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Post by Ventia on Apr 13, 2016 16:57:32 GMT -5
(( Jewel)) Nathaniel was back at that school fire, smoke filling his lungs, pain seeping through his tired muscles, blood spilling. He gasped for air and suddenly he saw Jewel. Sweet sweet Jewel. He told her the truth. Told her he loved her. Touched her perfect face and smiled because he had saved her. He saw her one last time. Black dots started to appear in his vision and soon, Nate was overcome in darkness. His light-his Jewel-gone. He had died in her arms. Death was...a strange thing. He died once a long time ago and the weeks before his first death were so hazy since he was left in the ground for more than twenty years. Did he remember the afterworld? Nathaniel didn't think so-but when he died a second time and was all alone in that darkness-it had felt familiar. He found himself remembering his time here once before. Here, he remembered that he was haunted. So when he came back-he wasn't alone. But he hid it-at first it was easy since Jewel and he didn't live together for the first few days-giving him some time to figure out how to do with the ghosts that clung to his spirit. It worsen on his and Jewel's family/honeymoon trip. Something about the land called for the ghosts and they tortured him in his sleep-where darkness once again claimed him. When they came back and Nathaniel surprised Jewel about their new house in the Nightstar Territory (that he's been working on since the aftermath of the fire), it had ceased a little, causing him to feel better. Not to mention Jewel and Harley made it easier for him to forget the demons in his head. Tonight however...they were back. Nathaniel was back there again, some woman holding onto his fingers as he watched a couple walk away from him and his little brother. The couple was laughing hysterically, holding up the money that the woman had just given them. Pain filtered through his chest at the sight of his parents. Suddenly the setting changed and he was lying back in the darkness and the same couple were standing in front of him. They grabbed his clothes, fingers digging into his skin, tearing at him until blood started to spill-he didn't mind-he was used to this. He forced himself to take in a rugged breath and then suddenly Harley was there, her eyes wide as her grandparents tried touching her with their soiled hands. Nathaniel shouted, trying to grab his daughter but it was too late-his parents grabbed her. Jewel ran to Harley, trying to save her but then his father grabbed her too. He was suddenly surrounded by people, money was being thrown at him at every direction while Harley and Jewel were being taken farther away. He forced his way-trying to get to his family but then his mother curled her fingers around his throat. He choked, his eyes desperately looking for his girls, fingers digging into the gentle skin of his neck-a scream pierced the air-Harley. Nathaniel shook uncontrollable-his body burning-his mouth open wide ready to scream- Nathaniel was jolted awake and found himself staring into the concern expression of his wife.
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Jewel
Healer
Loyalty comes in many forms. Some are more obvious than others. -Thorn
Posts: 2,195
Pack Status: New Dawn, Nighstar, Rogue, Other
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Post by Jewel on Apr 13, 2016 18:38:07 GMT -5
((Set before "Taken"))
Jewel's hand stung, and no doubt Nate's cheek did too. But that was the only way she could think of to get him to wake up. She tried gently shaking him. Then tried saying his name. Childishly, she had also attempted to lift one of his eyelids open. She barely got a glimpse of a stark yellow iris before he turned his head. Though she needed to get him up. And so, she slapped him.
They were both stark naked, having gone to sleep a few hours before from making love. It was easy for Jewel to have goosebumps cover her skin from head to foot. Though her goosebumps weren't from the sudden cold - it was the look of utter fear in her husband's eyes that did it. She's only seen it once before - well, she's heard the sound of utter fear comoing from Nate once before, when he thought she was going to commit suicide. Actually seeing it for the first time didn't settle well in her stomach. And she hoped it never did.
With the other hand, the one that wasn't stinging, she brushed her knuckles gently across the red handprint that took its place on his cheek. Suddenly, as she did so, she thought of the test she had Miss Penny run on her yesterday. Of its positive results, and how excited she was when Miss Penny gave her the paper saying it was true. She was pregnant. And she intended to break the news to Nathaniel as soon as she got home.
Long story short, she got ... distracted.
Why did it all of a sudden come to her mind, when Nate didn't seem to be in the mood to have this bomb dropped on him? It was because she didn't want for their children to see what she was seeing now. Not that Nathaniel was a naturally terrified person, and she didn't want to have her kids see that their father jumped at his own shadow (if he was, she'd still love him till her very last breath). But that the look on his face was unnatural, because he wasn't someone that jumped at his shadow. Nathaniel was someone that would and will jump into a blazing school to save the people he loved. He would stare death right in the eyes and escape - because he did. Twice.
Her children can't believe that their father wasn't what Jewel knew him to be.
"What happened?" she asked softly, worriedly.
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Post by Ventia on Apr 13, 2016 19:04:00 GMT -5
It took a second for Nathaniel to swallow the scream that he had been about to unleash. For a few seconds, he stayed there, his lips open but no sound emitting, his eyes glazed as he stared up at Jewel. Her words shocked him. Not even her words. Just the sound of her voice. It was like a bullet and he shuddered. Hard.
But he finally closed his mouth and closed his eyes for that matter as well. He tried to regain himself, gather his bearings, before he answered Jewel's question. He couldn't hide it anymore. She had found out. He opened his eyes again, they were still completely dark yellow and they flickered slightly to the side of the bed, where he could have swore he saw the outline of his parents.
He forced himself to breathe. His hand unscounsiouly seeking Jewel's warmth. He touched her bare skin and shuddered again, this time out of relief. She was real. Safe. Warm. Nate had to close his eyes again and he finally found it in him to breathe. Knowing in the back of his head, that Harley was safe too. That it was all just a nightmare. Another grotesque nightmare-that was all.
"I'm fine-" He started to say, opening his eyes but staring at her concern face-he shook his head. "I'm not actually." He laughed but it was a fake one, one that was filled with a emotion he didn't want to think of. Was he turning into his parents? He had just laughed like them. He thought of their hysterical laughter and suddenly couldn't bear to be in this skin.
Couldn't bear to share the same bloodline as them. To have roots connecting him to them.
He glanced up at Jewel, aware that she was waiting for a real answer.
Nathaniel sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "I had a nightmare..." He realized that his cheek stung finally and touched it, and smiled. "Thank you. For hurting me. It woke me up I think."
Then? He crumbled in front of her, bringing her down until she was lying on his body and he hugged her tight, the muscles in his arms straining to keep her close. His salvation. His light. His everything. He pressed his face into her shoulder, closing his eyes and inhaling her lavender scent until finally he relaxed.
Then he told her the truth. Everything. About what death felt like. About the ghosts of his parents and how they tortured him. About how he felt like they were following him and that he could see them in other moments other than just his dreams. He told her that they were going to take her and Harley away from him. Take his happiness. Were going to dirty Harley and her. That they were going to make sure that he was left alone and wishing he were dead. He told Jewel all of this and while he spoke, she would feel his body shake.
All in all, it wasn't a usual Nate behavior. This was a side that no one ever would see of Nathaniel. Nobody but Jewel. Jewel was the only one that Nate would allow to see what a mess of a man he was. He would let her see his doubts and his negative thinking. He would tell her his nightmares. Because she was his other half. She was the only one.
She gave him strength when he needed it the most-and God, he needed her now.
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Jewel
Healer
Loyalty comes in many forms. Some are more obvious than others. -Thorn
Posts: 2,195
Pack Status: New Dawn, Nighstar, Rogue, Other
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Post by Jewel on Apr 13, 2016 22:11:34 GMT -5
Jewel let him pull her down. She wrapped her arms around his neck, entangling her legs with his, and pressed her cheek against the one she smacked. She hated how Nate thanked her for slapping him, when she should have received an indignant, "Why'd you go and do that for?" No, she didn't so much as hate it as it gave her a small guilty feeling. What she hated with an intense desire to throw something against the wall was how his nightmare had him telling her all of these things.
She was so happy that he was opening up to her. Truly, she was. But it didn't mean that she had to like what he had to say. How her strong and charming and sometimes goofy mate was now shaking like a leaf. Even so, she let him speak, her arms tightening her hold like his was on her body. And with every second that passed had her protectiveness levels rising. Her want to run these phantoms of his parents off.
Hey, werewolves were real. Might as well believe ghosts were too.
After he spoke, there was a few moments' pause while she gathered her wits, forced her anger under control. Tried to ease her breaking heart. Her eyes squeezed tightly, and slowly, her fingers rubbed gentle circles on the nape of his neck. For a few minutes, she let her touch soothe him until he finally stopped shaking. And during that time, she wondered what to say to his confession. Bring an exorcist? Move deeper into the pack? What?
Suddenly, her mouth opened as if it was a seperate entity from her. "Je t'aime, Nathaniel. And I swear we'll get this handled before our children are born."
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Post by Ventia on Apr 15, 2016 8:22:33 GMT -5
Nathaniel felt her fingers press deep into his nape and he inhaled deeply. Her scent always smoothed him-like a wild animal smoothed by a gentle hand. Before Jewel, Nate was a wild animal in some ways-left behind by his mate with no words. He was angry-gone back to his bad ways which was practically overdosing on drugs and would have stayed that way had one of the only people whom tolerated him didn't get kidnapped. His now adopted daughter Thea. Thea had been one of the few friends he had and when she gone missing-he made it his duty to try and find her.
Which let him meet his wife in a new light. And without her knowing it-she had healed him. Jewel continued to heal him to this day. Why, just from her gentle circles on his skin, Nathaniel could feel his muscles unclenching and relaxing under her touch. He sighed out, his breath shaky on her skin.
Finally, after that comfortable companion silence, he felt better. Much better. The nightmare was now at the back of his mind.
"Je t'aime aussie." His words were instant-at this moment not thinking of the fact that Jewel didn't know he spoke French. But the words were true-God he loved her. She was his world. Both she and Harley meant everything to him.
He paused-staring blankly at the wall of their bedroom before realization drawn on him. He blinked for a few moments before pulling back-digging his head into the pillow so that he could stare up at Jewel, the fear that was evident in his gaze before was rapidly dismissing. Now there was a almost awestruck look in his dark gaze-carnivorous yellow flecks warming glowing in his gaze.
"You're pregnant?" His words were low like a whisper, his arms instantly eased off from her body-not wanting to squish her or the babies. Babies? Baby? Nathaniel found himself smiling, not caring how many there would be. Jewel was pregnant. They were going to have a kid-kids together.
That smile grew into a broad grin. "You're pregnant?!" He cupped the sides of her stomach that laid on top of his, his fingers spreading against her skin as if he could feel them.
"Since when? You're pregnant. We're having a baby..." He bought his gaze back to her, his eyes wide with excitement (looking a lot like Harley when she got excited) and he cupped her cheeks and kissed her soundly, his lips still curled in a smile.
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Jewel
Healer
Loyalty comes in many forms. Some are more obvious than others. -Thorn
Posts: 2,195
Pack Status: New Dawn, Nighstar, Rogue, Other
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Post by Jewel on Apr 17, 2016 11:28:06 GMT -5
Jewel didn't expect for him to respond back to her in French. Her eyes widened a bit in surprise, and suddenly, she was reminded of the man that she danced with at the ball. How he held onto her ring from Westly for her as they danced the night away. How he made her forget what was waiting for her back home. How, as they stood close, she was okay that it wasn't Nathaniel holding her.
And now - she knew that it had been him all along.
She couldn't hold back the laughter. It was funny, how she just now found out Nathaniel had been the mysterious man that was with her after so long. Maybe she shouldn't have laughed, since Nathaniel just now had a nightmare. But she couldn't help it. Sometimes, she can live up to her hair color. Sometimes.
She kissed his cheek, before pressing her own against his. It was only for a few seconds, when she herself realized what she had said. And then she craned her neck back, to stare back down at Nate with wide eyes. Jewel had been expecting joy from him when she first planned to tell him. This nightmare was unprecedented, so now she didn't know how exactly he'd react. Maybe freak out that his parents would make the child(ren)'s life a living hell as well.
But she was relieved when he responded with her first guess. Utter joy. She smiled. "Yeah," she responded to his whisper just as lowly. Then she found herself giggling when he loosened his death grip (not that she minded in the first place). She kept her hands around his neck, the tingles that she felt seeming like they were excited for them due to the warmth and the little vibrations they caused against her skin. "I found out yesterday."
The happiness in the room was a palpable thing, and for a few moments, as she kissed him just as passionately, she forgot that her husband was being haunted by the people that tortured him when he was a child. That as they laid there and rejoiced, his parents were probably watching them right now. It was just them in their little world. And when she was like this, there was barely anything to get her back to reality.
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Post by Ventia on Apr 25, 2016 22:28:51 GMT -5
His parents were forgotten at the news and for good riddance too, Nathaniel wasn't to allow anything or anyone to ruin this moment. They were having a baby. Maybe even babies. Nathaniel loved Harley with all his heart-she was mainly the one that brought Nathaniel out of his drug ways and brought back laughter to his life. He loved her. She was all his-and Jewel's. But he never experienced Harley when she was still in her mother's stomach. Hell, he wouldn't even know if he had a daughter had he not gone to see that woman. She would have been suffocated by her own blood. But she was here with him and Jewel. Her mother-in all ways. Nathaniel didn't think he could be any happier with his two girls.
He was wrong.
"You're pregnant." He grinned as he whispered it (for maybe the tenth time in the row), staring into his wife's soft gaze as his fingers soaked up the warmth that came from her stomach. He wasn't sure if he'd be a good husband while she was pregnant but God, he was going to try his best.
"I want to see them. Is it 'them'? Is there more than one? Or is that too soon?" He didn't know-the most he came close to a pregnant woman was Avery-his stepsister. Timothy was crazy overprotective while she was pregnant-even more so than normal which was saying something because Timothy was pretty overprotective over his family. Nathaniel wondered with humor if he would be the same way. Probably. He was already so protective over Harley and Jewel.
"We're going to have kids. Together. Me and you." He didn't know what their shifts would be seeing as how Jewel and him were different breeds but he didn't care. He would love them just as much as he loved Harley and Jewel. "You're pregnant babe." He kept rambling on, he knew, but she was pregnant, they were going to have additions to their little family.
"Our family is growing." He whispered against her head, kissing her cheeks and forehead. "Yesterday? Why didn't you tell me?-" He paused, chuckling to himself. He already knew the answer to that. "I think you're already glowing my beautiful darling doctor."
He pressed another gentle kiss to her lips before curling a strand of hair around his fingers. "Harley's going to be screaming with joy. She's going to be a big sister." His heart hurt with the overwhelming joy that pulsed through him at the realization.
"I love you, my darling doctor. You've seem to make me more happier than I ever thought possible."
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Jewel
Healer
Loyalty comes in many forms. Some are more obvious than others. -Thorn
Posts: 2,195
Pack Status: New Dawn, Nighstar, Rogue, Other
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Post by Jewel on Apr 26, 2016 23:20:22 GMT -5
The next morning, before Jewel had to go to work (where she would finaly get to the bottom of this poisoning problem Azalea had ... hopefully), on the table sat a large array of breakfast items laid in wait for a certain little girl. It was Saturday morning, a day in which Nate took a break in homeschooling Harley, which was good. Saturdays were usually good-news days. It was the start of the weekend, and people - that didn't have to work with unruly patients - could sleep in. Saturdays were days of adventure! And for the Constantine family, it was no different.
Pancakes were the main course, with strawberries and blueberries and bananas in serving bowls, as well as whipped cream and syrup. Hashbrowns, bacon and sausage surrounded that, and for something to drink, there was fruit juice and milk. It was rare that they went through oall this trouble for thirty minutes at the table. But considering what was said last night, Jewel thought this was a great way to start the day. Of course, Nathaniel did all the cooking. Well, most of it. Jewel helped too! And occasionally took small pieces of bacon with Nate's back still turned. The unconventional couple did indeed have a great time doing it though.
Now, Jewel sat in her self-designated chair right by Harley's, her thumb habitually caressing the diamond in her wedding ring as she grinned like a fool while waiting for Harley to wake up and for Nate to bring her in here.
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Post by Ventia on May 6, 2016 15:39:10 GMT -5
Harley woke up to the smell of different aromas as well as her father gently nudging her shoulder. She made a grumble noise under her breath but at the feel of her daddy running his fingers through her hair, she opened her eyes to see Nathaniel's smiling face.
"Ugh Daddy," She muttered under her breath, twisting on her side to try to get back to sleep. Half of her face was covered by the pillow but when she tried to tug the blanket up, it didn't budge.
"Harley," Nathaniel had to bite his cheek from grinning too much for the sight of his daughter trying to crawl back under the covers was both endearing and amusing. "Mommy's waiting downstairs you know," Nathaniel tsked, "all alone, waiting for her baby Harley to come down and eat some breakfast with her before she has to go to work and you're trying to get some more shuteye." Nathaniel shook his head, forcing himself to not smile because now she was staring at him-the working of a decision in her hazel gaze.
Harley humph before throwing the blanket over her body towards the side, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "For Mommy." She mumbled over a yawn and then with a mischievous smile, stretched out her arms. "Carry me." She stuck out her tongue and Nathaniel grinned before grabbing her and throwing her over his shoulder.
"Daddy!" She shrieked but Nathaniel was now jogging out of her room, down the stairs and running in a circle around the dining table as Harley erupted with giggles. "Okay okay okay!" Harley clapped him on his shoulders, kicking softly against his back-"I'm awake! Put me down!"
"You sure?"
"Yes!"
"Alright alright." Nathaniel eased Harley down from his shoulders, receiving a surprise kiss from his daughter in the process and then placing her in her seat next to Jewel.
Harley grinned up at Jewel, running her fingers down her shirt, "Morning Mommy!" She bent over and pressed a kiss to Jewel's cheek before finally glancing over at the table. "Wow, so much food!"
"Mmhm," Nathaniel hummed, taking his seat next to Jewel and drinking some of his orange juice, smiling down at both of his girls and wondering how Harley will react to the news.
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Jewel
Healer
Loyalty comes in many forms. Some are more obvious than others. -Thorn
Posts: 2,195
Pack Status: New Dawn, Nighstar, Rogue, Other
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Post by Jewel on May 6, 2016 23:28:05 GMT -5
One of the perks about being a lycanthrope: heightened senses.
Jewel didn't hear the mumbled conversation between father and daughter that much, but she could hear the shriek and her husband's footsteps thudding down the hall and toward her. She didn't bother hiding her grin, a small laugh bubbling up from her belly (she liked to think the babe(s) were laughing too, but knew that it was too early for their senses to really develope) at Nathaniel's and Harley's antics.
God knew how much she was going to miss this; she was almost at the age where she was to shift for the first time, and it only was a matter of time after that before she got to the age of maturity. Jewel couldn't help but think humans had it easy. Their children didn't grow as fast as shifters' did. After one year, their children would still look like children. But for shifters, one human year was when all the major events happened. The first steps. First words. A driver's license. Everything. Her grin became a soft smile, and Jewel forced the tears from her eyes before she cleared her throat softly.
Stupid mood swings. She didn't miss this part.
"Morning, love-bug." She twirled a strand of her daughter's hair, then untwirled it and rubbed her back in small circles. "It is a lot of food, but that's because Mommy and Daddy have some good news." With her other hand, she blindly reached for Nate's knee and squeezed a bit, heart thumping excitedly. "You're going to be a big sister, like Thea."
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Post by Ventia on May 9, 2016 23:21:25 GMT -5
Nathaniel waited, his gaze centered on his firstborn, his dark hazel bronze eyes stared down at Harley's delicate features-watching her eyes widen as she dazed along the table looking at every dish. His heart ached slightly, remembering his first encounter with his daughter.
He hadn't known about her. Her biological mother was a woman he saw regularly after Selena had left him. In the beginning months of spending time with Jewel, he had stopped seeing her-too consumed up with Jewel to even want someone else. Then Selena decided to waltz through the front door as if nothing had changed when for him, everything had. She after all had left him. Given him no letter. No warning. To promise to be back. Just one day, he woke up and she was gone. Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months. Eventually? Years passed.
Years passed and he had fallen for Jewel. But then they tried taking Jewel away from him. And it was hard. Seeing her be with that man just because it was the 'expected' thing to do. So he had went back to his old ways and that's where Harley came. Her mother didn't mention being pregnant at all with Harley. Hell, Nathaniel wouldn't even known of Harley's existence had he not forgotten something and barged in the room to the sight of the mother placing a pillow over Harley's tiny face.
He would have lost her. He realized, watching her grin up at Jewel (whom was more of a mother to her than that bitch ever would be) that if he didn't go back...Harley wouldn't be here today. His hand went over Jewel's and squeezed a little, mentally printing the image of Harley grinning into his mind.
His little angel.
And now he was going to have more. How lucky could he be. Nathaniel wondered, casting a quick look at Jewel, then back at Harley.
She paused, Mommy's words registering through the foggy state of her morning mind and then she glanced up at Mommy, her eyes wide. "I'm going to be a big sister?" She pointed to herself, maintaining eye contact with Mommy before quickly glancing at Daddy. She saw the small smile he wore and then glanced back at Mommy.
"A big sister...a big sister!" She shouted, suddenly standing up and in the next moment she was between Mommy and Daddy, hugging Mommy tightly and giggling. "I'm gonna have a little brother or a little sister? Or both?! When! I wanna see! Do they move yet?" She immediately backed up just enough to wiggle her hands on Mommy's stomach, grinning up at her before turning her grin to Daddy.
"I'm gonna be a big sister Daddy!"
And Nathaniel teared up just a bit as he nodded his head, running his fingers through Harley's hair before bestowing a kiss on her crown. "Yes. Yes you are princess." He spoke gently, his eyes warm on Jewel-emotions pouring through the bond that they shared together. Love. Proudness. Gratitude. Happiness. Pure joy. All because of a certain woman who continued to stand by his side. His wife. His soulmate. His Darling Doctor Jewel.
"I love you both very much and Daddy is happy that our family is growing. Right baby girl?"
"Yes!" Harley shouted on a giggle.
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