Date Night Out
Sometimes, Vaughn couldn’t believe how much his life had changed. Less than a year ago, he’d been alone. No mate, no kids. One fateful phone call on a stormy night had changed everything. He’d truly been blessed by the Goddess.
Ollie’s words over breakfast had him thinking, though. He and Sam were about to celebrate their first Valentine’s as a couple, and Vaughn hadn’t even thought about it. They were always so focused on the kids. Vaughn needed to romance his mate the way he deserved.
And the thing was, he wanted to marry Sam.
They couldn’t have the kind of celebration he wanted— the kids’ safety always came first—but they could do something.
A commitment ceremony. And he’d ask Sam to marry him this week.
Tonight. Vaughn made it to the clinic with an extra spring in his step. He’d never been happier.
“Morning, son.”
Vaughn wasn’t the only one who’d flourished in his new role.
Just as he’d settled happily into his job as mate and father, Stuart Jerrick loved being a grandfather.
Or Pop-pop as he’d asked the kids to call him.
He’d never imagined his stern, former alpha, doctor father as a Pop-pop, but it suited him.
“Morning, Dad. How was everything last night?”
“Quiet. No calls. I sent Karen home early. We don’t have any appointments until ten, so I figured you and I could do rounds on our own. Your mom’s coming in at ten.”
His mom, Joanne—or Grammy as she now preferred to be called—absolutely loved spoiling the kids rotten.
She’d asked them to change her schedule at the clinic, and now only worked as their nurse three days a week.
The other two days she spent with Sam and the kids, working on schoolwork and getting them up to the education levels they should be at their ages.
It was going to be a long process, but they were doing great. Ollie had already caught up, and was pretty much at a kindergarten level. The other kids were catching up quickly, too.
Even Ben, their fourteen-year-old, had taken to reading like a duck to water.
They rarely saw him without a book in hand, and every chance he had, he came to the clinic and stuck with Vaughn for the day.
They’d started working on anatomy and physiology of different species.
Ben soaked it all up like a sponge. Vaughn couldn’t be prouder.
“You think I could convince you guys to watch the kids tonight? I was thinking I’d take Sam out.”
Stuart grinned over at him. “I told you it was crazy to let Natasha plan our Valentine’s dinner.”
“It wasn’t crazy. She’s adorable. Come on. Like you were going to tell her no?”
“All that kid has to do is look at me and I give her what she wants. You’re going to be in trouble when she gets older.”
Vaughn laughed and grabbed one of the charts for a feline patient he’d been keeping his eye on.
She’d had a rough pregnancy, but now had three adorable kittens to show for it.
They’d managed to get her kidneys functioning better as well, and she’d be heading home in a week or so once it was safe for her to travel with her babies.
On the other side of the clinic, they had a really annoying tiger shifter who’d managed to break his leg while attempting to scale a mountain in human form.
He’d shifted and managed to get to help— there had been a pack of wolves camping nearby and they’d transported him to the clinic— but he wasn’t able to shift back or he’d risk damaging his leg further.
Needless to say, keeping a tiger contained while he was in a foul mood was less than pleasant. He’d rather deal with the actual cat who was cranky, pregnant, and in kidney failure, than a shifter who wouldn’t behave.
“I doubt it,” Vaughn said as he double checked the cat’s most recent urine test. “You know she’s been working with Calli. She’s decided she wants to be fierce, smart, and pretty. In that order.”
“Like I said. Trouble.”
Vaughn couldn’t help but grin. “So much trouble. And being taught self-defense by a hellhound? Her teenage years are going to be wildly entertaining.”
“They certainly will be.”
“So, you okay with hanging out with them for a few hours tonight?”
“We’ll double check with your mom when she gets here, but I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
“Remind me to ask mom to add ties for the boys to her Valentine’s outfit plans. Ollie said he wanted to wear a tie like you.”
His dad made a very complicated face, a series of expressions, really. “I’ll ask her to find me one the same as his.”
“He’ll love that. They all will.”
Stuart cleared his throat and pretended not to be affected by Ollie’s cuteness. It was a fruitless effort. They were all wrapped snuggly around the little guy’s finger, and they all knew it.
Both Jerrick men got to work before they got more emotional and made it through charts and rounds without issue.
By the time his mom arrived and confirmed they’d stay with the kids that night, Vaughn had gotten pulled into an emergency surgery.
He made it out with only minutes to spare before his lunch time check-in with Ollie.
He decided to go to the house for lunch and quickly cleaned up before heading over.
All the kids hurried over to him when he opened the back door and six voices began chattering at once. “One at a time. Emily, you first today.”
“Daddy, Papa let me draw a butterfly for my bug study and I made sure to put all the parts. Will you look at it?”
“I’d love to. After lunch, okay? I’ll come to your school room and you can show me.”
She beamed and skipped back over to the couch. There was a nature documentary playing, and Vaughn couldn’t help but laugh. This one was about tigers. The kids had been fascinated by their new patient, and he’d even been nice when they came in to meet him.
Vaughn had been prepared to order a completely unnecessary enema or something if he was rude to his kids, but the guy knew better.
Besides, all shifter cubs were precious.
They were so rare that even shifters of other breeds were shocked by the cubs in Vaughn’s life.
Each and every supernatural patient he had since he’d found the cubs had sworn vengeance on the people who’d hurt them.
Vaughn had never loved his community more.
“Jack, you’re up next.”
“I don’t like bugs,” Jack said with a scowl. “I want to learn about the ocean some more.”
Vaughn ran his hand over Jack’s head. “Did you ask Papa if there were any bugs in the ocean? I bet you could look it up.”
Jack seemed intrigued. “I’ll ask him. Ladybugs are dumb.”
Vaughn had to bite back his urge to correct Jack’s use of the word. They were picking their battles, and Sam and their therapist agreed that small instances of acting out were good for them. It reassured them that they were in a safe place where they could speak their mind.
Jack skipped away and Vaughn looked up and caught Sam’s eye. His mate knew exactly what he was thinking and he heard Sam gently remind Jack that they didn’t like to use the word dumb.
“Dad?” Ben asked quietly.
“Hey, buddy.”
His oldest son was taller than him by nearly four inches now. He was finally filling out and becoming the size he should be for a bear cub his age. “Papa said I could do my experiment over at the clinic with you today. Is that okay?”
Vaughn remembered. They’d ordered a grasshopper dissection kit for Ben in preparation for this unit.
But Sam had adamantly refused to help and had shivered repeatedly every time he thought about it.
He’d told Vaughn that he only made it through their high school biology class with a passing grade because the teacher had actually witnessed him turning green the moment the formaldehyde soaked animals appeared. He’d written a ten page paper instead.
“That sounds great. You can come back with me after lunch.”
“Can I check on the kittens?”
“You sure can. Henry? How about you?”
His only human son had a mischievous glint in his eye.
Henry’s powers as a mage made him the most vulnerable of all the kids, and Vaughn constantly worried that they weren’t doing enough to keep him safe.
But Henry was thriving in their care, and his magical training with Zaire had done wonders for both his confidence and control.
“I picked fleas.”
Vaughn couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh really?”
“Daddy I don’t want fleas!” Ollie yelled from his perch on one of the stools at the kitchen counter. He had a coloring book and crayons in front of him.
“You won’t get fleas, little man. I promise.”
“K. Daddy, I’m coloring Nana a picture ‘cause I miss her today. But she’ll be here tomorrow. Even Nanas need a break sometimes.”
Vaughn couldn’t help but smile. Ollie repeated back so much of what they said. He’d had to be really careful now that he had so many little ears around. “I bet she misses you, too.”
“Yeah. ‘Cause I’m adorable. That’s what Papa said.”
“And Papa is right.”
“Natasha?”
“Ants are so cool.” She didn’t even pick her head up from the book she was reading, but she did lean into him so he could wrap an arm her.
Foxes were very tactile creatures, even if they weren’t quite as in-tune with pack instincts.
Natasha had been raised with the others, though, and she’d been adjusting very well to her new life.
“They are indeed.”
“They have really powerful senses. And they’re super strong for their size. Did you know that?”
“I did,” Vaughn said.
“Good. It’s important to know things.”
She went back to the couch and curled up with the others. Vaughn made his way into the kitchen where Sam was warming up a pot of soup at the stove. Vaughn inhaled and let the aroma waft through him. “Nana’s potato soup.”
“Yep. She made it yesterday and left it for us. I told her we could manage for ourselves for one day, but she won’t listen.”
“Speaking of managing for ourselves, Mom and Dad are watching the kids tonight so we can go out to dinner.”
“Yeah?” Sam looked up, intrigued.
“Yep. I’ll be back around six.”
“I can’t wait.”
Vaughn grinned and grabbed soup bowls down from the cabinet. They managed to get everyone fed and back on task within forty-five minutes. It was a new record.
“Come on, Ben. Let’s get back to the clinic. You guys be good for your Papa. And Papa, I’ll see you at six.”
Sam winked at him as he and Ben went out the back door.
Ben had his kit in his hands, and Vaughn could sense his excitement.
The afternoon passed quickly with Ben letting the kittens climb all over him while Vaughn did charts and paperwork.
They handled Vaughn’s patients together and Ben charmed all the pet owners with his sweet smile and kind heart.
He’d not seen a pet yet that didn’t calm down when Ben was around.
They’d just settled down in an empty exam room to start working on the grasshopper dissection when Vaughn heard the sound of a portal opening, and then his name being shouted.
He took off for the front door and found Meshaq and Solomon hurrying through the yard, each with a severely wounded wolf shifter in their arms.
“Shot by hunters,” Shaq said quickly. “They’re in bad shape.”
“Take him to exam room one, Shaq. Dad’ll be there in a sec. Sol, follow me.”
“Dad, what can I do?” Ben asked.
“Wash up, son. Quickly.”
Ben nodded and ran for the back room.
His parents heard the commotion, too, and both of them came running. “Dad, take room one. Mom, assist.”
“What about you?”
Vaughn looked over his shoulder. “Ben’s helping me.”
Stuart made another of his complicated faces before hurrying into the exam room.
Time seemed to slow then. Vaughn knew it hadn’t, but it was always the way when he dealt with true emergencies.
Everything went in warp speed, but in his mind, he could take his time and make decisions.
Sol stayed with them, pitching in to help as well.
The bullet had gone into the female wolf’s shoulder and she was losing a lot of blood.
He checked for an exit wound and didn’t find one.
“Ben, get me one of the surgery kits, son. And hurry.”
Vaughn washed his hands and pulled on a sterile gown and gloves.
His focus narrowed on his patient, and he concentrated all of his energy into getting the bullet safely out of her and the bleeding stopped.
She’d lost a lot of blood, and Ben helped him get the supplies he needed to get a line started for her.
He also ran the blood type test on his own and got the stock they needed.
It wasn’t until he clipped the last stitch and straightened up that he realized hours had passed. Ben looked a little shocked, and Vaughn realized he’d just sat through his first surgery. “Son?”
“That was amazing, Dad. You just… you saved her.”
Vaughn stripped out of his dirty gown and gloves and encouraged Ben to do the same. “I couldn’t have done it without you, Ben. I’m really proud of you.”
Ben blushed, but his back straightened.
“I just did what you said.”
“Exactly. You did what I said, and you helped me save her.”
“Really?”
Vaughn pulled Ben into a hug. “Really, son. I am so proud of you. Let’s go check on Pop-pop and Grammy.”
His dad was just finishing up surgery on their second patient, so Vaughn turned to Meshaq. “We should get their pack here. They’ll need them when they wake up.”
Shaq nodded and he and Sol left. Karen came in for her night shift, and it was only then that Vaughn realized he’d missed his promised date with Sam.
He left his patient in his dad and Karen’s capable hands and walked home with his arm around Ben while his son rehashed everything he’d seen and asked a couple hundred questions.
Sam was dozing on the couch when they walked in, his tie pulled loose and the top button of his shirt undone.
“Papa?” Ben said quietly.
Sam opened his eyes and sat up. “How are they?”
“Papa, we saved them. I helped. We had to get a bullet out and do a blood transfusion and…”
Ben rattled on, recounting the entire process again for Sam, who listened raptly to every moment of the play-by-play.
Goddess, he loved his mate more than anything.
He couldn’t have found a more perfect companion.
Even though he hadn’t been able to have the romantic evening he’d hoped, he’d find a way to make it up to Sam.
No one deserved a special night more, and Vaughn was determined to make it happen.