Viper's Hope (Anguis Defenders Book 1)(66)

The three of them sat in the living room of of her sister's new home. Tara had the hibernation units brought in so it would be more private. All the preparations were made to awaken Faith, Hope's brother-in-law, Cody, along with her niece, Charity, and nephew, Justice. Now they just waited.

Hope snickered at her family's names.

"What is so funny?" Tara asked as she checked their vitals.

"I was just thinking how crazy Faith was to keep up the little naming trend our hippy parents started." It made Hope smile.

She and Faith had lost their parents seven years ago to a car wreck, shortly after she graduated college and Charity was born. Justice reminded Hope of her dad. Her parents would've been over the moon with their grand-kids. They would've no doubt liked Viper too with their accepting 'live and let live' attitude.

Viper looked at the children with interest.

"So the female, Charity, is seven years and the male, Justice, is four?" He asked and Hope nodded. "They are so small."

"We aren't as large as you."

"Is this what you looked like when you were young?" Viper asked as he studied her niece. She was pretty cute with her blonde curly mop.

"Yeah, I guess."

Viper smiled sweetly at them, then turned to her.

"I guess I better go before they wake up."

Hope felt bad when he made to leave. Of course she'd gotten used to Viper's not quite human characteristics and she couldn't wait to introduce him to her family, but she had to remember this was going to be very rough for them. She recalled Tara's response when she awoke. Viper dwarfed her by almost a foot and a half not to mention he looked dark and savage. He'd probably scare the piss out of her family, at least till they got to know him.

It was so sweet he thought of them, having far more experience at waking poor rescued souls. Despite the logic Hope still didn't want Viper to go. She sighed in frustration.

"Are you the Boogeyman?" Hope heard her nephew say.

She and Viper turned to Justice.

"Well I guess the cat's out of the bag." Tara whispered as she carefully observed the children for distress.

"No." They all replied simultaneously as Justice sat up, staring at Viper with big wide eyes.

"Don't be dumb Justice. I told you the Boogeyman's not real. He's one of the X-men. Right Aunt Hope." Her niece said groggily.

Tara almost laughed as she checked on Faith and Cody. It was taking the adults a bit longer to wake up, but that was normal.

"Charity don't call Justice dumb please." Hope asked Charity as she wiped the sleep from her niece's eyes.

"Are you a good guy or a bad guy?" Justice asked Viper as he climbed out of the hibernation unit.

Hope moved to give Justice a hug. She was so freaking happy to see his sweet little face, she could barely contain it. Hope forgot how wonderful their banter was.

"I'm a good guy. My name is Viper."

"He's my friend." Hope told the two children.

"Oh good." Justice relaxed. "Cause I lost my ninja sword." Justice whispered, which was so loud the room heard it.

Hope tried not to laugh as she squeezed him then Charity. Kids were so funny with how they processed the world around them.

"We will have to find you a new one then." Viper said as Hope helped Charity out of the hibernation bed.

"He's not allowed to have it because he hit me with it." Charity told Viper looking very serious.

"Well you shouldn't call me names." Justice informed his sister.

"Justice, Charity." Hope exclaimed, putting a halt to things before they devolved.

"God, I love them." She silently grinned.

They were carrying on without a care in the world. More concerned with who was right than even the 'X-man' character in the room. Hope had to admit Viper was pretty bad ass like that. She herself thought Viper reminded her of one of the characters too, probably since she'd watched the movies and cartoons at her sister's house.

"You must always remember to protect females, never hit them little male." Viper got down on one knee and told Justice.

If you've never seen a male who's sexy and good with children, then you're missing out. Hope's heart nearly melted.

"And we don't call each other names." Hope added to her niece.

"Okay. Hey Viper you have snakes for hair." Charity noticed

"Can I touch them? I got to touch one at the zoo once." Justice added.

Viper nodded as he bent forward on the floor.

"They're not snakes. Its just different kind of hair." Hope said as she scooped Charity up and again squeezed her tight.

Justice reached out and tugged one of Viper's dreads. Hope tried to pull the little boy in for another hug but he evaded her grasp.

"Little stinker!"