well I'm not sure about anything."

Sasha looked at Romy and then looked at Kye and Wren. "Do you two know any couple or single lady who would look after her? Or would you two volunteer?", he asked the wolf and fox, knowing they were together.

Sasha's gaze fell on Romy and he had to refrain from saying something stupid from his mouth. "I'll take her,", was what was on the tip of his tongue, but he didn't dare say it. How foolish would that be? He lived a life of danger, and he definitely didn't need to drag a young innocent kid into his life.

"I am, and so is she."

The doctor nodded to them. He turned to Victor and Skylar. "You two can stay if you want. I just want to tell you that I'm sorry for your loss.", he told them. "While I was checking up on her, she told me to tell you that she was sorry for leaving you so soon.", the doctor added.

The nurse nodded her head sadly. "Have you any plans yet for her?", she asked them.

Victor remained silent as he held Skylar and focused his attention on Violet and Oliver.

"No, I'm perfectly fine with it," Haley said slowly, keeping her voice even. "And yes that is my sister. My highly paranoid sister."

Kit looked at her dubiously, not really believing her answer for a moment. He wanted her to be absolutely sure what she was getting into with him. He knew from what his previous "girlfriend" told him that he was very possessive and protective, which sometimes got on people's nerves, and that his wealth intimidated her. Kit didn't want Haley to feel intimidated by him, and sometimes he cursed himself for being rich. There was also the matter of his fame. They would never be able to have a normal date without fans chasing after them. That he was sure would bother Haley.

"I want you to be absolutely sure.", he told her as he held her hand, food all forgotten at the moment.

"I was telling her I didn't get arrested so she wouldn't worry about paying bail."

Kit cracked a small smile. Bringing her hand up to his lips, he kissed her knuckles and purred. "If anyone would be in jail, it might be me. I'd probably maim a guy if he so much as looked at you the wrong way.", he told her and then looked up into her eyes. "I want you to know that I'm not that gentle of a person. I'm possessive and sometimes annoying protective. It's my nature. Can you accept that?", he asked her.

"I don't really know anyone....except Haley, but there is no way in hell I'm letting her take Romy. Violet's got enough on her plate with Skylar and her mother(Wren doesn't know her mother died)."

Sasha nodded his head and he saw Romy holding her arms out towards him. On instinct, he went and plucked Romy from Wren's arms and held her in his arms. "Do you like your present?", he asked her, referring to the wolf plushie/backpack.

Kye turned to Wren. "It's up to you cherie, your choice in this is my choice.", he told her. The arctic wolf turned his gaze to Sasha as the Russian wolf was holding Romy. The heartless guy apparently had a soft spot for kids, who knew.

"We're burying her in Farmhill Cemetery, next to our father."

The doctor nodded his head solemnly. "I understand. If you are in need of a cremation service, please tell us and we'll help you with everything.", the doctor, who was also a shifter, told them. The nurse nodded her head in agreement.

Victor turned to Skylar and whispered into his ear. "Do you want to go to your mother?", he asked the little avian.

"I think you sent him off to get food."

Vane looked at her. "I didn't think food would take that long, but seeing as the two goofballs just came back with yours, I should rethink that.", he said with a shrug of his shoulders.

(new character accepted)

"Never know. We have no idea what he was going to get anyway."

Vane shrugged his shoulders. "Eh I'll kick his a$$ later.", he said as he took out his phone, went to the pictures option of his phone and handed it to Raquel. He had taken a picture of the kids at Erica's warehouse. Some individually and some group pics.

"You sound like my sister! Wren's annoyingly protective, and I'm her little sister, so she can be a bit of a drill sargent!"

Kit smiled a bit. "Trust me, I'm nothing like your sister. She's got sibling protectiveness for you. I've got pure territorial possessiveness. You're mine and I'm yours. As I said, if any other guy so much as looks at you with some lewd thought in their head, they're going down.", the cheetah shifter told her.

"Yes."

Kit looked at her. The he released a breathe he didn't know he was holding. "Don't regret it.", he said and then moved in for the attack. He scooted across the bench towards her and skillfully closed the curtain around their booth to hide them from other prying eyes. With that done, he moved in to kiss her but paused before he did.

At a centimeter from her mouth, he stopped. He looked down into her eyes. "May I?", he asked her, referring to if he had permission to kiss her.

"Yes!" Romy said.
She hugged him and said, "Thank you!"

Sasha stood looking dumbfounded as the little girl hugged him. It's been very long since he last got a hug. He held her gently to him. "You better like it. It was paid with my pride...and money but that's a small matter.", he muttered quietly.

Kye looked at Sasha and then at Wren. Then back to Sasha. "Volkov, why don't you take her.?", he asked the Russian wolf.

Alister fell off his chair in alarm and with wide eyes looked from Kye to Sasha. His mouth was making a silent "OMG" kind of expression. Kye turned nonchalantly to Wren. "What do you think? The two get along and Romy seems to like his company. I don't think we could adopt a kid with our work schedule.", the wolf told her.

Sasha looked incredulously at Kye and then at Romy. Would she want to live with him? His job in the Directorate was small, only called in for the major issues, so he actually had a lot of time on his hands.

"Thank you."

The doctor nodded his head. "Anytime. When you've decided, ring for a nurse and she'll get you your information and help with the preparations. Take your time. And again, I'm terribly sorry for your loss.", he said and with a deep bow, left the room.

The nurse smiled at them. "Please don't hesitate to ask for anything.", she said and then also left the room, closing the door gently behind her.

Victor nodded in approval at the service at the Fauna Hospital. They were so generous and caring. Then he turned to Violet and Oliver to see what they would do.

(new character accepted)

Vane passed Raquel and placed his hand on her shoulder. "We'll get them out. Don't worry.", he told her as he held out his hand for his phone. He needed to make a call to someone.

Kit felt Haley grab his shirt and pull him to her. His lips met hers and it was just pure bliss. He never thought he'd feel this way for a woman again. After what the last one did to him, he didn't know if he could ever love. But Haley was different. She didn't see him as Kit Alexander the famous star, she just saw him as Kristofer Alexander, a regular normal guy.

He moved closer and wrapped his arms around her waist as he leaned closer to her. She tasted of wine and lasagna, a delicious mixture. Kit kissed her deeply and swore to God no one interrupted them. He didn't want this moment to end.

"I love it," Romy said looking at Sasha. "I've got good hearing you know."

Sasha tweeked her nose gently. "Good..that you like it.", he said awkwardly to her.

"I think that'd be a lovely idea. What do you say Volkov?" "Me and Kye wouldn't be home half the time, and from what I've read, she's very family oriented. She needs someone who will be there a bit more often than me and Kye ever could be. What do you think Romy?" "Could I?"

Sasha stared at them as if they lost their minds. He stared at Kye, who was the first to bring up the topic and was dumbfounded. Kye shrugged. Even if he thought Volkov was a monster, the kid looked like she enjoyed his company. And since he didn't eat her yet, that was a good sign.

Sasha grumbled. "I live in Alaska. Freezing temperature. Not good idea for kid.", he responded. He looked down at Romy. "You want to live with me? Why?", he asked her, wanting to know what she thought of him.

Victor let Skylar go and smiled when he saw the little avian go give Violet a hug. He was a good son, such a smart boy. Violet must be happy and proud to have him.

Vane took the phone and gave Raquel an encouraging smile. Then he flipped his phone and dialed a number. Hopefully the guy would pick up. They needed to go over the plan.

Kit felt like he was in heaven. If someone shot him now he wouldn't care......well on second thought he would care because he wanted to kiss her again. Once was definitely not enough. He felt her clutching his shirt and was sure that there would be wrinkles later but that didn't matter. He was about to clutch her closer when he near a rustling and then heard a gasp.

The cheetah shifter broke away from their heated kiss to look up into a very embarrassed waitress's eyes. She was bright red, biting her lip, eyes looking at the floor and at times glancing at them, and clutching at the helm of her skirt. Kit raised an eyebrow at her. "Yes?", he asked her crisply. He pulled Haley up into a sitting position and released her to face the waitress, but didn't let go of her hand.

The waitress stammered, embarrassed that she interrupted something. "I-I'm so s-sorry. I didn't mean to i-interrupt. Just came to see if you two were okay. Since I see that you are, I'll be leaving. Please ring for anything." and drew the curtains shut and you could hear her hurriedly retreating footsteps.

Kit turned to Haley, breathing a bit, lips swollen, eyes intent on her. "...Wow. That was...I'm speechless.", he told her as things felt awkward now.

"And I lived in the snow capital of the freaken world your point please? She enjoys your company. And if you don't take care of her who else would be able to?"

Sasha gave her a small glare. "I have a job to do here. I'll agree to take her in after my job is finished, but who will watch her until I'm done? You two?", he asked Wren and Kye. Kye shrugged and turned to Wren. "I don't know the plan yet, do you?", he asked her.

Just then Sasha's phone rang. Gently, he handed Romy to Alister, who took her into his arms with a smile, as Sasha pulled out his phone. The caller ID showed Vane. He picked up. "Yeah? What's up?", he asked the other snake brother.

Vane on the other end: "Hey Sash. Long time no chat. So to make this call quick, I'm gonna relay the plan again. You're our tank, you're going in and taking on Erica, and hopefully dispose of her in a way that no one will be able to even get a hair of her. The rest of us will be getting the kids and Seth. Got it? Oh tell Alister he's on the team to charge in, but tell Kye and Wren that they'll be on standby. That's all, over.", Vane said and hung up.

Sasha nodded his head and flipped his phone shut. "News from troop leader. Alister's on the team to go in and get the hostages, Kye and Wren, on standby. Meaning you can see to Romy until all this hooha is over.", the Russian wolf said with a roll of his eyes at the big mess one little anaconda shifter was causing.