A Christmas Tail Read online

  “Orion, she doesn’t have a coat on!” Barry grumbled and materialized a long black coat for her. “Put this on, damn it,” he grumbled and she laughed.

  “I really don’t need it. You know our body heat is different.” Betsy said but put the coat on anyway which not only had her jumping because it caused the snow to press more tightly against her skin. “Barry, you turd.” She danced around trying to get the snow off her back as he grinned.

  “Just wait, kitten. I never forget.” He swept her up into his arms and nipped her nose before putting her into one of the limos next to Orion.

  “And you,” she pointed her finger at him. “I didn’t even get you with snow.”

  “You attack one of us, you attack us all,” Orion sucked her finger into his mouth, before nipping it.

  “Ouch.” She yanked her finger back and glared at him. “I was just trying to ease the tension. Lacey is wound up tight,” Betsy leaned her head back and closed her eyes. “I’m not good at all this emotional stuff. I don’t know how to handle it when I see her upset like that. At one point I want to rip Dan’s head off and the next I just want to make my sister smile.”

  “Well, let’s not rip Dan’s head off. Your sister loves him, you know he didn’t mean to hurt her feelings. I’m pretty sure right now he’s making it up to her as we speak,” Barry said reaching over and squeezing her leg while Davis snorted.

  “He most likely has his cock... Ouch!” Davis glared at Barry. “There is no need to get vulgar here.”

  Betsy laughed and looked over at him. “Barry, I’ve heard ten times worse than that and Davis is right. I’m just sorry I’m not ready for that.”

  At once Davis was kneeling before her, taking her small hands into his. “Kitten, what they do has nothing to do with what we do. As long as you are here with us, I couldn’t be happier. Please don’t think otherwise.” And Betsy knew he spoke from the heart. She could see the hurt there, afraid that he had done something to her.

  “You guys have to stop worrying about me. I’m not as fragile as you think I am. I know you three are trying and I appreciate it, but please stop worrying. I’ll tell you if you need you to back up.” She leaned down and kissed Davis’ lips softly. “By the way, thank you for the song last night. I loved it.”

  Davis smiled and pulled her over onto his lap, holding her. “I heard you used to sing it all the time with your mom?” he questioned her and she laughed.

  “That was a long time ago. You know voices do change with age. For all you know, I could squeak like a mouse.”

  “Well, let’s find out,” Davis reached over and pushed a few buttons until the Christmas song Oh, Holy Night came one. “Sing with me?” he asked, and she rolled her eyes but nodded, settling against Davis’ chest as he started. She ignored all of them even Zanger who sat next to Davis as she closed her eyes and started to sing.

  She should have known Davis would ask her to sing, but Betsy couldn’t complain as she finished the song and opened her eyes. All four men were staring at her. “What? Did I sound like a mouse?” She laughed.

  “I swear Barry if you guys screw this up, I’m personally going to kick your ass. Honey, you have a voice that would calm any beast. Fucking amazing, don’t even try it.” He glared at Barry who had reached over to smack him.

  “Then watch the mouth,” Barry grumbled and leaned forward framing her face with his hands. “Kitten, that was beautiful. You know what would be a great gift to Lacey and her men? If you two sang for their wedding.” Barry nodded to Davis, who shrugged.

  “I don’t usually sing for others, but I’d do it if you accompany me,” Davis volunteered and she knew it took a lot from him since it wasn’t that manly for a warrior to sing.

  “I’ll ask her, but I bet she already has that part covered. But only if you do it with me. I couldn’t do it without you.” She kissed Barry’s lips. “Thanks for the compliment. I love to sing. When I was alone, I would sing lullabies and pretend I was singing them to my children, but my favorite was Tears in Heaven. I guess I’ve always believed I wouldn’t see my children until I was in heaven or wherever you go when you die.”

  Orion reached over and lifted her up into his arms, setting her into his lap. “Well you’re not going to die anytime soon, so stop thinking like that,” Orion grumbled and placed kisses all over her face. “The thought of you even being sick makes my hearts beat too fast.”

  Betsy smiled. “I think you’re going to be my teddy bear, all big and warm.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and he moaned.

  “Please don’t mention this to anyone else, especially my brothers.” He buried his face in between her breasts as if hiding and she laughed.

  “If you two can go at it like you did earlier, you can take a little ribbing, but I won’t mention. However, I have a feeling I won’t have to.” Betsy glanced over her shoulder at Zanger, who laughed.

  “You already know me too well,” Zanger teased and Orion went to reach around her to punch him, but Barry pushed him back.

  “Not with kitten in your arms,” he ordered and Orion nodded, hugging her tighter, just like a bear would its young.

  Chapter Five

  As soon as they entered Isaac’s private plane, Lacey grabbed hold of her sister’s hand and pulled her up to the front where Sally Featherstone sat with her children and Lark came down the aisle, smiling. “It’s great to see you, Barry,” he held out his hand, but Barry pulled him into a big hug.

  “Just because we are not a unit does not mean you are not important to us. I hope we see you and your woman more often and if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.” He stepped back as Orion pushed him out of the way and gave Lark a bear hug.

  “Barry is right. We’ll always be here for you and thank you offering to help us, especially since we don’t know what condition the children will be in.”

  “How old are the children?” Lark asked, leaning against one of the chairs after Davis had greeted him.

  “Mandy will be ten next year and Jordon is going to be six on December 22,” Betsy said, moving up to Davis. “Lacey and Dan would like to hear us sing the song they picked out.” She grinned up at Davis.

  “You’re just loving this, aren’t you?” Davis laughed as Betsy dragged him down the aisle to the front of the plane. Barry couldn’t help but follow.

  “So what song do you want us to sing at your wedding?” Davis asked as he leaned down and kissed the top of Betsy’s head.

  “She actually picked a song I knew, You’re The Inspiration by Chicago. Do you know it?” Betsy teased and Davis laughed.

  “I know it, but we have no music...” Davis was about to say as Sally held up a guitar and Barry laughed.

  “This isn’t funny, Barry,” Betsy glanced around seeing everyone waiting, but Davis lifted her up and sat down across from Sally with Betsy in his lap.

  “Just do what you did in the car, baby,” Davis said to her and nodded to Sally, who started to play the song.

  At first the only one who sang was Davis, but within a few minutes, Betsy’s voice joined his. Even the pilot turned, listening to Davis and Betsy sing. By the time the song was done, Lacey had tears rolling down her cheeks and Dan was holding on to her.

  “Davis, I owe you an apology. Anyone with a voice like yours, just wow, and Betsy darling, you can sing at all of our events. Wait until mom hears her. She’s going to flip.” Dan said.

  “I did hear and you’re right, they both need to sing at our family events. Thomas, Eric bring that right up there in front for Betsy. She can go through it while we fly.” Dorothy Edwards said from the back of the plane and stepping aside as Dan’s father and brother came in carrying a pine box.

  “You shouldn’t be here!” Dan stood placing Lacey on the seat he was just in.

  “Nonsense! I’m going to help Lacey buy her dress and other stuff. We also need to pick a lovely dress for her sister, because if I’m correct, she’ll be getting married very soon too?” Dan’s mother turned s
traight to him and gave him one of those looks mothers always do. The whole place started to laugh and he grinned.

  “Already planned on it when the time is right.” Barry bowed his head to the lady, admiring her spunk and reminding him of his own mother. “I think you and my mother will get along just great.”

  “I look forward to meeting her. Us girls will have lots to do while you men are busy searching for those bastards.” Dorothy moved up to where Betsy sat with Davis.

  “Dorothy Edwards!” Thomas, Dan’s father, spun around and glared at his wife. “What were you told about your language?”

  She waved her hand in the air. “You’re lucky I didn’t drop the F bomb, now move out of the way... Ouch! What did you do that for?” Dorothy rubbed her backside where Thomas had smacked her butt.

  “There will be more of that if I ever hear those words come out of your mouth. You know I won’t tolerate it.” Thomas grumbled and moved out of the way, but not before placing a small kiss on her lips. “Behave.”

  Barry glanced over at Dan and saw him shaking his head, his cheeks were pink and Lacey had a hand over her mouth trying to stifle the laugh.

  Even Betsy had her face buried into Davis’ shoulder, watching the scene play out.

  But she was once more the center of attention.

  “Betsy dear, this box is for you,” Dorothy said, kneeling down in front of her. “I know your momma died young, so over the years I have been collecting and saving. Your sister got one and now you’ll have one. It’s filled with stuff for your house. It’s called a hope chest.”

  At first Betsy didn’t say a word, but the way Davis was rubbing her arms and whispering to her, Barry knew she was having a problem with this. Slowly, she got down on the floor next to Dorothy and opened the chest.

  “My husband, Thomas is the one who made the jewelry box. He made one for each of you,” Dorothy said as Betsy ran her hand over it, but what she picked up next had him moving closer to her.

  “I made that. In our world it’s customary to document our children’s experiences. Since your children are older, I made a special book for each one. I thought you could work with them on each book, sort of like a scrapbook/baby book.”

  Barry knelt down behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder, squeezing. Her emotions were all over the place, but nothing showed on her face as she stood and raced by him and Dorothy to the bathroom.

  “Did I do something wrong?” Dorothy looked up at him as he stood helping her.

  “No, but we must remember she’s never had anything for so long. I’m afraid she doesn’t know how to react when others give her something. If you’ll excuse me,” Barry moved down the aisle, but Lacey put her hand on his arm, stopping.

  “She’s scared. I can go if you want me to?” Lacey glanced at Isaac, who nodded.

  “Thank you Lacey, and if it was any other time, I’d let you, but she must learn to turn to us now. I’ll call you though, if I think she needs her big sister, I promise.” Barry offered, and she nodded.

  “Thank you. She means the world to me and I feel as if I’ve let her down somehow.” Lacey looked down at the ground as Isaac stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her.

  “There is nothing you could have done, baby. All we can do now is continue to support her in all that she does, showing her how much she means to us. But Barry is right. He needs to take care of this. Come, sit down. You haven’t slept well the last two nights. I’ll even have a Christmas movie put on, if you’d like?” he asked, and Lacey grinned, looking at him.

  “Betsy’s favorite Christmas move used to be Home Alone. She loved them all the first, second and third ones. Do you think we could watch them?”

  “Come on, let’s go see if we can find them?” Isaac laughed pulling Lacey toward the side of the plane where Barry knew Isaac had placed the movies.

  He turned his attention to his kitten. She was crying and trying to hide her pain. Barry shook his head and headed to the bathroom, tapping on the door. “Kitten, I’m coming in,” he warned her before opening the door and sliding inside. Curled up in a ball in the garden tub, Betsy had her head resting on her knees, tears flowing down her cheeks.

  “I’m so scared, Barry. It’s hard enough for me to get up every morning and survive, but to have my children with me... What if I do something wrong? I could hurt them. What if they don’t want me?” Her big blue eyes focused on him and such sorrow tore his heart up.

  Not being able to see her tears without holding her, Barry scooped her up into his arms and held her tight, sitting down on the floor next to the tub. “No one is perfect, kitten. All we can do is try our hardest, but know you will not be alone. You have the three of us, my family, Davis’ family, Orion’s family, but I’d be careful of listening to some of those men.” He tried to tease and she smiled up at him.

  “We’ll make it, kitten. With all the people who love us and who are willing to help us, we will have a very full life. I myself want at least twelve children.” He rubbed his chin on the top of her head.

  “I especially can’t wait to see our little girl. If she looks like her mother, we might have a problem,” he growled, not even liking the idea of boys being... “I think we need to write down some rules and boys will be the number one rule. There will be none sniffing around her.”

  Barry was so focused on ways to protect Mandy, he didn’t notice Betsy laughing until she slapped his chest. He grabbed her hand and frowned at her. “Don’t do that kitten, you could hurt yourself.” He inspected her hand and kissed the palm of it. “And what’s so funny?”

  “My hand is fine and you started growling every time you said the word ‘boys.’ You reminded me of a pit bull it was so cute,” she teased. “Tell me, are you going to be that over-protective father that I’ve heard of?”

  “We all are,” Orion said, opening the door with Davis behind him. “And we are very jealous men, so be warned, there will be no flirting with others. Now Lacey has searched for the past ten minutes finding your favorite Christmas movies. The pilot wants us all in our seats so he can take off.” He held out his hand and she sighed before getting up.

  “For the record, I don’t flirt, never have and never will. It’s hard enough trying to figure out you three,” she grumbled.

  “There is nothing to figure out about us. Just be yourself, kitten, and never hold anything back. We’re part of you now as you are part of us. I’m sure there will be mistakes, but that is what life is about, learning and changing with the times.” He jumped up and leaned down, kissing her lips softly as she turned to him. “Believe me, living as long as we do, everyone must learn to adjust to the times.”

  They led her out of the bathroom. Even though her eyes were swollen from crying, Betsy held her head up and walked right to Dorothy, who hugged her.

  “Thank you for your gift. I will cherish everything in it. Maybe you would help me when the time comes to fill that albums out?” Betsy back and Dorothy smiled.

  “I’d be honored. Now you better get seated so we can take off. I understand your sister has your favorite movie ready to start.”

  Betsy squeezed Dorothy’s hands and moved up to where her sister sat with her men curled up in a blanket on the right side of the plane. On the left, Barry patted the seat in between him and Orion while Davis sat on Barry’s other side.

  “Come on kitten, let’s get you all strapped in and we’ll start the movie. I can’t wait to see this Home Alone,” Barry said while buckling her safety belt.

  “What? You’ve never seen it?” she stared at him for a few seconds before looking at Orion.

  “Afraid none of us have seen them,” Orion stated.

  “Neither has Isaac or Anthony, but Dan has at least.” Lacey said, shaking her head. “It’s sad, really. We’ll have to make sure they watch the others too. One of my favorite movies is Sound of Music or Gone With the Wind and they haven’t seen those either.”

  “Sad, really sad, and here I thought I was ou
t of the loop. Well it looks like I came just in time to change that. Roll them, Sis.” She kicked off her shoes and curled her feet up on the seat as Barry covered her with a blanket. Betsy had to admit it had been a long time since she’d seen Home Alone and couldn’t wait to enjoy it with her men. Wait, when did she start considering them hers?

  “It doesn’t matter when, but it pleases us you consider us yours, because we are, as you are ours,” Barry leaned towards her, whispering in her ear and adjusting his pants.

  “Thank you, all three of you. I know it’s not easy controlling your desires.” Betsy turned her head and kissed Barry’s lips softly. “Soon,” she whispered and leaned her head against Barry’s shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her.

  The movie started and she peeked over at Lacey, who was smiling at her. “I’m proud to call you my sister.” She mouthed and Betsy felt the first twinge of the bond they had had so long ago.

  Yes, these people surrounding her were slowly tearing the tall stone wall around her heart away, one piece at a time, and her men were right, there with sledge hammers. As soon as the plane was in the air, Davis moved from his seat to sit on the floor in front of her, leaning back against her seat.

  For the next two hours they laughed and sang the Christmas songs and enjoyed the movie. Her sister jumping, growling at the bad guys and making her and everyone else laugh.

  “What? What if that was one of our children?” She slapped Isaac and he snarled.

  “First off it wouldn’t be our children because he would never be allowed to be alone and I would know where he was all the time. Second, the first time anyone threatened our children, they would die. You know this.” Isaac took the hand she had slapped him with and kissed each finger. “If you slap me one more time, I don’t care who is in this plane with us, I’m going to turn your ass over my knee and spank your butt. Understood?” he grasped her chin in his hands, making Lacey stare at him.

  His voice low and controlled, had her squirming in her seat. Next to her, Orion grinned. “Do not worry, kitten. We already know it excites you. Slowly we will know all the right touches and words that heighten your sexual desire.” His hand slid under her blanket and into the top of her dress, squeezing her breast. “But for now, I believe we have lunch coming.” Orion removed his hand and instantly Betsy missed his touch.