"I want you to look after Dom for me."
Those words echoed in Alex's mind, several times over. The implication of Clara's request dawned on him like an anvil atop glass.
"Alex? Hey. Still with me?" Clara's voice snapped him back to reality.
He met her eyes--serious, unwavering, as they had been when she made the request.
"Clara…" He mumbled, glancing between her and the baby. "That's--"
"I know. I know. It's a lot to handle," She said, approaching slowly while cradling Dom. "…but I can't protect the two of us." She rubbed his tiny cheek, a soft, loving gesture. "They don't know about him yet. If he stays with me, I'll just end up putting him in danger."
She made a few playful faces, making Dom giggle, the infant oblivious to the gravity of the situation around him.
Alex stared, uncertain, before regaining composure. "What are you going to do?" He asked.
Her smile vanished, replaced with a fierce, determined gaze at Dom still giggling in her arms. "I'm done running," She declared. "So I'm going to finish what I started."
Alex flinched, instincts flaring at her terrifying words and presence.
Seeing Alex's concerned stare, her expression quickly softened. "Relax, dude. I'm not suicidal," She said, rubbing her cheek against Dom's tiny cheek, earning her more giggles. "No matter what happens, I'll do whatever it takes to come back to our little pookie bear."
She then looked up again, frowning as she saw the hesitation still lingering in Alex's eyes.
"Alex," She called, gaining his attention. "Please. You're literally the only person I can trust with him. Please." Her voice cracked slightly, and Alex's eyes widened as he held her gaze.
For the first time since he met her, he saw genuine fear in Clara's confident eyes. Whatever she was wrapped up in was extremely dangerous. He stared at her for a moment, then down at Dom, whose eyes were now slowly drooping.
After what felt like an eternity, he nodded and Clara let out a genuine sigh of relief.
About 30 minutes later…
Clara dropped a bag of baby essentials in the living room and headed for the door, Alex following with Dom already fast asleep in his arms.
"Can't you stay at least a night?" Alex asked as she put on one of his cloaks. "You look exhausted."
She shook her head, wiping at her tired eyes. "If I stay too long, they might find this place. I'll sleep once I know my boy is safe." She then fastened her dress and turned to Alex with a grateful smile. "Thanks for doing this, Alex. Seriously."
Alex stiffened. That simple "thank you" seemed to remove more of the weight of the guilt he had been holding onto.
"Of course. Anything for you," He said with a warm smile.
Clara spread her arms, and Alex happily returned the gesture in a hug.
After a moment, she stepped back and looked at Dom, still asleep. "Hey, pooks," she whispered, her voice enough to pass the message but not wake him up. "I know you're going to be upset when you wake up, and mummy's not there… but if I see you cry, I might not want to go anymore."
She adjusted the cloth to reveal more of his face. As she stroked his cheek, Alex noticed her fingers tremble.
"Mummy's going away for now…" She said, her voice cracking as tears filled her eyes. "I don't know when I'm coming back… but I promise that I will come back. Even if I have to crawl all the way back here. I will see you again"
She sniffed, struggling to keep her voice soft.
"Be… Be nice to Uncle Alex… alright? He might make some mistakes, but he's going to do his best." She commented teasingly, earning a soft laugh from him. "Just…try not to give him too much trouble, okay? Do it for mummy."
She then kissed his forehead.
"I love you, Dom. I love you so, so, so, fucking much." She added, her voice breaking enough to stir up her child.
Though he didn't wake up, Dom's tiny mouth opened. "Mama." He babbled softly.
Hearing those words, Clara finally let her tears fall, drawing Dom back into her arms and hugging him with a soft, trembling sob.
Alex placed a steadying hand on her trembling shoulder, quietly offering comfort.
Minutes later, once she finally regained composure, she wiped her eyes. "Alex," She said, voice trembling, "In case… in case I don't come back--"
"Don't," Alex interrupted, glaring at her.
She smiled weakly. "Can you help me raise him?" She asked. "I… Klaus and I had a feeling about him. Dominic. He's going to be a great man someday. We felt it the moment he was born."
Alex frowned at the way she looked at her child, the immeasurable love in her eyes. "Then be there to see him grow for yourself." He said.
"I plan to," She chuckled, sniffing. "…but you know… Prepare for the worst and expect the worst."
Alex rolled his eyes. "I've always hated it when you say that." He scoffed.
"Sorry," She said, smiling as she handed Dom back to him. "Just a stupid saying from my past." She then stepped back and placed her hood on.
"Clara," Alex said, calling for her attention as she adjusted her strap. He lingered for a moment, unsure what else to say, but Clara smiled gently, understanding his intentions clearly.
"I'll be careful, Alex. I promise." She said, squeezing his arm before giving Dom one last loving look. "Take good care of him for me, okay?"
"Of course. I promise." Alex said with a firm nod, and the two shared a small, quiet smile… before Clara finally opened the front door.
As Clara stepped into the still-empty street, rain lightly drizzling over her, Alex stood on the front porch, his gaze tense and cornered--just as he noticed a movement in his arms. Looking down, he saw Dom beginning to wake.
The moment the baby opened his tiny blue eyes and took in the unfamiliar surroundings, the stranger holding him, and the absence of his mother, he immediately began to cry and kick.
"Shit. Hey, Dom. Relax. Uh-" As Alex tried to console Dom, he noticed that Clara had stopped on the way.
Though he couldn't see her face or hear her voice, he could sense that Clara was struggling against every motherly instinct to run back and comfort her child.
After a moment, she drew a shaky breath and pushed forward, quickening her pace.
As Dom's cries echoed, tears streamed down her face as she disappeared into the night, forcing herself not to look back and shatter her already weakening resolve.
Alex frowned as he stared at the spot where she disappeared, the furious, wriggling baby still struggling in his arms…>
Back to the present…
Pops opened his eyes, letting the memory fade as he finished recounting the story. When he turned to his audience, his body stiffened as it landed on Dom.
"Dom?" Dae asked, concern etched across his face.
Dom was frozen, his fingers tightly gripping the picture frame, his eyes wide and unblinking as tears streaked down his cheeks.
"Hey, Dom." Pops' voice was gentle, but worry deepened in his expression.
But Dom remained irresponsible. The world around him had faded to nothing.
All his senses could perceive was one fractured memory. A very old, hazy memory Pops' words had stirred. In that almost unrealistic moment, he could see a figure, too blurry to make out, but it felt familiar.
He felt a warm, comforting touch around him and heard the soothing, melodic voice that belonged to a woman. None of it felt real--yet it was more natural than anything he had ever experienced.
Mum?
"Dom? Dom." Pops' voice cut into the trance as he shook Dom's shoulder lightly, pulling him back from the past.
Dom blinked and quickly noticed their worried stares. Once he realized he was crying, he wiped his tears and mumbled, "Sorry… I just…" He paused, taking a steadying breath as he tried to process that memory, then looked at Pops with a frown. "So… she… my mum… never came back?"
Pops folded his arms, frowning. "I waited… for so long, but I never saw her again." He said sadly. "Those first few years, I was willing to search for her myself… but I didn't know where to even start. And even if I did… I couldn't risk bringing you into what she was trying to protect you from."
He clenched his fists briefly, then released them.
"So I kept my promise. And after abandoning her once, I couldn't break her trust. Not again. Not with their child."
An eerie silence fell after…both Pops and Dae watched as Dom remained still.
He stared at the floor, the picture of his father hanging loosely in his grip while he ruminated on the vague memory of what could be his mother. "So…That's the full story," He finally said.
Pops looked away, guilt flickering across his face. "Sorry I didn't tell you sooner." He said.
"It's okay," Dom muttered, smiling warmly. "After hearing it, I wouldn't want to tell me either."
Pops blinked, startled by the calmness of Dom's response--a weight he had carried alone, meant to protect his adoptive son, now accepted so quietly.
Pride softened Pops' features, impressed by how much his ward had matured.
Dae watched from the background with a sympathetic smile, just as a sudden foot nudged him, nearly sending him off the bed. They all turned to see Lucy, snoring with one hand wandering beneath her shirt to scratch an itch.
Pops laughed at the flustered Dae regained his composure. "I guess that's our cue for bed." He said as he stood and gestured to Dae. "I should have a spare bed for you."
"Thank you," Dae replied politely.
"Then I'll take the couch," Dom muttered as he cleared the dishes.
As Dom rose to his feet, Pops flicked his forehead.
"Ow," Dom grumbled.
"And leave this poor, defenseless lady alone? I raised you better than that," Pops scolded, taking the tray.
"Defenseless?" Dom and Dae said simultaneously, glancing at Lucy, still sleeping like a baby--both fully aware of how dangerous she really was.
"You're just sleeping on the same bed, kid. No need to make it weird," Pops added, then rubbed his chin with a dark smirk. "Don't tell me you're going to do something naughty to her."
Dom blushed at the thought.
"Not that she'd mind it anyway," Dae smirked, and Dom glared at him, his skin darkening even more--just as Pops placed a hand on his head.
"It's good to have you back, kid." He said with a smile as he ruffled Dom's hair roughly.
Finally, Dom watched them leave, smiling.
Once the door closed, his expression hardened as he turned to the bed. He froze at the sight of Lucy's appealing form, the smooth skin of her stomach exposed by her unladylike position.
Pops' words echoed in his mind, but he quickly shook the thought away as he turned off the lantern.
He carefully settled on the bed, giving her considerable space, but as the bed creaked under his weight, she suddenly sniffed the air. Then, half-asleep, she shifted closer and snuggled into his side.
He tried to move away, but she clutched his shirt, mumbling in her sleep.
With a defeated sigh, he relaxed into the bed.
However, for the few hours, sleep eluded him…
His mind replayed the North-Land incident--Dr Ivan, the labs and the test subjects, his experimentation, the Scouts, the Silva Clan, and the truth about his biological parents.
For the first time in weeks, the weight of revelations finally pressed on him. There were so many questions he still had… people he wanted to save…
"Aera." He muttered, remembering that mage--a woman who had completely lost her freewill--a human puppet. His eyes grew heavy as fatigue threatened to overtake him.
Can I save you…too?
He thought before eventually drifting into a deep slumber.
Early the next morning…
Pops was in the kitchen, cooking breakfast. As he reached for the spices, a heavy thud outside caught his attention.
Looking out the window, he smiled at Dom, sweat-drenched in a gym tank top and shorts, squatting a ridiculously large concrete barbell.
"Some things never change," Pops muttered, recalling a teenage Dom doing the same routine with a much smaller weight. With a reminiscent smile, he returned to the stove.
Seconds later, Lucy appeared, her hair messy, clothes ruffled as she staggered forward, drawn solely by the aroma flooding her senses.
"Morning, Lucy. Hungry?" Pops asked.
She nodded sleepily.
After a while, Pops set a plate of fried potatoes and egg sauce in front of her.
She took a bite, and fatigue completely melted away. "Mmm…" She mumbled as she took another bite. "It tastes just like Dom makes them."
"Guess he's improved his cooking skills." Pops chuckled, returning to the stove to boil some soup. "Last time he tried, he almost burned the house down."
Lucy ate happily, enjoying the hot, spicy flavor then a thud outside caught her attention.
She looked out the window beside her and watched as Dom dropped his weights, his biceps sore and bulging as he stopped to catch his breath.
As he moved to drag a large set of dumbbells, Lucy couldn't help but follow the contours of his sweaty, muscular body as he lifted them. She was staring so much that she completely forgot about eating.
Pops noticed her infatuated stare and wagging tail. He smiled and quietly resumed cooking.
Some time later, as he turned off the stove, Lucy spoke, "Um…"
He hummed, indicating his listening ear.
With her plate now nearly empty, she frowned. "I was supposed to give you snacks… but I ate them all." She said sheepishly.
"That's fine," Pops replied without turning. "Having a good friend like you working with Dom is all the gift I want."
Lucy smiled but then frowned, just as quickly. "I'm not a good friend." She mumbled.
Pops finally looked over his shoulder, his eyes narrowed at her darkened expression.
"Back there…"She muttered, glaring at her plate, guilt and frustration lingering in her eyes. "…if I didn't take Dom out on that stupid date… he wouldn't have been hurt."
"You didn't know," Pops said softly as he plated another dish. "It wasn't your fault."
"But then I wasn't strong enough to save him on my own. Even though I'm his mate." She mumbled, her tail drooping behind her. "The snacks were supposed to be an apology… but I messed that up too." She pouted, taking the last bite on her plate.
Her frown deepened as she still felt hungry just as Pops set another plate before her, smiling warmly.
"The fact that this stuff is eating you like this is all the proof I need," Pops said as he set the other plates on the table. "You care about him. That's more than enough reason for me to trust you."
Lucy's smile slowly grew as Pops took his seat opposite her.
"Besides…" He said, pouring some tea into her empty cup, "… you actually love him, don't you?"
Lucy nodded, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
Pops' smile widened. "That's a relief." He sighed, a phrase that earned a confused look from her. "Don't get me wrong. I love the kid, and I'm happy whenever he makes the right call. But I'm glad he's wrong about your relationship being purely physical."
As Pops began eating, he noticed Lucy fidgeting slightly, looking sheepish.
"Um… Mr. Pops…"
"Just Pops is fine," He said, curiosity sparking in his gaze as he met hers.
"Do… you have any advice for me?" She asked timidly.
"Advice?" Pops echoed, then quickly caught on to her meaning. He paused, chewing thoughtfully. "Honestly? I don't."
She frowned.
"I've taught Dom a lot of things, but being with a woman? That's not one of them." He added, then reached for his tea. "And as far as I know, he's never had any experience. Hell, I haven't had much experience myself either."
"Oh," She muttered, disappointment flickering across her face as she took another bite.
"But don't worry," Pops said, raising the cup to his lips. "I think you're getting through to him."
Lucy's eyes lit up again. "Really?" She asked.
"Yeah, Pops replied, then took a long sip. "At first, you probably just freaked him out, but I think he's finally warming up to you. Just… tone down the mating stuff."
"Why does everyone say that?" She pouted.
Pops chuckled, taking another sip from his cup, then noticed her expression brighten.
"So… does this mean I have your blessing?" She asked.
He shrugged. "Sure… but a warning." He jabbed a spoon toward her, eyes fixed on her with a deadly glare. "If you mess with that boy's heart, I'll fucking kill you. Got it?"
Lucy met his gaze calmly, nodding with confidence.
"Then we're good," Pops said with a satisfied smile, then returned to his meal. "Alright… take care of him for me."
Lucy's smile widened. "I will," She said, the grin so bright it made Pops chuckle.
At that moment, Dae walked into the kitchen, and Pops gestured toward the plate already set out for him.
Dae bowed politely and took a seat just as Dom entered.
"Right on time," Dom said with a smirk, grabbing an empty plate and heading to the stove to serve himself.
Once seated, Dae wrinkled his nose. "Couldn't you take a shower first?" He grumbled.
Dom scoffed. "It's my house. I can do what I want." He said as he bit down on his spoon just as Pops tossed a towel over his head.
"Don't you mean my house?" Pops asked, with a brow raised.
Dom laughed, drying himself as they began to eat.
After a while, Lucy looked up from her nearly finished plate, curiosity lighting her eyes. "So… now that Pops knows about your Clan, doesn't that mean the Council will come after him too?" She asked.
Dom froze mid-chew, realizing he hadn't even considered that in all the chaos of discovering his past.
Dae noticed Dom's expression and sighed. "I'll ask Tony to send some guards for you too," He said as he scooped up some soup.
"Don't bother," Pops said bluntly. "They've already questioned me and found nothing, right? If they show up again, I'll just settle for a binding contract."
Dom frowned. "You sure about that?" He asked.
Pops shrugged. "I won't need to speak about it anyway. Besides…" He jabbed his spoon in Dom's direction. "I'm not the one in trouble right now."
"Very true," Dae said, then drank his soup with a judgmental look that quickly shifted to curiosity as Dom's expression turned sheepish.
"Actually… about that…" Dom said, rubbing the back of his neck with a sly smile--the same look both Pops and Dae recognized all too well. A look that meant nothing but trouble.
"I'm actually thinking of doing something that'll piss them off even more," Dom admitted.
Dae raised a brow. "How can you possibly make it worse?" He asked.
Dom smirked, then turned to Pops. "Remember when you said I couldn't take your last name?"
Pops' expression suddenly turned serious. "That's because I couldn't save either of your parents. Even though I raised you, I don't deserve to be your father," He said.
Dom shook his head with a gentle smile. "It's okay. I like you the way you are now." He commented
Pops nodded, though a frown of confusion lingered. "So… what does that have to do with your last--" His eyes widened as the realization hit.
"You're not serious," Dae grumbled, a mix of shock and disbelief on his face as he also pieced it together.
Lucy, looking between them all, blinked in confusion. "I don't understand… what is Dom going to do?"
Dom took a deep gulp of his tea, set the empty cup down, and met their stares with a straight face.
"I'm taking Silva as my last name."