Shifter's Baby(207)

“No! I do not smuggle anything!” Miko’s voice took on a tone of sincere worry and Holland’s chuckle turned in to an outright laugh.

“I was kidding! I just meant that your bag was heavy.” Miko paused before covering her mouth and laughing quietly.

“Oh! Haha, yes. I bring a lot of things in case you want me to stay.” Color began to creep in to her cheeks at the mention of Holland allowing her to stay with him for good.

As they began to walk towards Holland’s car, Miko slipped her hand in to his. When he looked down at her, she smiled up at him and kept walking.



When Holland pulled up in the driveway of his four bedroom rental home, Miko pressed her face against the car window.

“You don’t live here, right?” She said without turning to face him. Holland chuckled as he stopped the car.

“Yes, I do. It’s a little big for just me, but I like the space.” Miko unlatched her seatbelt and before Holland could say anything else she had darted out of the car. He soon caught up with her as she stood on the front lawn staring up at the two story foyer window.

“You live here?” She turned to him, her mouth still wide open. Holland nodded. “Noooo, just you?” She pointed at him with a frown. “This too big for you!” Miko looked back at the front of the house and tilted her head to the side. “You have like a mansion!” She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the front of the house. Finally, Holland slipped his arm around her waist and gently pushed her towards the front door.

“Let me show you around, I’ll come back for your bag once you get settled.” Miko walked slowly as she took in every brick of the houses façade. “I thought you would like to wash up so I put some things in the bathroom for you to use. If you’re tired you can take a nap first though. My house is your house, so whatever you want to do, that’s okay.” He looked down at her. Miko was staring open mouthed at the staircase and the large open ceilings.

“I know everything is big in America, but this is sooooo big!” She looked up at Holland who grinned.

As he guided Miko through every room of the house, Holland lost count of the number of times that she remarked on the size of everything.

“And this, is your bedroom.” He gestured to the large queen sized bed in the center of the biggest guest bedroom. Miko walked over to the bed and ran her hands over the quilt that covered it.

“Is for me? Or me and you?” A rapid flush of red colored Miko’s cheeks as she asked and Holland felt his own cheeks becoming warmer too.

“For you.” Miko smiled and turning around she allowed herself to fall on to the bed with a giggle.

“It’s so soft!” Holland looked at her petite frame as the queen sized bed engulfed her. Watching her he wanted to lay beside her, to touch her soft skin and for a moment just get lost in her innocence. “I think…” Miko turned her head to look at Holland, “I would like a shower?” She seemed almost as though she were asking permission and Holland nodded quickly.

“Sure! I put some shampoo and soap in there. I also put a new stack of towels.” He hesitated. “And I put a new razor in there for you too.” Miko sat up, her long raven hair cascading over her shoulders.

“Thank you, Holland.”

“Sure! I’ll go get your case and put it on your bed, okay?” As he turned to leave he gave Miko a wink and heard her giggle. Yes, there was definitely something he liked about having Miko around.



After her shower, Miko slipped on a pair of cotton pajamas and slid under the covers of her new bed. Holland found her a little while later, curled in a ball under the blanket with the bedroom door wide open. He couldn’t help quietly laughing. Poor Miko must have been exhausted. As she slept, Holland found himself wanting to wake her, to ask her a million and one questions, but reluctantly he left her to rest. She had looked so peaceful lying there with her hair splayed out on the pillow, Holland spent the rest of the afternoon with the image in his head.

It was getting late and Holland found himself getting tired. Miko had been out for the count for some time and he was sure that she would wake up soon, but he just couldn’t keep his eyes open any longer. As he dragged himself to his own bedroom he opted to leave the door open in case Miko should need him. Lying in bed he imagined her sleeping across the hallway. How far things had come in such a short time. Holland strained to listen for her soft breathing as he lay in the silence of the darkness. Soon enough he found himself drifting off to sleep with the thought of sweet, petite Miko in the bed down the hall.



“Holland?” The voice was quiet, barely above a whisper. “Holland?” Holland woke up with a start and stared in to the darkness as his eyes began to adjust.