thepicketfencecliche | spamalot } of new betas and bad smells

[After some finagling to get her out of the hospital, Victor and Nik take Marissa home, where they discuss the final details of the process and Victor gives her the bite. It hurts, as biting someone should, and Marissa passes out to give her body a chance to recover.]

Marissa: [and about two hours later, she's going to wake up with a groan, her hand going to push away the stupid oxygen tube that was in her nose still]

Victor: [both men perk up at that, Nik moving to sit at her side and Victor standing across from her] How do you feel?

Marissa: [she winces because wow, that was loud. Too many noises] Everything's loud. And my couch really smells bad.

Victor: [eyebrows go up at that, before he moves closer and tips her head up so that he can look in her eyes] That's a good sign. Try just focusing on the sound of my voice.

Marissa: [she looks up at him, squinting a bit as her eyes adjusted to the light, trying to focus. The sounds started to fade out a bit into the background] Okay.

Victor: Good. It'll take some practice, but eventually you'll be able to regulate your hearing to normal levels.

Marissa: Yeah, that's something I should prioritize. The bar will be hell if I can't.

Victor: [nods] I'm afraid I can't do much for your sense of smell, though. That's not really something you can turn off.

Marissa: Just means it's time to buy a new couch then, huh? [her sense of humor is still firmly intact, boys, if you had been worried about that]

Victor: [he smirks] It might be a good idea. [he takes a step back for a moment then reaches for the arm where she was bitten] Looks like you're healing nicely as well.

Marissa: [she looks over at it as well, intrigued as she watched the wound slowly healing on it's own] So that's probably happening inside as well, huh?

Victor: [he nods] That's probably mostly done by now. You were asleep for a few hours.

Marissa: [she thinks a moment, then reaches up to touch her fingers to her neck to try and get her pulse and see if she can feel it]

Victor: [tips his head to the side] You could probably hear it. Focus - find yours out of the three of us.

Marissa: [and now that she was thinking about heartbeats, she could hear all three of them louder in the background. She sat up more, trying to figure out which one was hers. But all three of them were strong and healthy] I can't figure it out. [after a bit] They're all the same. Which that's a good thing.

Victor: [he pauses for a moment before taking a few steps back] Try again, this time weeding out for things like distance. The one's that's closest to you should be the loudest.

Marissa: [she bites her lip, then closes her eyes to try again. One heartbeat isn't as strong as the other two] I think I have yours. It got softer because you moved.

Victor: [he nods] Good. Now figure out which one's Nik's.

Marissa: [she goes back to focusing, listening to the two left. One was louder than the two, but the other one had a stronger beat like a freight train and she found herself laughing and looking at Nik] I can't hear mine over yours because yours is working hard to keep up with your huge body.

Nik: [he laughs a bit, before getting up and taking a few steps back to stand with his brother] Better?

Marissa: Yes, better. [and she went to focus on her heart, hearing it on its own finally, nice and strong. Healthy. And she listened to her lungs as she breathed and they didn't hurt with each breath, and she felt the tears running down her face that she wiped away and looked up at them so grateful] I can hear it, and it's strong.

Victor: [smiles a bit at that before nodding] Good.

Marissa: [and no, she's going to be getting up and going to hug Victor, not really controlling her strength because oops, but she's too happy to really remember to do that]

Victor: [it's okay he can take it. He hugs her back just as tightly, rubbing her back as she does]

Marissa: Thank you. Thank you both so much. [and when he gives her a bit of room, she's going to switch to hug Nik just as tightly]

Nik: [tucks his arms around her and lets his lips rest on top of her head for a moment taking in the changes in her scent and cataloging it away again]

Marissa: [yeah, the smell thing was going to be weird for a while, but she'd learn. But she held onto him tightly, soaking up the warmth and safety she always felt with him.] I told you it’d work. Now you're stuck with me, handsome.

Nik: [smirks a bit as he presses a kiss to the top of her head] Never said I had a problem with that.

Marissa: [she leaned her head back to kiss him, and her eyes opened at just how different that felt. How much more she felt with the emotions on it, the difference in her lips against his, and just being able to somewhat taste him on his lips. The smells, it was just overwhelming and she gasped and pulled back, her eyes amazed at that as she went to touch her lips] Whoa, that's different...

Nik: [he smirks a bit at that] You get used to it.

Marissa: [she bit on her thumb as she turned to look around the room. It was the same, and yet the place was completely new and different at the same time] It's kinda overwhelming.

Nik: [he nods] It can be. But with practice, it can be less so.

Marissa: [nods] Well, good thing I've got a few weeks to figure it out before we have to deal with anything else, right?

Victor: [nods for a moment] There's plenty of time before the full moon, and I believe Nik is going to stay and help you adjust. [he pauses for a moment, before] When is Gabe finished school for the semester?

Marissa: Two weeks, actually. He gets eight weeks off at that point.

Victor: I'd like you to come to New York and spend some time with the rest of the pack, if that's alright with you. I know you've met most of us in pieces, but I'd like to have some time with all of us together.

Marissa: [she grins] I'd like that. Gabe's been wanting to go anyway. [she's trying to figure out how to pay for the tickets, which would probably involve selling the backup car.]

Victor: Fantastic. Just let us know when and we'll make the arrangements.

Marissa: [and she just nods, because yeah, she was going to have to get used to the boys paying for stuff for her, wasn't she? Yes, yes she was.] Okay. It's the last week of June, so anytime in July we can leave.

Nik: [nods before glancing over to Victor] Nadia's in San Francisco that week, she could probably pick them up on the way.

Victor: [nods] Is she bringing Peter back to New York?

Nik: [shrugs] You'd have to ask Peter.

Marissa: Nadia's your sister, I remember that. Peter is Nadia's boy toy, right? [trying to remember names here]

Victor: [eyebrow raise at the terminology but that's mostly in Nik's direction] Yes, Peter is Nadia's mate. We try not to call him her boy toy to his face.

Marissa: Oh. I'll try and remember that. [she will, to be fair] And which pack is Mr. Drunken Sunshine a part of?

Nik: The Hale pack. Derek is Peter's nephew.

Marissa: Okay, so Fiona is in yours then. Got it.

Nik: [he pauses before shaking his head] Not exactly. Well, technically. Fiona's human, but she's also an emissary. It's a bit of a gray area, she works for a lot of different packs.

Marissa: Okay, I think I'm going to need cliff notes to study before I go out to New York. [too many people to remember]

Nik: [he laughs] Well, Derek and Fi won't be there. It will most likely be Victor and I, Leah, Nadia and possibly Peter. Plus Marcus, who is Victor's emissary.

Marissa: Still want cliff notes.

Nik: [nods] Done.

Gabe: [bursting in through the door first] Mom? Mom?

Marissa: [smiles and turns, seeing Gabe in the hallways] Right here, kid.

Gabe: It worked! [and he's running to throw himself into her arms and there is tight mother son hugging moment] I knew it would work.

Nik: [the two boys step back and Leah finds her way to Victor's side, resting her chin on his shoulder]

Sarah: [is just going to go elbow Nik in the side and stand next to him as well, watching]

Gabe: [he looks up, smiling] You smell more like me now, Mom.

Marissa: I'm just going to go with you on that until I figure this all out, okay kid? [chuckling]

Nik: [elbows her back gently, just letting the two of them have their moment]

Marissa: [eventually they are going to stop hugging and she'll put him down] So we're going to spend most of the summer in New York, kid. Think you're ready for the big city?

Gabe: Can I bring my skateboard?

Marissa: Maybe. I'll have to look up the rules on skateboarding in the city first.

Victor: I'm sure there's a park around somewhere.

Marissa: Alright, then you can bring it.

Gabe: Awesome. The guys are going to be so jealous. [because obviously this is the most important reason to go to NY, right?]

Nik: [smirks a bit] At least he has his priorities.

Marissa: Yes, mom's not dying anymore, can I go skateboarding.

Gabe: At least you rank higher?

Marissa: [laughs]

Nik: [laughs himself] Can't argue with that.

Marissa: [puts her hand on Gabe's head] This is what you two get to look forward to.

Leah: [she hums a bit] Oh, no. Ours'll be worse. You haven't met my family yet.

Nik: She's met Fi.

Leah: [her eyebrows raise a bit at that] She did?

Victor: [places a hand over his wife's against his shoulder] They met at the wedding.

Leah: Wha - ... Oh. [and there's a face] Right.

Marissa: Actually, it was the after party where they were getting drunk to avoid thinking about how short their lives were going to be after the marriage. [not that it helps]

Leah: [no. it doesn't. she's still not over that whole mess] We don't talk about it.

Victor: Because if we talk about it she starts yelling and that doesn't end well.

Marissa: Okay, ix-nay on the edding-way.

Leah: [nods a bit] She still isn't quite forgiven for that one.

Victor: But we're working on it.

Marissa: Well, if it helps, I think I got something amazing out of the event, so I can't really complain. [smiles at Nik]

Leah: Mmmm-hmmm. [nope still not pleased]

Victor: [sighs softly] Leah just has trouble with the fact that the girl she raised ran off with her werewolf boyfriend and got married without her. It doesn't matter that we're all incredibly fond of Derek, it's the principle of the thing.

Marissa: [nods, wrapping her hands around Gabe to keep him close] You listening, kid? Things to remember when you're older.

Gabe: [wrinkles his nose] I'm not going to get married. Girls smell weird.

Nik: [reaches over and pats him on the shoulder] They won't always, little man. Trust me on that.

Gabe: [makes a face still]

Marissa: So... I'm thinking I'm starving right now, so I can cook dinner. Any objections? [she has no idea what she's getting herself into smell wise if she walks into her kitchen.]

Nik: [he shakes his head] I could definitely eat.

Sarah: I'm actually heading out to work, but I stocked the fridge the other day so you should have all the basics.

Marissa: Leah, Victor? Either of you like anything in particular?

Leah: [shakes her head] I'll eat anything.

Marissa: Alright, chicken cutlets and mac and cheese it is. [and she's going to walk into the kitchen and 3...2...1... walking back out, holding her nose] I think something died in there.

Nik: [he laughs a bit] Maybe we should go out to eat.

Marissa: Good plan. [and she goes to rest her head against Nik's chest] That was nasty.

Nik: I'll clean out your trash disposal tomorrow. [he glances back to the rest of the room] Burgers?

Leah: Works for me.

Gabe: I'm down for that.

Marissa: Sounds good.

Victor: Burgers it is. I'll call the car.