Chapter Six

Jane summoned her phone

and told Serin she was okay and out on one of the Blackridge

Islands.

Andreux led her

to a guest bedroom and said softly, "What does he need?"

She looked at

the tall bed, reached out, and snapped her fingers. The mattress

was on the floor in a second with a pile of pillows that would make

sure Terro didn't roll off the edge accidentally. Crawling over was

fine.

She settled

their son down on the mattress and took off his little shoes. She

touched his cheek and checked on him. She gestured again, brought

his favourite toy to him, and left him.

Jane nodded and

exited the room, closing the door nearly completely.

Andreux was

waiting and peeped through the door. "He's strong."

"He is. He's

also cute, stinky, and energetic." Jane chuckled.

Andreux led her

to the kitchen, got her a glass of water, and settled down to make

her tea.

"So, your

mother is French?"

"She is. My

father was travelling after university and found her on her own

trip. He re-directed her route and swept her away to the

islands."

"You showed up

forty weeks later?"

"No,

surprisingly, it was two years." Andreux chuckled.

Jane paused and

nodded. "Oh. That makes sense."

Andreux asked,

"What makes sense?"

"You are an

only child?"

"Yes."

"Could you have

been a second attempt?"

He froze. "Son

of a bitch. I hadn't considered that."

"It is common

enough. The strange energy that is infesting the betas seems to

increase our odds. The world is going to look different when our

children are in charge of it. At this point, anywhere Terro is will

be filled with candy and stuffed animals." She grimaced.

Andreux laughed

and poured the tea. "I saw the video, but were you really all

right?"

"I was

terrified. I even named him after it."

He blinked.

"Terro. For terror."

"Yup. I don't

care who you are. Not knowing anything about your breeding partner

is terrifying. Fortunately, I have friends who have had kids with

alphas of astonishing size, and they kept me calm. Nora's baby

Aurora was huge."

He winced. "How

big was he?"

"Eight

pounds."

He frowned. "Is

that good or bad?"

"It is normal.

I think Aurora was ten."

"Wow." He

smiled. "Well, if you do agree to my pursuit, at least the other

babies will be of a known size."

She snorted and

sipped her water. "Not selling it so far."

"You can

continue your occupation?"

"I would do

that anyway." She smiled. "It's fun, and I am very good with

special effects. I had a friend who worked for a video game

company, and she taught me a lot during my blue days during

pregnancy. I did the bookkeeping for some small projects as we got

ready for this big move and a few teaser trailers in the last

week."

"For what?"

"Moving a

version of Alphas versus Betas here."

"What?"

"Yeah, we are

going to call it Island Learning Curve." Jane smiled. "It has the

potential to run for a decade or so and will showcase the islands

at their best. We will bump up the population and get some more

females in the mix because this place is sausage-heavy." She

smirked and finished her water, taking the tea he handed her.

"Interesting

and not flattering. Wait, how are you here in the islands?"

"Work visa. It

lasts a year." She sipped at the tea. "Oh, this is nice."

"Thank you. It

is the family business."

"Wait.

What?"

"Tea. The soil

is wonderful for growing, and harvesting is time-consuming but

definitely worth it."

She smiled.

"Fun. That sounds like a challenge for the show. Same with the

coffee plantation a few islands over. Making your own cup of tea or

coffee is hilarious."

He chuckled.

"Farming for ideas?"

"Always. When

Serin mentioned this idea, we knew it was going to be successful,

and we started looking around to look for minimally invasive tasks

to set the participants of the show. So far, we have swimming,

diving, snorkelling, kayaking, catamaran piloting, and hiking. Oh,

and traditional dance to be judged by the locals."

He grinned.

"Those all sound like fun."

"That is the

idea."

"Care to join

me on the couch?"

"Certainly."

She picked up

her teacup and followed him to the couch. He sat down and patted

the seat next to him. He took the teacup, set it on the table

beside him, then turned to her, stroked her cheek, and kissed

her.

She sighed and

leaned up toward him. He shifted quickly, and she was sitting

across his thighs in the curve of his arm.

He shuddered

and smiled. "I have been imagining this moment."

"Since

yesterday?"

"For over two

years. I remembered your scent and searched for it endlessly."

"I am guessing

that you were looking in the wrong place." She caressed his jaw and

neck.

"But you are

here now."

Jane smiled. "I

am here now. We have forty-five minutes to make out before Terro is

awake again."

Andreux didn't

waste a second. She tasted him, got his scent, and was pretty sure

she could track him from five miles away by the time their son

called for her.

Her lips were

swollen, and she was breathing heavily against his shoulder. "I

don't think I have ever done that, even when I was a teen."

He smiled. "I

have a whole list of ridiculously drawn-out foreplay to share with

you, but we should get Terro."

"Yeah, I don't

think I can walk. We can just wait a few seconds."

The calls for

Mama became feverish, and she called out, "Out here,

Terro."

Andreux made to

stand while she was still on him. "Shouldn't we get him?"

"I think I want

to show you his party trick." She smiled. "Come on, Terro. I am

waiting."

There was a

sudden silence, and then, Terro landed on Jane's lap.

Andreux paled.

"When did he start doing that?"

"Six months

ago." She cuddled her little man and soothed his cheeks.

When he

headbutted her breast, she blushed. "No, Terro, you don't need

milk."

Andreux

blinked. "He isn't weaned?"

"He's weaned;

he's just greedy." Jane blushed as her son started muttering as he

tried to figure out her dress. "I shouldn't have gotten him to

transport. It makes him extra hungry. I am the fastest source of

calories."

"He has good

taste. Would you like some privacy?"

Jane felt a

rush of gratitude. "Please. Where can I take him?"

He stood with

them both in his arms and walked to a room with light and pretty

colours. It also had a huge rocking chair in one corner. He set her

in the chair, propped her up with pillows, and then left.

She settled

into the rocking chair and got Terro calmed down in twenty

minutes.

She exhaled,

got them both presentable, and walked out to the living room again.

Andreux smiled. "I got your baby bag from your hotel room,

including milk for the bottles. Also, your clothing and computers

and things, but you can use my rig if you like."

"So, you would

like us to move in with you?" Jane raised her brows.

"I would like

to have one of those ceremonies that Ligo, Iro, and Orla had."

Jane blinked.

"Oh. That would be nice, I think. Do you think you can deal with us

around the clock?"

"I think that

you work behind your screen, and my parents are loving the idea of

having a grandson around to teach the family business."

Jane smiled.

"You are offering to be a house husband with your family as

nannies?"

He shrugged.

"To start. I stay at home most days anyway when not working on the

tea harvest."

"Well, then, I

am going to need my own office, or I will drive you nuts. I hum, I

whistle, and I blast music while I work."

"I can get used

to it." He smiled. "If not, one of us can use the guesthouse as our

office."

"You are using

a lot of our s."

"Call me

hopeful." He grinned.

She changed

Terro in the traditional way but disposed of the diaper in the same

volcano that she had been sending them since he was born. Others

assumed that they went to a landfill, but for her, it was a volcano

all the way.

She washed her

hands as Terro sprinted around, laughing.

Andreux

murmured, "Does he need toys?"

"Do you have

coconuts around?"

"Yeah."

"Husk him a

coconut army. He loves them."

"A coconut...

army?"

"More than

four."

"Oh. Right.

Give me a few minutes."

They heard

"ooooooo," from around the corner.

Jane bolted.

"That's his technology pitch."

Andreux lunged

into the room, and then, there was giggling before she made it

around the corner. Terro was clutching a mouse being held high and

clapping to click the buttons.

Jane plucked

the mouse from his hands. He looked at her, his lip came out, and

he wailed.

Andreux looked

at her. "How long does this last?"

"Hours, days?

Maybe five minutes?" She shrugged. "This is just for theatrics. You

can tell by the lower lip, and he keeps checking your

expression."

"Whoa."

"If you want

him to stop faster, cry. Mimic him. He understands that."

Andreux asked,

"Can you demonstrate?"

Jane looked at

Terro, made a sad face, and sobbed, sucking her lower lip in as she

breathed. Terro calmed and gave her a shy smile before reaching out

for her.

Andreux said,

"Masterful. Now what?"

"Cuddle him. He

won't try to rip your top off."

"I see my son

and I have a lot in common." He smiled and blinked as Terro turned

to hold onto him.

"Funny. You

said your hand slipped."

Andreux started

to rock softly with their child. "I lied."

She chuckled.

"Just like Terro. Faked me out."

"Does he always

nurse after transporting?"

"Yes. Fast

food. I am a high-calorie snack bar. I thought I would have dried

up by now, but one headbutt, and off I go."

"Perhaps I can

persuade him to leave you alone."

"I am hoping

that I can find a snack that will fill the gap. I am slowly working

through cookies and pudding."

"My mother can

help with that. I was nearly as round as I was tall before I

alpha'd out." He chuckled and put a huge hand on Terro's back.

"If he's happy

and can still move the way he wants to, I will roll him to school

if necessary." She smiled. "As long as he's kind but knows his own

worth."

"You are a good

mom."

She chuckled.

"You have no idea how much junk food I have introduced him to. I

have my moments, and then I don't."

There was a

soft knock, and Andreux smiled. "They are going to be over here

every twenty minutes."

"How messed up

is my hair, Andreux?"

"Just the right

amount, Jane."

"Great."

They walked to

the door, and his parents were there, along with Serin and

Deno.

"Uh-oh.

Busted." She waved at the older couple, and they came in with the

spirits of the island chain.

Orla walked in

behind them with Ligo and Iro.

Terro sniffed

in the air and started yelling, "Anola!"

Andreux

murmured, "What's happening?"

"Put him down

and watch."

He set his son

down, and the little bare feet beat a path through the adult legs

to Orla.

He demandingly

opened his arms at his sides, and Orla smiled and picked him

up.

Jane grinned.

"And that is his favourite adult person who isn't me."

Iro was making

faces at Terro, and the toddler was laughing.

Andreux looked

at the sudden gathering. "This is unexpected."

Serin looked at

Jane. "Do you have notes?"

"I do."

Serin looked at

Andreux. "I need to borrow her."

"Uh, sure."

Jane and Serin

went to the computer room, and she got her laptop out. They went

through the previous mockup of the ad for the islands, and then,

Jane put the footage in that Aeryn had recorded. The images were

clipped with photos from the islands, and then, the soundtrack led

the viewer on a pulse-pounding trip through the islands.

"Oh, that's

good. I just need to run this past Kekoa." She grinned. "This is

just the type of thing we needed."

"Single woman

takes the islands?"

"Exactly. Now,

show me Thera's."

Thera's

underwater adventures, including the photo shoot on the reef, were

adorable and showed a woman enjoying the island alone, even though

Thera's pod was taking the images. The music was soft and dreamy,

and the same tagline of What can you do in five days?

floated past.

"Oh, that is

lovely. A different vibe."

"Definitely.

Thera is more fun; Aeryn is lovely eye candy."

"And no hint at

her height in the video." Jane smiled.

Serin

chuckled.

"Mama!"

Jane sighed and

caught the little guy as he launched into her arms. The computer

was set to the side as Jane got climbed.

Serin smiled.

"Orla has agreed to take him for a night. It will be a crash course

for Ligo and Iro."

"Why would Orla

need to take him?"

Serin gave her

a knowing look. "The same reason you didn't come back to my house

and had a hotel room arranged instead. Sometimes, the only privacy

is privacy. Don't worry. They are staying on this island in the

guest quarters."

"Why did you

arrange that?"

"Because you

and Andreux need time actually to meet each other, and date nights

are key to that goal."

"What's in it

for Orla's group?"

"Practice with

a sturdy subject."

Jane laughed

and looked at the subject in question. "He is that."

"Well, you have

done some great work considering the time constraint. How much more

can we do?"

"We have enough

island footage and mixed footage to do about seven more. We have

licensed songs for twelve more."

"When are you

ready to start on the competition footage?"

Jane grinned.

"It has already started. The first candidate has signed off and

started trials. Ohno's hotel is very convenient for

recruiting."

"You are the

little go-getter."

"Sometimes, not

thinking about mom stuff is all the encouragement I need. Nothing

inspires me to work faster."

Serin

laughed.

Andreux poked

his head in. "Does he need a distraction?"

She looked down

at the smiling face looking up at her. "I think that would be good.

Terro, do you want to visit with Daddy? He will find you some

coconuts."

Terro squealed

and ran to Andreux.

The alpha

picked him up, and there were tears in his eyes. Jane knew why. He

had been told to go to Daddy, and he went.

Through a thick

voice, he said, "Let's go find an army of coconuts."

Jane watched

them go with a soft smile. "Maybe a date night isn't a bad

idea."

Serin laughed.

"I just think I heard your panties drop."

Jane snorted.

"Like they aren't already in his pocket."

Serin laughed,

and they went to join Orla and Monique. All of the boys had gone on

a coconut hunt.

Monique was

surprised. "Friends?"

"Friends and

new citizens, though I believe Serin grew up on Wonder."

"I did."

Monique went

behind the kitchen counter and smiled. "I am just making us a

snack. They can eat coconuts."

The ladies

laughed and joined her to prepare some snacks that could take them

through a sporting event.

They sat around

and traded origin stories. Monique had been taking photos of the

countryside when she smelled something and followed it to a hotel

having some kind of convention, and then, she bumped into a broad

chest that carried the heavy scent of greenery and sunlight.

Monique sighed.

"His arms wrapped around me, and I looked up. He smiled, and I saw

the markings around his eyes. We had tea, and then, he asked me to

go for a walk. The next thing I knew, I was here in the islands,

and he was making sure that I didn't notice the difference between

here and there."

They laughed

and shared gossip about the men, and then, the conversation turned

to Terro.

Monique frowned

with concern. "How did you make it without Andreux? I was exhausted

for weeks after he was born."

"Oh, I had

friends, and they helped give me what I needed. Great doula and

midwife, too." She smiled. "Some of the energy was acquired from

Elite, so let's hope I metabolized it properly."

Serin chuckled.

"Has Andreux seen the video?"

"He has. He

teared up when Terro was born."

Monique

blinked. "There is a video?"

Orla smiled.

"It was one of Jane's training projects."

Monique

swallowed. "May I see it?"

Jane smiled.

"Of course. Andreux has seen it. I am debating calling him Dru or

Andy. Maybe And."

Orla smiled.

"Or Roy."

Monique

blinked. "You would give him a nickname?"

"Sure. Andreux

is awkward if you are in—" She realized what she was about to say,

"—a hurry?"

Monique blinked

and then laughed. "I see your point."

Serin muttered,

"Nice save."

They all

laughed again.

Monique paused.

"Should we invite Avenar?"

Orla smiled.

"If you think she would enjoy it."

Monique sent a

text, and they waited. She nodded. "She will pass today. She is

busy with her therapist."

Orla smiled.

"That's progress."

Monique nodded.

"I believe she really wants to make the potential grandmother thing

work."

Jane smiled.

"How are you adapting to the idea?"

"I think it's

wonderful. I am sorry that you two weren't together years ago, but

now that you have found each other, it is lovely to see." She

smiled. "Terro is a very handsome boy."

Jane grinned.

"You don't have to convince me. Also, I have been checked out and

am pretty sure that with Andreux's help, I can do it again. If we

bond, it will be easier."

Monique

blinked. "You didn't... oh."

"Nope. No

connection other than his tiny doppelg?nger came out of me."

Orla smiled.

"That is why me and the guys arrived, to give them some time to

themselves."

Jane smiled.

"Yeah, thanks for that. At least you can buy us a few hours. When

he wakes up, he's going to be over here in a second."

Monique

frowned. "Can't you lock the door?"

Jane looked at

her. "You know that sort of swirly teleportation that the guys

have? Terro started at eighteen months."

Serin chuckled.

"And it's the reason Jane can't completely stop breastfeeding. As

soon as he transports, he smacks into her and demands a

top-up."

Monique

shrugged. "Andreux was on me until he was nearly four. He was

growing fast and needed it. It wasn't unusual in my family."

"Okay. Right.

See, this is why I shouldn't have teleported away until I knew his

family history."

Monique

blinked. "You do it, too?"

"Yes. Less

frequently, but I can manage it." She smiled. "I prefer to use my

energy to bring things to me. That being said, Monique, how do you

get supplies around here?"

The talk turned

to shopping in the islands and how to order online and the drone

delivery.

"Blackridge has

delivery via drone system, and we have a thorough set of options

from the large island. You just have to copy your PIN and check the

weather. They don't fly during rain or storms."

"Sunny days for

milk only. Got it."

Monique smiled.

"We have a cow."

"Oh. Wow. Terro

would love that. Do you have chickens, too?"

"Yes. Does he

like them, too?"

"Oh, yes." Jane

rolled her eyes. "It will entertain him for two hours. He just

stares and watches as they peck at grain."

Orla smiled.

"Noted."

There was a

strange clacking coming from outside, and it got Jane's attention.

She excused herself from the ladies and went outside to see what

was making the noise. Andreux was crouched and softly tossing

coconuts to Terro, who caught them, giggled madly, and then dropped

them with his hands out. There were six coconuts on the ground

already.

A few feet

away, Ligo, Iro, Deno, and Eonic were removing the green outer

layer of the coconuts. It was an assembly line.

Terro saw her

and came running. Andreux turned and stood. "You are right. He

likes coconuts."

She lifted

Terro and cuddled him. "I am right about many things. Get used to

it."

He walked over

to her, wrapped an arm around her waist, and kissed her.

"Ooooooooo."

He leaned back,

grinning. "You liked that, huh, Terro?"

Jane looked

down at their son. "You are not to be doing this until you are over

sixteen, young man."

"We will have

the talk when he's of an appropriate age." Andreux smiled.

"Yeah, the

alpha thing is better coming from you. I will have my hands full

with omegas."

He blinked.

"What?"

"Any other kids

are going to be omegas. Your mother and I have already touched on

the likelihood that I can have more than one." She smiled brightly

and said, "But if you try anything without being bonded, I am going

to transport your teeth into the deep ocean."

He blinked.

"Oh, right."

Orla smiled.

"You can help me by finding a few things we need for dinner,

Andreux. Come with me."

Orla hauled him

away and spoke to him quietly. Andreux suddenly perked up and

nodded, turning to blow Jane a kiss before the vortex swirled up

and around him.

The ladies were

no longer in the house, and Jane was left standing there wondering

what the hell was going on. The guys disappeared a few moments

later.

When Belle and

Xo showed up and the scent of roasted pig filled the air, Jane knew

something was up.