His Blue Moon Princess
His Sunshine Baby Chapter 90

She looks so happy to be able to sleep at her dad's house... Just seeing my daughter's smile warms my heart more than anything. I caress her hair, trying hard to smile at her. At least she's safe, and Nate is taking care of her for now. That's what matters the most for

now. I don't want to let her see how scared I really am.

"Mommy, when will you go out of this hospital?"

"Mh... When the doctors say I can, baby star," I reply, putting a strand of her pretty blonde hair behind her ear.

Estelle frowns, a bit disappointed with my answer. It's probably all a bit too complicated for her. I know she is worried, from the glances she keeps sending at my arm. "Does it really hurt very bad?"

"It's okay, baby star."

With all the pain killers they keep feeding me, it's actually almost true. My arm and shoulder are closer to numb than painful, now. Tonia said I had surgery for two hours, and over twenty stitches... Sometimes, being a slow healer is really a pain. Nora was twice as worried, too, and I'm pretty sure the medical team taking care of me is the best her husband could appoint for me.

"Do you want me to blow on it? Like you did when I scratched my knee? It really worked you know!"

"If you want, baby star. You'll give mommy a kiss so I'll be all better?" "Of course!"

I smile, and Estelle goes in to hug me. Damn, I missed my baby girl... I was so damn worried about her when I woke up here. It was the first time in my life she was too far for me to feel her, and that void was unbearable. If Nora hadn't told me she was fine and with her dad, I would have gone crazy. Thank Moon Goddess, they found her quickly, safe and sound. This was the first thing I needed to know. She doesn't seem too traumatized, either. It looks like they took good care of her, she was happy to tell me all about her night at Nora's House, with her father too.

Over Estelle's shoulder, I glance quickly at Nathaniel. Damn it... I really didn't expect I'd be faced with him so soon... Stay calm, Elena, you got this.

"Elena! Elena! Babe, oh my babe..."

Daniel just barged in, looking panicked, and rushes to me. I grab his collar right before he jumps at me.

"Daniel Lewis, if you hurt me with one of your herculean hugs, I'll kick your b**t as soon as I can stand, you hear me?" He laughs.

"Moon Goddess, it's really you.... Oh babe, I missed you..."

Gently as not to hurt me, he hugs me, taking an amused Estelle in. Gosh, I missed my best friend so much. Daniel changed a bit, his hair is longer now, and he's not as thin as I remember. He's got a couple more piercings, too.

"Are you okay? It doesn't hurt? I can ask them to increase the morphine dose, but..."

"I'm okay, Danny, chill."

"Babe... You could have..."

I frown. Estelle is right there! I don't want him to talk about this where my baby can hear. I turn to Nate, holding it in just to ask him.

"Can you take her? I need to talk with Daniel."

He almost jumps on his feet, walking up to us.

"Oh, sure. Estelle, are you coming? Let's go grab one of the hot cocoa you like last time."

"Oh, yes! Mommy, do you want a hot cocoa too? They are really good, and the nice lady puts sparkles on it!"

"I'm fine, baby, eat a lot of sparkles for me, okay?"

"Okay! See you later mommy, see you later Dada!"

"Bye, little star."

She walks out with her Dad, waving at us with that blinding bright smile of hers. As soon as she's gone, I let out a long sigh and fall back on the huge pillow.

"Are you okay, babe?" Asks Danny, visibly worried.

"Of course not. Damn it, Danny, I'm such an i***t. After all this time, just seeing I'm again, and I'm... I'm so..."

I'm so f*****g stupid. And still damn hard in love with that jerk.

How dare he become even more handsome? He looks different, yet the same man I was crazy in love with. He's bulkier, and with that beard and haircut, he looks more mature and manly, too. Damn it. I thought I would lose it when he walked in! I promised myself I'd stay calm, composed and sereine. Well, f**k all that. I was going so nuts inside, I swear! Daniel leaves out a long sigh.

"I know, Babe, I knew you'd react like this. I want to mention you did a good job of not showing, though."

"Tss..."

I hide my face in my hands. I'm incurable. I'm supposed to hate him, replace a hundred reasons to not even want to see him, yet I'm already done.

"It feels so weird... To see him with Estelle..."

"To be honest, he's doing pretty fine as a beginner dad so far."

I noticed that too. Seeing how Estelle was always aware of him, smiling happily to him and holding his hand, I can tell Nate already won her over. Of course, he did, that bastard. I take deep breaths. "How are you?" Asks Daniel, more seriously this time.

I look at my best friend, sitting alone on the side of my bed.

"Not great... I'm just glad my baby is fine. I was so scared for her. And..."

I close my eyes, trying hard not to cry. No, I need to cry. I haven't been able to cry yet, and it's weighing in my heart more than anything. I cover my eyes and let it flow out, my whole pain.

"I'm so sorry, babe..." says Danny, the pain in his voice too.

"I... I saw her die... In f... front of me, Danny..." I sob, unable to hold back.

Reagan, I still can't believe Reagan died... I keep crying. My mentor, she died to protect me... I can't believe she just...

I can't get this image out of my head. Her body, in front of me, inert. That void in my head, where she was a second before that. Seeing her wolf's silver fur, yet not feeling anything. It's horrible, the worst thing I experienced. Reagan had always, always been there for me. My emotional support, I knew my mentor would be there if anything happened.

She was there so many times when I was too tired to take care of Estelle anymore. She never complained about my daughter's cries, even if she did cry so much for hours. Reagan would always help me, never asking for anything in return...

Daniel rubs my leg, trying to comfort me, but I growl.

"Oh, sorry."

"It hurts, you idiot..."

The holes in my legs aren't closed yet. That damn witch...

"She wanted to replace Estelle. She started torturing me, but I think I lost consciousness halfway..."

"Liam Black and Sylviana found you in time, apparently."

I nod. Daniel frowns, looking at my obvious injury.

"Well, at least not too late. Babe, that's a mean injury, you know."

"I can tell from the pain. But I'll be fine. I didn't lose my arm, I just won't be able to use it for a while."

"Yeah, it was ripped open wide from the shoulder... So, no physical exercise for a while. But your legs will be healed in a couple of days, I think. You'll be able to walk soon."

I stay silent. I know how lucky I was, but this was just... I didn't stand a chance. Neither did Reagan. I'm not a weak wolf, yet it was over in a matter of minutes...

"... But the witch ran away."

"She probably still won't face Sylviana directly," says Danny, nodding a bit.

I take a deep breath, wiping my tears away.

"I'll kill that b***h, Danny. I swear, I'll have her head for what she did to Reagan, and what she wanted to do to my baby."

"Yeah, well you'll have to get in the line, everyone was pretty mad. Nora begged to come herself, the King barely managed to keep her out of it. Sylviana and Liam went back to replace clues, but they said nothing was left." "What about Reagan?" I ask.

"Oh, we took her back. We didn't know what to do with her body, so..."

"She wanted to be buried in the forest."

"Really?"

I nod, holding it in not to burst into tears again.

"Yeah. She hated ceremonies and all, so... Let's just do something as quiet as possible, just you and me. She would have hated it anyway."

"Okay, Babe. I'll just ask Levi to replace us a nice spot."

"Someone told Estelle?"

My poor baby... Reagan was the only other adult she really interacted with until now...

"I don't think so, but she hasn't really asked, so... Maybe she already knows..."

I sigh. I'll see later when I need to talk to her. My baby needs to understand a few things anyway, and she's already seen a lot of changes, too. It's probably better this way...

"We told Clark, too," says Danny." That you were back. He wanted to move you to one of the White Moon Hospitals, but..."

"You said no?" I ask with a light growl, annoyed.

As if I'd go back now! What is Clark thinking! Daniel chuckles.

"Well, Levi and I let him know you'd probably say that, and also, when they raised the issue to the Black Hospital, the King was pretty... firm on that point."

Thank Moon Goddess. I've had enough emotions, for now, I'll deal with the White Moon Clan later. I'm already tired enough as it is... Daniel looks around at the room they gave me, one of those high-class type of rooms you only see in movies. "I need to thank his brother," I sigh.

"Oh, they can do that for you. After you carried and raised his daughter for over four years by yourself... You should even claim child support allowance and buy yourself a nice place!"

I blush a bit. I never actually talked to Daniel about it, but...

"His brother gave me money, Danny. A lot of money, right before I left, actually."

Daniel frowns, a bit doubtful.

"Really? Why? How much?"

"He knew that Estelle was Nate's, and... well, a lot. Something like... I never actually counted all of it, I just realized when I started using some of it, but it was at least something like a six-digit number..."

"WHAT THE....!"

"Danny, shut up!"

He shuts up, but making all kind of faces. I'm embarrassed enough as it is!

"That rich bastard! He just hands you money and that's it? They are really too reckless, I swear! And too damn rich, too!"

As much as I appreciate Daniel being mad for my sake, I don't want to be angry at Damian Black myself. I don't have anything against him, I think... He really helped me a lot, with this money, and he's Nora's mate. Moreover, I'm too tired to bicker with anyone at the moment, including Nate.

"How have you been?" I ask Danny.

"Missing my best friend, mostly. Really, couldn't you have come back earlier? Nora woke up two years ago, you know!"

"I know... I just never found the courage for it. Coming back meant seeing Nathaniel again, and I... I...”

"You still love him," he growls, annoyed.

"Yeah. I thought it would go away if I waited a bit longer. Turns out it's not as easy as I thought..."

As if. No matter the distance, there wasn't a day I didn't think about that idiot... Raising his daughter was one of the main reasons, for starters. She looks a lot like her dad, and how can I not think of him when she stares at me with those big blue eyes? "You really have a thing for jerks, you know that right? Anyway, you're back now, there's going to be a lot you need to tell him."

I nod. Indeed. I left him so much in the dark back then. About the mess with my pack, my birth secret, my relationship to Nora... I sigh. It's not going to be a nice and peaceful conversation.

"... Do you think you could..."

"What?" I ask, confused.

Daniel looks a bit embarrassed, trying to say something awkwardly.

"Well, you know, you've got a kid together, and... He's a good father so far, and..."

"...and? Danny, spill it."

"Do you think you could, ahem... lit up the old flame again?"

"What? No."

He rolls his eye.

"Please, Elena. I just saw you two in the same room just minutes ago. I still don't like him, but I know you're so done for, girl."

I blush and look elsewhere, embarrassed. Damn it.

"It's not about whether I still... Still got feelings for him or not, Danny. I'm just... I want what's best for Estelle. If she's happy with her dad, I'm glad they get along. I didn't know how Nathaniel would react, so honestly, even without me, I'm glad it ended up this way. But it doesn't mean I need to see him again, okay?"

"I get it, babe, but he's... clearly regretting a couple of things, you know."

"Not my problem."

"I'm pretty sure it is..."

"Oh, shut up. I just woke up. Can we keep the annoying subject for later, like when I'm not in a hospital bed?"

He sighs, nodding.

"Okay, okay. Anyway, I'm glad you're back. We need to celebrate that, as soon as your diet allows alcohol." "I'm a mom."

"Yeah, not a nun. And good news, you've got someone to watch your kid while mommy goes out to party! Well, I do want to spend time with my goddaughter, too. Gosh, how did you make a kid so cute? I mean, you had some good material, to begin with, but still!" I laugh, despite my poor broken ribs. Damn right, my daughter has to be the cutest thing in the world. Daniel and I catch up some more, even if we actually talked last week. He's working at one of the White Moon's Hospitals, in the children's ward. He loves his job, and even the kids, more than he thought. I tell him about life in the forest, reminiscing a bit about Reagan too.

"By the way... What happened to Iris?"

"Oh. Well, after we got proofs about her falsifying some documents in the Gold Moon's favor, we managed to have her locked up."

"She went to prison?"

"Yup," he says with a nod. "A light sentence, in my opinion, but compared to the Gold Moon, she should be grateful. She probably won't be able to go anywhere after that, too."

It's probably better for her. If I see my cousin again, I'll f*****g slap that little b***h. Well, as soon as I can use my arm again.

"By the way, the kid's actually doing a good job."

"With the Opal Moon."

Daniel shakes his head.

"There's no more Opal Moon, babe. Clark took it over again. No, he's training Chris to be his successor."

"What about Orpheus, then? I mean, I'm glad for Chris, but..."

"Oh, Orpheus is fine with that. He leads the hunters, that's enough for him. Moreover, we're working a lot with the Blood Moon to secure the borders now, so..."

Right. The dark witch's now getting closer than ever... I shiver. Honestly, I'm feeling a lot safer now that Estelle and I are back in Silver City, but the spot she attacked me wasn't that far from here. If she isn't afraid to pursue me so close, it's only a matter of time before she gets here. And when she does, she will have three targets.

Nora, her son or Estelle.