A/N: If there is anyone or anything to blame, it is Zoie Palmer and her twitter shenanigans.
"Are you sure this is the right address, Kenzi?" Bo asked as she gripped the steering wheel of her old '67 Camaro.
Next to her on the passenger seat, Kenzi nodded. "Bo, you already saw the pictures," she told her, "You can't deny that it's her."
Bo bit her lip anxiously.
"Kenzi, if it weren't for you," Bo sighed, "I wouldn't know how I would have even gotten through to today."
"I still got your ass, Bo," the young Russian girl assured.
"It's just an ex, right?" Bo said weakly, with a false bravado she didn't feel.
"Just tell her how you feel about the break-up, get closure and move on," Kenzi said. "Do it quick, like a band-aid."
But both of them knew it wouldn't be so easy. It had been two long, excruciating years dealing with all the Fae family drama that she had put up with. Her parents and her grandfather really screwed over the Fae world. Dealing with the problems lead her to the realization that she was far stronger than most Fae and time has given a deeper conviction of who she was and who she chose to be. Fae might look down on human values but to Bo, having those values tested, made them even more stronger.
However, it had also been two lonely years and she still didn't have closure from the most significant relationship of her adult life. She had faced countless of monsters that made human children cry in their sleep and even scarier creatures that make elder Fae tremble in their boots but this was one confrontation that she really, really was scared out of her wits for.
As she and Kenzi stepped out of the Camaro and slowly made their way to the house, Bo couldn't help but notice how the it all looked like it was taken from a page of a magazine, with a picket fence and an immaculate lawn. 'I don't belong here,' she thought to herself, and swallowed the bitter taste that it left her mouth.
They didn't even need to knock before the woman of Bo's every longing dream opened the door. "Lauren," she breathed as if it were her last.
Lauren looked at her in the eye. "I didn't think you'd actually make it to the front door," she murmured. They just stared at each other for long moments.
Bo noted that Lauren had cut her hair just under her ears, where it curled into messy tendrils. She wore a soft cotton shirt that the succubus wanted bury her face in and never leave. Lauren's face, however, remained very guarded and Bo could see the worry in her eyes.
"And, yet, you don't look to surprised to see us," Kenzi said, breaking the tension.
To Lauren, it didn't seem like Bo changed at all.
Lauren shrugged, "Hard to miss the sound of that Camaro's engine." She opened the door wider, "Come in."
"Nice digs you got here, Doc," Kenzi commented as she looked around. Everything looked so white and clean.
"Thanks, Kenzi," Lauren said dryly.
Bo followed mutely behind them looking at the paintings on the walls and the views outside the windows.
"Watch your step," came too late and Bo stumbled a little, missing the small raised step that led to the den. Fortunately, there were no casualties except for a small squeak under her foot.
Bo picked it up. It was a soft blue rabbit that jingled when shook and squeaked when squeezed. Of course, she has seen the pictures but holding that small stuffed rabbit in her hand made it all too real.
The ache made her eyes flash blue but she closed her eyes and breathed deeply, breathing in this space that smelled so much like Lauren.
Lauren ran a hand through her hair, messing it up. She looked so good and Bo was so tempted to maul her with kisses. "Sorry about that," the doctor said, reaching for the toy.
"It's okay," Bo replied giving the rabbit another squeeze before handing it back to Lauren. "Having kids is messy." She stood straighter, as if suddenly all her strength poured itself into her resolve. "Can we talk?"
Lauren nodded unsurely, "D-do you want anything to drink?" She ligestured vaguely to the direction of the kitchen. "I'll get you something to drink."
"I'd like something strong," Kenzi requested happily.
Lauren nodded and turned to get refreshments in a hurry. Bo followed her, "I'll help you."
Kenzi watched Bo's face for any signs of panic but found none so she settled on the pristine couch and turned on the large TV. "I'll, uh... just be here. Watching Jersey Shore re-runs."
Lauren calmly placed the glasses on the marble counter and reached for the corkscrew from a drawer. She was thankful of her medical training that numbed her enough so that she could at least pretend to be calm in a stressful situation. She was just about to reach for the wine bottle but Bo placed a hand on hers.
"Lauren," Bo's voice began steadily but she stammered and faltered when Lauren met her gaze, "We... I... I came here to tell you that I'm sorry." She took her hand away and traced the marble's patterns with her finger. "I'm sorry that... I wasn't really the best girlfriend to you. I should have fought for you, Lauren." She sighed and looked at the window by the sink.
"I should have made you feel safe... and cherished... and loved. Because I loved you, even though I had a shitty way of showing it."
Lauren said nothing so she continued. "And, I forgive you... I can't even pretend t-to understand how hard it must've been for you to be forced to leave like that. I can't..." Bo shrugged helplessly.
She met Lauren's tearful eyes and gave her a pained smile, "A-and, I'm so happy for you..." she choked but trudged on, "I'm happy that you're where you want to be. That's all I wanted for you. To be safe, happy... and free."
Still, Lauren didn't, couldn't say anything.
Bo blinked rapidly and took another deep breath. "Well, um. That's it. I'll grab Kenzi and we'll go now." She nodded and walked awkwardly towards the den.
But a soft cry stopped her in her tracks and her eyes quickly flicked to a baby monitor by the counter next to the toaster.
"Bo," Lauren said carefully, fingers locking together hesitantly, "Would you... would you like to meet Charlie?"
Bo saw how Lauren visibly brightened as soon as they entered the room. Her posture relaxed and her anxieties seemed to vanish as soon as she caught sight of the small baby standing up on the crib. Bo didn't know it was possible but Lauren looked even more breathtaking.
"Shh," Lauren cooed at the baby, picking up the infant whose arms were raised towards her.
"Ma," the baby whimpered and Lauren wiped away the fat teardrops on the child's eyelashes but the pout remained.
"Bo," Lauren settled the child on her hip, and nervously spoke to Bo. "This is Charlie."
"Hey," Bo smiled genuinely at the tiny human. But Charlie glared and hid behind Lauren's shoulder.
"That's okay, Cranky." Bo laughed, surprised at how it came so easily. "Kenzi acts just like you when she wakes up."
The baby looked up at the sound of her laugh and Bo saw that the child had feather-soft curly blonde hair and dark chocolate brown eyes. She walked cautiously closer to the mother and child, stroking the small chubby cheek with her forefinger, "You are gorgeous."
"Just like her mother," Lauren said sadly, watching their interaction with a pained expression.
"Her?" Bo asked, surprised. It was hard to tell with Charlie's soft blue t-shirt and diaper combo. Then again, children had that genderless age where it was pretty hard to tell unless they wore distinctive clothing. Bo often wondered about that because Lauren once told her about––
"––Isabelle Charlotte Quinn Lewis," Lauren whispered, her voice cracking. She looked so small and devastated when she added, "She's yours."
Bo blinked dumbly from her own thoughts before it hit her.
Like a two-by-four.
On the face.
"Mine?" Bo asked, and her knees buckled a little. "Mine?" She looked at the child and then looked back up at Lauren. She placed a hand on Charlie's back, mystified, "How?"
Lauren's tears flowed silently on her cheek. "I-I don't know," she chuckled bitterly.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Lauren shrugged and choked a sob, kissing the baby's head. "I tried."
"When?" Bo asked, trying to keep the anger and the hurt out of her voice because the baby began to whimper again, feeling Lauren's distress.
"After the Dawning," Lauren said. "I knew right before you entered the temple... But I tried to tell you after... tried to tell you after, I even made you breakfast." She laughed hollowly. "But you had to run to a case and then there wasn't a perfect time..."
"Why didn't you tell me after?" Bo demanded. She couldn't understand how Lauren kept something so big from her.
"After what, Bo?" Lauren asked tiredly, "After you were done playing superhero with Dyson? After you're done trading kisses with Tamsin?" She rocked Charlie against her and started to pace. "When she told me that you kissed without the feed, I knew, I knew I had to go away..."
"Please, let me hold her," Bo begged, gently taking Charlie from Lauren's arms. The baby looked at her curiously as she reverently examined and kissed each little finger and counted her little toes. "She's perfect."
"I know."
"Lauren," Bo started.
"You didn't seem to want children, Bo," Lauren defended herself, "I didn't even recognize you after the Dawning. I wasn't even sure what you wanted, who you wanted. But I knew, the Fae wouldn't want the child to exist. Half human? She might as well be Fae food." Lauren sighed and rubbed rolled her eyes, "If I knew though, that my own ignorance would lead me to Taft..."
Charlie grabbed a handful of Bo's hair and decided that it would best to conduct scientific research on it –with her mouth. Bo tried to stop her until Lauren gently removed the drooling baby's hair-clutching fists from her mouth.
Lauren's eyes watered again, kissing the baby, "I knew that you'd eventually find me. Find us." She closed her eyes, "Damn it, Bo. I knew you'd come take her back eventually... I just didn't think it would hurt this fucking much. "
"Take her?" Bo asked in alarm. She didn't even know that Charlie was hers to begin with. She wasn't cruel enough to take the child from Lauren.
At Lauren's soft sobs, Bo freed a hand from under Charlie and gently tilted Lauren's chin up, "I'm not taking her from you." She made sure Lauren understood. She looked into Lauren's eyes, "But if you'd let me, I'd like to see her grow up. Let her know she's got more family who will love her to bits. Is that... okay?"
Lauren nodded slowly, as if she couldn't comprehend the words from the succubus's mouth.
Bo's mouth turned sad, "And, for the record, I know I really didn't show it very well... but I was in it for the long haul. Babies and everything."
"Clearly, you win the 'I-can-fucking-do-anything-even-get-another-chick- pregnant-with-my-spawn' award," Kenzi said, tickling Charlie's foot and making silly faces to get the baby to giggle. They sat on the couch with Charlie on Bo's lap while Lauren finished making something hopefully strong and alcoholic to drink.
"I keep feeling like I'll wake up any moment," Bo admitted. She nuzzled Charlie's hair, breathing in the lingering new-baby smell and Lauren.
"You sure she's yours?" Kenzi asked, touching the soft blonde baby hairs.
"Lauren thinks it'll darken when she's older," Bo commented, "I used to have light hair till I was five."
"So, what's the what with your long-legged Baby Mama?" Kenzi asked her bluntly.
Bo sighed, "I don't know, Kenz. We just can't get it right, I guess."
Kenzi stared at her friend and slapped her in the arm, which made Charlie squeal and laugh in delight.
"Kenzi," Bo warned.
"Dude, you spent almost two years hung up on her when you've had hotties left and right throwing their yummy bodies at you," Kenzi pointed out, "Plus, you apparently miraculously fucked with mother nature and conceived a freaking baby together."
"Your point?"
"If you haven't figured it out by now, you're still crazily in love with her," Kenzi said, slapping Bo's arm repetitively to get her point across much to Charlie's delight. "Jeez, with all the sexy banging you get into, did you bang your own head, too?"
"She doesn't even trust me."
"She's just afraid," Kenzi said sagely. "I mean, if I found out I was pregnant from another chick's superpowers, I'd be pretty freaked, too."
"I don't know, Kenzi..."
"Let me put it this way, Succubus... Would you really let her get away a second time?"
Lauren just put away a dishrag she used to needlessly wipe the counter to stall for time when Bo walked in holding on to Charlie's hands as the baby tried to walk. The baby happily gurgled at the sight of Lauren.
"I know what you mean," Bo chuckled at Charlie, "I get pretty much the same way, kid." Picking up Charlie, Bo decisively made her way ever closer to Lauren.
"Bo, what...?" Lauren looked at her, confused.
"Shh," Bo said, placing a finger on Lauren's lips.
"Shh," Charlie imitated, with a serious look on her face.
"Lauren, we haven't seen each other in two years and I know we have a lot of issues. Not to mention, I live with my crazy booze hound of a best friend in a crack shack, the car I drive has seen better days, I can't live on a monogamous sexual relationship, and I can never even hope to comprehend half the sexy science stuff you talk about," Bo said, looking vulnerable but hopeful, "But we do have a kid together and I can't lie and tell you that co-parenthood will be enough for me..."
"I-I don't understand," Lauren said, still puzzled, casting a worried glance at her baby.
"I'm asking if we can try again," Bo told her. "I have loved you, Lauren, for the longest time... and I love you still... I know better now than to try and promise to be perfect for you... but, if you can find it in yourself to accept me at my worst, I'm willing to give you the best parts of me."
Lauren was speechless. She was silent for so long that Bo began to fidget.
"Say something," Bo urged quietly, beginning to panic that she messed up so soon. "How can you say no to the sexy Baby Daddy of such an adorable baby? " Bo joked weakly as she held Charlie up. Charlie looked at both of them innocently.
"Bo... I..." Lauren didn't know what to say.
"I knew it," Bo sighed, "I'm making a fool out of myself, aren't I?" She forced a reassuring smile, "It's okay, Lauren. You don't have to feel obligated by my stupidity." Really, what was she thinking? Lauren could find anyone she wanted. With that beautiful smile and brilliant brain, why settle with a fuck up like Bo? The succubus pushed down the depressing thoughts and to Charlie, she said, "Silly Bo, huh?"
"Bo, no," Lauren shook her head, placing her hand on Bo's arm and stepped into her space. Everything was just so unexpected but definitely not unwelcomed. She need Bo to know that.
Bo held very still when Lauren placed a warm hand on her cheek and stared longingly into the same chocolate eyes that her daughter possessed. She knew she'd get lost if she stared too long. Blinking rapidly, Lauren rolled her eyes to the ceiling before mumbling, "Why do you always feel so inevitable to me?"
It made Bo smile and her heartbeat quicken.
"Yes," Lauren told her, "We'll have a lot to work on but..." The radiant smile that broke out across her face made Bo lose her breath.
"I love you, too, Bo," Lauren said and kissed her soft and tender-like on the lips.
"Oo, Bo," Charlie intoned, grabbing Bo's face in her chubby hands and giving Bo a drool-y kiss as well.
A/N: And that's Charlie. I've been wanting to write her ever since that episode where Lauren slapped Tamsin. There's a scene afterwards where Lauren clutches her shirt vaguely around the tummy and I thought to myself, "DOCCUBABY!" And then they had the break. FML.
I've hopefully gotten most of the errors out. Cheers!