April 1st Fun!

“Is he in there?” Ziva asked, hopping up onto the side of Penelope’s desk.

“He just went in and was very grumbly.  Did you hold out on him again this morning?”

“Yep, fifth day in a row...” 

Penny kept the smile to herself as she watched her friend fidget and breathe deeply enough to get a whiff of her man, a clear sign that the boss man was not the only one suffering.

“…it’s killing me, but it will all be worth it today.”

“Is that so?”  Penny worried that she’d created a monster out of Ziva by teaching her some Domme tools to use on her mate.

“Watch and learn, Mistress.”

Ziva whipped out her phone and started to text.  First came a growl from the inner office, then more texting.  Next there was a yip…

“Wait for it…” the wolf on her desk whispered.

…and a thunk, which sounded suspiciously like a big alpha male falling to the floor.

“Now we go in.”  Ziva jumped from the desk and Penny rose to follow.  They stepped into Nick’s office and there he was, out cold on the floor.

“Z, care to tell me what you just did?” 

Whispering, the happy wolf explained.  “I started by texting him about an article Mrs. Elly had given me on the benefits of not eating meat and that the pups and I were turning herbies.  Since it was such a hard thing to do, I would not sleep with him again if he continued to eat meat… you know the smell of it on his breath and all.”

Penny laughed, then put a hand over her mouth when Ziva waved her hand in a shush-like manner.

“Then,” she continued.  “When I got the growl I went in with the ‘and by the way, all of your rulers are gone due to a termite infestation.  The artist that creates them said it will be at least a year before he has un-infested wood and new rulers made.’ That led to the yip.”

“Okay, but what made him pass out?”

“That would be the lack of rulers in his drawer.  I knew he wouldn’t believe me so I came in here after he left yesterday and emptied them out.”

Ziva smiled and went over to her man.  She leaned down and tapped his cheek until he roused, a growl on his lips. 

“Where are they?” He croaked.

“April Fools,” she said and proceeded to whip a brand new looking bad boy out of her back pocket. 

The weighty erection that shot up beneath Nick’s pants and the sudden grab and roll he did of his mate were all the cues Penny needed to back out of the room and close the door.  April Fools, indeed.  
~~~

Happy April Fool's day!  May all of your jokes play well on this fine Spring day!

Serena

Round Robin

“Ziva!” Nick bellowed. He reflected briefly on how often he seemed to do that at the paper, half the time with his mate’s name attached. She was supposed to tell him before she did shit like this. Wasn’t communication part of marriage?

Ziva entered his office. “Yes, honey?”

He gestured at his computer screen. “What the hell?”

She rounded the desk for a look. “Oh, scat. I didn’t mean to CC you on those. Those are from Twitter, for the web page.”

“Not another contest.”

“No, not another contest. This is just for fun. We asked the readers to send us photos of their first robin sightings of the year. Actual robins, not shifters. Something to get their minds off January and onto spring.”

“Spring will get here when it gets here. Why am I—the Editor in Chief, may I remind you—always the last to know when you run these stupid things?”

“Because you don’t give a hump for the web pages, and because you think these are stupid things. The readers love it when we run these features. They feel like they’re part of the paper.”

“Wish I felt that way,” Nick complained.

“Oh, shush. Here, take a look. These are the cream of the crop. One of them is sure to make you laugh.”

“Unlikely.” But he looked, mainly because Ziva was his mate and failing to humor her could get him sent to the doghouse. Literally.

The file started out with blurry shots of birds shivering on bare tree branches or poking through the snow. Maybe they were robins. Who the hell could tell? “You sure these aren’t Photoshopped? Or taken in some other year?”

“We insisted on timestamps. And we’re allowing Photoshop in certain instances. Like this one.” She clicked ahead to a pic of a ten-story robin looming over a group of fleeing, panicked humans. The bird blasted Godzilla-style fire out of its open beak. In case anyone missed the reference, the wags had added a caption: Spring in Tokyo. “We need to remind the readers, photos should be limited to Talbot’s Peak and the surrounding areas,” Ziva said.

“But you’re going to run this one.”

She shrugged. “It’s too funny not to.”

Nick had his doubts on the humor quotient, but held his tongue and bravely kept clicking. He had to admit, some of the shots showed a modicum of creativity. Birds in little red parkas. A shot of a robin on a tropical beach dipping its beak into an umbrella’d coconut, with Screw winter typed underneath. And Nick’s personal favorite, the guy in the Batman costume grinning at the camera and holding a three-year-old boy in tights. “You should have been more specific about the Robin,” he said.

“I think it’s cute, too. That’s Orson, from down at the grocery. They’re not robin shifters, so technically he’s still within the rules.”

The next one up was—Nick leaned in closer to the screen. “Holy shit. Now those are two red breasts.”

“Penelope sent that one in. I’d better have a talk with her.” She cuffed him on the shoulder. Nick hastily clicked past. “No employee pictures. Readers only.”

“Thank Lupa. I never want to see a selfie of Lamar in a feather boa again. Oh, for the love of—!”

It wasn’t a bird, although it had wings. It wasn’t red-breasted, either. The naked, lavender man posed for his photo with a sign held in front of his privates: What about us purple martins?

“Oops,” Ziva said. “You weren’t supposed to see that.”

“Dammit, I thought he left town. I’ll purple his martin if he sends in any more pics. You are not running this.”

“Of course not. It’s for robins only.” Ziva reached for the Delete button.

“Hold on a second. We should share this.” Nick called up the email for City Hall, chose the purple picture and hit Send. “It’s about time Gil got a decent screen saver.”

Suckered in Once Again...

“Are you going?”

“Nope.”

“Come on, Nick, it’s for your pup’s.”

“Nope, and I could say the same to you, Z.”

“And face the mobs all trying to get the same one item on sale?  No thanks.  Those humans can be worse than hungry wolves facing off at a kill.”

Nick leaned forward on the cush chair they kept in the corner.  “So, we forget this crazy notion?”

“It’s not crazy, Nick.” Ziva sat up and faced her mate.  “That big name store off the highway scored a hell of a deal on rawhide chews and are offering it up at a can’t miss price.”

“Did we check with Glenn?  I know he sells mostly fetish gear out of the pet shop, but he’s started to offer up some honest to goodness pet goods.”

“I checked with him and he tried to get a large batch, but being that they are homemade, the seller had run out and was not expecting to make any more for the holiday season.”

“Are we sure the pups need them?”

“Coop’s catching up with his sister in the shifting department and their wolf teeth are starting to come in, but they’re still too young for bones.  Human teething rings work fine in their human form, but not so much in pup form.”

“Do we know anyone going that way today?”

Nick and Ziva sat staring at each other, each weighing the “who to call” options.

“Mooney!”  They both hollered, each jumping for their cells.

###

“I can’t believe I got suckered into doing this again after last year’s fiasco.” Mooney grumbled, dodging crazy people all beating feet to score junk for under their Christmas trees.

Mama Kin, Ziva’s ringtone, blasts from close by.  He stopped, mid-flow, to dig the phone out of his pocket.  Ziva, rarely called to chit-chat, but she always let him know what was going on with his niece and nephew.  He adored those little buggers.  He hoped there was nothing wrong.  “Yo, Z, what’s up?”

“Hey Mooney…”

“Put him on speaker.”  His brother demanded in the background.

“…shh Nick!  So, Mooney, where ya at this fine morning?”

“Down at the…” Mooney took the corner of a cart to damn near the inner thigh by a crazed shopper. “Holy Lupa, lady…watch where you’re going, you almost took out my balls!”

“Screw you…”

“Geez, you kiss your dame with that mouth?”

“Ah Mooney…”  Ziva called through the phone still at his ear.

“Sorry, Z, there are a bunch of crazy apes at this store today.  What did you need?”

“Raging Randi’s Rawhide Chews.  They’re homemade and crazy cheap there today.”

“Hell Ziva, those are on the other end of the store…can’t Nick get his own secret midnight snacks?”

“Why that little, mutt…just wait until I see you again, Moon” “Shut up, Nick!”  Nick growled and Ziva laughed.  “Please, Mooney, I’ll pay you for what they cost and I give you a solid ‘I owe you’.”

“Ooh, I like the sound of an IOU…”  Mooney responded, already turned and moving in the direction of the rawhides.  He’d just come from grabbing the boy’s gifts—military grade hunting knives.  Sure, they were wolf shifters, but they couldn’t always shift.  For those times they needed to know how to protect themselves and their loved ones.  Now that the new alpha was here, they need to start training to protect her.

“Would it help if the rawhides were for the pups?  They’ve started teething.”

“I figured,” Mooney laughed, but don’t tell Nick that, he’s just so fun to tease.

Ziva laughed, “you are so ballsy, Mooney.  I love it!”

“How many do you want?”

“As many as you can get Mooney, as many as you can get.  And thanks!”

Mooney hung up and proceeded to empty Raging Randi’s bin.  He also grabbed an extra-small bone he intend on titling Nick’s Bone and leaving under the tree at the Gazette.  Ah brotherly love in the holiday season.
~~~

Stay safe, everyone and have a wonderful weekend!

Serena

Copycats and Medical Miracles...

“Aunt Lil’,” Ziva called, her hand covering Cooper’s head where he slept strapped to her chest. “You here?”

“Raawwtlll” 

Ziva smiled and looked back at River, strapped in a front facing hold on Nick’s chest, trying to copy her words.  Her little peach was so alpha already.  She faced the world with a determination she got from both her parents and the eyes that could only have come from the daddy whose thumbs she was currently holding.

“In here, Ziva dear.”

The wispy sound of her aunt’s voice pulled her away from the smiles of her mate and child, concern for Liliya making a place in her chest.  She loved her aunt and couldn’t imagine life without her.  Aunt Lil’ had made life tolerable for Ziva during the years she’d had to assume the alpha position in her family.

Moving through the house her mother and aunt shared to the solarium in back, Ziva noticed how dark and unkempt the place had become.  That was so not like Lil’.  Her mother, now that she could see.

“Lil’, are you okay?” She asked the lump of a woman bundled into a blanket in the comphy double chair that looked out into the forest.

“No, Ziva my sweet, my time has come, “  Liliya whispered, acting like the old lady she wasn’t.  “I love you, dear.  Remember me fondly.”

“Lil’, I’m pretty sure it’s not your time.”

“No, it’s true, I’m bound for wherever shifters go to be recycled for the next life.”

“Aunt Lil’, I was with you just last week when Doc Leo did your annual physical.  Remember, he said you were as healthy as one of the oxen brothers.”

Liliya threw off her blanket and sat up straight.  “Oh, what does he know anyway?”

“Well, he’s a vet and shifter doctor, I assume he knows quite a bit.”

“Pish, I’ve got the arthritis.  A really bad case.”

“Shifters don’t get arthritis, Lil’.  All that changing shape keeps the joints fresh and young.”

“Well then, I’m a frigging medical miracle ‘cause I’ve got the arthritis.”

Ziva shot Nick, who was trying really hard not to laugh at the surly lady on the chair, a help me look.

“Say, Ms. Liliya, It’s been a while since Peter’s stop by the gazette with pictures to sell, have you been keeping he busy?”  Nick teased.

“No.  Good riddance too little peewee rubbish with that one, and when I say little, I really mean itty bitty…candy corn size if you know what I mean…”

“Stop!” Nick moaned. His theatrics were enough to earn him a share of the award Ziva had been ready to give her aunt.  “Z, cover Coop’s ears…please.  Men don’t need or want to know about the size of another man’s junk!”  

“Really, babe, he’s sound asleep.” Ziva laughed, then looked back at her aunt.  “What happened, Liliya?”

“That bugger decided to go sniffing after some human who works at a fast food place down off the highway.  A human!”

“Rauggr…”

“River, my sweetling and Cooper baby.”  Liliya got up out of the chair and crooned at the bundles she and Nick where holding.

“Lil’?”

“You know, now that I think about it, let that human have him, he deserves the ridicule he’s gonna get for his little peewee.”

“Reeree…AH!”  River shouted, making Nick cringe.

“Great…that one was actually close to sounding correct.”  Nick groaned.

Ziva smirked at Nick’s dismay and decided there would be plenty of time later to tell Nick that the AH at the end of Rivers new word was really her attempt at the word DAH. 

~~~

Have a great weekend, y'all and keep warm!

Serena

Halloween Hotness

Ziva’d been back to work for a couple of days now, but still she growled at each of her fellow employees. She half hoped her warning went unheeded, and they’d continue to ask her what happened.  She wasn’t herself and this need for comforting was confusing her.  Unfortunately, her growl still packed a punch and most veered away, letting her get to her office in relative peace.

Only a few braved her warning, but Nick, who kept pace behind her like the secret service, warded them off before she could taste their blood, or more to the point, wept into their shoulders. 

Lumbering Lupa, how was she going to survive weeks as an emotional wreak and wrapped like a freaking mummy, at that?  A mummy, damn it.  She planned her Halloween costume with great care this year.  She was going to transform herself into a belly dancer with the sexy coined belts and finger bells to boot. 

The costume was a way to empower herself and had the added benefit of driving Nick crazy with all the bared skin.  Now there were gauze wrapped and scars, a mummy’s worth of them.

Nick swore she didn’t look as bad as she felt, but then he didn’t want to risk losing access to her one remaining system—Ms. Puss.  Clearly, he’d not yet realized her multitude of injuries put the kaput’s on their favorite position—doggie.

“What’s wrong, mate?  Are you having pain?  Should we go home and rest?”

“No, Nick, I’m fine, just bummed that I’ve ruined Halloween.”  She had too, ruined one of their favorite holidays, that is, a night for thrills and chills and naughtiness that made life worth living.  Lupa she was maudlin. 

“Ziva,” Nick cooed into her ear.  “You didn’t ruin Halloween, I’ve made all our plans at the pleasure club for tonight.  All of the employees have tickets to come, if they want, and to sample any of the public parties taking place…including the one G&B is putting on.  This is our Christmas after all.  I also reserved our room for afterwards.  Elly is staying with the cubs and I believe Mooney and Marissa are bring the boys to our place to stay after their party.”

“Nick.” She turned to her mate with love in her eyes.  “How did you have time to plan all of this?”

“I have a secret peaparrot on staff…she’s a menace when it comes to multi-tasking.”

“Thank you, my love, but I can’t go like this.”  She gestured to her gauze wrapped body.

“Who said you’d have too?  Go into your office.”
Nick nudged her through the door and there, on a Ziva sized mannequin was the most brilliantly white, floor length dress she’d ever seen.  She moved to touch the fabric and almost sobbed out loud.  It was so soft…delicate and flowing.  It was perfect.

“I figured a ghost would be the perfect get-up for you and your body is too delicious for some old sheet.  Besides, you can wear this after Halloween, you know, if you want.”

“I want.” Ziva hugged her love as best she could and let the tears fall.

“It’s okay, Ziva,” Nick murmured, holding her as long as she needed him too.

“What are you going as?”  She asked once the tears had stopped.

“That’s a surprise.”  He smiled at her as he left the office.

##

Several hours later Ziva stood in the room Nick had reserved for the G&B holiday party, nibbling on snacks and talking to her co-workers, feeling like a million bucks.  Everyone was in love with her costume and dying to know where Nick got it, when in walked the man of the hour himself.

“OhmyLupa,” Ziva nearly choked on the pig in a blanket she’d been eating when she got a load of her mate…her kilt wearing, stud…Highlander mate with a sword at his side.  A clearly wooden sword.  It was a broadsword sanded and stained to perfection.

Tonight and for years to come, that piece of wood would be wielded in pleasure and a wee bit o’pain.  Especially on the night of thrills and chills.

Happy Halloween!
~~~

I couldn't resist...David Tennant in a kilt...Oh Dr.!

Have a wonderful and safe Halloween!

Serena

Safe & Sound

Nick stood sentinel over his mate, now resting as comfortably as she could in her wolf form.  She’d come to, briefly, while flying toward help in Erol’s massive, clawed grip.  He owed that dragon much and would somehow repay him.  Ziva and the pups were his world as he was theirs.

“How’s our patient?”

“Hey Leo,” Nick addressed the town vet, lightly, of course, so as not to wake the sleeping wolf. “She seems to be a bit more relaxed.  Shifting definitely helped.”

“Yeah, it usually does and the cocktail of meds I gave her will give her the chance to sleep a lot of the healing off.  She is going to be incredibly sore for the next week or so and with how deep her scrapes went, she’ll scab, but shouldn’t scar.”

“Thanks man.  And thanks for the use of the kilt.”  Nick glanced down at the surprising comfortable attire Leo had loaned him.  “Hell of a lot of freedom in this bad boy.”

“I know and the ladies love them.”

“That’s what I hear,” Nick laughed.  “Ziva’s always threatening me with one, I should have let her win that battle.  I’ll get it cleaned and back to you…”

“Forget it, why don’t you keep it and surprise your lady with it, she’s going to need something to keep the grumps away until she’s fully healed.  Besides, I have a bunch of them.  Gotta go.”

“Thanks again, Leo.”

Nick smiled to himself, he’d definitely surprise Ziva with his newest attire, maybe on Halloween.  He could be a sword wielding Highlander and for his lady love, a lovely, white silk, flowing dress.  It would work well with her bandages and she could be a beautiful ghost…or a lady in white.  He’d check out the new costume store in the Peak.  Word was, they did custom work and that was just what she needed…a lot of pampering.

##

Erol flew back, as quickly as he could, to where he’d left his fully dressed, Fair One.  She’d better have remained dressed or there would be hell to pay.  His mouth watered with the idea of a bit of toasted wolf.  He’s leave the young ones alone as he knew eating them would piss off his mate, but the other two were fair game.

As he drew closer to the ridge, he could see a soft white skin dancing on the rocks.  Not a seductive dance as most women would put on for their man, but for Greely, it was more like the robot mixed with a boot scoot and boogie as she’d called it the other day.  His woman could not dance, but for him it was the most seductive thing on the planet.

As long as the wolves were nowhere to be seen.

Erol landed in a shift and didn’t even bother to clothe himself.  He let his sense scan the area and found it was just he and Greely—a very naked Greely.  It didn’t get much better than this.

“Is this you being naughty?” he asked, even as he grabbed her by the ass and lifted her to him.

“No, think of it as your reward for doing something good,” she crooned into his ear.  “Unless you think I’m being naughty.”

“Definitely naughty, Fair One.  I think you need a spanking.”

“Don’t let me stop you,” she sighed into his ear.  “YIEEIEE,” then yelped as his hand came down on her plush cheek in the first of what would be many orgasm inducing pats.
~~~

Have a wonderful weekend!

Serena

Toasted Wolf Snack

Erol was mildly amused by the growled threats coming his way from atop the hill.  Two adult wolves threatening to do what, gouge out his eyes or claw away at his tough dragon skin?  Please, all he had to do was douse them with his dragon fire and he’d have a toasted wolf snack.

Lightening sharp pain made its way from a back tooth, up through an eyeball and down his right arm.  Erol held tight to the fire that wanted to erupt from the back of his throat and laid his head on the top of the gorge, between the angry wolves.  He opened his mouth wide and allowed an extremely pissed off Greely to jump out.

“I can’t believe you did that, you wide-nostril’ed, son of a fireless reptile!”

“Whoa” “Go Miss Greely,” the dynamite duo whispered between themselves even as his Fair One continued to berate him.

“We have talked about this, Erol, the only time you put me in your mouth is when I am a frog and we have to go under water…”

“What about during love-making, Fair One?”

“Erol!”

“Yeah!” “Right on”

“Not in front of innocent ears.”

“Innocent?” “Does she mean us?” Thor and Loki looked at each other.

“Now, times wasting, Erol.  Ziva looks quite hurt and there is no way she can make it up the side and into town on her own steam, but you can.  Be a good neighbor and take both she and Nick to see Dr. Leo.” 

“Damn, too bad Z is unconscious, she’s gonna miss Dr. Dom working her over, or working over her.”

“Reetha! Now’s not the time.”

“I’m just saying…”

Erol swung his head between the now naked, bickering siblings.  “Great, more nudity.  Greely, shift and get back into my mouth.”

“No!  Get going, I’ll be waiting here when you return.”

Erol raised his head, knowing the flames were rising inside and not wanting to risk hurting his mate.

“Don’t worry, big guy,” Reetha said, sashaying closer to Greely. “We won’t eat her.”

“Yeah, frogs and canines don’t really mix, right boys…” Mooney joked.

“Yes, dad.” “Right-o, pop’s”

“We might, however, get her out of there spit soaked clothes.”  Reetha teased.

“Fair One…” Erol warned.

“Go on, I’ll be fine.”

Erol gently lifted both Ziva and Nick into his claws and started to take flight.  Half way up he heard Greely exclaim, “When in Rome.”

Planning to make this the fastest trip ever, Erol took off towards Talbot’s Peak. He released fire along the way to bleed off the tension currently wracking his body at the thought of anyone seeing his mate naked.  Who knows, he may get that toasted wolf snack after all.
~~~

Somehow, Greely and Erol have taken over my tale.  Go figure.

Have a wonderful weekend, y'all!

Serena

Pet Names and Fire Breathing Dragons

Nick twisted and turned, performing more aerial acrobatics than he thought possible, in hopes of keeping himself from becoming a shapeshifter shish-kabob.  He’d never dreamed his life would come to such a pointy end and wouldn’t involve wood of some sort.  Sadly, he’d miss out on the best parts of life…his pups laughing and playing and growing up.  He’d miss it all.  And damn it…he’d never marry the female of his dreams.  

With a quick glance towards his mate, straining to reach out to him, Nick let loose with a soulful howl and prepared to meet the Lupa snout-to-snout.  A sharp stab to the ribs took him by surprise.  He’d hoped death by this kind of impaling would have been fast and less painful.  The even bigger shock came when he was suddenly flying upwards into the sky.  Nick had always hoped to join the great pack upon his death, but secretly suspected it would be the lone burning wolf for him.

##

“Be careful, Erol.  Don’t break him.”

“Are you really telling me what to do with the wolf you ordered me to save, Fair One?”

“That’s not just a wolf, you silly goose…”

“I AM DRAGON!” Erol roared.

“Fine, fine, fine…but listen that is not an ordinary wolf, Oh Mighty Dragon.”

 “Really?”  Clearly Greely thought he was stupid and that he wouldn’t recognize a fellow shifter.  She still had much to learn about dragons.  He did, however, like the affectionate name she’d just given him, even if she’d said it with a huff in her voice.

 “Nope, that’s Nick McMahon…” 

 The reverence in her voice ruffled his feathers…or would have if he’d had any.  It also made him wonder if he should drop the infidel he currently held in his claws.  “The way you speak of this man makes me wonder if I should drop him.”

 “WHAT?  Don’t you dare, Erol!”

 Greely’s sudden movement across his back required Erol to slow and descend sooner than he’d intended.  Instead of a graceful landing as was usual, he’d had to claw onto the jagged rocks along the side of the gorge…digging in with his hind legs and using his wings to slowly make his way down.  Once at the bottom, he set the wolf on his feet and allowed Greely to dismount.  “Never risk yourself like that again, Greely,” he huffed, sending her hair out behind her. “I will resort to carrying you in my mouth if you repeat that action.”

 “I-I…”

 “I promise to always do as you say, Oh Mighty Dragon,” Erol rumbled, still in his dragon form.  “By the way, I like your new pet name for me…you may call me that from now on.”

 “I…what?”

 “Oh Mighty Dragon, I like that…you may continue to use it.”  He watched her vibrate with indignation, eager to see what she would do with his demand.

 “Grrr…arggg, you, you—humph.”

 Greely turned way from him with a stomp of her tiny foot and he was juiced.  Impatient to continue to their intended destination and lay her on the soft bed he’d bought just for her, in the castle of rock, hidden in these hills. 

 “Oh!”

 Her gasp brought him back to reality and a picture that brought fire to his nostrils.  Nick, the shapeshifting wolf, was now a man racing to his woman, naked.  Damn wolves and their penchant for nudity.  What was worse was that he was swinging all over the place in his dash to get to the naked woman on the ground. 

 “Avert your eyes, Fair One!”

 “Oh, Karma is going to just die that she missed this.  The rumor mill in Talbot’s Peak was so wrong…they must have been short by at least four inch…ahhhhhh.”

 Erol felt his blood boil, the fire barely restrained.  Someone was going to get hurt if Greely didn’t stop.  That would be his defense, he thought as he reached out and scooped her up, quickly placing her into his mouth. 

 Her scream was muffled, but could still be heard as witnessed by the sudden quiet around him and the words of two little wolf boys.

 “Cool…He ate her!” 
~~~

Dragons have minds of their own, I swear!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Serena 

A Mighty Grip to the Rescue

So, it's an ultra shorty from me today.  Illness is alive and well in the Diva household, only now it's Alpha and Mama Diva down for the count. Happily, Darling Diva is back up and running, but I guess the cold had to go somewhere...
~~~

Nick!

Shouts from above echoed Ziva’s internal scream for her mate.  He was falling to his death and she was unable to do a thing about it.  She prayed to the Lupa, to the forest gods and even to the big guy the humans all talked about—anyone who could keep her mate safe.

She watched as Nick wiggled and attempted to move out of the jagged peaks path, all to no avail.  He would be impaled and she would have to go on without him.  It was an impossible task except for their young.  She would remain here for them.

Even as flashes of a lonely future raced through her head, Ziva rolled to her stomach tried to rise—to get to her mate—to change fate, an inch at a time.  A powerful gust of air pushed her back and forced her head down, but she persisted.  She tipped her chin to the side and caught the sweetest sight she’d seen since the birth of her twins—a monstrously-sized dragon, taking her mate into its mighty grip, seconds before he’d reach the tip of the rock.

Nick was safe was her last thought as she slipped into the darkness.
~~~

Have a wonderful weekend!


Serena

The Rescue?

Ziva panted through the burning pain of her raw scrapes and open wounds as well as the damn near debilitating pain in her back when she moved.  She continued to remind herself that help was on the way and hoped they got here soon.

She’d only had one good howl in her which was worrisome, but the multiple return howls; Nick’s being the loudest, assured her that many were coming to her rescue.

With the cavalry coming, Ziva allowed her wolf body to fade back to human, hoping the change would start healing the worst of her injuries.  Several of the cuts started knitting together and the pain in her back eased enough that she could breathe semi-normally.

“ZIVA,” Nick roared from atop the gorge wall before starting the climb down.

“Nick,” Ziva whispered, wishing she had more oomph to warn him to be careful and less pain to truly enjoy the site of her utterly naked mate scaling the side of the gorge.

“You okay, Auntie Z?” “Hang on, Z-ma.” “Don’t look down alpha man.” “Oh man, Uncle Nick that had to have hurt your toes.”

Ziva resisted laughing, but couldn’t stop the very slight grin that crossed her lips.  Loki and Thor were encouraging as only they could…loudly.

“I don’t think it’s the toes he needs to worry about.  Hey bro, watch out for your twig and berries man.”  Mooney and the boys laughed and Nick growled at them.  Ziva knew their game by now and they were only trying to diffuse some of the fear so obviously riding Nick like a crazy monkey.

“What twig and berries?” a feminine voice added to the jesting.  “Looks like the business has crawled back inside and boarded up the exits.  Poor Ziva.”

Ziva rolled her eyes at the brother/sister interplay and prayed to the Lovely Lupa that Nick didn’t take the bait.  Sadly, the great lady appeared to not be listening as Nick looked up at Reetha and let go of the rock with one hand to flip her off.  Wolves were more like dogs, even in their human suits.  They have power, but very little grace. 

Nick lost his hold and started to tumble.  Ziva sucked in what little breath she had regained and tried to call out to her love.  Unlike where she fell, Nick was lined up with a very sharp stone that jutted out from the hill.  Her mate was going to be impaled and all she could do was watch.
~~~

~Innocently whistling~

Have a wonderful weekend, y'all!
~wink~
Serena

Hell of a Hunt...

Hi all, well another shorty from me...actually, it may be shorty's for a while on my front.  I've been dealing with a problimatic hand and wrist for the entire summer and am now getting PT for it.  I'd initially thought it was carpel, but happily I was wrong!

Anyway, exercises and periodic splinting has been called for, so my typing time is limited for now.

I hope you enjoy Nick and Ziva's continuing trial in short spurts.

By the by, the picture has nothing to do with today's blog, but it just felt like a good day to admire this classic shot.  ~sigh~
~~~

Nick stood beside his brother and behind his nephews watching as, together, they culled the young deer from the herd.  Damn those boys were good.  It really shouldn’t surprise him considering they were McMahons. 

He and Mooney were one hell of a hunting pair when they were young…still were if the truth be told, but he would cop to being worried about how the boys would do, being raised by their vegetarian mother. Marissa may be their step-mother, but she, unquestionably, loved those boys like every mother should.  How though, could a veggie lover understand the need to hunt red meat?

Today showed he shouldn’t have worried.

She’d proved him wrong though and he was happy to admit that it had to be her love that encouraged the boys to be who they were.

Holy Lupa.  That thought alone had him wondering what he and Ziva would do if Cooper or Rain decided to follow a herbie lifestyle instead of a carnie one?

Love them, Dumbass.  He could hear Ziva’s voice in his head as if she was standing in front of him.  Of course they’d be loved, even if they only ate carrots and stuff.

Something tugged at his awareness, made his hackles rise and pulled him from his musings.  A howl and not just any howl, her howl.  Ziva’s pained cry pierced his soul and froze everyone around them.  Nick raised his snout and let loose with an answering howl of his own before he took off in search of his hurt mate.  At his back were Mooney and his boys as well as Reetha.  Training was a family affair, as was rescue.

Ziva had been stationed in front of the gorge to make sure there were no accidents, yet somehow she’d had one of her own…she was going to be pissed.  If Ziva were hurt terribly, he could only hope that piss and vinegar kept her alive and aware until he reached her.
~~~

Have a wonderful weekend!

Serena

Census Day and City Song

Census day was not far off.  Gill looked at the calendar and grinned.  To have an idea of how many species of shape shifters called the Peak home would gain them a foothold in the supernatural world.  Not that many wanted it known they existed or resided amongst humans.  Many welcomed their counter part as the humans calling the Peak home did.  Those on the outskirts ventured into town knowing the unusual was normal there.  

Gill leaned back in his chair, picking up the sheet with the lyrics he, Vernon, and Louie worked on as they camped.  Phil lent his voice to the quartet as they recorded the tape waiting Gill's approval for Fuzzy and Tabs to play on their morning show.  Gill started humming as he pushed the play button the tape recorded.  (Lyrics are based on When the Saints melody and style)

Census day has come

Time to count and mark the slot

What citizens do we have

Only they know, that’s why we count

Oh, when the Peak goes filing in

When the Peak goes filing in

Oh, gosh I want to be in line

When the Peak goes filing in

Birds, dragons, and fowl

Remember your umbrella lest you get fouled

Mark the ballot right, you count

That’s right, you is a citizen

Oh, when the Peak goes scratching in

When the Peak goes screeching in

Oh, I got be in the line

When the Peak goes filing in 

More verse followed trying to catch each type they knew of in song.  If all the stanzas got out the song would take hours.  Gill laughed as he read the note on the bottom of the last page of lyrics.  The note read streamlining and cutting needed.  That was what the council would vote on next.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy Weekend Gang!

Since I'm a bit under the weather, I'm posting a quick blurb here for the anthem and census day theme I'm working on.  The cross-dress formal ball party is under planning.  Images of Vernon in Miss Elly's poodle skirt and high heels has Nick wanting to wash his eyes out.  Ziva hasn't told him yet her plans for his out fit to the ball.

For now stay, cool, well, and safe.  Summer and its storms are here.  Remember to keep a good book or two handy for your vacation and beach trips to share with your loves and spice.  I know I am!

Until Next Week,

Solara

Viewers' Choice

Okay, here’s the deal: I started to write a follow-up to last week’s post and couldn’t get it to work. Then I got another idea and couldn’t get that to work. I came up with a third idea, and … fizzle. So this is what we’re gonna do. I’m posting my three beginnings and leaving it up to you, the readers. Vote on which one you want me to finish. Otherwise I’ll pick one myself. Or come up with something entirely different. Ideas are a dime a dozen. It’s the execution part that’s a pain in the butt.

#1: FAST AND LOOSE

Mirabella stared down at the creature lying on his back in the grass. He had the look of a cat to him, but was thin and limber as a rubber band, with bony, stilt-like legs. His pelt was nearly as yellow as the grass, and speckled with dark spots. His eyes darted from her to the muttering gray stallion to the Clydesdale gelding and his heavy, deadly hooves. The cat held very still, with his paws tucked in to his pallid chest fur in an effort not to look dangerous. He must have experience with horses, especially protective stallions.

She had seen cheetah-shifters before, though she’d never spoken to one. Nor had she expected to find one in Montana. To her knowledge, Wells did not employ cheetahs. That implied her own secrets were safe. So what was he doing here?

If only she dared shift to ask him. But no one must know she was up here, or that she was something other than a horse.

She backstepped to allow Hicks, the gray stallion, in close to settle matters. Hicks did not like cats at all, and wasn’t that fond of shifters. Whatever he decided, she would back him. Better safe than sorry.

#2: FAREWELL TO THE LONG BIG SLEEP

Ziva only ever heard Nick moan on two occasions: during bouts of passion in their bed, and behind his desk on deadline day. Today he was moaning in his office with no deadlines looming, and her not with him to provoke the noises. She practically crashed into the office. “You okay, honey?”

“Let me claw my eyes out first.” Nick rubbed the abused orbs in question and sat back from his computer. “I don’t know how, but he just keeps getting worse.”

Ziva came around the desk to massage his shoulders, and to sneak a peek at whatever had upset her mate. “Let me guess: Ralph. What did he do this time, savage the new SpongeBob movie?”

“Worse.” Nick shuddered. “He’s writing a book.”

# # #

It was a quarter past my second bottle of scotch. Outside my office it was raining like a sonuvabitch. It’d been doing that all week. I think the sun figured if it dared to show itself somebody’d take a potshot at it. Not that it mattered worth a shit. All the rain in the world couldn’t wash this city clean. I lifted my bottle to the absent sun and took a swig in its honor.

Ziva raised both brows. “A detective novel?”

“That appears to be his intention,” Nick said. “Somewhere, Raymond Chandler is spinning in his grave.”

“How did you get hold of this?”

“Lamar hacked into his files. You know how territorial he gets when somebody else tries to write a book.”

“And of course he shares with everybody.”

“That’s a snake for you.” Nick continued reading.

And then she walked in. A dame classy enough to make me put the bottle down. Blonde—I mean, c’mon, what the hell else? Legs from here all the way down to there, a set of highly dangerous curves and a rack that’d make a saint scream hallelujah.

Ziva winced, close to moaning herself. “Yeah, that’s Ralph.”

She sat her hot ass down in a chair and crossed those endless legs. “Mr. Jakes? My name is Alabaster Crowe. I want you to locate a missing person. My husband has disappeared.”

#3 THE USUAL SUSPECTS

It had to happen eventually, Gil thought. When you’re in politics, scat like this hit the fan as a matter of course. That didn’t prevent him from seething.

He knew he could strike Louie and the gang at Rattigan’s off the suspect list. Maybe last year one of them might have done it as a joke, but not now. He had a wife and children now. Louie had backed off from the practical jokes the second Chloe announced her pregnancy, and saw to it everyone else did too. Louie had a cleaver. No, it hadn’t been anyone at Rattigan’s.

Somebody had it in for the Mayor of Talbot’s Peak. He’d have to nip this in the bud. But first he had to deal with the press. “No,” he told the reporter from the Gazette through grinding, gritted teeth. “I didn’t and have never made a sex tape.”

That’s all, folks. Pick the one you like and I’ll finish it. Or feel free to suggest something else. As for me, it’s back to caffeine. Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to be writers.

Who Said They Couldn't Agree...

Penny pushed the door open and stepped into Nick’s office. “Whoever you are, you better have a really good reason to be in this office…oh, Bossman.”

“Shut the door…shut to door,” he whispered frantically, waving his hands and making Penny smirk.

“What’s going on…why the whispers?”

Nick looked to the side, then smiled and leaned over.  He fussed with something that softly clanked before sitting up with the sweetest little face she’d seen since a week ago when she’d brought Ziva coffee from Java Joe’s, her work laptop and diapers.

“Ooh, hunny bunches,” she almost squealed, rushing to the desk to take the violet-eyed alpha from her daddy.  “And Coo, too!” she whispered looking across Nick to the still sleeping boy in the stroller.

The little girl looked right at her and grabbed a lock of colorful hair.  “Wow, for one so young she’s doing great at keeping her head up and using those hands.”

“Yeah,” beamed the proud daddy.  “She’s alpha.”

“And shifter.” Penny added.  “It’s a good thing we have a safe town to raise our young in since our babies tend to develop faster at first and appear darn near unbreakable.”

“Thank  Lupa for this town, that’s for sure.”

Penny smiled and tickled the beautiful girl in her arm, warming as the little sweeting smiled up at her.  Yep, faster development than a human baby, that’s for sure.  “So, Bossman…,”
Nick’s grunt as he shuffled more papers into his bag made Penny shake her head.  “Have you and
Ziva named this darling girl yet?  And speaking of Ziva, does she know you have her pups at the office with you?”

Nick stopped what he was doing and looked up.  “No, she doesn’t know…and don’t you be calling her with it.”  He waggled his finger at her.  “She was so tired she finally dropped into a sound sleep.  I thought if I took the twins, elsewhere for a time, she could sleep.  And, yes,” he grinned.  “We have finally named the little princess there.”

The princess in question shook her fist at her daddy and garbled an “ah” sound that Penny figured one day soon would turn into an alpha howl.  She was too excited to know the name they’d finally settled on to scold Nick for his misstep in taking the twins away from their mom without telling her.  Nick was going to learn about the mistake the loud way, when Z couldn’t find her crew.  Penny just hoped Ziva understood that Nick was trying to help.

“So don’t keep me in suspense…what’s little beauty’s name?”

“River Raine McMahon.”  Nick smiled as he said it, making it clear there was a story there.

“River Raine, oh Nick, it’s beautiful…just like her.  How did you guys finally agree?”

Nick sat back and crossed his arms behind his head.  “It’s actually owed in great part to Elly.  While her bone-headed boys don’t thrill me, she has been there for Z and I in so many ways.  My pops a smart guy.  Anyway, Elly and Pop dropped in to see the twins and Z and I were at the growling at each other state.  We hadn’t slept, hadn’t fu…ah,” Nick mumbled and waved a hand in front of him.
“Anyway, moving on.”

“I got it, you hadn’t connected in some time.”  Penny interjected.

“Right, connected.  And Ziva hadn’t shifted and run since early in her pregnancy.”

“She still hadn’t shifted?”

“Yep, which appeared to be the crux of the problem.  She was afraid.  Terrified she would run and never come back.”

“Oh Z.”

“I know, Penny, where could that thought have come from?”

Nick looked defeated and in need of a friend.  Penny knew that at any other time he never would have divulged Ziva’s secrets and as far as Penny was concerned, he still hadn’t.  Some secrets between friends were take it to the grave secrets and this was one of them.  “Nick, all women have fears.  And while I’ve not yet become a mother, I can imagine the fears that come with that gig.  Ziva’s fears are totally normal and the best thing she can do is express them to someone she trusts, explicitly.  Like her mate.”

“Yeah, she did once we returned from running.  I had to force her to shift, but once she had she ran herself to exhaustion.  You know, the funny thing was, she never told Elly what was bothering her, but Elly knew.  She whispered something to Z before we ran that brought tears to my mate’s eyes.”

“Ha, go Elly.  You know, she is also a woman and a mom.  She’d probably had the same fears at one point and was able to reassure Ziva that it would all be okay.”

“Anyway, once we came home, we were better able to discuss name ideas.  We took a step back and assessed what we wanted her name to mean.  We both wanted it to be strong…”

“Oh, River.”  Penny nodded.  “Like the current.”

“Yep, and to also mean refreshing and change since she’s the first ever female alpha in the position to lead.”

“And Raine.” She smiled.  “Oh Nick, I love the symmetry of that, it’s perfect.”

“Thanks.  She sure seems to like it.”  Nick laughed.

Penny turned the baby toward her and smiled.  “Hello there, River Raine McMahon.”  She was treated with another baby “ga” and “ah.”  So when are you going to announce it?

“NICOLAS TAGGERT MCMAHON!  Where are my babies!”  Ziva’s voice carried through the paper’s newsroom and Penny watched Nick grimace. 

“I should have let her know where we were going.”

“Yep, start with that, after you say you’re sorry and you might keep some skin.”

“I’m sorry.  I should have told you I was taking them out.  I was trying to let you rest.”

Penny watched the new mom zero in on her twins before taking a deep breath and then looking at Nick.  “Thank you for looking out for me.  I panicked when I woke and couldn’t find them, but I trust they will always be safe with their daddy.”

Ah, her little birds, Bossman and Z, were growing up.  Becoming parents was the best thing to happen to them and it seemed to Penny as well.  She looked down at little River and swore she would do her part in making sure this girl was loved and supported.
~~~

Oh, well, it might have been me that said Nick and Ziva had agreement issues.  At least I know I yelled that at them the other day when they still had not pulled it together enough to name their daughter.  I may have even threatened them with the "I'm going to make her all a dream" tactic that many a TV show has employed in the past.  Yeah, I was getting fed up, but they finally did good, huh.  At first, they wanted River Song, but that was a blatant rip off so I sent them back to the drawing board.  I like what they came up with though.  Hopefully, they wait awhile before having more and putting their author through this again!


Have a warm and happy weekend!


Serena

So Close...

“Monica.”

“Nope.”

“Anna.”

“No.”

“Juliet, Gina, or Katie?”

“No, Nope and definitely not!” Ziva looked at Nick over the bassinet where their twins slept, convinced her mate was just throwing names out there at this point to get on her nerves.  “They’d call her Kat, Nick, Kat!  Our beautiful girl is an Alpha wolf, not a cat.”

“No, you’re right about that, Katie is a no go, but fracking Lupa, Ziva, work with me here.  This girl needs a name.”

“I know.”  Did she ever.  She also knew what she wanted the name to be and for some reason she had no give in her about this one.  “I already told you what I want it, no, need it to be.”

Nick paced the length of the room, running his hands through his sexy locks.  The reds and browns were strong today, tempting her to add her fingers to his and tug, hard, to bring his lips close enough to nibble on.  Hell, only weeks after delivering the dynamic duo and her libido was tapping out a strong, incessant beat.  Even though she was a shifter, and healed faster than the normal human, she would still be out of commission for the next few weeks.  Time to pull it together.

“But Z, why does it have to be that?”

“Is the name that bad, Nick?”

“No, I guess not, but…”

“But what?”  She asked, resetting the cover her little girl was determined to push away.

“Well, think about those initials…G.B.M.”

“So?  Everyone would know of her connection to the Gazette.”

“Ziva, really think about the initials.  Say them out loud.”

“Fine, G.B.M.”  Horror filled her when she heard how they would sound together.  She hadn’t been thinking about the initials, just the beautiful name, Galina Brielle. “Ah, er, okay…I see your point, damn it.  Back to square one.”

She walked out of the nursery, disheartened by the loss of that name, but Nick was right, they could not do that to the next alpha of the pack.  She had to think.

“How about Molly?”

“No.”

“Annabelle?”

“Nope.”

“Jan, Carly or Hannah?” Nick huffed.

“No, Nope, and definitely not!”
~~~

Score one for Papa Nick, saving his little princess from uncomfortable initials!  Only problem is now they have to start again.  Doh!  If they wait long enough the up-and-coming alpha might just name herself.

Have a wonderful weekend!
Serena 

I'll Just Do It Myself...

Nick shifted in his seat, seeking out a more comfortable position and mildly concerned that watching Ziva nurse his daughter was turning him on to such a degree.  Thankfully, he’d read those books about being a new dad and knew that arousal at the sight was not uncommon.

It was times like this he wished he could draw or paint or do something even slightly creative to immortalize the beauty before him.

“What are you thinking about, Nicky?”

“Nicky? Am I in trouble?”

Her half smile soothed him.  They’d been fighting more than usual of late and they both knew why.  Names. Another thing he’d read in the book was that it was not uncommon to have trouble naming your baby.  Lots of couples struggled with it, of course, those couples weren’t usually made up of two alpha wolves.

“You know, Z, we really need to resolve this name issue.”

Ziva looked up and smiled at him, the baby girl at her breast.  Her happiness at being a mother written all over her face for the world to see.

“I know we do, but Nick, I just can’t go with Monica, like you suggested, or Dwayne.  Ralph would attach himself to our son and we would have to break all those bear habits he’d instill in our boy.”

“I agree, no names Ralph suggested.  You know that’s going to make him crankier than usual.”

“Ralph needs to get himself laid but good and burn some of those vacation days he’s been hoarding. 
He is a bear, they need to hibernate.”

Nick laughed.  His mate was always spot on with her assessments of the people around her.  “You going to tell him that before or after you tell him we didn’t pick his names.”

“I’m going to let you tell him.  Air kisses…”

“Thanks.”  He shook his head and smiled.  “You know, I’ll back off of Monica if you’d be willing to let go of Misha.”

Emotions played across Ziva’s face and Nick worried she was going to continue to be stubborn about naming their son, Misha.

“But…Misha is a beautiful name!  Girls will love that name…”

“Z, we’re shifters, he’d be teased and beat up just because of his name.”

“Not in this town,” she said, setting their well-fed, sleeping girl back into the bassinet and picking up the gentle boy whose name was being disputed.  She put him to her other breast and swiped a soft touch down his cheek.

“Especially in this town, Z.”  He leaned forward and touched the silky head of his son.  “He’s beta, and even with all of our protection he has a tough road to follow.  Let’s at least give him a strong name, not something that would get him pick on.”

“Do you have a suggestion?”

Nick released a breath, happy she was willing to finally talk.  “I do, actually.  What about Michael or Sam?”

Ziva was quiet for a few minutes before she spoke.  “Those are strong names, but to plain.”

“Okay, then how about Cooper?”

The little prince squawked and squealed, shook his tiny fist before once again nuzzling at his momma breast. “Well, I guess he likes that name,” Ziva said through a smile.

“He’s a smart boy…takes after his mom, for sure.”

“Suck up.” She snorted, but grinned all the same. “Can I keep DeClan as his middle name?”

“If I say yes will it win me points when it comes to our daughter’s name?”

Ziva gave him her wickedest smile and predictably, he went stone hard.  “Nope, but Penny called to tell me about the new store of rulers that were delivered to the G&B the other day…”

Nick groaned.

“I had her send me one, or two.”

“Oh Lupa…”

“Nope, you can call me ma’am.”
~~~

Well, that's one down and one to go.  The newest beta in the McMahon clan is Cooper DeClan and he picked the name himself...kinda.  Now they just need to agree on a name for their little alpha girl...

Have a great weekend!
Serena

Here Come the Flying Monkeys!

Reetha stepped from the woods behind her brother’s house, readjusted her scarf, and made sure her fly was zipped before she made her way to the door.  She was done waiting for an invite to meet her new niece and nephew.  The male child, being beta and all, needed his auntie’s cuddles and the little alpha lady needed to catch the scent of the other alpha bitches in her circle.  There were so few female alpha wolves out there, so this group needed to be tight.  She and Ziva knew the loneliness that came from being female alphas in a male-centric world. Between her mama and auntie this girl would rise high and never be alone.

“Wilk!”

“McMahon!”

“WILK!”

“MCMAHON!”

Whoa. Reetha pushed the door open and stepped into a standoff. Nose to nose, lips raised in warning and aggressive intents clear…these two were about to go off on each other. “Hey guys, what’s going on?”

Nick and Ziva backed up and gave each other some room, but both were clearly on edge.

“What are you doing here, Reetha?”

“Gee, Zee, I came to see the babies, you know, what aunties do.”

“Most aunties wait for an invite, Ree.”

“If I waited for that, the kiddos would be teenagers before I met them.”

“And they’ll be McMahon teenagers at that,” her brother snipped, shooting an authoritative look Ziva’s way.

Reetha grimaced, knowing full well what was coming from her friend’s mouth, having been on the receiving end of her anger one too many times.

“Only in your demented, wood-addled brain because flying fucking monkeys will shoot from my ass before they are called anything other than Wilk’s!”

“Ohp.” Reetha stifled the rest of her laugh.  Wood-addled was new, but clearly Nick had never made

Ziva this mad before considering the surprised look on his face.  Which, of course, only lasted a few seconds before her brother opened his mouth to make things worse.

“Well, want me to get you some lube…” — “Whoa, Nick stop…” — “To get the buggers…” — “No kidding, bro, stop…” — “Out easier!”

The fur flew after her dim bulb of a sibling’s last statement.  It was nearly literal in Ziva’s case, as different parts of her body seemed to change without her knowing it.  How long had it been since her friend had shifted?

Reetha waded into the mêlée, which proved to be nothing more than growls and chest bumps.  These two couldn’t even hurt each other during this clearly charged frackus.  It proved how much they loved each other and, to her great relief, that it was possible for two alpha’s to mate. 

“STOP IT NOW!”  With an ear in each hand, Reetha pulled the two apart and brought them to their knees. “Tell me what’s going on.”  When they both started to bitch at the same time, she tweaked their ears to shut them up.  “Ziva, you first.”

“He wants my babies to be McMahon’s!”  

With the feigned disgust she heard in Ziva’s voice, over a name Reetha knew Zee loved, she had a bad feeling she knew where this was headed.  Women knew these things without being told, yet men were just dense.

“They ARE McMahons!”

Oh, Nick…

“Their mother’s not a McMahon, she’s a Wilk, and so are they.”

…And BINGO was his name ooo.  Reetha let go of their ears and let them both stand.  They were quiet, so quiet she wondered if Nick was finally piecing it all together.

“Ziva,” Nick’s voice soothed. “You’re my mate.  I remember quite a wild Thanksgiving chase which sealed the deal, as it were.  You are a McMahon.  You’re my McMahon…Queen McMahon!”

“Quite a boost there, Nick, Alpha to King…”

“Shut up, Sis.”

Reetha looked over at a silently crying Ziva and wondered if she would finish what she’s started here.

“Mating may add to my designation, Wilk alpha and McMahon Queen…”

“Wow, a lofty bitch, aren’t ya.” Reetha teased.

“Shut up, Ree.” Ziva barked. “It still doesn’t change my name.”

They stared at each other as if no one else was around.  Reetha backed away as Nick reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box.  Thank Lupa her brother wasn’t a total dumbass.

“Then maybe we ought to change that, too.”

Ziva sniffed, nodded her head and let Nick put one big assed stone on her finger.

Reetha looked away as they kissed and took the opportunity to tiptoe over to the two cuties snuggled together in their bassinet, sleeping through their parents skirmish and subsequent good news.  These two, with their tiny toes and relaxed happy faces, crawled into her heart and took their place right next to Loki and Thor.  She may never have her own, but she would have them all and she would love them like they were hers. 

“Hey, before you two do that.” She wiggled her fingers in their direction. “How about you tell me the names of my new little loves…”

Ziva’s smile lit up the room as she came closer, Nick tight on her tail.

“Our little alpha is Galina…,” Ziva said.

“Greta…” Nick announced at the same time.

Reetha had to squeeze her lips tight so as not to laugh at the fiery looks they were sending each other.  “And how about out little beta baby?”

“Misha…” This from Ziva. 

“Brent…”  From Nick.

“And that, guys, is my cue to leave.  Don’t wake the babies!”

Reetha waited until she stepped outside to laugh.  These two, with all the time they had during Ziva’s pregnancy, had not taken a moment to settle on names.  It would be a wonder if they ever did get appropriate monikers.  Good thing they had their Auntie Reetha to devise the best nicknames ever.  

~~

Even their poor author (that would be me) has not been able to settle this battle between Ziva and Nick.  Names...who knew it would be such a bone of contention?  (pun intended)  I, myself, had the perfect name for out little alpha queen...Stormageddon!  Nick and Ziva may have turned me down, but Auntie Reetha and I still need to talk.  Muahahaha

Have a Merry Christmas everyone!  Stay safe and share the love.

Serena