Chapter thirteen

When I woke up Aiden was nowhere to be found. I silently cursed myself for getting so upset last night. I had never told anyone as much as I had Aiden. He just made me feel so relaxed. I sat up and stretched my stomach growled. I looked at the clock, one in the evening. I had slept so much later then I had planned. I snuggled back underneath the covers and rolled over onto Aidens side of the bed. It still smelled like him. Where was he I needed to tell him I was sorry for last night.

I laid there for a while not wanting to get out of bed but not tired enough to fall back asleep. Even though I felt hungry I didn't want to get up and eat. I literally just wanted to disappear right now. I felt like I had let Aiden down somehow. Aiden where were you? I thought closing my eyes tightly to not cry.

"I'm right here little one. Why are you still in bed?" I looked over at him.

"Didn't feel like getting up. Where were you?" I didn't want to sound needy but I knew I did.

"Grocery shopping to get everything you needed for dinner tonight." Fuck. I had almost forgotten about that.

"I didn't tell you what I was making though." He looked surprised.

"You did last night when you were dreaming. You wanted to make your grandmothers ham with roasted broccoli and mashed potatoes right? And for desert you said something about a cheesecake and mentioned your favorite wine." This man was too much.

"I must have forgotten. I'm sorry." He laid next to me and pulled me into his arms.

"You don't gotta apologize. After what you told me last night it had to of opened some old wounds." I nodded. "I know what will cheer you up." He finally whispered.

"Keep it in your pants." I muttered, he laughed.

"Tempting but that's not what I was referring to my love." I sighed, or course not.

"Then what?" I mumbled into the pillow.

"Mmm it's a surprise. Come on little one." He got out of the bed and came over to his side where I was still laying face down into his pillow. I groaned and sat up. I looked up at him. His golden eyes seemed brighter when he smiled. He offered me his hand and I took it. In one swift movement he pulled me up off the bed and against his chest. He wrapped his arms around me quickly and kissed me. He pulled away after a few minutes and led me to the kitchen. "Sit." He said in a stern voice while pointing to the table. I nodded and did as he said.

I could hear him making something but I was so lost in my own thoughts I had no idea what he was making. A part of me was worried that now that he knew everything he'd want to leave me. Could he? Just because I was marked by him didn't mean he had to stay with me right? Was there a way to undo it? The thought of him un-marking me and leaving me made my heart sink into my stomach. I felt like I was gonna cry.

"There is no way I could leave you. Once we've marked our mate we are devoted to them. Our mates become the center of our world we would much rather die then be without them." I looked over at Aiden who was squatting so he was eye level to me.

"But I'm damaged. I have crap self esteem, depression, anxiety, im an introvert..."

"That doesn't matter to me. You're smart, funny, beautiful, kind hearted, genuine, creative and so many other wonderful things that I'm drawn to you like a magnet. That hurt part of you is only a fraction of who you are Letty. Seeing you like this makes me hurt because I just wish I could take all the pain away from you but I know I can't." He looked like he was going to cry. Great why did I always fuck stuff up? He shook his head. "You haven't fucked anything up. Stop beating yourself up." I shrugged.

"I would if I could but it's not that easy. It's not like I can flip a switch and make my depression just vanish."

"I know love." I looked up at him.

"Can Reapers have mental illnesses?" He thought for a moment and shrugged.

"I would assume so. We're not that different from humans" He stood up and grabbed a plate and cup off the counter and sat them in front of me. "Now eat love, it'll make you feel better." I looked at the plate and smiled. He wasn't wrong.

I don't remember when I told him I loved French toast with strawberries and whipped cream but he somehow knew. And to go with it was a big cup of orange juice instead of coffee. It was probably for the best.

After a super late breakfast he half dragged me back to room and picked out a calf length black dress that had pleats around the bottom. I honestly only ever wore that dress for funerals. It was probably one of the nicest dresses I owned, mostly due to the fact it showed no cleavage. It did accent my chest and hips nicely though since it did cling a little to those areas. Unlike most my dresses it was a short sleeve dress but the sleeves were made of a mesh like material.

"Love we really need to get you some more dresses." He said shaking his head after looking through all my dresses.

"What's wrong with what I have?" I said peeping into the closet he had given me for my clothes.

"Nothing, you just don't have many formal ones." That was true I only owned like three formal ones. I shrugged.

"I don't go to many formal events so never had the use for many. I have one that I wear for thanksgiving and Easter, one for Christmas's weddings and one for funerals." He shook his head.

"It's not like that in my world love trust me there are formal events at least twice a month." I raised an eyebrow at him.

"And you're just now telling me this because?"

"Because I wanted to make sure you met my family first before I take you to the events. They're not mandatory." I rolled my eyes. He went back to digging through my closet.

"You don't even own a pair of heels?" He was pushing it.

"Look I'm clumsy as all hell putting me in heels is like asking for me to kill myself ok. Plus with having low arches in my feet and being my size heels are not comfortable. I have some low wedges and some boots and nice looking sandals, take your pick." He laughed.

"My love clearly you've never had a proper pair of heels. My mother has the same issues as you and she wears heels quite frequently." I tilted my head.

"Like me how?" I asked leaning forward to stretch my back.

"Clumsy and a bigger woman." He said with a shrug.

"Huh." I said standing up to change into the dress he had picked out.

"What?" He asked still rooting through my closet.

"I don't know that's just not how I pictured your mom." I opened my jewelry box and picked out my silver crescent moon necklace and some earrings.

"How did you picture her?" He asked giving up and going to his closet so he could get ready. I shrugged.

"I guess petite, very pretty, black hair, dark skin. I'm not sure really." I said with a shrug. He chuckled.

"Well she's actually a little taller than you, blonde hair, bright blue eyes almost like yours and she's only a hair darker than you." I looked over at him. I guess it made sense considering he wasn't as dark as his father.

"Huh. I would of never guessed your mom was white." I said shaking my head.

"I have a picture of my family somewhere in the unpacked boxes. I keep forgetting to buy stuff to hang them." I watched as he pulled out a box and set it on the bed. "Matter of fact all my photos are in that box." He said pulling on a dark red button up shirt and tucking it into his black dress pants. I sat on the bed and opened the box. I pulled out the picture on top and smiled.

There it was a picture of Aiden and his family. I recognized his father Elias and his brother Diedritch but not anyone else besides him. He sat behind me and smiled. I could tell by that smile how much he loved his family. I noticed the only woman in the photo with her arms around Aiden and another man I didn't recognize. She had a beautiful smile and looked so happy. Her eyes looked like an ice blue color, her golden blond hair fell in beautiful waves and curls to her waist. She looked like she was roughly my size with broad shoulders and magnificent curves. She was absolutely beautiful.

"That's my mom, Yevette." Aiden said pointing at her. "This is my brother Blaine." He said pointing to the other man his mother had her arm around.

He was tall like Aiden was but he was significantly darker then Aiden. His golden eyes were the same though and he had a charming smile. His hair though was significantly shorter then everyone else's.

"He looks like your dad." I said after a few moments. Aiden chuckled.

"I suppose he does. He was born after Diedritch. This here is my brother Marcel." I could hear the slight agitation in his voice. I looked at the man he was pointing to. He was very muscular like a professional body builder would be. He was lighter then Aiden and had golden brown hair that had waves like their mother's hair. His eyes were soft looking despite still being that same golden color as Aidens. He was about the same height as Aiden if I had to guess and the way he dressed reminded me so much of many of the popular guys I went to high school with.

"He looks like a wanna be Ken doll." I mumbled. Aiden burst out in laughter and I blushed. I hadn't meant to say that out loud.

"You may be right my love. Last but not least though is my little brother Tobias." He pointed to a tall, lanky looking man. He had a nice smile but looked really shy about everything really.

"I thought you said all your brothers were kinda stuck up and vain?" Tobias certainly didn't look that way. He shrugged.

"Oh trust me they are don't let Tobias innocent look fool you." He took the picture frame from me and handed me another one. It was of Diedritch a woman and three teenagers.

"Is this Diedritchs family?" Aiden nodded.

"Yeah he sent me this last Christmas. This is his wife Lily she's a demon, this is his oldest son Connor and his twins Cain and Abel." I looked at him.

"Really?" He shrugged.

"Lily named the twins since he named Connor." I studied the picture. Lily was pale like me with red hair and fierce green eyes. Connor looked exactly like Diedritch. The twins were Aidens complexion roughly but had auburn hair that made their golden eyes look intense.

"How come Lily doesn't have red eyes?" I asked thinking of Vanessa.

"Not all demons have red eyes. Most do but sirens all have green eyes."

"Sirens are demons?" He nodded and handed me another picture. This time of Blaine and a beautiful woman. Although her and Blaine were the same complexion her skin had a radiant golden glow to it and her eyes were a gorgeous ice blue.

"Is she a demon like your mom?" Aiden shook his head.

"No Ariel, Blaines wife, is an Angel. They're currently expecting."

"So what kind of Demon is your mom then?"

"My mom is a rare case. Her and her siblings are Arch demons."

"What the fuck is an Arch demon?" I said looking at him confused.

"Some call them celestial demons as well. Basically they were the first Demons created by the Gods. There's not a ton of them left, most died during the wars. My mom and her siblings are one of like fourty left I think. Maybe less." He said with a shrug.

"So they're really strong aren't they?" He nodded.

"The strongest. They created the demon race known as the reapers."

"Reapers are considered demons?" He shrugged.

"Yes and no. It's really complicated like I said the first of us was half angel half arch demon we were the offspring."

"And female reapers are fates?" I was confused.

"Yes but the first fate, the three sisters actually were created by the Gods, their blood helped to create the celestial or arch demons."

"But how does that make the females born fates?" He shrugged.

"We're not really sure it's something to do with the genetics. None of us are completely sure of the history like I said. This was back at the beginning of everything, billions of years ago."

"But why aren't female reapers born as angels instead of fates?"

"Because the fates blood is stronger then that of the angels and celestial demons combined."

"Jesus how the hell do you guys remember all of this?" He shrugged.

"Our education is different then the humans we learn this stuff at a young age. Ah here it is." He handed me another picture frame and I looked at it. There his mom stood,she looked slightly younger in this photo though. Next to her was a tall slender man with his arms wrapped around her shoulders and another woman's shoulders who looked slightly older than his mother. Next to his mother was another man and woman embracing each other. The photo was in black and white so I knew it was old.

"So this is the only picture I have of my mother's parents they died in the Second World War. Both are celestial demons. My grandmothers name was Ester and my grandfather was Isaiah. This is my mother's older brother Michael and her younger sister Amelia. Both are still alive but I haven't seen them in a long time, I don't think either have children." I handed the photo back to him and he handed me another one. This one was more recent I could tell by the quality. I recognized Aidens father sitting next to three other men who all looked relatively similar to him with bright golden eyes. Behind them stood a man who was clearly older and resembled the boys very closely and a woman who was the same dark complexion with bright red eyes.

"Your fathers side?" I asked. He nodded.

"So these are my fathers younger brothers in order Eric, Sebastian and Geoffrey. These are my fathers parents Solomon and Imi. I don't see my fathers side often, they don't exactly approve of my mother." He said shaking his head.

"Wow even in your world in-laws suck." I muttered he laughed.

"Here's the last photo I have. So that's my uncle Eric his wife my aunt Natalia whom was human actually and his twins Sylvia and Sylvester."

"Oh wow." I said studying the photo. Natalia had beautiful tan skin, brown eyes and long black hair. She was beautiful. Aidens cousins were a beautiful combination of the two.

"I unfortunately don't see them often but you would love Natalia and Sylvia." He said smiling fondly at the picture.

"Your family is very dear to you aren't they?" He nodded then looked at his watch.

"They are but my love you may want to finish getting ready so we can start dinner. I looked at the clock and nodded. I picked out the rest of the jewelry I wanted then headed into the bathroom to do my hair and makeup

When I walked into the kitchen I stopped dead in my tracks. Aiden stood there in the black dress pants and dark red shirt he had picked out but had put on a black and red intricate looking vest and black tie while I had been getting ready. He looked amazing. He turned and smiled at me. I felt so under dressed compared to him. He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me closer to him.

"Nonsense you look gorgeous."

"Are we over dressed?" I asked burying my face in his chest and deeply inhaling his scent.

"No. In my world this would be considered an occasion for formal dress."

"In my world this is just a jeans and nice shirt kind of occasion. I muttered. He laughed and looked at me.

"Humans are vastly different then any creature I have ever known." I shook my head and let go of him.

"I suppose so. Now shoo and let me cook." He laughed and left me in the kitchen by myself. He had already put the ham in the roasting pan so I went to work preparing it the way my grandmother always had. Once it was in the oven I made the cheesecake and put it in the rack below.

I set the table around seven thirty while the ham was finishing up in the oven, everything else was done. I knew Aiden would want to try my favorite wine so I just poured some into all three glasses I had set the table so that Aiden and Vanessa would be across the table from each other and I'd be next to Aiden. I figured it would make them both feel at ease. There was a knock at the door just as the oven timer went off for the ham.

"I'll get the oven." Aiden grumbled walking past me. Sour puss. I just nodded and went to the door. When I opened it Vanessa stood there looking slightly uneasy. She was wearing a dark green dress that fit her very nicely. Her hair was up in a bun and she wore very little jewelry with light makeup. Honestly she looked better than me in my opinion. She glance up at me and smiled. She looked relieved that it was me who answered the door.

"Astrid I'm glad you're here." I said smiling. She looked nervous but still forced a smile.

"Thanks again for this Letty. I definitely owe you answers for whatever you want to know."

"I'm doing this because you're my friend and I don't want things to be awkward." It was the truth. "Come on in though." I moved to the side and let her come in. She walked in hesitantly and I shut the door behind her. I led her over to the table and showed her where to sit. She situated herself in the chair and I gave her a reassuring smile before going into the kitchen.

Aiden stood there glaring at the ham. I was almost certain he wasn't mad at that though. His hands were gripped onto the counter top so tightly his knuckles looked almost white. I could tell he was furious. His golden eyes looked over at me and they looked almost red, that was new. I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him tightly from behind.

"I don't think I can do this." He growled.

"Yes you can Aiden. It's time you guys laid this grudge to rest." I could feel his muscles relax.

"You're right of course but I won't admit it to anyone but you." He turned around and wrapped his arms around me. "Lets get this over with." He said finally relaxing. He grabbed the pan with the ham and I grabbed the serving tray he had and placed the broccoli, mashed potatoes and gravy on it. He followed me into the dining room and I saw Vanessas eyes light up at the sight of him. Did she still have feelings for him? I started to second guess this dinner.

"Oh wow Letty that looks amazing!" She said looking at the ham as Aiden and I set the food on the table. He completely ignored her.

"Thank you it's my grandma's recipe." I started to pick the cloves and pineapple rings off the top of it. I set them on a small plate and began to carve the ham. Aiden smiled at me as I made up each plate and then sat down myself. I watched him take a bite of everything and he looked so happy.

"It's delicious my love." He finally said after taking a sip of wine.

"I knew you'd like it." He nodded and finally looked at Vanessa, I followed his gaze. She stopped eating and took a sip before wiping her mouth and folding her hands on her lap.

"Letitia said you wanted to talk Astrid and for her sake I agreed to this so talk." Aiden growled at her. I reached for his hand on the table and squeezed. His eyes did not soften and he kept his gaze fixated on her.

"Aiden let her eat first." I said softly. Vanessa shook her head.

"It's alright Letty." She gave a small smile before turning her attention to Aiden.

"Yes I do wish to speak with you Aiden about what happened. You know only half the story." Aiden looked like he didn't care.

"Perhaps but I know what I need to know and that would be that you slept with my brother behind my back. Then you tried to tell me it wasn't your fault. Do I look stupid Astrid?" The way he said her name with so much hatred made even me flinch slightly. I squeezed his hand even tighter.

"Aiden let her talk." He looked at me for a moment and contemplated my words. He relaxed and sat back in his chair. I looked at Vanessa and nodded.

"You had been gone for three days Aiden. In that time Marcel kept coming to my apartment and trying to make advances. I told him no and continuously made him leave me alone. The night you came back I was waiting for you. I was going to surprise you. All the lights were off. I heard someone come into the room and climb into bed next to me. Marcel never said a word the entire time. You know your brother can make you think he's someone else. When you came into the room and turned on the lights that was when I realized it wasn't you I was having sex with." The idea of Vanessa and Aiden made my heart hurt a little. Why did I agree to sit in on this discussion. Aiden seemed to think about her words for a moment.

"You didn't seem surprised or shocked when you looked down at my brother while still on his dick." She shook her head.

"You ran out of the room so quickly you didn't see how angry I got at him. You didn't see me punch him in the face repeatedly. You saw none of that Aiden." I could hear the sadness in Vanessas' voice as she spoke. Aiden shook his head.

"I'm not saying I believe you but none of that matters to me much anymore. I don't exactly forgive you either. However I will agree to be civil and polite to you for the sake of my mate." Aiden finally said while smiling at me. I could see how much he was still hurting. I knew he didn't love Vanessa anymore but I knew he was still hurt over how everything had happened. He may not love her now but I knew at some point in time he did, even though that was well before I was even born.

"I appreciate it." Vanessa finally said.

"I'm not doing it for you though just remember that." Aiden said picking his fork back up. Was this how things always went at these types of things?

I watched as the two of them became silent and began to eat again. I started eating as well and contemplated everything. Aiden had agreed to be civil to my friend and that was all I could really ask for. It made me think of my situation with Mark. I had a few friends who were still friends with him. Should I try to be civil with him for their sake?

"Are you done my love?" Aiden asked looking at my half eaten plate. He looked finished and so did Vanessa.

"Yes I am thank you." Aiden cleared the table and left Vanessa and I alone."

"You look deep in thought." Vanessa finally said after a few moments. I smiled at her.

"It's nothing." She studied me for a moment.

"You're thinking about if you should talk to Mark and be civil with him aren't you?" She finally said. I nodded.

"Key word is thinking." I pointed out finishing my glass of wine.

"Letty although it certainly is your choice I wouldn't. He put you through way to much in the seven years you guys were together."

"I know but we do have some mutual friends and I can't imagine what things must be like for them." Vanessa shook her head.

"For once stop thinking about everyone else's wants and needs and think of yours. I saw how mentally shattered you were when he left the last time. I watched as you became so closed off and cold to everyone. I watched you start to slowly give up on living. We all had to live with seeing the hurt in your eyes every day especially when you found out about Carmen. There is no person on this earth more undeserving of your forgiveness then him." I squirmed uncomfortably in my chair.

"I know." I muttered.

"Then please don't talk to him. We know how he is. He'll sweet talk his way into your good graces then the minuet you put up a boundary with him he'll get super defensive and pissed off, somehow make you believe it's your fault and then bounce after six months again. He doesn't love you. He loves the control he has over you. He loves how miserable he makes you." Hearing her say those words made it hard for me to breathe.

I had always known Mark didn't really love me. Despite what he said. I just never wanted to admit it to myself, or anyone for that matter. I wanted to believe that he truly did love me. Vanessa was right though. Every time he didn't get his way he behaved like a child. One time I told him no when he asked me back out and he literally said nothing and went inside then ignored me for six months. She was completely right, he didn't love me.

"I know. That's why I haven't decided what to do honestly." I said with a sigh.

"Think of what's best for the baby." Baby? I looked at her confused.

"What baby?" I asked curiously.

"You can't tell?" She asked pointing to her stomach.

"You're pregnant?" I asked confused. She laughed and shook her head.

"Not me, you." I froze.

"No I'm not." I said shaking my head.

"You'll see in a week or two. Only a day in from the smell and look of it."

"What will we see in two weeks?" Aiden asked coming back into the room. My eyes widened in horror at Vanessa as I gave her a pleading look. She shrugged.

"That Mark will loose interest and leave her alone." Aiden nodded.

"I don't think he will. You don't know him like I do. He's very persistent." I said shaking my head.

"Well if he doesn't I'll make him." Aiden said sitting next to me again. I smiled at him."should we serve the cheesecake now or in a few my love?" I looked at Vanessa and she just nodded.

"If you guys are still hungry you guys can have some now, I'm kinda full." I said with a shrug. Aiden nodded.

"Very well I'll get some for Astrid and myself. Do you want coffee love?" I thought about what Vanessa said if it was true I probably shouldn't.

"No but some lemonade will be fine." I started to feel guilty considering I had just drank two glasses of wine at diner. As soon as Aiden left the room and I looked at Vanessa with a worried look.

"Don't worry reaper children are very resilient the baby will be fine just don't drink anymore alcohol." She said before I could even ask.

"How are you so certain though?"I asked.

"Reaper children have a distinct smell to us demons and I can smell it when Aiden isn't around that's how I figured it out. Not only that you smell different then normal. It smells like a fresh conception to be honest."

"But how do you know I'll know for sure in two weeks?" I was so confused.

"You're period always came on the full moon, the full moon is in two weeks."

"And how do you know my cycle?" I don't recall telling her that.

"I could literally smell it." She chuckled.

"Do all demons have a heightened sense of smell?" I asked. She nodded and held a finger to her lips very quickly.

Aiden cane back to the table with a smaller serving tray then what I had used earlier. He placed a slice of cheesecake in front of Vanessa, a cup of lemonade in front of me and then sat down with a plate of cheesecake for himself. I looked at him and smiled. He took a bite and I watched his eyes light up.

"I'm not a fan of cheesecake but I like this." He said smiling at me.

"I'm glad."I took a sip of lemonade and watched him and Vanessa practically inhale their desert. All I could think though was a huge fuck my life. I hadn't even been living with Aiden yet alone dating him for long and I was supposedly already carrying his child. I didn't know what to do. I loved him without a doubt. The mark on my neck proved we were mates so I wasn't too worried about if he was the one because I knew he was. I just wish we had been together longer.

"Well thank you for dinner but I must be going I have to be at work in a few hours and need to change first." Vanessa said standing up. I nodded an stiffs and walked her to the door while Aiden coated the table again.

"Thanks for coming." I said as we hugged good bye at the door. She shook her head.

"No thank you Letty for everything you've done. I can't wait to meet the little one. But I'll keep quiet until you make an official announcement. I know his family is going to be so happy." I smiled at her. She grabbed her purse and walked out the door waving good bye.

"Finally we're alone." Aiden said wrapping his arms around my waist and kissing my neck from behind. "Now I can get you out of that dress, well everything really, and take you until the sun comes up." I turned around and smiled at him kissing him gently.

"Under one condition." I said slowly unbuttoning his vest.

"What's that baby?" I smiled.

"You dress like this for me more frequently." He bit my neck gently.

"On one condition." He whispered in my ear.

"Hmm?" Was all I could say as he started to suck on my neck.

"You let me get you more formal clothes so you can dress like this for me more frequently." I groaned.

"Fine but no pink or yellow." He laughed and nodded.

"Deal now let me get you in the room and out of those clothes." He picked me up and carried me to our room. I knew tonight was going to be a good night and for a while I even forgot about the possible child growing in me. Maybe, just maybe Vanessa was wrong.