Blood Mates

An Emotional And Sappy Christmas

Jasper felt like he’d slept maybe an hour and didn’t even really like the hour sleep he got. It was rushed and hadn’t seemed to do a damn thing in relaxing him.

Jasper was keyed up and Christmas morning proved to be a good setting. Seth rushed in just as the sun was starting to peek over the horizon. Jumping on the bed, he woke Jasper up laughing, “Get up bro! Time to see what we got!”

Laughing, Jasper let the hyper kid drag him out of bed, Lucy met them in the hallway giggling. As the three came downstairs, Yasmine and Davon were awake already. Both had somber moods compared to their children, but brightened with fake cheer when their kids came down.

They passed out gifts, drank hot chocolate and were having a very hallmark moment. Until Jasper passed Davon a gift reluctantly, and as Davon unwrapped the beautiful frame of a picture of him and Yasmine he’d never seen. He smiled waterly, “Wow, thanks Jasper.”

Lucy sitting holding a similar frame but black, also whispered a soft thanks. She traced the image of her mom’s face and whispered, “I almost forgot what she looked like.”

Jasper grinned, “Well next time look in the mirror. I almost thought it was you.”

Lucy looked at her stepbrother teary eyed and Seth gave her a sweet hug and a kiss on the head. And then he held up his gift from Jasper.

PlayStation plus.

“Thanks for making mine something cool and not this emotional hot mess.” He joked waving at Lucy who socked his shoulder annoyed. Jasper saluted him, “Of course I know my little bro.” Seth smiled widely.

After gifts Jasper went to the beach to call his dad, Alaia, and AJ. Yasmine went in her room to be alone, and Davon left to check on his mom and make sure she was fine.

And as Jasper talked to his dad who was gushing like a schoolboy, his mom cried. Yasmine looked at the pictures of just her and Jasper.

It was a five-part frame that showed them through time. One of them when he was a baby and she a new mom, stressed out and lost on what she was doing.

Him at five curled up on her chest as they napped on the couch, a special moment as he held on to her tight even in his sleep.  

In the next one Jasper was thirteen, and it had been her birthday dinner. Cheek to cheek they looked so much alike in the picture. The last two were sadder though.

It was of Jasper last year looking out over the lake. His face was somber as he stared off deep in thought. And then there was her last year. With Lucy, Seth, and Davon.

She’d left him alone. And while at the time, she’d thought she was being merciful sparing him the details. In reality, she’d hurt her son and his father without having the consideration to tell him why.

Lucy came into the room and looked at Yasmine surprised to see her crying. Confused she mumbled awkwardly, “Why are you crying?” Yasmine tried to get herself together as she wiped her face. “It’s nothing. I’m fine.”

Yasmine put the frame on her night table on her side of the bed. Lucy glanced at it and rolled her eyes before exasperatedly saying, “Dude would you chill? He’s here now? And he’s actually not trying to eat your face. I’d consider that a win.”

Yasmine laughed an almost bitter cackle as she wiped her face, “Yeah isn’t that a miracle?” Lucy didn’t know what to say as more tears fell down Yasmine’s cheeks.

Lucy was still standing there when Seth came in. Seeing his mom crying, Seth instantly got hot, “What did you do!?” He growled at his sister. Lucy growled back as she warned him, “Nothing. I came in and she was crying.”

Yasmine wiped her face, “No I’m fine!” Seth called bullshit and looked at Lucy for the real reason. But then there father walked in, “What the hell is happening?”

Seth glared at Lucy, “Lucy did something to mom.” Davon looked at his daughter, “Lucy.” His voice boomed. Lucy groaned, “I swear to god! I heard her crying and just came in to see why!?”

Tossing her head back, Lucy groaned, “It’s something about Jasper.” Seth frowned, “I bet it’s something about you. It’s always you.” Lucy looked at her little brother angrier than she’d ever seen him. But his eyes were filled with tears as whatever he’d been holding back boiled to the surface.

Confused, Lucy didn’t hear when Yasmine stood up and faced them. “No, it’s about me.” The three of them looked at Yasmine as she admitted ashamed, “I’m starting to realize I made huge mistakes when I left my first family. I hurt my son in his soul, and I didn’t tell him anything.”

Scoffing in disbelief, Yasmine cried, “I didn’t tell him goodbye when I left. I just ran out because I was scared to face him. He didn’t accept my bullshit excuses and I wanted to get away from my ex.”

Shaking her head at how that sound, Yasmine quickly said, “But not because he was a bad man. William was an amazing man and one of my best friends. And I was his wife and when I fell out of love with him it was unexpected. Much like when in love with your dad and I should have been kinder.”

Davon was guilty as well as Yasmine told him to his face, “I didn’t respect he had also been my friend first. And even worse I broke our son, and became a wife and mother, in a matter of hours to a family he didn’t know anything about.”

As the weight of the situation crushed them, Yasmine brashly admitted “Jasper’s somehow found a way to forgive me for the pain I caused…but I can’t yet. Because I can’t even explain to him the truth of what happened and why it happened.”

Rubbing his chest feeling Yasmine’s pain, Davon jumped at the opportunity to make it stop, “I can explain it to him.” Yasmine was horrified at just the idea of it. “And then my son ends up in some looney bin, everyone thinking he’s lost it? No.”

Yasmine breathed out shakily as she tried to calm herself, “I left one family behind and became a part of yours, and I did it alone. But I wasn’t alone, I still had my son to think about and I didn’t. I failed him and I did it all while trying to be the best mom and wife to the three of you.”

Shaking her head, Yasmine sadly admitted, “I just need time to come to terms with that.”

Walking out, they all watched her go and only two worried she wouldn’t be okay. Seth stood shaking as he fought shifting in the house. Lucy looked at her panting brother seeing the wolf on the surface and growled, “What the f**k is your problem?”

Seth met his sister’s growl with his own anger, “You’re my problem!” Lucy jerked back as Seth’s gold eyes burned into hers, “I bet you’re just happy she’s ready to leave now!”

Lucy swallowed hard but didn’t deny it, “I-I didn’t say that.” Seth scoffed, “You don’t have to. It’s just the fact you don’t care how that’ll affect me and dad. Shows how f*****g selfish you actually are.” 

Seth started to stalk out, but Lucy grabbed his arm roughly and jerked him back to face her. “I am not selfish!” She hissed her eyes now glowing as well.

But they dimmed and tears began to brim her eyes as Seth barked out a dark laugh, “Oh please! You’d rather dad and I be dead inside and miserable rather than happy? What does that sound like to you?”

Desperate for her brother to understand, Lucy reminded him, “She’s not our mom, Seth.” Seth began to cry now as he trembled all over, “She’s MY mom!” Lucy flinched as Seth whispered brokenly, “She’s the only one I have, the only one I remember. And I know that sucks to hear, but I don’t have anyone else to hold on to! And you keep pushing her away!”

Seth snatched from Lucy when she reached for him, “If you want to wallow in misery and push away a woman who chose you over her own blood, that’s your business. Just leave my mom the f**k alone.”

When he stormed out, Lucy stood shaking as Davon told her seriously, “Yasmine’s going through a lot right now. Please don’t make this harder on her.” Lucy nodded quickly with tears in her eyes and Davon thickly whispered, “Listen Lucy I loved Gabriella, and I would have died loving her, and a part of me always will.”

Sighing, Davon thought of his first mate, and the pain was still there. Muted, but still there.

“Lucy she was a sweet, loving woman, and she wouldn’t have wanted me to crash and spiral like I started to. I picked myself up, and when I was ready…I fell in love again, and I found a woman to help me with you two. And I know Yasmine loves you. Gabriella wasn’t selfish, she wouldn’t have wanted anything else for us.”

Lucy knew this and as tears streaked her cheeks she thickly whispered, “I just miss her.” Davon hugged his daughter tight, “I know baby.”