WINTER'S BROKEN MATE

EPISODE 2

As they walked down the stairs, Casey heard the happy voices of Maze and Brett.

“Don’t eat all the cookies,” Maze complained. “Save some for the girls!” she exclaimed again.

Brett chuckled, “I don’t think they’d want to mess with their make-up today. You know how girls are.” He teased.

“Speak for yourself.” Amy told her father, “I personally want all the cookies a girl can eat.”

“I was just joking, princess,” Brett said as he walked round the kitchen to pull out our chairs. “You girls look beautiful!” Brett exclaimed.

“Absolutely gorgeous.” Maze agreed with tears in her eyes. “Oh, my darlings! You just grew up so fast.” She continued, her voice a little shaky.

“Mum…” Amy said, a little embarrassed.

“Okay, okay. No tears today.” Maze said, cutting Amy off. Brett had just finished placing some cookies and milk in front of us, and he’d gone back to kiss his mate on the forehead and give her comfort.

“But yes, for presents,” Maze chimed happily. She and Brett disappeared into another room as Amy and Casey enjoyed their breakfast.

Memories pulled Casey back to the last day she’d spent with her parents.

She’d walked into the kitchen where her parents were having a little tiff about her dad being the drama king. Casey agreed whole-heartily, but she’d never let her dad know that she had always been a bit of a daddy’s girl.

“Good morning bunny.” Chase said when his daughter came into view. He had caught her scent as she walked down the stairs.

“Back me up here bunny, won’t you?” Chase told his daughter.

“What are you talking about?” Casey feigned ignorance as she went to kiss her parents good morning.

“Your father is a drama king!” Birdy simply exclaimed.

“Why don’t we leave the child out of this one?” It was meant to be a statement, but it sounded like a question.

“Aha! She agrees with me.” Birdy cried.

“No, she doesn’t.” Chase said, “she asked to be kept out of it.” He pouted. He was a drama king, Casey thought to herself.

“Everyone knows your little bunny would never outwardly disagree with you, she always asks to be kept out of conversations where she knows you are wrong.” Birdy explained excitedly. It was freaky how well her mother knew her, Casey thought. Sometimes it was like she was reading her mind.

“That’s not true!” Chase exclaimed dramatically, proving Birdy’s point.

Casey was eating her breakfast; chocolate chip pancakes with a glass of cold milk, her favorite. Her mother made the best pancakes in the world, she supposed, as she took another bite of her pancakes. She was happy to just be here; in this moment forever. She was happy there.

“Hey Cas, are you alright?” Amy’s voice dragged her to the present.

“What?” Casey asked, a bit disoriented.

“I asked if you were alright. You had a faraway look for a minute there.” Amy said.

“Yeah, I’m all good thanks.” Casey said, now fully aware of where she was. She felt the tears at the back of her eyes, but she managed to keep it together, she wouldn’t cry. She looked at Amy, who was about to ask more questions, but was cut off by Maze and Brett, who were walking back into the kitchen, both holding a small gift box.

Maze handed Casey the little box she was holding. Casey smiled as she took it from her and opened it. Excitement bubbled up in her small body.

“Hurry up!” Maze chided anxiously. Casey had finally opened the box. Inside was a gold locket lined with emerald stones. It was beautiful! Casey picked it up to examine it. On the back of the locket, there was some writing ‘to our princess whose heart is pure, strong and filled with love, thank you for being ours!' tears welled up in Casey's eyes, and she hugged Maze tightly.

“Thank you,” she whispered as a few errant tear drops fell down her face, threatening to ruin her make up.

“Oh, my darling! Don’t cry.” Maze cooed as she wiped Casey’s eyes dry. “Open it.” She continued after Casey had calmed down. Casey looked at her quizzically, before realizing Maze was talking about the locket. She looked down at the object before opening it. Her heart stopped, on one side of the locket there was a picture of her parents on their wedding day near the waterfall that used to be close to her old pack. Her mother was smiling at the camera as her father stared lovingly at his mate. On the other side of the locket was a picture of Maze, Brett, Amy and her; the picture was taken the previous year when they went on vacation at Niagara Falls. Amy and Casey were laughing at something as Brett and Maze smiled at the camera, she remembered that day. It was a good day. Now the tears were fully threatening to erupt. It was the best present Casey had ever gotten. She looked at Maze and Brett. “You are the best,” she said with a shaky voice. “Thank you.” Casey whispered as she embraced them together.

“You are welcome princess” Brett said as he kissed her on the forehead. Maze held her for a while longer before letting her go. Casey looked at Amy, who had a big smile on her face and her unopened gift in her hand.

“Open it” Casey prompted Amy, who giggled at her sister’s impatience. Amy opened the box Brett had handed over. Inside was a gold locket lined with sapphire stones that matched Amy’s eyes. Amy picked the locket up, on the back was a message, 'To our princess whose heart burns with a fire so pure it blinds evils in their wake, we are proud that you are ours.’ Inside the locket was a picture of Amy and Casey taken a few weeks ago on a family day, which they’d spent in the mall, and on the other side was a picture of both their parents on their first picnic ever.

“Oh, it’s so beautiful!” Amy chimed in as she hugged her dad. “I love it!” Amy continued as she walked towards Maze and gave her a hug.

“Thank you.” Amy told her parents, “For everything.” Amy continued as she looked towards Casey. Amy was thanking her parents for more than just that gift, she was thanking them for her, for taking Casey in and raising her instead of letting her be an orphan. Casey smiled at her sister before hugging her.

“You are the best.” Casey whispered to her sister so lowly, human ears could have missed it, but Amy heard her and she held Casey even tighter.

“Oh, my babies!” Maze cooed as she got in on the hug, and finally a teary-eyed Brett joined them, as they embraced each other for a while. The rest of the morning went on blissfully as they talked about everything; from their graduation day to their trip around the world. Maze and Brett took pictures of them before they left the house for graduation. It was going to be a happy day, Casey just knew it!