Jake wore a big smile when Jessie opened the door, and he barely managed not to flinch from the intensity of buttercups and peppermint as the scent wall hit his nose. Emma had clearly pumped out needy musk when upset with her friend during their reunion. I need to suck it up. I can’t whip out an odour neutraliser without Jessie asking questions. He reasoned that his own rosy pheromones would betray his mood too. Broody to the max, from the way he looked at Jessie. Come to daddy. His wolf’s tail wagged, and he barely restrained his eyes from lighting up for her. 

“Ah, my wingman has arrived.” Jessie smirked and was glad for a change of pace. She didn’t like to appear vulnerable, and she managed to bravely share her feelings with Emma. As she only ever did with her best friend. She didn’t want to give her fiery friend the chance to argue about her re-rooting herself to Glen Valley, so Jake was exactly what the doctor ordered. 

“Your what?!” Emma asked, and Jake’s smirk was giddier than she’d ever seen it. 

“Jessie invited me earlier, remember? I’m here for girl’s night. I can be an honorary girl, right?” Jake didn’t wait for Emma to answer, and opened his arms to offer a hug to Jessie. To his delight, and Emma’s annoyance, Jessie didn’t hesitate to cuddle him. “I brought my own booze, as instructed.” Jake discreetly sniffed at the top of her blonde and pink hair, and Emma folded her arms in accusation at him. He’s scenting her. He's not truly scenting her. He’d have to smell her neck for that. Fido tugged at her trouser leg through her scrubs to guide her back into the room. “I hope I’m not late?” Jake leaned back, his goodie bag hanging over his left elbow, and his hands rested on Jessie’s shoulder. “I hopped in the shower, got dinner ready for the boys so they didn’t clear my kitchen cupboards, but then couldn’t decide on which cologne to wear.”

“Which one are you wearing?” Jessie asked politely. 

“Oh, a local brand. What do you think?” Jake turned his head to the right to offer his neck to Jessie, and she ignorantly, and naively, leaned in to smell at his neck. There was definitely something sweet there, but she couldn’t place it. Meanwhile, Emma put her hands on her hips and glared at Jake like he was really pushing his luck. One werewolf letting another sniff them over their gland was an intimate, or a tender act. If Emma didn’t know for a fact that Jake was happily married to his husband, she’d worry he was making moves on her friend. 

“Hmm, I can’t make it out.” Jessie leaned back and held her open bottle to her hip. “It’s nice, whatever it is.” 

“It’s subtle. Rosewater. Now have you ordered pizza yet or…?” Jake let Jessie fill in the blank, and followed her into her new apartment. “Oh. This place hasn’t changed.” He commented intentionally to move the conversation along. He also planned to be instrumental in kitting this place out for his future sireling. 

“Emma would live her life with blinkers on if I didn’t steer her towards fun.” Jessie mentally rubbed her hands together. Doctor Stevens would surely make an excellent wingman, since he’s already friends with Emma, and works with her. Not only would he be a good friend to have, but hopefully she could endear herself to him and use his connections to get a nursing job in town. When she spotted him in that white doctor’s coat this morning, she knew she needed to get his contact details. As soon as they started talking and he proved to be cheeky and funny, she knew her plan would work. 

“I must agree.” Jake winked at Emma and followed Jessie to gather the champagne bottles on the floor in front of the sofa. 

“Must you?” Emma challenged him with a sarcastic grin. I don’t know what he’s playing at, but I’m going to kick his ass after this. 

“How many times did I have to chase after you, before you agreed to meet me outside of work for brunch?” 

“I can’t recall.” 

“Because it was far too numerous to admit to.” Jake chuckled and sat on the far right side of the sofa. He was perfectly comfortable in his brown chinos, cream shirt, and brown sweater vest. The top two buttons were undone, and his mousy brown hair was soft and wavy around his face. “I understand though.” He bowed his head to Emma, which Jessie didn’t notice as she was lowering to sit in the middle of the sofa as he did. “She’s the hardest working woman I’ve ever met, and puts the needs of everyone else before her own.” Emma narrowed her eyes on him and sat down in a huff. He means that, I know, but he’s still walking on thin ice. What is he up to? Isn’t it obvious? Emma turned her head to look at Fido. The spectral wolf moved to rest her head on the arm of the sofa beside her. His scent is broody and protective. So? This is excellent. What is? Emma wanted Fido to make sense, but it was hard to have a telepathic conversation with the first Luna, when Jake and Jessie were chatting away beside her. 

“-no TV for dirty dancing.”

“Or glasses for the bubbly, I take it?” He chuckled as Jessie picked up her open bottle to take a swig. “Oh, no no no.” Dad mode kicked in, and he pushed the bottle away from her lips. “Come on.” He stood up and suavely offered a hand to each of the ladies. “Let’s go shopping. We’ll get essentials, like a TV, glasses, and a router, and pick up pizza on the way back.”

“I love that plan.” Jessie giddily got to her feet and hugged Jake’s side. “I love this guy. If you weren’t gay I’d kiss you.” Emma groaned, and Jake barked with laughter. 

“Sweetie, I’m old enough to be your father.”

“So? I’m not ageist.” She shrugged, and Jake rolled his brown eyes at her. “Wait, how old are you?” She looked him up and down, still held comfortably in his right arm to his side. “Because you don’t look old enough to be my father. You’re like, what? 30? 35? I mean, we’re 23.” Jessie waved between her chest and Emma’s. “Your fiance is 30, right?”

“I am deeply flattered, but my eldest son is 25.” Jake chewed his lips with mirth as he watched her do the math in her green eyes. Her jaw dropped and she pointed at him in shock. 

“You’re 50?”

“I am.”

“No you’re fucking not.”

“Yes I fucking am.” He countered with a jovial laugh. Fido started to wag her tail happily, and Emma raised a brow at her. Why are you so happy? Because this is perfect. What is? I’ll tell you later. Bitch, don’t do me dirty like that. Tell me what you mean. 

“Paper. Pen. Now.” Jessie clicked her fingers at Emma like it was a command, and a moment later, she plastered her hands on Jake’s cheeks. “I must know your beauty routine. Are you lying to me? You’re not 50.”

“Oh stop.” He spoke with a blush, like he rather wanted her to go on. 

“How is this witchcraft achieved.” She turned his head from side to side, and there was barely a wrinkle. She was stunned, but never speechless. “I must know your secret. Wait, you’re not human.” Jake and Emma both tensed. “You’re a vampire.” They relaxed, and Jake laughed so hard it brought a tear to his eye. “Do you bathe in the blood of virgins? Or is it more of a Cleopatra and a milk bath sort of deal?”

“None of the above, but I’m happy to go through my absolutely vital skin care routine later, if you like.” 

“…Emma?” Jessie turned to look at her friend with a comical look of awe on her face. “We need to learn his secret and cash in. Wow. I think Jake’s magic. Like, a fairy or a-”

“I prefer queer, thank you.” He teased her. 

“I didn’t mean-”

“Come on. March your apple bottom jeans out of that door, and let’s get your apartment a glow up.” He walked Jessie part way towards the door so she would go the rest of the way on her own and put on her shoes. He turned to offer his hand to Emma and seemed to say many things in that one look. Trust me. I’ll take care of her. I’m still here for you. This will work. We can do this. Before she knew it, Emma was smiling and putting her hand in his. He guided her up to stand, and then hugged her almost as tightly as she’d been hugged by Jessie moments earlier. Finally, it hit Emma what Fido was talking about. 

“You want to sire her.” Emma whispered, and Jake leaned back with devotion in his eyes. He nodded, and she couldn’t help it. She snorted, and glanced over to make sure Jessie was out of earshot. She was human, so it was safe to whisper to Jake. “She’s not just visiting. I need to talk to Caleb, but-”

“I know. I heard it all. All of it.” He nodded towards the door, and cupped her cheek. When Caleb asked me if I’d sire Emma, I said no. We weren’t on good terms then. When he asked if I’d sire Ruby, I was up for it, but it was clear that she would choose Frankie. This time, though, Jessie is mine. “It would be my honour. I like her. A lot.”

“No shit?” They both snorted, and Jake held her hand. “Let me talk to Caleb first, and no dropping hints like it’s raining red flags. Don’t be weird.” 

“I’ll do my best.” He hugged her again. “I’ll be a kind sire, and I will protect her like she’s my pup.”

“Not in two weeks. That’s too soon.” She begged him. 

“That’s not down to me.” He was trying to be gentle, but he reminded Emma that Caleb would make that call. They both heard the sound of expensive heels galloping across the wooden floor. Jessie jumped at them both, wrapping her arms around them and shouted ‘group hug’. “Alright girls. Shopping, pizza, and then drinks back here as we unpack.” 

“Awesome. Emma says I need to get a satellite phone for Glen Valley. Then we can set up a group chat for future girls’ nights and hen-do talk.” 

“That sounds perfect. I’ll just text Tim to let him know I’ll be home late and not to wait up.” Jake hummed a happy tune as he followed Jessie out of her apartment. “Perhaps you should text Caleb?” He prompted the Luna with a coy smile. “So he doesn’t come looking for us?” 

“Oh, yeah.” Emma fumbled to get her cell and do just that. She decided to keep it brief and just let him know about their plans tonight. The conversation about Jessie’s having moved to Glen Valley to stay would require a face to face conversation. And probably his favourite whisky, with some Elvis playing in the background…