A blessing or a bloodbath (open+wolves)

[Grayson Falconer]

Grayson had been at the pack house under the care of Evelyn, the pack doctor. Her and Josh's baby was due any day. She'd made it this far with the help of the pack. Mostly the alphas, but now it was down to any time. She'd been forced on bed rest a few weeks earlier due to possible contractions. She thought about Josh a lot and sometimes the others would find her curled up sobbing which Evelyn had informed her wasn't good for her or the baby. She knew that but she hadn't expected to raise the baby alone; then again she expected to carry it to term either.. She hadn't expected Josh to die. She watched movies sometimes to take her mind off Josh and off the future, with all it's uncertainty. Comedies were good. She rather laugh than cry.

The days had passed and Grayson had went in to labor the night after the pack's full moon. Evelyn was there. Hayden, Vanessa and Miranda, the little sister the boys had discovered before Josh died were all there. David was there to help her control her wolf. A few other wolves were there to help Evelyn. Grayson was tired because the labor had been going for several hours and she was scared. What if she couldn't have the baby? She had to remind herself the baby was a girl, Karen Olivia. Named after Josh and Hayden's mother.

"I'm scared Evelyn." Grayson said watching Evelyn check her vital signs. "What if I can't do it? What if something goes wrong?"

She didn't hear Evelyn's answer as she had another contraction that made her bear down on Hayden's hand. He'd reminded her of Josh a lot. She screamed long and loud and fell back against the pillows.

"Evelyn, please. Is something wrong?" Grayson was exhausted.

Evelyn shook her head at Grayson and smiled. "Everything is fine. You're actually doing really well."

[Hayden Patton]

Hayden took his hand back from Grayson for a moment and rubbed it. He was a wererat and had been for a little while but Grayson really had a grip. He'd glanced over at Vanessa as she fed ice chips to Grayson. Miranda was doing something, he thought a spell possibly to reassure Grayson or help with her feelings. He wasn't sure. He offered his hand to Grayson again and she almost put him to his knees.

"You're doing great. Josh would be so proud of you." Hayden said. He watched Grayson's reaction and it almost made him wish he hadn't of said anything.

He glanced to David who they all knew had been under a lot stress. David stepped closer to Grayson. Hayden wasn't sure if he'd touch her or not or if it mattered.

[Vanessa Stewart]

Vanessa fed Grayson ice chips in between contractions. She liked Grayson, so different from Mia and she'd been so much better for Josh. Vanessa backed away during the contractions then came close again as they tapered off. She smiled at Grayson when she made eye contact, it seemed to help Grayson she thought. She couldn't imagine what it was like to birth a baby knowing you'd been raising it without the father. Vanessa and Hayden had talked about it and they were willing to let Grayson live with them if that would help her or move in with her if that's what she needed.

"It's going to be fine Grayson." Vanessa told Grayson at the end of contraction as she was resting and catching her breath.

[David Meeks]

David stood to the side of Grayson's bed. He had a hundred different things on his mind. He needed to know where Nadine was. His wolves need him but he needed Nadine. He knew she was still alive. He'd seriously thought of storming the estate but until Grayson's baby was born he couldn't leave her. His pack needed a lupa but had yet to find one. The prevailing concern right this second for him was finding Nadine.

"Grayson, you're getting closer." He knew this from him witnessed Mia's labor with Nicolas. "Anytime now."

He caught Evelyn's nod in agreement. That made him feel better about it.

[Miranda Robbins]

Miranda had been praying and listening to the conversations of the other people in the room. She opened her eyes and went closer to the bed until she was next to it. She put her hand on Grayson's arm and let the calm she'd felt when she prayed move into Grayson's body.

"David and Evelyn are right. Anytime now." Miranda smiled at her as she felt Grayson react to the calm entering her body. Miranda couldn't explain how she did it but she could push her calm into other people. It just needed to be someone she knew, like Grayson.

"Once you hold her, you'll forget all about this part of it." Miranda told her.

[Grayson Falconer]

Grayson listened to them all trying to help her deal with the birth of her baby. When she'd heard Hayden say Josh's name, it felt like someone put a knife in her heart. She could meet his eyes after that, too much like looking into Josh's eyes. She did gave Vanessa a weak smile as she feed her the ice chips because Vanessa being a human didn't have to come to the baby's birth but she'd come to support 'family' as she'd told Grayson at the being of the morning. David was there to help with her wolf but he'd felt responsible for her as the pack's Ulfric.

"David, I thank you for doing this." Grayson said as he came up to her. She felt Miranda's hand on her arm and a flood of calm and peaceful thoughts came with it. Grayson took a deep breath.

"Thank you Miranda." Grayson felt so much better about the birth now than she had just a few seconds earlier. When the next contraction came she pushed through it calmly.

[Hayden Patton]

Hayden noticed how calm Grayson got after Miranda touched her. He realized then than Miranda had been gathered calm to herself to pass to Grayson. Hopefully it would be enough to last the rest of the birth. Of course according to David and Evelyn it wouldn't be long. He'd have to wait and see. He looked over at Vanessa as he offered Grayson his hand again and smiled. He wished Josh could have been here to see this. He missed his brother a lot, more than he ever thought he would.

He felt Grayson relax her hold for a few minutes then she tighten her grip again. All he really wanted in this was for her baby to be healthy. Grayson was healthy but she was depressed because of Josh's death and they had actually mated for life like real wolves. He was sure how that would effect things for Grayson with Josh gone.

[Vanessa Stewart]

Vanessa smiled back at Hayden. They had worked through their own set of hard times when he got infected and it had been Josh and Grayson, separately and later together that had helped Hayden work out that his life wasn't over because he was infected just different. Vanessa didn't care that Hayden was infected, only that he was alive and thanks to Josh and Grayson dealing with being furry. Mckenzie had even let Hayden keep his job.

"It's almost over Grayson, just a little longer." Vanessa told her, smiling.

[Mckenzie Jamison]

Mckenzie had called over to the pack house and been told David was unavailable. He didn't believe that so he went over to the house. Several of the packs cars were there. He parked at the curb and made his way to the house. He didn't see any guards but they may have been posted inside instead of outside. He knocked and a guard opened it and let him in but ushered him to David's office.

He stood looking at David's desk. A picture of David, Mia, Josh and baby Nic in happier times; a picture of David and Nadine that looked like a public event picture. He also so on of David and Natasha, also during happier times. David's desk was clean, otherwise. No notes, papers or anything else. He heard the door open behind him and turned, expecting David.

[Jacqueline Kapelos]

Jacqueline had told the guards if Mckenzie showed up to set him up in David's office and she'd handle him. She knew when she'd told him David was unavailable that Mac would come over looking for David. She opened the door and closed it behind her.
"Hello, Mckenzie. I told you David was unavailable." Jacqueline walked closer to him. "A few more hours and he can see you, maybe tomorrow."

She had been downstairs with David and Evelyn. Grayson was close but David wouldn't leave her until the baby was born and he knew Grayson was ok. She glanced at Mckenzie and waited for his answer.

[Mckenzie Jamison]

Mckenzie's eyes widen a touch. He expected David, not Jacy. He watched Jacy for any indication that she knew anything that she wasn't willing to tell and got no where. He crossed his arms and leaned against David's desk.

"Why not now? Is he even here?" Mac asked. He met Jacy's eyes. "I'm sure I could find a judge to convince of probable cause and get a search warrant to look around, just because it's the pack house."

He finished and watched Jacqueline's face for her reaction.

[Jacqueline Kapelos]

Jacqueline frowned at Mckenzie. She wouldn't have thought of him doing that, uppity bastard. Jacqueline stepped closer until she was almost touching him. She let her eyes change to wolf.

"Do not threaten us." She watched him for a minute. "He's helping with the delivery of Grayson's baby. When he'd done, he will call you." She turned and went to the door. She stopped and looked back at him, about to say something to him then shook her head and left. If Nadine were to every hear him say that, he'd be uninvited from her life.

[Mckenzie Jamison]

Mckenzie watched her leave and took that as he cue to leave. He was going to have a quick look around in the hall when David's guards escorted him to the door. He nodded at them both and stepped out the front door. He walked back to his car, got in and decided to hang out for a little while. See if he saw anything weirder than usual around the pack house.

Mckenzie believed that somebody, somewhere in Dallas could tell him exactly what happened at the estate. He just had to find out who. If he was lucky maybe that someone would show up at the pack house.

[David Meeks]

David knew Mckenzie would come to the house but until the baby came he wouldn't leave Grayson. He also wasn't surprised when the word came down that Mckenzie was parked in front of the pack house. David didn't really care right at this moment. He had a baby coming any minute, a nervous mother and a house full of nervous wolves. Everything including finding Nadine would have to wait until the baby came.

"Just a little longer Grayson." David said. He came closer to the bed because as the contractions had gotten closer together and more painful, he worried she'd shift. Evelyn told him anytime because Evelyn could see the head. He glanced across the bed at Hayden.

"Vanessa shook leave now. Just as a safety precaution." David said as Grayson was readying herself to push again.

[Miranda Robbins]

Miranda wondered if David thought it would safer for her because she was a witch or it simply didn't occur to him to tell her to leave. She was standing at the head of Grayson's bed, her hands on Grayson's shoulders. She was praying for peace and calm and pushing that peace and calm into Grayson. Miranda leaned around the side of the bed so she could see Grayson.

"Anytime now Karen will be born and placed in your arms." Miranda smiled at Grayson. "You feel very calm about this right?" Miranda was pulling in all the calm she was feeling to push into Grayson when it was time.