A/N

Hi! Okay, so what if Neferet's plan to kidnap Stevie Rae was actually put into action? What would Stevie Rae do? More importantly, what would Rephaim do? Set during Awakened. R&R please!

Disclaimer: I do not own HON (unfortunately). I do not own the plot or events that take place (sadly 'cause this is a lot of fun to write). I do not own any of the epic characters (*tears up*), and that includes Rephaim (*glomps Rephaim and sobs hysterically*).

~Smiley

Chapter 1: After Jack's funeral.

Neferet

The plan had worked perfectly. Zoey couldn't say a single word against her without defacing herself, so she was put back in her place, gagged with her hands tied. As she should be, Neferet thought as the fledglings all made their way back to their rooms after the funeral. Now, only Damien, Zoey, Stark, Shaunee, Erin, Aphrodite, and Darius stayed, watching the embers flicker out. Oh, and Stevie Rae was there too, Neferet noticed, her eyes closed and concentrating on a prayer.

Now that Zoey was out of the way, Neferet thought as she watched the little red vampyre, it's only a matter of her best friend.

Then Neferet turned and glided away, not to return to her chambers, but to that luxurious penthouse where her lover awaited.

Stevie Rae

Why the hell can't I stop cryin'? Stevie Rae thought around another sob. Goddess, I really hate funerals, especially since it's Jack's. Stevie Rae sobbed, tears streaming down her already drenched face. I haven't cried this much since… I don't think I've ever cried this much.

Stevie Rae felt like puking. She wanted to curl up on the ground and just lie there forever and ever, and then maybe the upcoming battle would just pass her by. But, at the same time, she felt like screaming at the top of her lungs. She wanted to scream at Neferet, she wanted to scream at Darkness, she wanted to scream at the world, and she wanted to scream at herself. She also wanted to run home to her mama and let her fix her life like she used to when she was really little, and she wanted to run to her daddy so he would keep her safe.

But she couldn't do any of those things, so she settled for bawling her eyes out and praying to the Goddess, please help heal our hearts, especially poor Damien's. As the embers became black coals, Zoey stood and put a hand on Damien's shoulder.

"C'mon. We should go inside," she said, holding tight to Stark's hand with the one that wasn't on Damien's shoulder. Erin and Shaunee supported Damien as they followed Aphrodite, Darius, Zoey, and Stark inside. Only Stevie Rae stayed where she was, completely rooted to the spot.

"Support him, Earth," she whispered between sobs, and a green glow instantly went from her to Damien.

He wiped his eyes before he asked, "You aren't coming?"

"Nah, I'll come inside later. I just need to spend some time alone with my element is all," she answered with a shaky voice.

"Okay," Damien said. The Twins nodded in unison before they followed Damien and the others.

When she was finally alone, she asked out loud, "Are you gonna just hide in that tree all night?"

The leaves of the tree behind her ruffled as he leaped down gracefully, but she refused to look at him. She wasn't mad at him, but her sight was too blurred with tears to see him anyway. When he touched her shoulder and turned her around, she still stared at the ground. It wasn't until he cupped her face in his hands and forced her to meet his gaze that she really looked at him.

"What are you doing here?" she whispered as he wiped the tears from her cheeks.

"I had to make sure you were alright, but you are not. You're drowning in your own tears," he said.

"Well what do you expect? I'm at the funeral of a real good friend of mine who was murdered, I can't prove that his death was a murder, and I feel like the whole entire world is just crashing down around me and I can't stop—"

"Shhhh…" Rephaim pulled her into a huge hug to silence her as she got more and more worked up. "You need to relax," he murmured as he rubbed her back in small circles.

Stevie Rae sobbed into his shoulder, soaking his soft feathers. "I-I c-c-can't," she stuttered.

"Then I'm taking you away from here until you can. Hold on," he said and wrapped his arms around her tighter. She did as she was told as his strong wings lifted them up into the sky.

It would have been great even if she was crying. Stevie Rae felt safe and comfortable in Rephaim's arms, and the wind felt great in her hair. The sobs that rippled through her entire body didn't even hurt as much. The view must have been amazing; it was just that she couldn't see it. Her eyes were shut tight, and she was trying to remind herself to breathe. She squeezed Rephaim harder as he brought them higher.

Her intense grip on him finally made him ask, "What's wrong?" Rephaim knew through their Imprint that something else was bothering his priestess. When she didn't answer, he repeated, "Stevie Rae, what's wrong?"

"Nothin'." She finally answered shakily into his shoulder. "I'm okay."

Rephaim seriously didn't believe her. For one, she was still crying. Second, her obvious lie was muffled by his feathers, as she was speaking into his shoulder. "Then look at me."

Stevie Rae shook her head, eyes still shut tight. "Stevie Rae, look at me," Rephaim said. "Look me in the eye and tell me that you are okay."

Slowly, very, very slowly, Stevie Rae tilted her head up at him and opened her eyes. Rephaim could tell it wasn't just sadness that made them look so broken.

"What is wrong?" he asked.

"I-I'm scared of heights," she admitted, looking ashamed but keeping her eyes locked with his.

Rephaim tightened his arms around her. "I would never let you fall."

"I know, but I've still never been this far off the ground." Her voice was shaking from both fear and sadness.

"You were fine the last time I flew you to Gilcrease," Rephaim said.

"That was a shorter flight, I was too tired to be scared, and you let me keep my eyes closed that time. Also, we weren't this far away from the earth."

Then Rephaim understood. "Oh, I see. Do you want me to fly lower? Or do you want to just walk there?"

"No, if we fly lower or walk then they'll see us. I just wanna close my eyes so I don't look down."

"Then you do that," Rephaim said, and if he could have, he would have smiled at her, his amazing, brave High Priestess. As soon as he said the words, her face was buried in his feathers and her eyes were shut tight. Rephaim flew a little faster, only thinking of making her more comfortable.

When Rephaim finally landed gracefully on the roof of the Gilcrease mansion, Stevie Rae had lost feeling in her legs, and Rephaim had to support her they went inside. On the bright side, she had stopped sobbing and the only evidence of her tears was her red eyes and nose.

Finally, Rephaim stopped at his closet/nest thing, and gently laid her down inside, moving the blankets around so they cradled her perfectly. Then he stood back and simply stared at her from the doorway.

"Well?" she asked.

"Well what?" Rephaim questioned, confused.

"Are you just going to stand there all night or lay down here with me?" she answered his question with another from the surprisingly roomy closet.

"Oh," he said, and lay down in the blankets. Stevie Rae immediately snuggled up next to him, and he allowed himself to try putting his arms around her. Instead of yelling at him or pushing him away like Rephaim expected her or any sane person to do, she curled up against him even more.

Rephaim closed his eyes, and they stayed silent for a little while. Eventually, their hearts beat as one, and even their breathing became the same. Embracing the contentment Stevie Rae felt simply laying there with her Consort, Stevie Rae let her tears stop flowing and let herself fall asleep.

Rephaim

Rephaim stayed very still, afraid he would shatter the perfect moment if he moved. He only allowed himself to rub small circles on her back, knowing without knowing why he knew that she liked it. He didn't ever want this moment to end. Ever. He didn't even mind that his chest was more than a little damp from her tears. He just wanted to hold her in his arms like this for all eternity, ensuring that she was safe from harm and sadness and those who want to hurt her.

Like Neferet, he thought, suppressing a shudder. He had told her about how she wanted to turn her against her friends, but he didn't think she'd understood what lengths Neferet would go to to get what she wanted. Stevie Rae had immediately told Rephaim that she would always stand by her friends, the Goddess, and Light, which he had already known, but it had increased his worry for her. What would Neferet do if and when she realized Stevie Rae had truly chosen Light? Rephaim knew one thing for sure: he would never, ever let anyone harm his Stevie Rae. Not as long as he still drew a breath, and maybe even after that.

But there was still the matter of how he would be able to keep her safe. Even though he knew he would never let anyone harm her, he knew he would never be able to betray his father. After all, he had been Kalona's favored son for centuries; that type of bond didn't just go away. What would he do if keeping Stevie Rae safe meant betraying his father? Rephaim could've shouted in frustration, simply because he knew it would most likely come to that. How would he be able to protect her then?

She needs a warrior. The traitorous thought passed through his mind almost instantly. A Warrior's Oath would be enough to break any other ties I have. If I was her warrior—

No, Rephaim interrupted his own thoughts, I am not a Son of Erebus warrior. He knew that. He had always known that. And he had even accepted it.

Only because Erebus wasn't the warrior of Nyx, Rephaim's sub consciousness argued. Kalona was, which gives you every right to be the warrior of a High Priestess if you want too.

But you don't, Rephaim's mind argued, because that would mean betraying Father, and you can't do that.

Well, it wouldn't be betraying him. After all, he trained you to be the best warrior in history, Rephaim's heart said.

Why shouldn't I use the skills he's taught me to protect the one I love, Rephaim thought. Wait—love? Did I seriously just say that I loved her?

Yes! his heart shouted.

No! You are a monster. You cannot love anyone! And even if you did love her, she would never love you back, Rephaim's mind argued.

Wrong! She could love you; she does love you. Why else would she fall asleep in your arms? Rephaim's heart said.

Because you kind of kidnapped her, Rephaim's mind reminded him.

Shut up, Rephaim's heart said to his head. Even if that's true, she asked you to lay down with her.

If you would just think rationally about this —

Love isn't rational! His heart screamed, interrupting his mind. Which is why it always works out when you follow your heart.

What if I just asked her about it? Rephaim thought. What's the worst that could happen?

She could reject you, his mind answered.

She wouldn't, his heart insisted.

Father could find out, his mind said.

He hasn't found out about the imprint, his heart countered. Your mind is being too rational; you have to trust your heart. Just ask her—give her your Oath. She will say yes; just look at how much she already trusts you.

Rephaim looked down at the sleeping priestess in his arms. Without realizing he was doing it, he reached his hand up and trailed his fingers through her beautiful blonde curls. He loved her; he knew that without a doubt. He didn't know how or why it was possible, but he loved her, oh, so much.

She stirred a little in her sleep, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in the feathers at his shoulder.

Just ask her, his heart prompted.

There was no argument from his mind/good sense.

"Stevie Rae," he whispered.

"Huh?" she asked sleepily, waking up just a little.

"I, uh, wanted to ask you something," he said hesitantly.

"What?" she asked softly, propping herself up on her elbow so she could look into his eyes, but her other arm was still draped around him.

"Ummm…" Rephaim's voice trailed off. Just say it! He screamed at himself.

"I, uh, was wondering…" Rephaim tried.

"Yes," Stevie Rae prompted.

Come on! He shouted at himself. Spit it out already!

"If…" His heart was racing, and he was having trouble breathing, and his mind was whirling.

"If…" Stevie Rae echoed.

"If you wanted me to take you back to the House of Night or just stay here. It's almost sunrise," he said quickly, and if it wasn't covered by the feathers, Stevie Rae would have seen him blushing profusely.

Coward! His heart screamed.

You fool! His mind screamed.

Rephaim wanted to bang his head against a wall at his own stupidity.

"Oh, ummm…" Stevie Rae said. "If I said I wanted to stay here, would you stay here with me?"

"I would," Rephaim answered immediately.

"You don't have to get back to your daddy?" Stevie Rae questioned.

"I will think of something to tell him when I return tomorrow night," Rephaim said.

Stevie Rae gave him a small smile. "Then I wanna stay here with you," she said, laying back down and wrapping her arms around him, an action he eagerly mirrored.

Then, all in one motion, he scooped her up and stood, walking towards the stairs.

"Rephaim!" she squealed, surprised by his sudden movement.

She was already laughing when Rephaim asked, "What?"

"Where are we goin'?" she asked like it should have been obvious as he reached the bottom of the stairs.

"The basement, of course. It's almost sunrise," he said like it should have been obvious.

"But why are you carryin' me?" she asked.

Rephaim simply shrugged and carried her down into the basement. He gently laid her down and said, "Stay here. I'll go get some blankets."

Stevie Rae laughed and shook her head, sitting up. "Couldn't I have just helped ya with that on our way down?"

"No," Rephaim said.

"Then can't I help ya with that now?"

"No."

"Why not?" she asked.

"Because I am getting the blankets, and you are lying down," Rephaim said, giving her an expectant look.

Stevie Rae glared at him, and he returned the stare with the same look. After a moment, she laughed and lay down. "Hurry back," she whispered.

"As you wish," he murmered, turning to walk up the stairs.

"Rephaim," she called after him, propping herself up on her elbow.

"Yes?" he asked.

"You don't need to use that tone with me."

"What tone?" he asked, turning around to face her.

"The 'as you wish.' It's not like you're some slave or something," Stevie Rae said.

Rephaim blinked in surprise. His father had always insisted that he answer with that. "Then what would you have me say?" he asked, kneeling down beside her.

"Anything else," she whispered.

"As you—" he stopped as she raised an eyebrow at him.

"Okay. I will hurry back."

She rewarded him with a smile. "'Kay," she mumbled sleepily.

When Rephaim made his final trip back down, it was passed sunrise, and she was already asleep. Like he had the last time, he covered her gently with a blanket. She didn't stir, so Rephaim decided to slide a pillow under her head.

This time, she stirred, but she didn't open her eyes. Rephaim froze. "Rephaim?" she asked, reaching up and touching his wrist. His hand was gently lifting her head while the other hand slid the pillow under her head.

"Yes?" he replied softly, softer than he thought himself capable of. He pulled his hand out from under her head, but her fingers trailed from his wrist to his hand.

"Stay with me?" she asked, but her voice seemed to fade away by the second. She slowly intertwined her fingers with his.

His answer came from the depths of his soul that had been buried so deep, he hadn't even known they were there. "Always."

Her smile stayed on her face even as she fell asleep once again. Rephaim lay down next to her, but he made sure he was between her and the doorway. If anyone found them, they would have to go through him to get to her. She automatically curled up next to him, not even waking up, so Rephaim put his other arm around her but still held her hand in his with the other. Eventually, he, too, fell asleep with his High Priestess in his arms.

A/N

Fluff with just a touch of foreshadowing and a dab inner turmoil. My fav recipe.

R&R pretty please! You know you want to!

~Smiley