acontritemess | Little birds have to jump out of the nest if they're going to fly

[Freya slides into the back seat giving Cat the front seat.]

Sweet. Um... how fair is it from here?

I don't remember the last time we've eaten.

[She grins at Richard who just smiles.]

We'll stop and get you a snack. You hungry too Cat?

[He looks over to him, giving him that same friendly smile before looking back out the window. It was beautiful here.]

Yeah, I am, sort of. [She felt relaxed, comfortable, with this male. He was probably the nicest person she's ever met.]

[Richard nods, looking back to the road.]

Then that's what we'll do.

Wait...

[Freya leans forward so that she's speaking between Richard and Cat.]

Won't Rebecca get angry if we detour?

[Richard chuckles softly.]

I didn't say where we were going to get food. If we have signal email her and let her know we're on the way.

[Richard mentioning signal made Cat think of her own phone and she pulled it from her pocket, frowning as she unlocked the screen and saw the red X on the tower.]

Well, I don't.

[Crap. It'd been a while since she'd spoken to Toby, at more than 24 hours at least, and he was probably worried.]

When does the signal usually kick in?

[Richard chuckled again.] Not this far from town. Don't worry, we'll be there soon.

Only in town.

[Freya informs Cat with a smile.]

The charms of Montana. So, you gonna fill me in?

[Richard smiles.]

If Cat doesn't mind.

[Freya rolls her eyes.]

I'm sure she doesn't. Pleeeease. Rebecca is only going to yell at me for being away for so long without even writing... [She might as well get some headway on what's changed.]

[Great. Toby is going to be so worried.]

No, I don't mind. I know it's been a long time since you've been back here.

[Richard nods then glances into the rearview mirror to look at Freya momentarily.]

Where do you want me to start?

[Freya grins, her head resting against the back of Cat's seat.]

The beginning?

[Her lips form into a slight frown.]

Wait... how about where is everyone now. I like now better.

[Richard glances back at Freya before starting.]

Stephanie has mated and has three kids. Joy is traveling through Canada. Amanda is... being a teenager. Jason is mated and lives in Canada. Jessica, Peter and James are living at the house with Rebecca.

[There were so many names and Cat was pretty sure she'd never remember them all, but she listened intently, trying without interrupting.]

[Freya follows along, filling in the details that Richard doesn't say. She knows that Jason and him are brothers and then that Jessica and Peter are siblings... she has no idea who james is but she assumes it's another one.]

And what about Ranger Dave?

[Richard smiles, clearly trying not to laugh at Freya's choice of words.]

After college he moved next door and has been working in the forest. Rebecca gives him a hard time about it since he doesn't often leave his territory.

[Richard looks over at Cat and smiles.]

We have a big family. Rebecca is David's, Stephanie's, Joy's and Amanda's biological mother. She adopted Jason and me after our parents passed away which is why our last name is Achten, though we were old enough to go out on our own. We both live in Canada now. She also adopted Jessica, Peter and James after their parents passed away. They are a lot younger and live with her. We have a room for both of you at Rebecca's. David's been adding onto the house as more kids have arrived.

[He flashes Cat another smile before looking back at the road.]

It's okay if you don't remember all of that.

[Cat can't help but look a little overwhelmed. They did have a very large family, much larger than hers, and this number was greatly reduced by the sound of it.

And my brothers had something to do with that. She put on a smile and nodded.]

I should have brought a notepad.

[Freya laughs and then shakes her head.]

Relax Cat, there isn't a test. Besides, whoever meets you will fall in love with you.

[Richard smiles.]

Sorry if I overwhelmed you.

[Frowns back at Freya before shaking her head at Richard.]

No, you don't have to apologize. [She takes a breath to steel her nerves.] You just have a really big family. How do you keep them all straight?

[Richard shrugs.]

I've known them all my life. I guess it just...happens. So...you have a smaller family, I take it?

[Cat nods.] There's my father, Gus, and my mother, Kelsey. MY oldest brother, Toby who's mated and her name is Cas but he hasn't left home yet. That's...sort of complicated, but anyway, then Chase. He left and claimed territory in Ohio. He's mated now to a female named Delilah. I think she's from Texas originally. Emma is my oldest sister, but she still lives at home. Kevin left too, and claimed territory in Minnesota. [Her eyes dart toward Freya for just a moment before looking back toward Richard.] But he hasn't mated yet. Lyla, my other sister, is his twin and still lives at home, too. Then there's me. Oh, and Jake. I guess he's my little brother, but he was adopted after his parents...passed away, and he's human. His older sister is sort of like a sister, too. Her name's Airy. She's married to another human named Nathan, so that sort of makes him my brother.

[She blinks and laughs slightly, ducking her head.]

So, I don't have any room to talk about big families...

[Freya sits back as Cat begins to through the long list of her family. When she mentions Kevin Freya can't help but start to think about him. Her eyes glaze over for a second before she shakes her head and begins to pay attention to the conversation again.]

Cat's family is cool! I've met them all.. well most of them.

[She leans forward again smiling.]

It sounds like a wonderful family.

They are really cool. [She looks back toward Freya.] Even the ones you haven't met.

[Richard smiles.]

They sound cool. There should be a store just around this bend. We'll stop for snacks then head into town.

[Freya falls back into the back seat, her arms resting limply at her sides. She stares at the back of Richards head for a really long time before saying anything else.]

Want to just turn on some of the horrible country you like? I feel like you're idea of around this bend is a lot longer than what Cat or I are used too...

[His perception of time is most likely different than theirs. In cities everything is very close together.]

[Richard laughs softly.]

You really have changed Freya.

[Her eyebrow rose before glancing over at Cat.]

That doesn't sound like a compliment. What do you think Cat?

I think calling it "horrible" is pretty telling. [She laughs.

Richard nods and turns on the radio, filling his SUV with the Greatest Hits of George Strait. The stop off at the store was quick, Richard giving them both an idle and silent urgency to their movements before they continued on. Rebecca's large home was on a large chunk of property on the far side of Columbia Falls and he pulled into the drive.]

We shouldn't make Aunt Rebecca wait any longer than we have.

[He turns off the ignition and opens the doors for the girls.]

After you.

[Cat smiles, thanks him, and waits for Freya to take the lead into the house, trying not to be nervous and failing miserably.]

[Freya jumps out with her backpack slung over her shoulder. She stares at the front door for a long time before stepping up to it. It's unlocked, go figure.]

Let's get this over with...

[She inhales a deep breath of air before opening the door.]

Hi?

[Rebecca is there and waiting.]

Freya! Where have you been? What is this?!

[Cat follows her inside and immediately is reminded of the first time she saw their mother when Toby brought them to HQ. She was powerful, intimidating, and radiated an all-consuming love that could either move mountains or put out a fire if someone she cared about were burning.

She was immediately in awe of the woman, and at a loss for words, but she also didn't feel like it was her turn to speak. She looked over to Freya and gave her a gentle nudge.

Please. Don't leave me hanging here. You brought me here. Say something.]

Did you really come all this way to just stand in the door way?

[Rebecca, however, seemed to always have words.]

[Freya looks over at Cat as if begging the other girl to say something. When nothing comes Freya steps forward, her eyes on Rebecca.]

Hi... I guess.

[She rubs her arm, for the firs time feeling awkward.]

Is that all you have to say?

...yes?

[Cas bit her lip, feeling awkward both for herself and for Freya, and stepped forward to stand beside her friend, holding out a hand.]

Hello. I'm Cat, a friend of Freya's. It's nice to meet you.

[Rebecca looks to Cat then, nodding and shaking the girl's hand.] David mentioned Freya brought a friend with her.

[She breaths a sigh, looking to Freya and motioning both of them inside while Richard quietly dropped their things off in the sitting room off to the right.]

Come in, both of you. [She looks to Freya.] You two can help with dinner, and you can tell me what you've been up to these past few years.

[Freya follows her aunt feeling defeated by the sternness of her gaze.]

That is a long story. Why not tell me what you've been up too?

[She's totally okay with making dinner. As long as the talking is at a minimum.]

[Rebecca shakes her head, motioning around as she leads them to the kitchen where dinner is already started. It's a large kitchen, capable of making enough food for the large family that regularly dines there.

She sets them both to work, Cat on more simple tasks simply because she doesn't know what she's capable of, but starts to fill Freya in on more specific goings on than the simple overview she'd been given by Richard, but she includes Cat in the conversation, not wanting the girl to feel left out.

Overall it isn't too bad, Cat enjoys Rebecca, and Rebecca quickly decides Cat might be the sweetest girl on the planet.

Finally, though, she looks to Freya, as she's putting the finishing touches on desert before sliding it into the fridge.]

So how did the two of you meet?

[Freya follows behind Rebecca, looking up at the woman with a nervous expression. For some reason she had thought that this would have been easier. She probably should have sent a letter ahead of her, or something.

It gets easier as time passes and she's able to fall into the same routines that she used to do with her own mother.]

Oh, an easy question.

[She smiles at Rebecca.]

I was passing through her older brother's territory and sort of ended up hanging out with them for a bit. That's not really the beginning of the story but that's the important part.

Unless Cat wants to add more?

[Rebecca's eyebrow rose.]

Having found a mate yet though? [Frey shrugs but says nothing. With the desert in the fridge Freya grabs one of the trays to take to the table.]

Aren't we missing someone?

[As if on cue they could all hear the front door open and the sound of two feet and twenty paws stepping into the house.]

Looks like he's here.

And Late

[Freya pauses and lets Rebecca go first. This will be interesting.]

[Cat's ears are drawn to the sounds of the person's entry. Due to the wind earlier, she didn't catch the scent of David, but whoever had walked in, over the scent of cooked food, smelled really good in her opinion. It excited her, that scent, and that feeling was so foreign she didn't know what to do with it.

She also smelled the owners of all those paws, and what she at first had assumed were shifted weres turned out to be...dogs? Ordinary dogs? She looks toward the kitchen door, where the smells are coming from as Rebecca strides to the door.]

It's about time you showed up, David. We were going to start without you.

[David is expecting his mothers ire and greets it with a warm smile. His hand moves over his heart while his five dogs remain at his side.]

You wound me. I'm not that late.

You're an half hour late!

[Rebecca's palms rest on her hips, and David just smiles. This obviously happens a lot. Freya pushes a tray of food into Cat's hands and then guides her friend to the front room. She places her own tray on the table with a smile. Yeah, she isn't getting into this but she's going to enjoy the show.]

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