Author's Note: Alright, guys. So I've recently posted a short piece of writing called "Shouldn't Be a Good in Goodbye." In it, I said that I wanted to turn the work into a full-blown story. This will be it. Notice how, in this beginning chapter, I've used lines from the song by Jason Walker that first influenced me to write the initial drabble. That is so that you readers will understand that this entire thing will all end up back at the future scene that is my earlier work. Just thought you should know. :)

Please read and enjoy. I figured I'd start this off with a relatively relaxed and joyous beginning. That being said, this will probably end up being the happiest chapter in the whole story.

xxxx - Selfless-Touched-Storyteller

Chapter 1

This is the bitter not the sweet.
This is the take and not the keep.
And I haven't even reached the bottom of this ocean floor.

Jason Walker - Shouldn't Be a Good in Goodbye

"Oh my god."

Kenzi stumbled down the stairs, emitting a loud groan as she collapsed onto the couch.

Stupid, stupid, stupid me.

She winced, opening her eyes to meet the concerned gaze of her best friend.

"Well, shit." Kenzi muttered her discontent, turning over to bury her face in a pillow.

Fuck, ow…

Bo laughed.

"What's wrong with you?"

Fucking alcohol, that's what.

"Oh, you know, just me and my love/hate relationship with booze, honey-buns."

She moaned as the pounding in her head increased, and she resorted to squeezing her eyes shut against the pain.

A gentle kiss to her forehead, the slight brush of hair from her cheek.

"Eh, you'll survive."

Kenzi refused to open her eyes just to glare at her best friend. Nor would she voice her disapproval, as that would only lead to more suffering for her human self. Instead, she resorted to flailing her arms in the air in front of her in what she considered to be a rather noble effort to slap the woman who was tormenting her so.

"Now what are you doing?"

She gritted her teeth, grunting with the exertion.

"Come closer, I'm trying to hit you."

Only silence from the succubus.

Bo?

Suddenly, her arms were pinned back against her chest, a sudden weight on her lower body.

"Hey!"

She slowly forced her eyes open to find that Bo was straddled on top of her, grinning widely into her face.

Whoa, there. Was not expecting that.

"Bo, not cool!"

She tried to swat at the infuriating woman above her, but she was unsurprised to find that her efforts made little difference.

"Hey, succubutt. Earth to Bo-Bo. Off. Down, woman."

Kenzi couldn't help but smile at the responding glare she received from her best friend.

"You know, Kenz, I could chi-suck you into oblivion from this position."

She rolled her eyes.

Right. And duly noted.

"Yeah, you could suck anything from anyone from this position."

"Kenzi!"

Hehe. SCORE.

"Hey, you started it. But seriously, I can't breathe. And this headache ain't going anywhere, sister."

"Oh, right, sorry."

The weight lifted from her chest as she regained sudden use of her arms and legs.

She reached out to Bo, who took her hand and pulled her up with gentle ease.

"Thank you!"

More pounding in her head.

Oh my god, it's only getting worse…

Kenzi groaned as she leaned against Bo. "Ugh…I'm never doing that again."

She was referring to last night, when she and Bo had stayed up until the early morning drinking their way through the alcohol archives of Trick's bar.

"Man, I wish I had succubus powers of hangover-avoidance. It would make my drinking life so much easier."

Bo looked at her worriedly.

"You already drink plenty. Now, come on. Trick called in earlier, and I told him we'd leave to meet him and Hale down at the bar as soon as you came downstairs. He sounded pretty serious about us being quick about it."

Kenzi sighed. "Fine."

Just another day at the office, am I right?

Bo stood up, reaching down to take her friend's hand.

"Wait. What about Dyson?"

"Huh?"

Dyson? D-man? Mr. Alpha-freaking-Wolf man who used to pose as your fluffy sex toy before he went all noble and had the Norn tear out his heartstrings?

"Well, you said that Trick and Hale would meet us in the bar. What about Dyson?"

"Trick said something about Dyson going off on some sort of errand. Light-fae business or whatever."

"Sounds legit."

Bo pulled Kenzi up from the couch, ignoring her colorful protests.

"Well, whatever it is, we'll find out about it soon enough. Now, come on, let's get you to Hale."

"So he can make this crappy hangover thing go away all magical and fae-like?

The succubus snorted with laughter, rolling her eyes.

"Exactly, Kenz. All magical and fae-like."

Kenzi winced as every movement she and Bo took toward the front door only amplified the effects of her hangover.

"I knew it."

"You know, I'm gonna tell him you said that."

"Hey, now, girl. No need to be a succubitch."

"Okay, you really need to stop that. It was funny the first twenty times you said it. Now? Eh, not so much."

Bo looked down at her best friend, who remained quiet for all of three seconds.

Nope, gotta go for it.

"Succubitch."

Hahaha.

"Kenzi…"

This is the bad before the worse.
This is the storm before the storm.
I haven't even hit the bottom of this ocean floor.

Jason Walker – Shouldn't Be a Good in Goodbye