Just my take on one way Lost Girl Season 5 could introduce Charisma Carpenter's character, Freyja, into the show in a very pro-Doccubus manner. One shot.
A Cherished Gift
How could I not notice her? The beauty of a goddess, the confidence of a queen, the physique of a warrior and the smile of a satisfied lover. In all her glory, this mysterious brunette stepped through the crowd, parting the sea of regulars as she scanned faces scattered across The Dal. I openly stared at her as I searched through my memory banks for any recollection of this outsider. I purposely looked her over from head to toe, seeking any indication of her Fae origin. Not one identifying mark was visible, although I appreciated her sculpted arms, the swell of her breasts pressing through her shirt and curves of her feminine hips. I suppose I let my eyes linger a bit too long, for she caught my gaze and returned the favor. As her deep chocolate eyes studied my blonde hair, my oxford shirt, my pressed gray pants and even my sensible shoes, her stare spawned a tingle over every inch of my skin. The sensation felt mildly euphoric, and I did not try to fight the smile that curled upon my lips. I never met any Fae other than Bo that could pull that type of reaction from me. What was she? Or better yet…who was she?
I would certainly call this scientific curiosity, and as much as I wanted to spin my bar stool around and focus on my half empty glass, I could not. Trapped in the view of this mysterious woman, I literally had nowhere to hide. She took deliberate steps and approached me, all the while my doubts crept in quickly. What am I doing baiting a strange Fae with visible intrigue? I am just a human, but then again, I am a doctor to the Fae: the human that de-Fae'd the Morrigan. I don't see any clan symbols tattooed on her visibly. No indication of markings anywhere, except, wait, that necklace: I'm certain I've seen that in a book somewhere. I swear it's glowing. Or maybe that's a glare from the bar lights? Maybe Trick can help me identify it. Oh boy, she's getting closer. Should I turn around? Why am I doubting myself so much? What is she doing to me? With little time wasted, this alluring, mysterious woman had moved across the room and now stood next to the empty bar stool I held for Bo, who was late. Again. She pressed her forearms on the top of the seat back and leaned forward, my eyes still transfixed in an attempt to identify her.
"You must be Lauren Lewis: human doctor to the Light Fae and then to the Dark Fae, and most certainly always to the unaligned?"
Her voice struck a chord with me. It echoed in my ears and hummed a curious tune right to my soul. I had heard it somewhere before perhaps, but the memory felt distant, almost dreamlike. The hair on the back of my neck stood tall and my breath caught, a mixture of fear swirling with an unwanted wave of desire. She emanated sexuality like a succubus and mind control like a Valkyrie. I briefly considered that the woman standing before me carried a combination of both Bo's and Tamsin's traits. And at that point, I also briefly considered that I had consumed way too much alcohol waiting for Bo to arrive. This woman knew my name and she knew my title, yet I knew nothing of her, at least that I could place. I opened my mouth to address her, but my jaw hung open as I struggled to formulate a comprehensive sentence to voice to this stranger.
"Um, yes. Yes, I am Doctor Lauren Lewis. And you are?"
She smiled and looked away momentarily. I inhaled the deepest of breaths in that moment she flagged down Trick for a drink, but the minute she locked eyes with mine, I felt overcome by that odd connection to her again. Uncomfortable yes, but the intrigue behind her made me analyze every second while we stared silently at one another. Rather than try to fill that awkward quiet, I simply played the passenger role she had designated for me, waiting for her to continue driving our unexpected conversation forward.
"I think you may know who I am, Doctor Lewis."
"Please, call me Lauren."
I said the words faster than I thought them. Yes, I said this same sentence to many, but in this instance, I said it like I wanted to hear my name float across her lips. Lauren. I wanted to hear her call my name as Bo did in the throes of passion. But why did I want that? I loved Bo. I still love Bo. Could this woman possibly be a succubus? Or another Fae that fills others with lust? That smile widened and she did just as I asked, forcing my rapid heartbeat and sweaty palms to quickly surface.
"Very well. Lauren."
Ahhhhh yes, it was breathy but firm, playful but dominant. I would liken it to a tiger playing with its food right before it goes in for the kill. I gulped, not because I was afraid but because I liked it. Liked it enough to engage this stranger in further conversation, just to hear her speak and hopefully determine the root of this spell I felt cast upon me.
"Forgive me, but I cannot seem to place you, although your necklace looks vaguely familiar and your voice resonates within my memory somewhere. I just can't seem to recall details at the moment."
Trick returned and slid the stranger's requested drink on the bar surface. He glared at me, warning me of something with just his look but I was so lost to the entire moment that I simply returned my sights to the woman who had taken up residence on the bar stool next to me. He accepted her payment and with the slight wave of her hand, he simply walked away and did not return.
"So Lauren, how does fortune shine upon me that you sit her all alone tonight, minus the unaligned succubus or any number of your other allied Fae?"
I wiped the condensation from my glass and rubbed it between my thumb and index finger.
"Bo is not just an allied Fae."
She cocked her head and that smile grew even wider. I knew I was playing with fire, but I loved Bo and I was sick of hiding it: sick of playing the puppet human or the owned human in the presence of the Fae. I held power that could ultimately destroy the Fae, not that I wanted to wipe out the entire race. I just wanted the respect of others, to love whomever I chose to love and not hide it because of some outdated law on Fae/human relationships.
"Well Lauren, whatever name your succubus bears, I really don't care."
She enunciated each of those last four words with conviction. As she stated the sentence fiercely, I gulped. That sun-kissed skin, long brunette hair and dark brown eyes had my aura glowing. I could not even control it. I tried to suppress it but the more I fought it, the more I craved her presence. I drew a long drink from my glass, the alcohol only fogging my judgment further.
"Please tell me, who are you?"
I finally managed to voice my only question, and surprisingly, she answered me. I don't know if it was simply out of courtesy or otherwise but in between long, seductive sips of her cocktail, she disclosed her name, quiet enough so that I was the only recipient of her spoken words.
"I am Freyja. I am not from around here, and usually I send one of my soldiers to this such place, but this particular visit required that I leave the safety of my realm to seek you directly, Lauren."
The sound of my name crossing her lips again sent shivers down my spine. Freyja. Even though I heard her correctly, I doubted my own sense of hearing. That name graced only one woman in the history of the Fae. I paused to consider the weight of what her presence meant. My pulse quickened and those shivers chilled me to my core. Freyja. Nothing in my brilliant mind could comprehend why a goddess would surface simply to locate me. Freyja, the goddess of love, sexuality, fertility, war and death. Ruler of souls carried to Folkvangr, leader of the Valkyries, protector of species survival through fertility and love, and the sole bearer of the Brisingamen necklace. In physical form, her power radiated like an invisible drug, captivating me, addicting me. That necklace really did sing a song greater than any siren could, enticing me just like the stories had claimed. And yet, like any drug, I could experience the high or the ultimate low as Freya's powers spanned the entire spectrum of possibility. After all, she carried the title of a goddess. A goddess with the ability to bring forth life or end it with death. Yet why she sought me still remained a mystery. I nodded my head to her, almost bowing in her presence.
"Goddess. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
She swallowed the last of her drink and returned the empty glass to the bar. Her smile remained solidly in place as she shifted slightly in her seat to face me.
"Ahh, so you do know of me, Lauren."
And again, every time she said my name, I felt a tad weaker, a tad more aroused, and very much lost to her words. I imagined hearing it just a few more times would swallow me from this very realm and transport me to hers, and yet, I also imagined it would be much like dying at the hands of a succubus: with a smile and the elated feeling of utter joy.
"Yes, I know of you, but the information available is vague and very little actually exists outside of some old Fae texts. I understand you gift fertility to the living and gift peace to souls of the dead."
Her nod indicated an appreciation of my accuracy. I felt a bit of pride in my knowledge of all things Fae, and I was certain she noticed my small smile form.
"Well, you know more than most, Lauren."
She momentary shifted her gaze away from me, suddenly allowing me a deeper breath and a split second of clarity. I still wondered why she sought me of all creatures, but I also wondered greatly about her powers. With all the questions I had about her history, her biology and certainly her Fae abilities as a fertility goddess, a Valkyrie, and a ruler of the dead, my curiosity burned for knowledge I knew would never get answered.
"What message bears such great importance that you surface to seek me out specifically?"
Facing me once again, Freyja pushed her shoulders back and directed the full force of her power in my direction. It instantly pulled me closer to her, physically, spinning me in my chair so that I faced her directly. Leaning forward, my palms dug into my thighs with elbows locked. My eyes glazed over and I froze in this position. She moved her hand slowly, and when her hand brushed my hair behind my ear, an overwhelming tremor pierced through my soul and awakened something deep within me. Her lips moved but no words escaped. Absent of fear or pain, I simply absorbed the sensation and allowed it to fill me as a deep breath would naturally fill my lungs. She smiled and slid her hand down my neck, over my shoulder, down my arm and finally, rested it briefly on my hand. With a blink, she removed her hand as quickly as it had been there, taking with it her sensitive and very welcome touch. Yet even absent her touch, that feeling inside remained. Thick and filling, rich and nourishing, something inside me had been transformed.
"There. Message has been delivered, and the gift has been bestowed."
I leaned back into my chair, somewhat intoxicated yet acutely aware of her words.
"Gift?" I asked, battling the mist that filled my watering eyes.
"Yes. A gift to you, Lauren. You, who possessed the power to destroy the Fae, now possess the power to create the Fae. I hope you and your succubus, Bo, will be pleased with the outcome. May you both enjoy the …gifts…you will create, together."
I knew enough of her powers to understand what she meant. To ultimately have this ability, to create Fae, only meant one thing.
"Goddess…"
"Please, call me Freyja."
My mouth felt dry. "Freyja. Why me?"
"It's rather simple, Lauren. You dabbled in science against the Fae. Some gods didn't like that, and for discovering a scientific method to end our species, your soul was to be called upon. But I received information from not one but two sources; information about you, your brilliant abilities, and that if I removed certain barriers preventing you from living openly with the succubus that you love, then perhaps the destructive nature of your most recent science would have been directed toward more beneficial studies. I do believe in love, Lauren, therefore, at the united request of one of my Valkyries and one of my human souls, I bestowed upon you the gift of Fae. May you and your succubus create Fae life when you so choose, and may you immediately destroy your scientific Fae killing formula. That second part is not a request. I'm sure you can understand."
The formula was technically already destroyed on paper, albeit the scientific nature of it existed solely in my mind: my mind that slowly escaped the momentary fog as I grasped the depth of what the goddess had just lavished upon me. The opportunities it would bring were numerous but really only one mattered to me most. The mere thought of being with the woman I love in the capacity I had only dreamt about flooded me with emotions.
"What, um, what kind of Fae am I?"
She raised both eyebrows and paused before answering.
"You will discover that very soon Lauren, but I promise, it pairs very well with a succubus."
Even though the statement did not answer my question, her response invoked an immediate relief. The incredible sensation remaining from her touch still filled my inner being. I simply felt glorious inside and out, like I was granted an eternal life of utter joy. The doctor in me burned to know which magical Fae creature I would be, but I also wondered who approached her with this request.
"Who?" I stumbled over the single word as I realized my excessive questions should be tempered with a simple thank you.
"Excuse me?"
"Who? You mentioned two sources: at the request of a Valkyrie and a human soul. Who?"
Saying a Valkyrie and a human soul aloud instantly put the answer in my head. She denied me a response, but I already knew the answer to my own question. She didn't need to utter the names Tamsin and Kenzi. I felt it in my heart. I sensed their names in my very soul and I could hear their voices cheering and celebrating as if a victorious achievement had been fulfilled. It made my heart flutter. Their absence had been unquestionably visible since Tamsin fled with Kenzi's soul. It was a void Bo and I had struggled with every day still. Without any additional words, Freyja rose from her seat and turned her back to me to make her exit. I was so engrossed with her presence that I never saw Bo enter the building. Never saw Bo witness Freyja touch my cheek while I stared deep into this woman's eyes. Never saw Bo's jealousy spike so high that she now stood nose to nose with a Fae Goddess, blocking her very exit from The Dal. Their energies pushed against one another like repelling ends of two magnets. Their defensive stances, unwavering confidence and tightened fists mirrored one another to perfection. If I didn't know any better, I'd swear I was looking at an intense sibling rivalry, or perhaps one in the same woman. Their similarities were uncanny, but knowing one was a succubus and the other was a goddess, I feared Bo was about to spar with an unbeatable opponent. Yet there she was: with tightened fists and a jaw to match: my protector, my lover, ready to fight for me as I had always wished her to do, just not in this moment.
"Look lady, step aside: the doctor is spoken for."
If anyone was blind enough to not see the jealousy, they would have certainly heard it in that cutting tone. I tried to slide out from my chair but I remained frozen to my seat, even unable to speak when I thought to calm Bo and her building rage. Freyja looked over her shoulder at me and smiled. I internally begged her to release the hold she cast upon me before she returned her attention to Bo, who had not budged from her position.
"I am well aware of Lauren's status, Bo. I just delivered her a gift. May you both enjoy the fruits it will bring. I'm sure your succubus nature will recognize it rather quickly. Now, goodbye to you both."
Freyja waved her hand again, releasing me from my prison and transferring it to Bo. I caught myself before I stumbled out of the seat and quickly moved to stand next to Bo, whose eyes shifted as she tried to understand why she couldn't move. I grasped her hand with one of mine and placed the other on her back, my touches meant to calm her; soothe her. She remained frozen in place but I felt her shoulders relax slightly from my presence. Freyja politely nodded and used simple manners to side step Bo, forging her path to the exit that she had already begun. When the door closed behind her, Bo was released from her hold, quickly turning to look toward the exit.
"Who the fae was that?!"
Her question was so simple, yet the answer was so complex. Not sure where to start, I provided the easy answer first.
"That was Freyja."
Satisfied that Freyja had left, Bo shifted her view from the door to me, casting a scrutinizing and protective scan over my body. "Who? And what exact gift did she give you?"
Even though Bo's tone was laced with jealousy, I smiled at the thought. Gift. The gift of Fae. I was given the gift of Fae by a goddess. Strangely, I felt it already. Standing next to Bo, the mystery powers I held within grew in intensity quickly. I had no idea the type of Fae but I knew the way to find out. I was Fae. The sentence continued to repeat in my mind as my smile grew wider and my grip on Bo's hand morphed into an epic embrace. I squeezed her with a sudden burst of energy, the tears of happiness already welling up from within. I was going to be with Bo in the capacity I had always wanted. I was even going to be capable of having Bo's children. The thought sounded absolutely preposterous, but then again, so was the idea of an entirely different species living among humans. Freyja was a goddess; a fertility goddess no less, and Bo and I were going to be able to create Fae children together. Confused from my silence but aware of my emotions, Bo wrapped her arms around me and held me tight.
"Lauren? Are you okay? What happened?"
I stepped back, grabbing her by the shoulders and holding her at arm's length. I stared at her, my heart racing as I smiled upon the woman who filled me with a love and happiness I only knew possible since meeting her.
"Bo. Look at me."
"I'm looking at you, Lauren. What is…?"
I cut her off. "No Bo. Stop. Just really look at me. Close your eyes and concentrate on me. What do you see? What do you feel?"
Bo scrunched her eyebrows, weary of my sudden request but slowly closed her eyes. Her facial expressions were priceless, shifting from complacent to curiosity to awareness to recognition. She bit her lip in that seductive way only Bo knew how before opening her eyes and staring into my soul. It only took a moment for our wavelengths to connect as her eyes flashed blue and I felt an internal craving for her unlike anything I had ever felt before.
"Lauren? Wh…Did she? What did she? Um…how did…um…"
"Yes, Bo. You know, don't you? You can tell. Yes, she did. I don't exactly know what or how, but she…I'm…um, I'm…"
We stood there, quietly digesting the moment with looks of amazement and excitement staring at one another. We shared our feelings of elation and delight although we spoke no words. My mind filtered through dozens of thoughts in the matter of seconds. Fae. Powers. Changes. Bo. Chi. Mating. Children. All my initial thoughts focused on what we would have together and how our lives would benefit because of it. My body and my mind continued responding to Bo's presence with a greater intensity to anything I had ever experienced.
"I can feel it, Bo. I don't know exactly what I am, but I can feel it and…"
She placed two fingers over my lips, silencing me gently as she contained her joy in such a public forum.
"Not here. God, I feel it too. I don't know who we have to thank for this, but let's leave and discuss on our way…somewhere. Shit Lauren, you're really…oh wow!"
I sensed the change in her breathing; shallow breaths overtaking the slower, calmer ones as her Fae nature roared to life. Her smile beamed like the brightest of stars. I placed my hand to hers, slowly removing those strong fingers from my lips and squeezing her hand with a matched excitement. She was right to not discuss it here, not until we had more answers and certainly not until we knew the repercussions, if any.
"Of course. Let's get out of here, and I'll tell you everything that just happened."
My eyes locked with hers as exhilarating thoughts overcame me and melded with ones of great humility and honor of those we did have to thank for this. Kenzi and Tamsin did this for us. I didn't quite know how or why, but I was certain they were responsible. Tamsin had yet to return from delivering Kenzi's soul to what we thought was Valhalla, but now I knew she was not taken Valhalla. She was taken to Folkvangr, where the other half resided: where heroes hand-picked by Freyja went to dwell. Perhaps just knowing this small difference would help determine a way to get to Kenzi and bring her back. Perhaps Tamsin would return soon and provide assistance. Perhaps these very thoughts would be the death of me. But if I knew Bo, the discussion would definitely surface. Perhaps it would be my second point of order with Bo after we left this bar to run genetic tests on myself. Or perhaps it would be the third, because with her eyes still blazing blue, Bo quickly led me through The Dal. To the exit and to the street, I felt the strength in my muscles of a hundred men and the happiness in my heart of an entire nation. With Bo by my side, I proudly walked hand in hand with my lover as I took my first Fae steps in this world. I would soon know the extent of the gift Freyja had bestowed, and no matter what the answers revealed, I was ecstatic and certain it would seal my fate with Bo forever.
The End…