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"Welcome home, brother," Leon said warmly, hugging me as I entered my home in the vampire world.

"Thank you. Has everything been alright around here?" I said, looking around the mansion like I had been gone for a year. It was nice to be home.

"We have been ok. Ebony has been beside herself with worry about you. She hasn't slept in a week." He shook his head. "Her powers are becoming strong, though. She has been focused on her training with the boys. They have looked after her." He patted me on the back. "How are you doing?"

I shrugged. "I went to confession."

"Excuse me?" Leon raised his eyebrow sharply at me. "Is that a euphemism for sex or something? Is that what the kids are calling it these days?"

"No, I actually went to a church and confessed my sins."

Leon started to laugh like I had just told him a funny punch line.

"I'm not joking."

He stopped laughing and stared at me. "A church? You went to a church."

"I didn't plan on it, but yes, I did."

"I see." He took a step back. "I'm just going to....get a drink...BOYS!....You just stay here, and I'll be right back...BOYS!" He yelled not so subtly to Jacob and Callan.

I shook my head and sighed. "Leon, I'm not possessed, and I'm not crazy. I went to the human world after I was released from the council, and I went to a bar in the city where the bartender helped me find my path again. He helped me see the light.."

"Your path to a church?" Leon said, raising his eyebrow again.

"Yes, well, no, but yes. You had to be there." I threw my arms in the air in frustration. "The cross exploded and everything. It was very dramatic."

"BOYS!" Leon yelled again.

"I met a priest who helped me clear my head by listening to my sins..."

"A priest in a church helped you, a creature made from pure sin in a church?" Leon was looking at me like I was crazy.

"I'm not crazy!" I yelled.

"Who's crazy?" Jacob said, entering from the kitchen. "I swear I didn't do it. It was all Callan's idea...Bossman, when did you get back? Good to see you. Whatever the problem is, though, I didn't do it. Just so you know." Jacob smiled as I hugged him tightly. "Back cracking, ouch." He groaned under my embrace.

"You are such a pussy." Callan laughed behind me. "Father, you're back. You have been missed around here."

"My boy." I turned to hug my son. "My boy."

"Ok, stop now." Callan groaned. "What's going on? Why does Leon look like he has seen a ghost?" Callan looked between Leon and Jacob awkwardly. "What?"

"I don't know, man." Jacob shrugged. "Ask this guy." He pointed to Leon. "Again though, whatever it is, I didn't do it....on purpose."

"I'll let your father explain," Leon said, holding his hands in front of him.

"It's nothing." I protested. "I went to the human world and ended up at a church. No big deal."

"I see, and by the church, you mean brothel?" Jacob said, giving me the same look my brother had given me. "Did you sleep with girls dressed up like nuns and confess your sins because I've been there," Jacob smirked. "Feels good on the inside and outside, if you know what I mean." He winked and smiled.

"No, I went to a damn human church and spoke with a damn priest," I yelled. "What is it with sex and you three?"

"I'm not sure what to say here," Callan said calmly. "You entered a church? A house of God?"

"Yes!"

"Not a woman dressed as a church?" Jacob said with wide eyes.

"That's ridiculous," I rolled my eyes.

"Why? I'd do it?" He said, shrugging. "Enter the church, my son." He said in a deep voice. "Wait, that doesn't sound right.."

"Oh, we know you, sick bastard." Callan laughed.

"I'm sick? Seriously? At least I keep it behind closed doors." Jacob said, clearing his throat and looking over at the living room. "Didn't need to see that before I went to bed."

"You were the pervert watching us. How is that my fault?" Callan scoffed.

"If you get a free live show in your living room, then you sit down and watch it. Damn." Jacob said sarcastically. "You don't necessarily like it, but you watch it. It's free."

"You need help," Callan said, shaking his head.

"Again, I don't need help if I can do it myself." Jacob scoffed.

"Enough," I said, rubbing my temples with my fingers.

"Carter?" I heard her voice behind me, and my body froze. "You're home."

I turned to see Ebony rushing down the stairs toward me. She embraced me with her arms and landed on my body with a thump as she hugged me tightly. "I was so worried about you."

I closed my eyes and hugged her as I let her body almost melt into mine like she belonged there. "I'm fine," I said, resting my lips on top of her head. She pulled me closer to her, and I sighed loudly in relief as I breathed in her scent.

"And I'm out." I heard Callan say before dragging out Jacob with him.

"I'll be upstairs when you are ready to talk," Leon said calmly as he walked toward the stairs.

"I was so worried you weren't coming back because of me. Did they hurt you?" She looked up at me with sadness on her beautiful face. "Did I cause you pain?"

"No, not at all." I blocked out the three days and nights of pure torture that I had endured from the vampire council as punishment for bringing her into my home. It didn't matter anymore. I just stared into her eyes and smiled. "Everything is fine," I said, pushing her hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry I left you for long."

She buried her face into my chest and squeezed me tightly. "You're home. That's all that matters."

"Leon informed me you are not sleeping well. Is this because of me?" I said, lifting her chin with my finger.

"I was just worried I would never see you again. I am confused by these feelings and thoughts of you, and I find it hard to shut it all off sometimes." She almost whispered. "I know I am not supposed to feel this way. I apologize." She turned her head from me and took a step back. "I know I make you uncomfortable. I am sorry."

"Ebony, I.." I froze as she turned back to look at me with a tear running down her cheek. She lifted her finger to wipe it away and then turned away once again. "I.."

"I know what you're going to say." She said nervously, fidgeting with her fingers. "You Miss your Ebony, and I need to understand that it is not me."

"I do miss her, but that is not what I wanted to say to you."

"It isn't?" She said, wiping another tear.

"I wanted to tell you that I missed you." I watched her eyes return to mine. "More than I even realized, actually." I smiled as her face lit up with my words. "I would like nothing more than to get to know you. I owe you that."

"Me? You want to know me?" She pointed to her chest in disbelief. "But I don't know who I am."

"Then let's find out who you are. Let's start this again so you can feel comfortable here in your home."

A slight smile came across her perfect lips, and she blushed slightly. "Start again?"

"My name is Carter, and I like to yell sometimes," I smirked, holding out my hand to her. "Your turn. Tell me your name and something that you like to do."

She paused for a moment before taking my hand in hers. "My name is Ebony, and I like hitting things." She said proudly, shaking my hand. "I like hitting things very much."

"As do I," I said, running my finger over her hand slowly. "It's nice to meet you, Ebony."

She gave me a genuine smile of happiness that made my body flush with heat, and she was about to speak, but the sound of Cayden crying interrupted her. "I should probably go to him."

"I'll come with you. I would love to see my son."

She gave me that smile again and nodded. "He would love to see you. He's grown so much since you last saw him."

She took my hand and led me upstairs toward Cayden's bedroom.

"Carter," she said softly before opening the door.

"Yes."

"When you eventually find your human soul, can you promise me one thing? Can you promise to tell Cayden of me when he is older and let him know that I love him more than anything in the world? I want nothing more than to see him grow up happy, and I know he will in this family." She looked down at the ground. "That is the last time I will burden you with these thoughts." She turned her head towards the door.

"Ebony, I don't want you to leave. You are a part of this family, and you always have been. Cayden is your son, and you will be here to watch him grow."

"When you return her soul to my body, I will no longer be here. My essence will fade to the background just as it did before Cayden. I'm only here because she was too weak to survive. I found myself becoming stronger weeks before she passed, but.."

"Weeks?"

She nodded. "Her soul was damaged, and she was becoming weaker, but I swear I had no idea she was dying. The darkness was slowly killing her for a very long time, but I couldn't protect her. When you find her again, I promise you I will not put up a fight."

"Do you mean to tell me that you were in control of this body weeks before she died?"

"Not complete control, no, but I was conscious. I don't have her memories, but I do have pictures and sounds in my head from all of you. Especially you." She blushed.

"Well, I guess that explains Cayden."

She blushed even more. "I swear she was in control when she was with you. I have never been with a ..." she pressed her lips together. "It doesn't matter. I should get to Cayden."

I touched her arm, and she looked back at me nervously. "I can assure you that if we find her soul and manage to return her to this body, you will always be a part of this family, and I, for one, will never forget you." I placed her hand in mine. "You gave me my son, and you protected my wife, and I am forever in your debt." I kissed her hand softly. "And by the way, you have been with a man, and Cayden is proof of that." I smiled at her innocence.

"I.." Cayden screamed again, interrupting her, and I tried not to smile. She didn't know how to process what I had just said, which was adorable.

"I don't want you to leave, nor does your son. Now come on, let's get in there before the windows start breaking again." I pushed the door open and walked over to Cayden's crib. "Oh my goodness. Look at you, my boy." I smiled, picking up my son. "Look at how much you have grown." Cayden looked up at me with his aqua eyes and reached his hand up to my face.

"He has missed you. It's amazing how much he looks like you." Ebony said softly, sitting in the wooden rocking chair by the crib.

"You are certainly a Morgan, my boy, aren't you." I kissed the top of his perfect head and took a moment to take in his scent. What is it about a baby that smells so good? I sighed loudly as I closed my eyes and enjoyed the moment holding my son. My whole body felt a calmness I have never felt before.

"He is almost asleep again." I heard Ebony's voice next to me. "We haven't been sleeping the best lately,"

"You shouldn't worry about me so much." I looked into her big beautiful eyes. "I will always return to you."

"You will always return to your family. I guess I just want to spend as much time as I can with you both before..." she paused only for a second. "I just want to spend time with you both, that's all." She looked away and cleared her throat. "I should probably leave you. You must have things to do. Goodnight, Carter." She walked towards the door, and I felt Ebony's call in my chest. It wasn't strong like it used to be, but I would recognize it anywhere.

"Wait," I said, putting Cayden back in his crib. "I'll walk you to your room."

"I was just going to sleep downstairs again. My room feels...strange sometimes. Almost like I don't belong there. I know that sounds silly, but.."

"It doesn't." I took her hand in mine. "In fact, I might know somewhere you can sleep that feels a little more like home." I gently pulled her out of Cayden's room and down the hallway toward my bedroom.

"I'm confused," she pulled back against my hand. "This is your bedroom."

"No, this was once our bedroom, and I think this is the reason the other bed feels wrong to you. Just try sleeping in here for tonight. I will stay in Cayden's room and look after him. You get some sleep in your bed." I smiled at her and opened the door. "Just try it for me."

"Carter, I don't think I..." she closed her eyes and smiled softly. "I remember that smell. I can smell your cologne and..." she opened her eyes and looked at me. "I remember your smell."

"That sounds strange, but I know what you mean." I nodded, satisfied at her reaction. "Go to bed, and I will see you tomorrow night." I kissed her hand softly. "Goodnight, Ebony."

"Goodnight, Carter."


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