The Chronicles of Moon

Family Matters

Moon joins Colin in the kitchen. Bella had already found the clothes she wanted and rushed off to get dressed. Moon watches Colin getting everything he needs to make breakfast, and Moon is in awe of how neat he is. Moon knows she would have made a mess by now. He is so different than she is, and she half wonders if that is why they are mates.

“Do you want to make coffee please?” Colin asks as he mixes batter. “It’s all right there by the coffee pot.” He doesn’t look up from what he is doing, and Moon finds the coffee maker. This is the one thing she can do without messing up too badly.

Bella is dressed and back in the kitchen dragging Bunny with her. “Pancakes, pancakes, I love pancakes.” She sings nearly vibrating with excitement.

Moon laughs and spills some of the coffee grounds on the counter. She tries to sweep them up but it becomes more of a mess. She wonders how Colin can be so neat in everything he does. He hasn’t even spilled the pancake batter on the counter.

“Okay, Bells.” Colin looks so happy as he dishes up a stack of pancakes for her. He even helps her cut them up. Moon is impressed with how good he is with her. It’s sweet and makes her fall more in love with him.

Kiara is content, and Moon realizes that she can still feel her. In fact, she is just as strong as when Moon first woke up in the car. She gasps a little unintentionally, getting Colin’s full attention.

“What is it?” he asks, clearly worried and freezing in place.

“Sorry, I was just surprised. Kiara was fading yesterday, but she seems like she’s completely fine today.” Moon smiles brightly.

Well, I am shocked; honestly, it seemed like I was a goner for sure. Kiara laughs waging her tail.

Colin is smiling now as well and soon hugging Moon, Bella seems to decide a group hug is needed, and she runs at them, wrapping her arms around their legs and giggling. Colin lets go of Moon and picks the little girl up as she keeps laughing.

“Okay sticky let’s brush teeth and hair and get you to school. Ms. Rachel will get you after school.” Colin tells the child, and she stops smiling.

“Okay.” Bella looks sad for a moment her shoulders slumping until she remembers. “You said I can come back and play here.”

“I did. didn’t I.” Colin looks like he might be up to something. “Tell you what, Bells let me see if I can speed some things up, and I will pick you up, and you can come to play here after school instead of, Ms. Rachel picking you up.”

“Yay!” Bella cheers as Colin sets her down. Moon is starting to laugh at Colin now.

“What is so funny?” he smirks.

“She has you wrapped around her finger. It’s cute.” Moon is still smiling at him.

“Oh, is it. Kitten?” Colin smiles and wraps an arm around her waist, pulling her to him again. “Well, she isn’t the only one that has me wrapped around their finger.” Colin leans in, kissing her passionately. When he pulls away, Moon’s cheeks are flushed, and she’s breathing heavily.

“You should get dressed. You have an appointment with Doc, and you are going.” Colin says a bit sternly. Moon crinkles her nose, making a face at him.

“I feel fine; Kiara feels better too. Do I really have to waste Doc’s time?” Moon half whines.

“Yes,” is Colin’s simple reply as he heads to the room to change.

She sticks her tongue out at him knowing he can’t see her. She heads off to find Bella to brush her hair and help her finish getting ready. By the time she is done with Bella, Colin is dressed, looking handsome as ever. Moon has to stop herself from staring at him. Black slacks and button-downs with rolled sleeves are his most common attire.

Moon takes the opportunity to head back to her room and change herself. She just throws on a yellow sundress and brushes her hair. She never has been one to fuss in the mirror for hours to get ready for anything.

When Moon leaves her room, Colin and Bella are waiting for her. “Ready?” He looks her over, and he seems to approve of the dress, judging by how the corner of his lip twitched like he was trying not to smile.

We have a family. Please tell me Bella gets to come to live here. She needs to be here. She clearly doesn’t like this, Ms. Rachel and I have a terrible feeling. Someone already tried to use her to get to Colin. Kiara is making a lot of sense, and Moon agrees. She plans to see what can be done today about Bella’s living arrangement.

Colin opens Moon’s door and helps her in before he gets Bella into her seat, and Moon is still impressed that he knows what he is doing, buckling her in. Ben still struggles with Rose’s car seat.

“Okay, off to school we go.” Moon cheers. She’s excited to see where the schools are. She wants to see the rest of the pack, and if she has to go to the clinic, the least they can do is have a short tour of the town. Moon also really wants to meet this Ms. Rachel. Moon would like to know why Bella’s smile drops every time the woman’s name is mentioned.

She is taking in everything she sees and is happy when she learns the school Bella goes to is just a short walk from the packhouse. Moon knows she and Bella would have a good time walking to and from school.

They get her dropped off, and for the time that they are all together for a short time, with Bella happily chatting away. Everything felt right. Watching Colin and Bella together is the sweetest thing. The more she watches them together, the more she loves them.

This is our family now. They are ours. Kiara hums contently; it had been a long time since Moon had this feeling. Her heart felt complete for the first time since gramps died and maybe even before then. She has a family again.