As Daylight Dies .:Six:.

Johnny hurried around, fixing things in Zacky and Brian's house as Jimmy, Zacky, and Brian watched from the couch. Matt and Val were finally coming home after helping Mrs. Dibendetto with her sick husband. Ben had been nearly two years when he left with his parents, and Johnny knew he would still be toddling around. The last thing he wanted was Ben tripping and hitting his head. So, he went about making sure all the sharp ends were covered and nothing could fall down from high up.
Brian's lips were in a thin line, watching Johnny fix his house. "He's fixed the same corner five times now."
Zacky gave a small chuckle. "He's just nervous, like the rest of us...only he's a clean freak!" he teased.
Jimmy took Johnny's hands from the corner gently. "Hun, don't give yourself an ulcer. Everything looks great!"
Johnny blinked before smiling, saying, "I just...Don't want baby Ben to get hurt!"
Brian took a small swig of his beer, musing, "Well, I think its impossible now. So sit down and shut up."
Jimmy gave a warning glare towards Brian as he let Johnny sit down in his lap before Zacky gave a small swat to Brian's arm.
"Geesh! I'm just messing with the little short-shit!" Brian threw a grin at Jimmy. "Don't get your silky boxers in a wad."
Johnny giggled, kissing Jimmy's cheek gently. "I swear, I didn't tell him."
Jimmy blushed before rolling his eyes, looking at his watch. "Aw, c'mon!" he said. "They're making us wait! No fair!"
Just then something crawled through the doggy-door that was only used on occasion (full moons, things like that), and then there was a laugh like that of chiming bells. When their heads snapped over to the door, Ben gave them a baby toothed smile and waved with both of his hands before charging in on his wobbly legs.
Jimmy squealed, holding out his arms as he caught Ben, twirling him in circles. "LITTLE MAN!" he screamed in delight.
Zacky couldn't help but giggle in his hands as he stood to greet those who were soon to come through the door.
Ben squealed and hugged Jimmy's neck tight. "Uncie Jam!" He then gave Jimmy a kiss to his scruffy cheek. "I wove yoo!"
"I love you, too, little guy! I missed you!" he said, biting down on Ben's cheek carefully before laughing. "They feel like marshmallows!"
Johnny cooed, rubbing Ben's buzz cut. "Still like his daddy's."
The front door opened, and Val smiled at all of them. She could make anyone smile, and all of them looked to her (even though she wasn't a wolf and was surely not in any relationship with their leader, Jimmy) as their alpha female.
It wasn't too long before the tall, buff, clean shaven husband of hers cam stumbling in, not with such a graceful stride as he carried in all of their suitcases and luggage.
Brian stood when he saw Val and took her into a tight hug. "Good to see ya." He smiled huge down at her. She was one woman that he held the most respect for…Ever since the incident on the first full moon of his changing.
Val hugged Brian back, saying, "Good to be home! How's everyone been?" She went to Zacky, giving him a firm hug. "Congrats on the transformation," she whispered, kissing his cheek in a sisterly way.
Zacky gave a smile, mouthing thanks as he sighed in relief, knowing that all of his family was here now, safe and sound.
Johnny waved at Val before she demanded a hug; he was happy to comply.
"Aww, little Johnny! You've grown a few inches," she pointed out, giving him a playful wink before giving Jimmy a tip-toed kiss to the cheek.
All of the boys seemed to gather around Val, giving her hugs and affection as if they were pups greeting their mother.
The buff man that no one seemed to have greeted yet gave a loud sigh as he suddenly dropped a heavy duty suitcase on his toe, cursing under his breath as he struggled to bend over and pick it up in a way that the rest of the luggage wouldn't fall from his arms. "Nice to see ev'ryone..." he grumbled.
The circle broke, and the four men seemed to just notice Matt. They then swarmed around him, offering him pats to the back and one-armed hugs.
Ben waved, saying, "Hi Dattie!"
Matt laughed as he let everyone hug him, for he had no free arms. "Hi, son!" he said in a sing song voice before letting the others disperse, heading up the stairs, his hair seeming to have grown out while they were away.
Val followed Matt up, holding Ben on her hip. They would be staying with Zacky and Brian for the night since everyone would be staying late anyways.
Brian called out, "The guest room is on the left!"
Johnny smiled, saying, "I'm glad they're home...I think Val works too hard sometimes..."
Jimmy chuckled, shaking his head. "That's the way she's always been! She would go crazy without work."
It was only a few more moments before a slightly drained Matt came downstairs, seeming to have his eyes set on Johnny as he asked, "Can I speak to you for a minute, Johnny?"
Johnny seemed to straighten up, throwing his glance around before nodding at Matt. "Sure..." He went into the kitchen, wringing his fingers together.
Matt motioned towards a nearby chair. "You're not in trouble...it's just...there's a few things I need to cover..." he said, seeming slightly hesitant as he sat across from Johnny.
He nodded and crossed his legs. "Okay...Go for it," he was just as hesitant.
"Well..." He took a huge breath before continuing, "First off...precautions. Everyone will be helping you with them, but these first few days...You're going to be like a ticking time bomb, ready to burst into a huge beast that you aren't used to controlling, and, if you aren't careful, you could hurt someone, even yourself..." Matt's eyes began to glaze over as if he we living somewhere in the past, somewhere that seemed to make him cringe horribly.
Johnny's eyebrows knitted, and his stomach seemed to clench up. "...Jimmy will have me under close watch...And we already agreed that when the change is happening, I'm staying in our home...He won't let me hurt anyone, and I'll do my best to keep my temper under control. But...What brings this up?"
Matt nodded slowly as he sighed. "I'm glad you and Jimmy have already started discussing this...but...I just make sure this is always brought up because...I don't want it to happen again." He bit his lip gazing out the window. "I would never want to experience that all over again...It just so happens that when Brian was first transforming...he..." Matt stopped to take another breath. "He was alone, but Val hadn't realized that he would be in a room just a few feet from her when she walked by, and he happened to suddenly form into his beast form and...Though it wasn't his fault..." He suddenly stopped. "Have you seen..." he motioned towards his shoulder and collar bones which were the places where, if you were to look at Val, you would see the lines where her regular skin tone suddenly contrasted a few skin tones lighter.
He shivered and nodded. Brian had done that...? He had just thought that maybe it was a birth defect or something to that nature...But now, he was afraid that maybe he would hurt Jimmy. "Wow...I...I'm sorry, Matt. I hope that doesn't happen with me...I hope I can maintain myself. I would hate to hurt someone…"
"What I've observed with Zacky is that...when you have a loved one, it's easier to be kept under control..." Matt said, folding his hands together.
"Oh..." The knot in his stomach loosened and he sighed in relief. "Good...Thanks for talking with me, Matt," Johnny said, standing up with a grateful smile. "I promise to be a good pup."
Matt gave a gentle smile with a nod. "It's no problem...and take it easy, alright?" he said before turning to gaze out of the window again as he waited for Johnny to leave.
Johnny made it to the doorway before looking back at Matt, "Val and Ben napping?"
"Yeah...I should go check on them..." Matt stood as well before following Johnny out of the kitchen. "See ya around," he said before climbing the stairs. He pushed open the door to the guest room, calling his wife's name softly. "Val? You still awake...?"
Val lay on her back with the blankets bunched up around her; her cheek was pressed to her slim arm that was stretched limply above her head. Her eye lids were closed over soft, hazel eyes, and her chest moved slowly up and down. The peach-colored tank top she wore clung to her figure, showing the gentle curves that Matt had come so familiar with over the years. She was clearly asleep; their son slept in the crib that Zacky had set up.
Matt moved swiftly and quietly to the bed as he climbed under the sheets, letting his shoes slip back onto the floor as he slowly moved closer to her, stroking her skin gently, tracing those scars he had just remembered a few moments ago. He let his lips travel up and down them tenderly, as if wishing he could heal them, hoping she would never experience any kind of pain again.
Her skin responded to his familiar touch with a set of trembles, and she gave a small noise from her throat. Instinctively, she rolled over to face him and dipped herself down into his warm, solid chest. Still, she was fast asleep.
"I love you..." he whispered gently. "My beautiful wife...I wouldn't trade you for anything in the world..." he sighed, kissing the scarred skin some more before wrapping his large arms securely around her.
Her heart fluttered in her chest, and she gave another small noise that he loved as she curled her arms between them. He knew that even in her sleep she knew he would keep her safe. Always.