Strange Love

"What are you searching for? You've been going through your bags for over an hour now..." Arei didn't lift his gaze from the article he was reading on his phone. "You know, you could unpack completely... may make it easier to find whatever you're looking for."

Jos let out a heavy sigh as she set back away from her luggage. "You're going to be irritated or in the least try to stop me if I tell you what I'm looking for."

Arei arched his brow as he set his phone to the side. "Well, now I have to know..." He scooted to the foot of the bed letting his bȧrė feet rest on the soft rug she was sitting on. "Kitten, have I not proven in all the time you've known me to be a patient, even-tempered man? Just tell me and maybe I can even help you find whatever it is you seem to have lost."

She huffed out a frustrated breath. "I lost the damn ring Russ gave me..." Her eyes moved down to the ring now resting on her hand. "I took it off almost immediately after he gave it to me and can't seem to remember where I put it." She shook her head. "I shouldn't have taken it in the first place... I just wanted to keep the peace, even if only for a short time..."

Arei pushed off the bed lowering to the rug and crawled over beside her. He rubbed the tense knots of her shoulders. "Relax kitten, we'll find it. You don't have to explain your reasons to me. I will say the reason you're having so many problems finding it is because you're trying too hard."

Jos let out another sigh. "I just want it all to be over... I want to go back to some semblance of normal between us. It's obvious we'll continue being a part of each other's lives no matter what... I just want it to be... easier..."

"I know kitten." He let his hands work their way down her arms. "Relax and just think back to that day... where would you have put it?"

Jos met his eyes from over her shoulder. "I really don't what to think back to that day EVER..."

He chuckled, "There's a lot I could say in response to that, but for now let's start with why you want to find it so bad now..."

Jos's brows furrowed as she shifted her attention back to the bags. "I don't know... I guess I feel like it will finally put an end to any thought of him and me." She shrugged. "Maybe take away some of the pressure and awkwardness... allow him to move on as he should have in the first place."

He placed a kiss to the top of her shoulder. "Help him move on... or you?"

Her head snapped around to his. "I have moved on, with you... in all honesty, it's you that I'd never moved on from..." She held up her ringed hand. "It's why it's so easy for me to wear this now... I'm done fighting my feelings for you, I told you that already."

He nodded as he cupped her face. "Alright kitten." He gave her a light kiss. "Just describe to me what it looks like, and I'll help you search."

***

"Good morning, dear." Poseidon said as he entered the hospital room. He turned to greet the man rocking the baby from the hard hospital couch and some of his cheer diminished. "Ah yes... Rin was it? You seem to be taking to fathering quite naturally."

"He's not the first baby I've ever held. That position would go to my wife... um... that sounded less creepy in my head..." Rin's eyes shot to Shelly, who was smiling warmly at him and the baby.

Poseidon arched a brow. "I see..." He turned his attention back to Shelly as Russ flopped down beside his friend and new nephew. "I... have something for you, dear." He flicked his wrist and the contract baring her paw print materialized. He handed it to her, sadness heavy in his eyes.

Shelly took the papers and flipped through them. "They could use some adjusting now... I agree... What do you think, honey?"

Rin smiled up at the sea god. "I mean only if you have room for a gen and his baby in your court..."

Poseidon's brows shot up in surprise. "You want to join my court?"

Shelly leaned forward and took his hand, giving it a light squeeze. "Only if you want us. I told him of all the things you and your family have done for me." She nodded to Ry who stood quietly by the door. "I never knew my family aside from Russ, we've only ever had each other, Jos, and Raven..."

"And I've only ever had my parents and a single sister which I rarely see..." Rin shrugged. "I would be glad to call you family... contract or not..."

Poseidon set on the edge of the hospital bed, his emotions getting the best of him for the briefest of time. He finally nodded giving Shelly's hand a squeeze. "I'll prepare the papers... It may take a while with all that's going on with Russ's kingdom."

Rin's attention shifted to Russ who was trying his best to figure out how babies worked. Rin laughed as he handed the baby to him. "Like this... What's going on at your place?"

Russ was rigid as he handled the baby with as much care as possible. "Ya know the usual, crazy uncle trying to take over everything, a few death attempts... crazy ex-girlfriend back..."

Rin's brows went up. "Gigi?" When Russ only nodded, he shook his head. "Damn man, all else aside she's a handful by herself."

"I know, right?" Russ said a little too loud causing the baby to squirm in his hands. "Here, I better give this back to you before I break it or something."

Rin laughed as he took his son. "You're not going to break him, but I'll take him anyway." He ran a finger lightly around the baby's chubby cheeks. "I feared for the longest time, I'd never get this chance..."

Sadness filled Shelly's expression as she tugged Poseidon's hand lightly. "About that... As I was explaining to Rin... I don't think I'll be able to go back to his parent's palace anytime soon, especially not to live..."

"No need to even ask, dear. The three of you are more than welcome in my homes any time you'd like. If you'd like some other accommodations outside the main palace just give me a location." He responded immediately.

Shelly's eyes darted to Rin's. "Well, actually we were thinking we could help you guys."

"NO!" Russ and Ry both spoke up at once. "It's way too dangerous at the palace right now, and we've already lost one of you once... you can't ask us to risk your lives again especially with a baby now." Ry added.

Rin and Shelly both nodded without taking their eyes off one another. "That's why we were thinking of finding a place somewhere here on the island... Jos is stuck on home confinement anyway; she could look after the baby while we help..."

Russ ran his hand through his hair. "I don't know, I'm with Ry. It's too dangerous especially with what you've both already been through. I mean I feel like I just got both of you back..." He held his hand out to Rin. "You, we thought you were dead and gone forever, and you spent the entire past several months in wolf form..."

Shelly nodded. "I know... but I've helped a lot while in that form, and I've never felt closer to our parents as I have while helping you guys."

Russ came over to the bed and took her free hand. "I get that, but trust me, Fern isn't a family member you want to meet let alone get to know."

She shrugged. "I don't care about him one way or the other I only want to help you guys and get to know mom and dad more."

Before their agreements could go any farther, a light knock sounded on the door. When a round of 'come in' sounded through the room, a timid Jos pushed open the door followed by Arei. "Hey, guys... how's the baby?"

Rin smiled at her as he made his way over to her. "Do you want to hold him?"

Jos nodded and held out her arms. "Oh wow... I haven't held a baby since..." Her eyes automatically darted to Russ then back as her cheeks reddened.

Rin chuckled, "Don't worry, the last one I held was Shelly... Try to explain that one to strangers."

Jos laughed awkwardly, "Tell me you're in a room full of supernatural freaks without saying it..."

Rin chuckled again. "Exactly!"

"Have you named him yet?" Jos asked as she stroked the soft hairs of his head with the back of her finger.

Shelly leaned back in the bed. "We were thinking either Rasmin or Cameron... or Cameron Rasmin..."

Jos smiled down at that baby. "Cam... After your mom..."

Shelly sighed fondly. "Yeah... reading the diaries over the past few weeks has made me think about her more... and, I don't know... miss her... Can you miss someone you don't even remember?"

Jos nodded. "Yes, it makes perfect sense to me. Reading them has me missing her a lot more as well." She carried the baby over and set next to Shelly and Poseidon, letting the sea god admire the baby as well. "I really like Rasmin too though... What do you think?" She asked Poseidon.

He shrugged as he slipped his finger into one chubby fist. "Either would suit him well."

The friendly banter and coddling of the baby continued with Russ and Arei staying on opposite sides of the room not speaking unless spoken to.

"I'm going to go grab a drink, anyone else want anything from the vending machines?" Russ asked as he moved toward the door. When everyone declined, he muttered. "Suit yourselves..." as he pulled it closed behind him.

Jos's gaze shot to Arei's, and he gave her a slight nod. She handed the baby to Shelly as she leaned in and whispered. "I need to have a word with him... I'll be right back... probably..."

Shelly gave her hand a squeeze. "Be careful and stop worrying so much about hurting him that you let him hurt you!"

Jos chewed nervously on her bottom lip. "Trust me, I'm not the one who'll be getting hurt with this conversation... but I have to close that chapter of my life completely... you understand that..."

Shelly nodded as her gaze moved to Arei then back to Jos. She wiggled the ring on Jos's hand. "I understand fully, I've been with you guys nearly every second of the past months. You have something you and Russ could never have no matter how hard you worked toward it." She nodded toward the door. "Do what you have to do, he'll understand with time." She shrugged, "plus it may help him move on as well."

Jos nodded as she released Shelly and stood. Her nervous eyes found Arei instantly. "You'll be fine. We're all here if you need us." He said as she walked over to him and pressed her forehead against his broad ċhėst. He stroked her hair. "If you're not back in twenty minutes, I'll come find you."

"You sure you don't want to follow her now?" Ry asked the second the door closed.

Arei's eyes moved around the many worried faces in the room. "She can take care of herself if she has to. My presence will only piss him off more."

Ry nodded. "You're right there..."

***

"Russ..." Jos murmured his name as she found him bent over the soda machine in the hallway leading from the waiting room.

"What?" He huffed out in bȧrėly concealed frustration. "Here to gloat?"

Jos shook her head as she tugged the ring free of her pocket. "No, only to give this back to you..." She held it out to him as he turned to face her.

Russ's eyes moved from her down to the ring then back to her. He shrugged. "Keep it, throw it away... I don't give a fuċk. I have no use for it anymore."

She took another step closer to him. "You don't mean that. Sooner or later you're going to meet a wolf and settle down. You're going to be the king your kingdom needs desperately right now and give them the heir they deserve." She shook her head. "You knew all along I could never be that for you or your people."

He gave a sarcastic huff of laughter. "Yeah, apparently my heart didn't get that memo."

She took another step forward and pressed the ring against his ċhėst. "It was given the memo, Russ, you were just too stubborn to accept it. Just like I can't accept this... in any capacity."

He closed his hand over hers, pressing her hand tighter against his ċhėst. "Was there ever a time you even considered the possibility or was it all a lie? Was everything we had just your way of appeasing me?"

She frowned up at him. "You know the answer to that... It doesn't matter how much I ever loved you, Russ. I'm a cursed monster and you're a prince. Our worlds were never meant to cross in the first place, let alone become what it did."

His eyes searched hers. "I can't help what I feel for you..."

"It's not real... You're in the same trap most other men fall into..." She sighed as she looked away, tears beginning to burn the backs of her eyes.

"Your curse never affected my father, what makes you think it does me?" He argued, tightening his hold on her hand.

She frowned as she moved her attention to his painful grip on her hand. "Because you behave like this..." She replied as she tugged her hand free. "Ales was either too in love with Cam to give in to the curse or it simply didn't affect him because he was more in touch with his wolf and alpha side. You've only just discovered your alpha form." She grabbed his hand and turned his palm up to face her then dropped the ring into it and closed his fingers around it. "Take it, one day you may change your mind. I hope that one day you do..." She released him and began to turn away when his painful grip grabbed hold of her shoulder.

"Jos..." Desperation was heavy in his tone.

Arei stepped out from around the corner, arms crossed over his ċhėst. "I think she's said all she wants to on this matter. It's time you accept it and move on." He nodded toward the room behind him. "We will be in each other's lives for a very long time. I don't like it, but Jos does. If you can't do it for the Jos now, do it for the one who saved you and raised you..." He held his hand out to her.

Jos quickly took his hand and stepped behind him, putting his large frame between her and Russ.

Russ let out an irritated sigh. "How am I supposed to get past this if she'd rather hide behind you than face me?"

Jos rested her head against Arei's arm, her eyes squeezed tightly shut. "I'm only behind him to ensure your safety not my own."

He gave a disbelieving laugh. "Yeah, sure... whatever you have to tell yourself." With that, he turned and stormed down the hall.

Jos let out a long breath. "I hate it has to be like this... Do you think he'll go off and do something stupid?"

Ry chuckled from behind them. "Oh, I bet money he will..." He shook his head as he patted Jos and Arei's back before stepping past them and after Russ. "I'll catch you guys later." He said as he tossed up a hand.