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Kate swung in the hammock, suspended between two trees in the lush garden behind Bel Rosso. Lorenzo squirmed restlessly, playing with his stuffed bear, which he kept tossing out of the hammock to his Golden Retriever, Warrior. The dog shook the stuffed bear before tossing it in the air.
Kate admonished the boy. "Lorenzo, that's not a dog toy."
Lorenzo giggled at the antics of the dog. "Look, Mommy. Look at Warrior!"
Kate smiled at this child, his hair a thick mass of black curls, his eyes the same steel blue as his father's. He was three now, and it took all her energy, as well as all of Theresa's, to keep up with him. He was a day-walker, and even though Kate still slept during the day with Shade, she got up for short periods during the day to spend some daylight hours with Lorenzo as well. The sun was setting on the early spring day, and she waited for Shade to join them.
***
Waking from his death slumber, the soft spring air blew gently through the open windows in the house, now filled with activity. It was his favorite time of night, waking to those he loved, the sun setting, the smell of spring in the air, and the sound of Lorenzo’s laughter. Love never felt this good before, and no man should ever have it this good. Closing his eyes, he honed his senses and knew they were outside, enjoying the last of the evening light.
Climbing out of bed, throwing on a pair of sweatpants, he padded down the stairs and out the back door to the gardens. He could hear Lorenzo's laughter, the greatest joy in his life. He was growing so fast. Before long, he’d be training in the camp to become a warrior, and Shade couldn’t wait to teach him. Walking out onto the soft grass, it felt incredible under his bare feet, its lushness between his toes. Bel Rosso was their private paradise. Before he got to them, Warrior raced in circles at his feet. Bending down, Shade rubbed his ears. Animals of all species abound here now, and it was finally feeling natural to him. It was just a part of who they were as the animals assimilated into their lives.
His eyes focused in on that beautiful crimson hair, and soft lilywhite skin as she swung in the hammock, her face lit with a smile. He loved seeing her like this, beaming with happiness and contentment. She knew she was well loved.
Walking up to her, he kissed her forehead and climbed in next to her, cuddling her in the large hammock. He saw a pair of eyes, blue as the sky and big as saucers, staring back at him. Lorenzo was such an innocent, and he wished he could hold that inside him forever.
Kate curled into Shade and kissed him, as Lorenzo crawled over the top of him. "You slept well, lover?"
Lorenzo had retrieved his bear and was trying to draw his father's attention. "Daddy, look at Ted. He's got dog slobber on him. Wipe it off, Daddy."
Her kiss ignited his heart, but it was short lived. Spending time alone together had become harder than he ever imagined, now that Lorenzo craved every second of his attention.
"I slept fine, mi amore, except... Lorenzo, do you want to explain to me why there is dog slobber on Ted? Warrior does not eat bear.”
Laughing, he wiped the bear on his sweatpants and handed the toy back to Lorenzo, who deftly slid his body between his parents. Shade shook his head. No one ever told him this part.
Kate smiled at him. "Are you happy?"
Grunting as Lorenzo beat him on the chest with his bear. "Oh si, mi amore. Why do you ask? Are you not happy?"
Kate giggled at the antics of Lorenzo, a constant source of entertainment, but also a constant drain on their time. She couldn’t have imagined there was more love to give until this child was born, and now there’d be another.
"I only ask because I’m wondering if you’re ready for the next one?"
His heart skipped a beat and he tried to sit up quickly, almost tumbling all three of them out of the hammock. Letting his hand slide along her cheek, her eyes were glowing with mischief and love.
"I am more than ready for another bambino. Are you? Say yes!" Kissing her on the lips, letting his tongue slide inside her mouth, he wanted to crawl inside her and love her forever.
Kate wrapped her arms around his shoulders and surrendered to the kiss, as Lorenzo was tumbled sideways in the hammock. He climbed onto his father's back.
"Eww, kissing."
He tugged at his father's hair, leaning in close and whispering loudly into his ear. "You should kiss Ted. He has a boo-boo."
Kate started laughing and shook her head. "I'm not sure how we found the time, but yes, the answer is yes."
Lorenzo held the bear up over his head and asked, “Time for what, Mommy?"
Kate looked at their son, this beautiful boy who had been the center of their lives, before stroking his cheek. "Time to make your little sister. You’ll have a little sister soon."
Lorenzo looked at her quizzically. "Well, how did you make her?"
Kate shook her head and looked at Shade. "Uh, you and your father can have that discussion."
Feeling Lorenzo tugging his hair, the child made doing anything with bel a struggle. He wanted everyone’s undivided attention. Shade’s grin went from ear to ear when he heard her say yes. Two, they would have two now.
Pulling Lorenzo off his back and holding him upside down above his head, Shade dropped his leg off the side of the hammock, pushing gently to make the hammock sway from side to side. Lorenzo’s laughter was contagious. Shade’s own padre never had time for what he called nonsense. It was his madre's job to entertain him until he was old enough to begin his warrior training, but this generation of Medici's would be much different.
"My little warrior, it is vampire magic, creating a little sister. Do you think she will look like me or Mommy?"
Lorenzo laughed uncontrollably, as his father held him in the air. "I think she will look like Ted. Can you use your vampire magic to make him a brother instead?"
Shaking him around in the air, Lorenzo dropped the bear and Warrior barked, grabbing up the stuffed toy and leaping over the hammock.
Pulling Lorenzo down onto his chest, the boy calmed down and snuggled his head into his father’s neck, his tiny hand tangled in his father’s curls.
"There is no magic for deciding brothers or sisters, but I do think you will enjoy having a sister. You need to protect and love her. Can you do that for your sister when she arrives? Perhaps we shall need to get you a sword to make sure no enemies come near her. Big brothers are protectors. I think it is time you took some responsibility and learned some warrior lessons. What do you think?"
Lorenzo lifted his head. "I’m already a warrior, Daddy. You said I protect Mommy when you’re in your slumber."
Kissing his massive mop of midnight hair, Shade hugged him tight. "You were born a warrior. Just like me. I love that you protect Mommy for me. You are such a big boy now. Fierce and brave. But you will need to protect all the females around you always. They are very special. You would protect Theresa and Nita, si?”
Lorenzo laid his head back down on his father's chest, as Kate ran her fingers through his curls.
"I love Tressa and Nita. I protect them too...just like Uncle Luca. I'm a good protector. But I need a sword."
Kate shook her head no. "Not yet, young warrior."
Shade watched as bel responded negatively to weapons, knowing she would do whatever she could to delay the process and keep her beautiful boy within her grasp.