“You were right, Jonathan. You knew what Mama would feel Like..."

Damien and his Brothers were glad the boys felt comfortable enough to explore, but they also felt some humor at their Lack of stealth. The little ones had woken each other noisily and then walked across the bed to surround me. Damien knew we'd have a time teaching them to hunt quietly. It certainly wasn't something they would do instinctively.

Warm breath was on my cheek a moment before a kiss was pressed in the same place.

"I did it!" Mycah said triumphantly. Each of the children pressed a kiss against my cheek. Jonathan went last and I felt him linger. Somewhere in my boy's memory was kissing. He knew what this was and he'd done it before. He repeated the gesture several times.

“Do you remember... Niah had used.

".he asked his Brothers in that same stage whisper Aiden did. He sat behind my head and I felt him fiddling with my hair as he leaned down and pressed kisses to my temple. He remembered the gentle affection and the soft feel beneath his fingers. This was all so familiar to the two of them.

I felt the wet swipe of a tongue on my cheek and jaw. Jonathan was tasting. He did it over and over again before I felt him move away Barely peeking, I saw him hovering over Evan's supine form. He licked his male breeder several times and then Looked back at his Brothers.

They sat in silence for several heartbeats and we waited to see what they'd do next.

Jonathan stepped over Evan's head and knelt next to Damien. He tasted the big man's chin and then continued around the bed. My little boy tasted all of us until he came to sit pensively by Evan's side. Jonathan reached out and tentatively touched Evan's long hair. The sensitive locks were so much like his own, he must have recognized that.

Damien and his Brothers just continued to breathe evenly. The little family needed to do this experiment when they felt we weren't watching. This was the perfect time for it. We'd let them take as long as they needed. Finally, they reached a decision.

“We're okay here. I remember them. This really is family," Jonathan announced in that loud whisper and the little boys all murmured agreement.

“We will trust them, if you are sure, Brother," Mycah said with authority.

That familiarity they'd felt to us was a good thing. Apparently they'd decided to accept it. I almost smiled as I heard them relax. The tension they'd held in their little bodies had been palpable.

Mycah's family was yawning and stretching. Feet passed in front of me as two boys headed back to their original spot. Behind me someone stumbled over Aiden as they made their way past and hands dug into my hair. Aiden stretched out behind my head and wrapped the softness in his fingers. Glancing over I saw Jonathan curled up next to his father sucking on Evan's fingers.

"It's cold," I heard Niah complain.

He groused that he wanted his Brothers to come sleep with them. Mycah and Rees were also whining, they wanted to be closer. My men had had enough of being kept awake at night. It was time for sleeping.

Bane pulled Rees over his chest and cocooned him between himself and Kein. Niah followed his Brother and fitted himself in the crook of Bane's big arm beside Rees. Damien did the same thing with Mycah and the lead Brother snuggled between Evan and Damien, using Damien as a pillow as he yawned. My husbands tucked the boys in and I felt contentment spread around the bed.

Reaching out a hand I stroked Jonathan Lovingly. He was sleepy and calm. I kept a hand on him and he didn't mind at all. In fact he seemed to relax further into the touch.

My men cradled the small family that had finally accepted them. For too long we had felt the separation of our family as an acute pain. We had our daughters returned to us, but our our sons had been lost. This night was the final step toward putting the family back together. We all felt right for the first time in a long time. The love in the room was throbbing round and round through the bonds that linked us.

The boys fell asleep almost instantly. They Liked being surrounded by family. This new family was big and strong. Once they determined we were good, they fell into an almost instant deep sleep. Hearing Aiden snore behind me I knew they hadn't slept well in days.

I smiled at Evan in the dark and saw the flash of white as he smiled back. They were our boys again. We had nothing to worry about. I fell back to sleep feeling more loved than I'd ever imagined a person could feel.

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