Chapter 0323

And my heart sinks, thinking of the reality of that. Thinking that my sweet Jacks - he's really got no one in his life to hold him and coddle him and be his safety net. Well, almost no one.

"He's got us," I whisper, looking into my mom's eyes, which I know are precisely the same shade as mine. "Which...I mean, it isn't nothing, mom. We're formidable."

"It's true," she says, a slow grin coming over her face. "Pint sided, but formidable."

We both laugh again, and she strokes my cheek. "I love you so much baby," she whispers, "I just...I care a great deal about that boy already."

"Why?" I ask, a little curious.

She just grins at me. "An orphan boy, looking for a mom? Who wants a family, but doesn't even know how to ask for it? Come on, baby trouble," she murmurs, and I immediately put the pieces together - and I can't believe I didn't see it before. "Jackson's basically my catnip - I can't resist wanting to give him everything I didn't have."

"Mommm," I groan, scooting closer to her over the bed and wrapping my arms around her, putting my head down on her chest as she tugs me close. "You're so nice. Thank you for taking care of him. And I promise, I'll be careful. He's very important to me."

"I know he is sweetie, and I know that it's not easy for you. I know it's complicated, with Luca too. Just...try to remember that Jackson's kind of an island. And that he's putting a great deal on the line, loving you."

"Do you think I've done a bad job so far?" I ask, kind of terrified to hear her answer.

"Not at all, baby," she says, "this is all...for the future. Because I don't think it gets simpler for the three of you. I think...well, I think there are going to be hard times."

I nod, agreeing, kind of dreading it. And inwardly, I solidify my promise to be on Jackson's side, even when things get hard. Because mom's right - in some cases, I'm the only one there.

Mom presses a kiss to my forehead and then reaches for my bedside table again, where she slides the drawer open and pulls something out. "Speaking of the future," she murmurs, putting a little green bottle into my hand. "This should set you up well to... make whatever plans you want to."

"Huh?" I ask, staring at it. And then my eyes go wide when I realize what it is. "Oh," I say, a little...at a loss for words.

I've seen a bottle like this before - mom keeps it in her bedside table too. The day I figured out that it's a contraceptive tonic - a mild and specific variety of wolfsbane, combined with ginger and wild carrot - I had blushed for days at the idea that mom still needed it. But when mom had finally confronted me on why I was being so weird around her, we'd had a really good chat about sex, and pregnancy, and reproductive health.

"I think you should start taking it,” mom says, thoughtful. "I mean, obviously, the choice is up to you. But there's nothing wrong or bad or shameful about sex, Ariel, even if...well, if your mate situation makes it a little more complicated. But considering your choice of career, I don't think you want a baby right now

"No, I don't," I confirm, my eyebrows raised. God, it sure would be hard to pretend I'm a boy at Alpha Academy with a big pregnant belly to give me away.

"Not that I would protest that!" mom says, putting her hands up.

I gape a little, staring up at her.

"Listen, baby," mom says, grinning at me, "the sooner you want to give me a grandchild - or eight - the better, as far as I'm concerned -"noveldrama

"Mommm!" I groan, tilting my head back so far that I fall back on the bed. I use the new position to kick at her lightly,

embarrassed and kind of appalled at the idea. A baby! A grandchild for my parents! God, I haven't even thought of something like that.