"When are we going to tell them?" Nathan asked.
"I'm going to tell Kevyn sometime after the wedding." Patrick replied. "It's up to you when you decide to tell Louise.
"I think I'll wait until Jackson has all of the information gathered." Nathan replied. "In fact, I think I'll ask him to put it into a book, and I'll give it to Louise for either her birthday or Christmas."
"You know, I like that idea." Patrick said. "Would you mind if I did the same thing?"
"Not at all, but then I would suggest that we give them the books at Christmas." Nathan replied.
"Agreed." Patrick replied. "How often do you think this happens?" Patrick asked.
"I would think rarely." Nathan replied, "but do you understand the implications of this?" he asked. "It means that without trying, two powerful families have been paired together. I wonder what else Jackson will turn up"
"I have no idea, but think about it," Patrick said. "The families of both sides have been strengthened. Who knows what other gifts the Yancy's will bring, and what we will have to offer them. I know that this is a change of subject, but are you taking Louise somewhere after the reception?"
"She wants to go back to the beach house for the day, and then I'm taking her to France to look at the cooking school. Why do you ask?"
"Just curious, I'm taking Kevyn away as well, but I don't feel comfortable with leaving the rest of the family here to fend for themselves." Patrick said. "I know that Hans and the others will take good care of them, but I think that Kevyn and Louise will worry about them."
Nathan hadn't thought about it, and admitted that Patrick was right.
"Then we'll leave after the family does." he said. "What do you have in mind?"
"I was thinking about a movie night or something at our house. It shouldn't be hard to keep everyone in one place. The basement has everything anyone could possibly need." Patrick replied.
"I still owe you, Victor and Leon dinner." Nathan said. "When do you plan to talk to Gene?"
"Sometime before he leaves." Patrick replied. "You?"
"I would say that we could do it together, but he's already scared of us." Nathan said. "I'm actually considering not approaching him at all. If he wants my business badly enough, he has to approach me like a man."
"And if he does?" Patrick asked.
"We'll see." Nathan said.
Patrick left a few minutes later. Nathan knew that it was early but he wanted, and needed to hear Louise's voice. She answered on the first ring.
"Good morning." she said softly.
"Good morning, did you rest?" He asked.
"About as well as you did." Louise replied.
"Is the bathroom free?" Nathan asked. "You need to feed."
"It is at the moment." she replied grateful that he had thought about the feeding because she hadn't.
A few minutes later, she was in the bathroom. She drank both glasses of blood that Nathan bought with him, and was leaning into him with her arms around his waist.
"No pain or nausea?" he asked.
"I'm fine and no fever either." Louise replied before he had a chance to ask.
"How did the rest of the night go?" Nathan asked changing the subject.
"I'm glad for telepathy and telephones." Louise replied. "Barb settled down and actually apologized."
"A sincere one?" Nathan asked.
"Half-baked as my mom used to say... I wish that she and dad were here." Louise said.
"I know you do." Nathan said and kissed her head. "So do I." he added meaning it. He would have loved to meet the people who gave birth to, and raised children who were so different from each other.
They stayed in the bathroom until they heard an impatient tap on the door.
"Hurry up!" Barb called in.
"I'll see you at noon with your feeding." Nathan said as he kissed her. "I love you."
Louise opened the bathroom door to let Barb in and looked at her.
"You don't look too good, are you alright?"
"I'm fine just let me pass." Barb snapped.
Barb pushed past Louise and brushed against her arm. Louise felt a flash of knowledge that was gone before it took root. She then realized that she hadn't asked Nathan how the evening with her brothers went.
"I forgot to ask you when I talked to you how the evening with Leon and Gene went." she said when Nathan answered the phone.
"It was fine... Gene left after a couple of hours, and Leon fell asleep which was why I was able to come to you so easily." Nathan said. "But while I have you on the phone, Patrick and I talked this morning. We thought that we could leave on our trips after your family left. What do you think?"
"I kind of wondered about that." Louise said. "I'm fine with waiting, and as you know we don't even have to go anywhere."
"I know, and we've discussed this." Nathan said firmly. "We're going on a honeymoon. It's just postponed until after your family leaves."
He told her about the plans he and Patrick made and asked for her input.
"That sounds like fun." she agreed. "The only thing that I would like to add is that I want the sisters to cook together."
"Hot wings?" Nathan asked.
"If you want." Louise replied laughing.
*******
Barb listened to Lou talking to Nathan, and felt another surge of anger and jealousy. She wasn't sure of how she was going to make it through the day and evening without saying something smart assed. Then she decided that she wouldn't try to control herself. Whatever happened happened. She no longer cared. She pushed the memory of the relatively good time she had the night before away, and allowed her anger and jealousy to take over.
*******
Louise felt the change in Barb as soon as she came out of the bathroom. She lowered her shields, and quickly put them back up. She decided not to say anything. It wouldn't have done any good, and besides, Barb had been warned.
She looked around for Kevyn and saw her sitting out on the patio. She wanted to talk to her before Barb created a problem. She took a step toward the patio, and stopped realizing that she couldn't go outdoors.
"Damn!" she muttered under her breath.
"Bad word." Celeste said from behind her.
Louise jumped. She hadn't heard Celeste come into the room.
"I'm sorry baby." Louise said. "You're right, but could you do something for me?"
"You want me to go get Auntie Kev."
