Second Chances (The Extinct Race Series) (20 page)

Zoe moved to the boat and hovered there.
She closed her eyes and dipped her back half into the water. Her front claws rested on the edge of the boat, her head was resting on her claws. Her eyes were closed for several seconds then she opened them. She gargled deep in her throat and blew on the children. A pearly colored smoke came out of her mouth and enveloped the babies. She nodded to Jaco and he gave the boat a small shove. It glided right through the border. Jaco then swam next to the boat and moved it to the edge of the sand. Zoe and Kaiden followed. Jaco made a huge wall of water and lifted the boat up to the cliff. While it was there, hands grabbed the edge and pulled it all the way up.

Kaiden and Zoe flew
to the cliff and shifted back into human. Robes are handed to them and they quickly covered up. Kaiden looks at Zoe with pride and awe on his face. “It was something that just came to me.” She blushed as she grabbed a baby out of the boat. “So kids are you hungry? We got lots of burgers left.” Zoe asked

“Yes!”
The children screamed

“Ok then let’s head over there and make some plates.
Then we will get to know all your names and find a room for you to sleep in.” Zoe said and she started walking back to the cookout area.

As the la
rge group walked back to the barbeque area, Vivi hung back with her sisters and talked. Everyone helped make the kids plates and some of the mothers went and gathered all the bottles they could. There were about ten babies all under one year and they all took a bottle. Then there were ten toddlers and twelve children from five years and up. As Vivi looked around she was confused. “I know there were more.” She says

“There were.
We could only get the kids who couldn’t say no and the ones that wanted to come. Most of the ones between ten and fifteen were glad he finally noticed them and gave them a gun. So we had to leave them. The oldest here is Mimi, she is twelve now, he killed her mother. Vivi he took us too. We were the only ones who didn’t miss the target. He killed them right in front of us. He never did that before, he might not have liked us girls, but he would never kill us or his sons. You know how he cherished the boys he just killed them without a thought. Deirdra shocked us most though. She never talked to us, never acknowledged us. But when only five of us walked out, she looked heartbroken. The next night while he was away she gathered us all up, put us on a boat. She actually promised that guy, who has a crush on her, that she would marry him if he took us here. She said to put us in boats and make sure we headed to the hidden shore and then for him to leave.” Marcia began to cry. “I think she found this place a few years ago and has been keeping it secret. I know some of the guys have come here over the years, but they never found anything. They always said they got confused and went right back to the airport and left.”

“That would be the border.
It confuses you if you walk into it. It is meant to protect us from anyone who means us harm.” Vivi explained

“So we really are safe here?”
Marcia asked

“Yes and I promise you that we are all a real family here.
I also have some great news to share with you that we recently found out.” Vivi tells them

Chapter 20

Decisions

When they were all done eating they took the women and the children up to the house.
Kaiden knew they had bunk beds and cribs in the storage area, he had asked some of the guys to bring them to the house. Some toys had already been delivered so all the women brought the children into the playroom while the bedrooms were being put together.

Alexi and Gosha had come in and made sure that everyone was healthy after spending a week on the boat.
A couple of the babies were dehydrated and had a slight cold, but nothing more. The ladies that worked in the house had already said they would take one toddler and one baby with them in their rooms. The four women were given rooms downstairs and they were given a break from the little ones. The bunk beds were placed in two of the rooms and boys were put in one room the girls in another. That left four babies and four toddlers to find rooms for. Iraina took one toddler and Monica and Rosa took a baby each with them. Justine said she would take a baby, but didn’t trust her skills to take a toddler too. Vivi took the remaining three toddlers with her to her suite. Zoe decided that she wanted to take a baby to her suite. She took the youngest one that Marcia had said was four months old.

Vivi promised her sisters that she would tell them everything in the morning
, but for now to relax and have a good night sleep. Most of the babies were already asleep in someone’s arms. Monica and Rosa were just staring at the babies in their arms. Iraina too was cooing and playing with the one in her arms. Zoe just stared at the sleeping baby girl in her arms. There were definitely more boys then there were girls. Out of the babies, three were girls. Out of the toddlers only four were girls and there were ten bigger boys and only five older girls. The oldest of the girls was twelve and she took charge of her sisters, telling them all to take a bath before bed. Marcia ordered the boys to take showers before she left for some quiet time in the room that was given to her. The oldest boy in the group was ten, he was a very quiet boy and just sort of watched everyone.

Kaiden and the rest of the men all sat around the fire pit and discussed some issues that they all worried about while the women tended to the children.

“Kaiden, I don’t think that we should change the older females anytime soon. I know what they say about their father, I know that Abby and Christian have both given their say about them, but there is the chance that they could turn on us.” Charles said

“The oldest sister, Marcia she is what twenty two?”
Kaiden asks

“She is twenty,
Raquel is nineteen, Sam or Samantha is also nineteen and Megan is only seventeen.” Vivi says as she sits down next to Christian. She also has two little girls and a little boy with her. “This is Maggie she is almost two, this little sweetie is Layla she is sixteen months, and this little guy is Brandon he is three. This is my first time meeting them. I have been gone for six years so lots of new faces for me.” Vivi smiles at the little ones.

“Alright Vivi
, would you think it wrong of us if we didn’t change your sisters until they are all twenty two?” Kaiden asks

“I grew up knowing the oldest ones
, the older kids were very small when I left, but things could have changed since I was away. So no, I don’t think that is wrong of you. I do appreciate you asking me though.” Vivi says

“Well Vivi you are family we will always take your input into consideration, especially when it involves your blood.”
Kaiden says

“Christian told me that
Abby saw some of the boys a gray color. So I think we should pay attention to those ones a little more than the others. I also don’t really want them involved in the training until they are older and understand it. I don’t mind Mateo teaching them something like self-defense or like karate to learn discipline. But I don’t want them to have to fight their brothers. Hopefully this mess will be resolved by that time anyway.” Vivi says

“No they won’t be involved in that, but your older sisters will be required to go through the normal training that Charles does
, if they want to be turned. I will want them to also learn with you and Christian on what Alexi and Gosha are teaching you, the healing and stuff.” Kaiden says

“
I think they would really like that. It has been an eye opener for me. The things Aldrich told us and the things that we can really do are two different things. I am very glad I am being taught by true Blood Dragons.” Vivi said

“Well
, the when and how of the turning is straightened out we just have one more thing to discuss, well maybe two. First, until I fully trust your older sisters I do not want discussion of the lost ones spoken in front of them. If we find one, we take it to the office. Second I would like to move Mateo and Mary down here tomorrow and the bigger kids in their rooms if that is ok with you. The older sisters can stay in their own rooms for now. Once Gosha and Alexi’s house is built, I will ask that two of your sisters share that room. I only ask this because I am hoping to have more survivors come in. And I would only have three rooms open. Now once the other floors are done we will of course have more, but if four came in tomorrow I would have people sleeping on couches.” Kaiden said

“I understand Kaiden you don’t have to explain it.
I know there are a lot of us and it is a bit overwhelming. The older ones might even feel better if you moved them in the female barracks with having to do the training and all. It will also give them a break from being a constant babysitter to these ones. Then, when the bigger kids get older they would move down there too right?” Vivi asks

“Yes
, I require them to move into the barracks once they reach sixteen, but only if they choose to be turned. Otherwise they stay at home until eighteen and then we usually all get together and build a house. Sometimes several live together in one house.” Charles says

“Ok well
, I will ask the older four tomorrow after I talk to them. Now I have to ask, do you all mind if the little kids stay in the house. I don’t want to burden the families that already have children to take on more. We can move the big boys and girls into the rooms Mary and Mateo use tomorrow. But the babies they will have to continue being split up until they are old enough to move into the boy room or the girl room.” Vivi explains

“We already have a nursery in our suite and that is where the smallest baby is going tonight.
Honestly I think after tonight, Zoe will want her to always sleep there. I don’t mind them being in the house, the sound of children laughing has always been a favorite of mine. We will have to baby proof the house, but I think we can manage. Any of you have a problem with the little ones sharing your room a couple nights a week?” Kaiden asks everyone in the room.

“Not at all, as long as there is a crib for the baby and smaller tots
, we can manage. The chairs in our bedrooms are like a small daybeds anyway, so I know this little guy is going there.” Iraina says

“Good thinking.
Alright I don’t know about you all, but I have a feeling this is going to be a long night. Babies in a new home with new people is going to be quite a challenge I haven’t had yet.” Kaiden says as he gets up to find Zoe. “Oh please tell your mates about the no talking thing and good luck tonight for those of you who took little ones.”

Kaiden finds Zoe in the rocking chair in the playroom.
She is staring down at the baby fast asleep in her arms. Kaiden walks over to her and taps her shoulder. She glances up at him and smiles.

“Angel I think it is time to go upstairs.
I will move the bassinet in our room so she isn’t far from you. But we also need to make sure we have everything in case she wakes up in the middle of the night. Diapers and stuff like that.” Kaiden says

“Right I forgot about all that, here take her and I will get it all before we go upstairs.
A lot of the moms brought up diapers and bottles so let me go grab a few and we will go to bed.” She gently moves the baby into Kaiden’s arms and walks to the kitchen. Kaiden stands there cradling the small baby in his arms he now understands why Zoe was just staring at the little baby. She looked like an angel, so sweet and innocent.

Zoe comes back into the playroom and finds Kaiden in the same spot he found her in.
He is sitting in the rocking chair staring at the baby. She taps him on the shoulder and he looks up at her. “I think you are going to have a fight on your hands for the pet name of angel. This little girl looks like the sweetest baby angel alive. How did he make something so beautiful and precious?” Kaiden wonders aloud

“Something beautiful and innocent can be made out of ugliness and hate, keeping it beautiful and innocent is the hard part.”
Zoe says as she gestures for him to follow her. Kaiden walks slowly trying not to jostle the baby. Zoe laughs and tells him he can walk a little faster, that she won’t wake up. When they get to the suite they see that Marcus has a little guy fast asleep in his arms.

“Goodnight Daddy, you look good with a baby in your arms.”
Zoe whispers

“Goodnight baby girl,
Kaiden doesn’t look half bad with one in his arms either. But no rush now, we are all going to have our hands full for a while.” Marcus laughs and walks in his room.

Once
they were in their own room, Kaiden hands the baby back to Zoe and he goes to the Nursery to grab the bassinet. He brings it in the bedroom and places it close to Zoe’s side of the bed. She lays the baby inside the bassinet and covers her with a small blanket. Zoe then sets a couple diapers and wipes on her nightstand with a change of clothing. Then she puts the bottles in the small fridge they have in their living room area. She walks back over to the bed and sits to look at the sleeping baby.

“Angel
are you going to stare at her all night or come to bed yourself?” Kaiden asks

“Oh, sorry I just like looking at her.”
Zoe blushes and gets up to go to the bathroom. She does her nightly routine and then climbs into bed. The baby makes a grunting noise and both Zoe and Kaiden jump to look to make sure she is ok. Once they see that she is fine they lie back down and snuggle into each other. Zoe never really knew she wanted a child until she held the baby in her arms. Until now the idea of children brought a smile to her face, but having held this little girl in her arms she knew that she wanted children.

“Kaiden I hope you want to fill all those rooms out there one day, because I really would like children.
This little one has just proven that to me. For now I get to practice on her.” Zoe said with a smile. Kaiden kissed the top of her head.

“I would love nothing more than to have lots of babies and make you happy Angel.
For now let’s enjoy this one and get some practice in.” Kaiden whispered

The night went smoothly not one bab
ies woke up in the middle of the night. The toddlers were a different story though. They gave the ones who took them quite a fight to go to sleep, but once they were out they slept sound. Someone must have called Marjorie last night, because there were bags upon bags on the front porch full of clothing for the kids and the four older sisters, a shipment of toys had also arrived and were all on the front porch. Marjorie must have thought ahead as there were portable cribs and playpens, there were also loads of diapers in all sizes and just all around things you would need for a baby.

Kaiden and Gabe were the first downstairs with their happy ladies and smiling babies.
They found the stuff on the porch and were bringing it all inside when people started coming downstairs. Breakfast was being served as the clothing was being separated and handed out. A couple smaller tables were brought in and set up behind the huge dining table for all the children. Abby and Ben decided to sit with all the kids and Abby was very happy to have more kids in the house. The older sisters came out of their room in new clothing and joined everyone at the table. They were very quiet and timid at first. So were most of the older children. Zoe and Justine still had the babies they took last night in their arms while they ate.

“You two will be very good mothers one day.”
Rosa said

“Why do you say that?”
Justine asked. She had the baby in one arm and was eating with the other like it was second nature to her. Zoe was doing the same.

“Look at yourself Justine, you too Zoe.
Not many women who aren’t already mothers can do what you are doing right now.” Monica said. Rosa and Monica both had the babies they took last night sitting in their laps.

“Marcia do you know the ages and names of the kids, because I don’t think I know this little ones name.”
Zoe asked

“
Lily is four months she is the one you are holding. She has Jacob he is five months.” She pointed to Justine. “You have Shane he is seven months.” Marcia pointed to Rosa. “You have Landon he is six months.” She pointed to Monica. “And you have James, he is fifteen months old.” Marcia pointed at Iraina

“Oh Marcia I am so sorry.
I didn’t introduce everyone. I am Zoe and this is Kaiden. That is Justine and Gabe, Vivi you know and her mate Christian, Tia and John.” Zoe went down the table telling the names of everyone. In turn everyone nodded their heads at the girls.