Chapter 997

I bite my lip as Jackson lowers me and my feet hit the ground, my eyes trained on my dad.

Dad studies Jackson for a moment longer before moving his eyes back to me. My breath catches for a moment but then he smiles, wide and beautiful, holding out his arms. "Daughter," he says, reaching for me.

A little cry breaks from my lips as I dash away from my mate and into my dad's arms. He gathers me up warm and tight against his chest, cradling me close, warmth and pride radiating off of him.noveldrama

"You're not disappointed in me, are you?" I murmur, the words muffled against his shirt. "Or mad at Jacks?"

"Baby, of course I'm not mad or disappointed," dad says, rocking me back and forth. "You make your own path, trouble, and I'll support you on it every step of the way. Are you all right? Are you happy?"

Dad pulls back a bit to study me and I look up at him, my shoulders bunched up, not really knowing how to reply. I glance back at Jackson who stands stoic, his hands in his pockets, waiting. "We're...surprised," I say softly. "But yeah - I think we're happy. It's good. It's good, right?"

"It's good," dad says, beaming down at me with a wide smile, his beautiful eyes crinkled at the corners as he strokes a hand over my hair. "Two little grandchildren, all at once? Come on, how can I not be thrilled?"

I grin at him, liking that. "Are they going to call you Pop-pop?"

Dad roars with laughter, tossing his head back. I laugh with him, loving it. There's really nothing like making my dad laugh like that - with total abandon. Such a rare feat. It fills me with warmth.

"We'll figure that out later," dad says, lifting his head and wiping away a mirthful tear. "Maybe they can just call me Dominic, so I won't feel so old."

"Oh, you can't be old, Pop-pop," mom says, coming over and beaming at us, holding out a glass of champagne for my dad. "I won't let you. My magical healing on a cellular level is much better than Botox."

"Yeah well, maybe Kingly Grandfather or a simple My Liege would be better to start," dad murmurs, loosing his arms around me and waving the drink away. "Celebrations later. I have business to attend to." He shifts his eyes back to Jackson, who is waiting.

"Bisniss," Marigold whispers from her spot nestled between Jesse and Rafe on the couch. I grin over at her, reminded again that her clever little mind is well attuned to watch and listen to everything. But then I sigh, letting my dad go, stepping next to my mom. We both watch as dad crosses to his bedroom door, nodding towards it though he keeps his eyes fixed on Jackson, his demand clear.

Jackson takes a deep breath and only glances at me for a moment before following my father into the room.

"Oh geeze," I sigh, a hand moving instinctually to my stomach. "Dad's not going to make me a single mother, is he?"

"No, your father is very even tempered," mom says, slipping an arm around my shoulders and giving me a squeeze. "He'll just break Jackson's arm. Nothing permanent."

"What!?" I gasp, spinning my head to her.

"I'm kidding," mom says, bursting into laughter and giving me a tug, leading me over to the couch. "It's going to be fine! He's probably just excited to have another dad to talk to for once."

"He's got Roger for that," I murmur, my eyes straying anxiously back to the closed door.

"Yes, but Roger's all jokes," mom

says, seating me down in her favorite armchair and then going the drinks cart to fetch me a

l.not

champagne flute of my own. "Dad's excited to have someone serious to talk to."

"Hey, I'm serious," Rafe says, frowning up at mom as she comes back, balancing his champagne glass on his knee.

"Seriously boring," Jesse says in a mock whisper, leaning close to Marigold and pretending it's a secret. She giggles, looking up at him, clearly loving him a great deal already - as most children do.

"I'm not boring!" Rafe growls, glaring at Jesse. Then he spins back to mom and me. "Wait, I'm not boring, right?"

I just grimace, making his eyes fly wide.

"You're thrilling, Meatball," mom

says, handing me my flute and lifting hers towards him. "But it's Ariel's day today. To our little trouble, and the little teeny double trouble that's

going to be here in six!"

"To double trouble!" Jesse says, laughing and raising his glass.

"I'm interesting," Rafe grumbles, still glaring at all of us even as he raises his glass. Marigold puts her hands up too, even without a drink, and we all laugh, lifting our glasses towards her, and then to me in celebration.

I sigh, shaking my head, still not believing that any of it's real as I lift my glass to

my lips -

But as soon as I take a sip, I sputter it out.

"Sparkling cider!?" I gasp, spinning my head to glare at my mother.

"You are with child, Ariel Sinclair,” mom says, raising her eyebrows at me.