New Day (Open with Permission)

I take a a seat at the bar and order a Sam Adams. I take a sip and glance up at the television. Some basketball game's playing. Normally, I might actually care that the Lakers were playing the Heat, but today, I really just don't. I'm 23 and I want something to do with my life. I'm bored. THe pack's great; being aplha male's great. It's not enough. I'm tired of being bored. I'm bored of being bored. I run a hand through my hair and crack my neck. IT's going to be a long day. It's noon, now. I'm dressed in jeans, a navy shirt and black leather jacket.

Sophia walked into the Mystic Grill. She hadn't been her in a while. She carried the babyseat with her and place her on the table top of the bar while ordering her food and asking if matt was working tonight. "Can I get a burger and fries. And a strawberry milkshakes"

I glance to my right. A pretty woman sits and sets her baby carriage thing on the bar next to me. I don't mind. No wedding ring. She doesn't look attached to anyone. The bartender walks by the crib and accidentally pushes it off the bar. I instinctively catch the carriage and let out a breath. I look up at the mother before carefully setting the baby carriage back on the bar. I turn the carriage around so it doesn't jut out into the walkway anymore. I turn my attention back to the woman briefly before taking another sip of my drink and facing forward again.

Sophia watches as her baby carriage falls. She goes to grab it before it hits the ground but someone already grabbed it and set the carriage on the bar. She noticed a guy at the bar drinking. "Thanks for saving my son. I don't know what I would do if I lost him"

I swallow and meet her gaze. I think of my little sister, Katherine. God I miss her. I can imagine. I pause for a second before extending my hand to her. I'm Ryan, Ryan Stark. I offer a small smile.

"My names Sophia and this little guy is Luka. He's named after my best friends and his aunt and uncle Luke and Erica Reid. It's nice to meet you, Ryan. I would offer to let you join us but it seems like your busy" pointing to his drink. Ever since she had Luka, she had been trying to control he drinking habits. She didn't want Maria coming out. Then she felt something odd about him when she looked at him. "You're a werewolf. I knew something was wierd about you. I'm sure you know what I am?" She said as she watched Luka start fussing and grabbing her phone. He had a habit of doing that since she used apps to play lullaby music. "Sorry, I have to put his music on. When he does that it means he's sleepy"

I nod. The pleasure is mine. The bartender takes my empty beer bottle and asks if I want another one. I shake my head. The bartender shrugs and walks off. I turn back to Sophia. No problem, my little sister was the same way. She never could sleep without her music. I look at her. Yeah, I know what she is. A witch. I know what you are, a witch. Something weird about me? I feign hurt. Tonight's not a full moon; right now I'm as normal as I can be. I chuckle. I'm anything but normal.

"Thanks" She said as she took her order from the bar and grabbed the baby seat in the other hand. "You should see when he trys to eat the phone. He's teething right now so I end up with baby slobber all over my phone" She sat the baby in the booth with her and pointed to the seat across. "Would you like to sit with us? I wasn't meaning anything bab about that comment. That just means that your not a regular human like most people"

I nod. I'd like that, thank you. I slide a five across the bar and move to sit across from Sophia and Luka. I know, I wasn't taking offense. That was my poor attempt at being funny. I shake my head and chuckle. I apologize; my mind is all over the place right now. The waitress brings Sophia's food and I order a Diet Coke. She brings it back instantaneously. I thank her and take a sip of my drink.

"You welcome" She said as she took a sip of her shake. "Well, you must be off your "A" game tonight. I didn't know that was supposed to be funny" She chuckled and the baby was cooing in his sleep. "Don't you just love when they fall asleep. They're adorable" She ate some her bueger and a bit and ketchup was on the side of her lip.

I chuckle. Yes, they are. I point at my own lip. You've got a little ketchup left over. I smile softly. It's adorable. She's funny. She makes me laugh, which is impressive considering I haven't laughed in years.

I take a French fry off her plate and eat it. I feign a look of innocence. You never said anything about your fries. I raise an eyebrow and take a sip of my Coke.

"True but I will castrate you if you touch my shake or burger" She smiled lightly as she finished drinking her shake. She liked this playful tone. With Sergiy it was all just sexual tension. She just wanted a friend to talk to. "So, Ryan, what other things do you do besides still girls fries?"

I chuckle. I am the Alpha Male of a big pack. We used to travel but we're pretty much settled here. I play guitar, and other than that I tend to live a pretty normal life. I shake my head. I uh, I lost interest in a lot of things when my brother and sister passed. I say semi-quietly.

"That sounds interesting. I'm glad you've settled here. Guitar! I've always wanted to learn how to play. I'm a singer and wanted to be able to play and sing also. That's great that you're not a player like my baby daddy was" She heard what he said about his family passing. "That's so sad. I've lost my grandfather. I'm lucky that I was the only child because my parents are the town drunk and slut so I live with my grandmother whose a witch like me"

I nod. I'm sorry to hear that. I smile softly as she attempts to take another bite while Luka fidgets around. I can hold him while you finish eating if you want. I'm good with kids. I say.

"Okay but I warn you, he's a little grumpy when he wakes up" She said as she passed Luka over to Ryan. She picked up her burger and finished half of it when Luka started lightly giggling and kicking his legs. " I forgot to mention he's a kicker"

I chuckle and sit Luka in my lap. I lay an arm over his little legs and the weight of it keeps him from kicking.. I smile softly as Luka quiets and nuzzles his face into my chest. I hold him to me and trace soft circles on his back. He's not so bad. I say softly

"Yeah, He's very adorable when he starts making grunting noice. I'm just worried about when he gets older. You see his father is a werewolf and I'm worried that he'll have the gene and he'll break the curse and turn. I wanted to have a child with Sergiy before I found out that he was going to dump me but just be in my baby life. I didn't want my child to have a see you on the weekend dad. But I love Luka and would protect him from whatever" She said as she ate her other half of her burger

I raise my eyebrows. No offense, but your ex sounds like an ass. I look at her and quirk the left side of my mouth up in a half-smile. BUt, there's one positive thing that you got out of that relationship, you have a wonderful son. I look down at Luka and see he's fallen asleep. Strange, I've never thought of myself being soothing. Maybe it's my body heat.

I smirk. He sounds like a joy. My smirk melts into a smile as Luka grips my shirt in his little fist; as if he's saying that I can't leave. He seemingly wants me to stick around. Maybe so. I say softly in response to her suggestion of Luka liking me.

Sophia finishes her burger and is ready to leave but Luka doesn't want to let go of Ryan. "Well, I guess you'll have to come with us to the Reid place. That's where I'm staying at this moment. I decided to live there so that Sergiy wouldn't be brothering me. I used to live with my grams but he knows where that is. My grams is a tough old lady but I just don't want to put her in danger' She said as she walked to her car with the empty babyseat. "Luka must really like you if he can't even let go for his mom"

I place a $20 on the table and follow her out to her car, Luka in my arms. I set him in his car seat in the back and get in the front in the passenger seat. Strange, Sophia and I really just met but we're acting like a married couple. I won't deny the strong attraction I have to her. She's funny, kind. Obviously smart. I like her. A lot