Vex watched the little human exit the Tavern. Truth be told, he was rather fond of Kenzi, she provided him with a lot of entertainment and was a lot like him, but without the fae powers and psychosis he'd developed over millennia as a dark fae. He frowned slightly and followed the little human. She wasn't meant to be leaving the celebration. They had just defeated the Garuda, he knew that she had been injured, and from what he saw, she was never one to turn down free drinks. He stood and followed the little human. When he left the bar, he saw her. She was standing in the dark, the moon shining down on her. She looked so beautiful to him. It was then that he put the pieces together. She was crying and clutching her am. Wolf boy had his love back. Kenzi had been late to the get together. Wolf boy's love was with the Norn. He slowly walked towards the girl.

"What are you doin' out here love?" asked Vex

"Why aren't you celebrating with the others? Ain't that what you good guys do?"

"Yeah," said Kenzi

"I should, but I don't really feel like it at the moment." She was pulling at her sleeve.

"What's up with your arm?" asked Vex "Last I checked, you weren't injured there in the battle"

"Nothing," said Kenzi quickly "it's fine. Why wouldn't it be? You do know you're the one who hurt his arm." Vex smirked. Why wasn't this young human aligned with the dark?

"Now, you and I both know that is a lie. I should know I'm dark fae, love. Look, I won't tell the Wolf and Succubus, and I may even be able to help." Kenzi laughed bitterly.

"It's not as if they would notice," said Kenzi

"I'm the human screw up. They're a little sick of cleaning up my messes."

For the first time, Vex realized just how insecure the little human was. She stood tall and as brave as any fae warrior he had ever met, but had a heart too easily wounded by the words of those she let near it. As for Kenzi, she never really expected for the Mesmer to show to concern over anything that wasn't him; let alone a lowly human who had once threatened to cut certain parts of him off. Her arm was hurting like hell from whatever that black goo was from the Norn. Maybe she should accept Vex's help with this one.

"I got Dyson's love back for him," said Kenzi

"But," he interrupted "that was taken by the Norn."

"Amazing what a chainsaw will get you," said Kenzi. Vex laughed his slightly maniacal laugh.

"You threatened the Norn?" said Vex "The one that even we of the dark fear, with a chainsaw? You just may have become my favourite human."

"Yeah," Kenzi said brushing it off "what can I say? I would do anything for my friends no matter what it will cost me. Makes me wish I was at my grandmothers in Russia. There at least I know I could get help."

"What's going on Kenzi?" asked Vex with genuine concern "and how could your grandmother help you?" Kenzi pulled up the sleeve of her arm, showing a blackened veins and a rash where the mysterious substance had splashed her.

"I spilt some black goo on my arms at the Norn's lair." She replied "she said that the gift had been given. Somehow I doubt that it is a good thing."

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" asked Vex "If not the Succubus, then the Wolf?"
Kenzi let out a short bitter laugh.

"BoBo would try to destroy the Norn," said Kenzi "the only reason I could do it is because I'm human. As for D-man, well, I would get another lecture about interfering in things I don't understand like when I cursed him with Baba Yaga, though the body swap thing may have resolved that one."

Vex laughed again. This chick as unreal, he thought, to challenge a fae that even the Dark fae feared.

"I have to say love," said Vex "You are rapidly becoming my hero. So, you say your grandmother will be able to help ya? And said grandmother lives in Russia?" Kenzi nodded.

"In the Forests of Stavropol," Kenzi's eyes go to a place far away "it is beautiful there in winter." Vex actually smiled sincerely at that.

"It is beautiful." Whispered Vex. He stared at the little human. He had once been to the place she had mentioned; as a guest to the Gypsy Queen. He had been sworn to protect that line for as long as he could remember. All Mesmer's were sworn to do so, the Gypsy's had saved them, and they then had a duty to protect the Gypsy Queen and her line. She had always given them sanctuary in Russia, helped them find their mates, insured they had control of their powers. All Mesmer's met the reigning Gypsy Queen for it was long foretold that the Mesmer to find a mate in that line would be the mate of the most powerful of Gypsy Queens who would live as long as her mate lived and vice versa. To kill one was to kill the other. If nothing happened to either of them, they would theoretically live for all eternity.

"I've only been there a few times;" Kenzi's voice pulled him out of his head "it has been in my family for generations. If my mother had not emigrated and dishonoured the family, then I would have grown up there, surrounded by my grandmother and her visitors. She would have dozens of visitors a week, all would play with me as if I were the most important person in the world. They would do anything to make me laugh. Grandmother said they were troubled souls, seeking to remember or be taught. They were loyal to my grandmother when the villagers attempted to attack her. One took me to my room where he stood by the window, another stood at my side and another at the door. When I asked why, they simply said it was their duty to protect me."

"You grandmother sounds like a nice bird!" said Vex "and the Morrigan wants my blood. What do you say to going to your grandmothers together to sort that nasty rash out? It's been too long since I've been to Russia."

AN; checked out by my new Beta TheOneThatStayed so thank you