Chapter Two: Wrong Forever-Day 2

"Shit,"

"Mom!" I look over at my daughter whose eyes are wide and pure shock written over her features as she stares up me. I don't blame her this was only the second time in her entire life she has heard me curse.

"Sorry," I look up from her up to Bo who is now only a few steps in front of us. Guess it is too late to run. "What are you doing here?"

"I—we're checking out schools for Gabby," I raise an eyebrow, a rush of anger and pain burning in the pit of my stomach and rising rapidly into my chest. I swear to God if she says she has a child with him I am going to punch her, I really will. "Oh yeah you don't know who that is," she scoffs and lets out this nervous laugh. "Hale and Kenz's daughter, they aren't able to fly in until later this week so me and Dyson are looking into schools. Everyone said this is the best high school in the city so," she trails off her eyes dancing between me and my kids, each word trailing off a little more as her eyes linger on them. "They-"

"These are my children, Ethan and Isa."

"Isa?" her brow raises shock riddling her features and my heart nearly comes to a halt as that exact same look was just on my daughter's face moments ago.

"Yes," I nod. "Why?"

"I just thought that you had names picked out Ethan and Charlotte since you were like ten."

"That's my first name, Isa stands for—OW!" she lets out jerking away from the light squeeze I gave her side trying to be subtle—subtle just isn't a word my children have in their vocabulary.

"It's a nickname,"

"Oh," she lets out taking a deep breath and nodding. "Well it's nice to meet you two. Do you guys like it here? Would you recommend it?" she is forcing a smile as she looks between them and all I can do is pray for the bell to go off or a tornado or-anything that will get us away from her.

"It's adequate. We only attend here part time, the rest of the time we attend UCL." Ethan boasts proudly taking a small step away from me. "It's the University of London," he continues picking up on the slight confusion hinted in her features.

"We will be attending Oxford by the time we are sixteen and a half, only a year and seven months."

"That is amazing, I am definitely going to have to tell Kenz this is the place. If you three find it good enough to go too,"

"Attend,"

"Isa," I say giving her another nudge. "Manners,"

"Don't worry about it, your mother use to make it a habit correcting me." she smiles softly, a faint hint of pain there that I chose to ignore. "So, um—is their father around I would love to meet him."

SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. SHIT.

"We don't have one," Ethan says with a shrug. "We are the product of immaculate conception,"

"Excuse me?" her eyebrow raises, a confused grin as she looks back up to me.

"We don't know him. Why do you ask so many questions?"

"Isa," I give her another nudge with my elbow. We need to get out of here, where the hell is Dyson when you need him. Damn mangy dog. "I'm sorry about that, they aren't trying to be rude they are just very direct."

"Take after their mother," Oh you have NO idea. "It's fine. Maybe when Gabby gets here we can setup a play date,"

"A play date?" Isa for the love of God just let the woman say her peace so we can get out of here. "We are going to be fifteen in three months and we are already attending college, does that strike you as someone who would be participating in play dates?"

"We could do a study date," Ethan chirps in with a smirk that is almost Bo's exact smirk. We need to get out of here.

"She would love them," Bo chuckles and despite the fact she continues to glance at me her attention is firmly on the kids and I can't tell if it's just because these two little pain in the butts keep talking to her or if it is because she I noticing something.

Who am I kidding Bo wouldn't notice an elephant in a room if it smacked her in the face with it's trunk.

"We will definitely have to do, but now we have to go Isa has a debate and," I trail off hand on each of their backs as I guide them past Bo. "Great seeing you again, just popping up every where." I wasn't pushing my kids just ushering them down the hall.

"Hey!" SHIT.

"Hm?" I turn around to find Bo has already closed the distance between us, what did she do start running track in the Olympics.

"Going to need your number if we're going to set up the study date. Honestly Gabby will love them, it's the oddest thing she is nothing like Kenz or Hale except maybe the attitude but she loves books, AP classes and all." I'm listening as she speaks but all I can focus on is the fact that I need to get my kids away from her as soon as possible, in fact I was so worried about that, that I didn't even completely realize I was typing my number into her Iphone until it was too late. "It's really great seeing you again," she says softly taking the phone from me.

"It is," I lie and its fine because I know she is lying too.

We can stand here and talk civilized since apparently Dyson has trained her how to do so but I know her like I know the back of my hand. I know her like I know the periodic table. I know her better than I know myself. I hear the underlining anger in her voice just begging to break free. I can see the rage burning bright in her eyes as she struggles to look me in the eyes. I can see how she shifts her weight from side to side subtly as well and how she taps her fingers against her thigh when ever she has her hands at her sides.

It was all fine, let her be pissed. What did she have to be pissed about? She got the man she wanted, got the love she wanted. Got the entire little life she wanted. If anyone had a right to be pissed it was me. She was intruding in my life once again, stomping her big, clumsy feet all over it once again like she was Godzilla. I was pissed and I was the only one who had a right to be pissed.

NO. I am INDIFFRENT. Pissed would imply I cared.

I nod with as fake as smile as she is giving me before I turn and walk up the six steps to my children before we head for our escape.

"She was hot,"

"Excuse me?" my head snaps down to Ethan. "Don't say that. Don't go there. Wipe that thought from your mind. Now. Bleach it away."

"Ohhh. You're moving in on mother's woman." Isa chuckles.

"No, she is not my woman."

"Then why can I not think she is hot?"

"Because I said so,"

"He does pose a valid question."

"Because I am your mother and am telling you, wipe that thought from your mind." sighing to myself I walk around to the driver's seat of our SUV, the little pains stuffing themselves in the backseat. "You know she doesn't like Star Trek."

"What?!" they both yell out at the same time making me look up into the rear-view mirror. "Yeah. Oh and she says the Wrath Of Khan was horrible, worst movie ever in fact."

"That bitch!"

"Charlotte Isabeu Lewis," I turn around scowling, although I really just wanted to laugh. I knew that would get the reaction I wanted. Don't mess with Star Trek in this family. Did I feel bad for lying to them, slightly but in all probability Bo had never even seen the movies and had she, she wouldn't have liked them so—justified.

"Sorry mom,"

"She has point," Ethan says snapping his seat-belt in and I have to look away, they are so much my children that it isn't even funny. They are now seriously angry over this, good I can't risk them trying to buddy up to her especially with her trying to take over my life.

Deciding to let this go, I start the car and pull out after all I wasn't lying they had commitments. And honestly was she expecting me to want to stand there and chat about old times? To wait around for Dyson to walk up and ooze his smugness all over. I wasn't the same woman I was then, I didn't have the patients to stand there and watch them fawn over each other—correction I had the patients I just grew the balls to say I didn't want too.

Eventually the kids got over their anger and began their ritual of trying to one up each other on all the things they were going to out do one another on. Surprisingly enough I reached the college in record time guess that's what driving fifteen miles over the speed limit will do for you. I guess that's what being friendly with the police gets you, I haven't gotten one ticket in seven years—correction I've gotten a few just never had to pay any of them.

I look down at the clock 12:43 p.m. A record forty-seven minutes to get back to work, guess I technically don't have to speed but who am I kidding. I needed to get to work, I needed to throw myself deep into something that wasn't related to a succubus or even Fae-okay well at least I could do the first one, escaping Fae for me was like trying to solve a math problem without numbers, it just wasn't going to happen.

What could I expect working at Cunningham Institute, the world's third largest medical institute which happens to be owned by Fae, run by Fae and eighty-nine percent Fae employed. I can't complain though they were the ones who spent exactly 6.8 million dollars to buy out my enslavement contract. They were originally only prepared to pay 1.2 but when Sullivan University got into it, they just had to win.

Got to love the Dark Fae. Sure some of them are murderous animals who shouldn't see the light of day but most were just people who didn't want to follow the rules. They weren't as uptight about humans either surprisingly—not that I had to worry too much about that anymore anyway.

"Watch it!" I yell out as I slam on my brakes, a Lexus swerving into my lane stopping just centimeters from my car. Some stupid rich asshole—Dyson. Son of a bitch with this. I look down into the car and him and Bo are holding their hands up at me mouthing something that I think is sorry—or sucker-i wouldn't be surprised either way. Guess they haven't gotten use to the different driving laws here. Sighing I fake a smile and wave them on trying to ignore the orchestra of horns behind us.

I swear to God no matter what I do I can't escape them-HER.

At first at least it was just in my thoughts or dreams but now she has been in town a matter of twenty-four hours and I've now seen her three times—I've seen her more now than when we were dating. Like a shadow, the memory of her follows me everywhere I go. And just when I felt like I had a steady life—here she comes.

I can talk a good game, but even after everything that's happened she still haunts my mind, my body, my soul—I wish just one morning I could wake up and stop loving her. Don't get me wrong I am not about to run across a field in slow motion into her arms and forget about everything but I can't pretend I don't feel something I do-I spent years doing that.

Pulling into my parking spot I turn the car off and run my hand through my hair, looking at myself in the mirror. After last night's incident I didn't want to risk any more escaping tears-of exhaustion. This is pathetic I know, ever since last night I can't stop thinking about her. Whether it's worrying about her finding out about the kids, or fixating on my anger—or admitting how good she looks now—still looks.

I thought I was over this, I was and now I was quickly reverting back to geeky, quite, scared me from back then. One second thinking about her longer than need be and pictures of me and her were flashing through my mind like some excruciating slide-show from beginning to end. The same slide-show that had kept me awake at night for years, that drove me insane.

It's funny, that in our obscure situation, if you can call it that, I'm the one who is free here yet suddenly I feel like a prisoner once again. I can go out and have sex with all of the guys or girls or Fae that I want. She is now stuck with one person, a wolf—an overly possessive, kibbles and bits breath having, ass-hole forver because I know for certain he isn't allowing her to feed off others. But yet, thinking about it now-she wasn't the one up at night crying over me. She wasn't up all last night fixating on me, on us. She was never the one left alone trying to find some kind of closure, trying to support a family on her own and keep going-trying to make it. She had him, and Kenzi and Hale and Trick.

Chuckling at myself and my muddled, unfocused thoughts I run my hands through my hair again and get out of the car, heading into work. Twenty-four hours in town and she has my thoughts in a tailspin yet again. Shaking off the thought I nod and give a quick hello to everyone as I make my way to my lab. Swiping my key-card I push the door open and flick the switch to the lights, ah I loved not having to share my workspace.

"What the hell!" I scream spinning around attempting to throw a punch that is caught, a strong grip wrapping around my forearm, another on my hip as I am whipped around being slammed against the door.

"Nice try," she smirks leaning in and placing a rough kiss to my lips, it wasn't supposed to be rough I just didn't react. "Okay, that wasn't expected."

"Sorry," I quickly apologize and give her a quick close lipped kiss. She isn't the type to push so she takes a step back and gives me this sad smile.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah," I give a smile and slip around her.

"Is this about me missing last night?"

"No," I shake my head and turn around to face her. "Kate honestly everything is fine."

"I knew I should have tried harder to get off,"

"Babe, there is a serial killer running around, a stupid little award ceremony is nothing compared to that."

"You're crazy,"

I give her a smile and sigh, I really wasn't mad at her I understood her lack of an appearance although it would have been nice to have someone there when the Thornwoods came prancing up to me but I wasn't mad. I just didn't feel right spending my day mentally ranting about Bo and then having a quickie in my lab-although it would have probably cleared my mind of pesky succubi thoughts.

She is just looking at me with those big, green eyes of hers, the ones I normally find beautiful but right now I just want to be left alone. I wanted to do work, I didn't want to have to think about Bo and her merry band of ass-kissers coming along. I didn't want to have to feel guilt that I wasn't telling Kate about her. I didn't want anything other than the solace of my work.

Sighing again as I take a seat at my work station she walks up and stands beside me just staring at me with this intense look that doesn't falter, for a moment I start to worry something is wrong but then she rests her hand over mine and smiles gently.

"I know about your ex being back in town,"

"Wh—Kate I was going to tell you I just-"

"Shh. It's fine, really I get it. You need time to process this, it isn't a big deal, it isn't unreasonable really. But all I am going to ask is that you're honest with me,"

"Of course," I turn my hand over so I am able to give hers a tight squeeze.

"Good, so if you need some space just let me know and you've got it."

"I don't need space—per-say. Just space to work right now," I don't know if it was a lie, honestly I wasn't sure what I needed at the moment other than time alone to clear my head.

"Your wish is my command," she gives me her trademark smirk and winks, giving my hand one last squeeze before taking a few steps away. "Just one more piece of bad news,"

"What? Did you get passed over for promotion?"

"Huh? No, no won't know that until next month but um," she scrunches her features and nervously smiles all the while she continues to take steps backward. "Your ex's husband is my new partner effective immediately,"

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!

"Love you babe, gotta go." she playfully yells out as she turns and gracefully speed-walks toward the exit.

I just sit here for a moment staring at the door as it shuts behind her, jaw clenched to the point of pain but the pain was good, the pain kept me from yelling something no so very nice out. I suppose it would have been fine since I was the only one here but regardless I didn't want to become the crazy person who loses her temper and has fits, we already had one of those in Palaeontology.

Resting my elbows on the table I bury my face in my hands and contemplate screaming but instead I just sigh once more. This had to be some really, really bad cosmic joke-or a bad, horrible dream. There was no way this could actually be happening. No, it just couldn't be. This was improbable, illogical, crazy—how could after sixteen years she just pop up out of no where and invade my life—every aspect of my life.

Her future husband was now my girlfriend's partner, her best-friend's child was going to be in my children's school, she wanted play-dates for them and she was like a jack-in-the-box popping up every time I turned around, next think I know she'll be working here.

This just can't be happening.

The vibration of my phone goes off and I am forced to check it, a hazard of having kids, you were no longer allowed to ignore the phone no matter what situation you may be in.

Kate: I love you beautiful, sorry your day is sucking. Hope it gets better, when you want to talk you know I am here. (1:42 p.m.)

A faint smile comes across my lips, and its gone just as quick as it came.

Kate or Detective Vergara as I met her as was amazing. She looked much more like she should be modeling rather than running around trying to catch bad guys but as it turns out she can be pretty badass. I suppose in a way you could say she resembles Bo, slightly. They both have long black hair—well Bo use to have long hair. And they both had the sexy, model look but secret badass thing going on. Kate was an inch taller, a little more curvy even now that Bo had put on some weight and she had a darker complexion than-so really they didn't have that much in common.

Especially in personality. Kate was considerate, and thoughtful and sweet and the opposite of Bo. She was essentially my Dyson, only I could stand her. Sure we had been on and off for seven years, and no I didn't see any wedding bells in the future but still she was good for me. Beyond being good for me Kate was nice. She was sweet, was kind and gentle, always eager to please me and practically begs me to give her the privilege of loving me.

Problem was I just couldn't love her—not the way she loves me.

God, I wanted so badly to give into her, to her unwavering love for me but I can't. I've tried so many times, tired to tick myself into it, tried to convince myself that she was perfect—which she is but no matter how many times she touched me, no matter how many times I slept in her arms or laughed at her jokes I just find myself unable to surrender.

I know staying with her is cruel and I've tried to leave, tried to set her free after all we've broken up fourteen times in seven years but somehow we just end up back together. She is safe, like a security blanket and most times we are happy. We are—i wouldn't even be doubting us at the moment if the hurricane that is Bo had just stayed back home.

Perhaps this was adult love, perhaps adult, mature love wasn't supposed to be crazy and all consuming. Perhaps I wasn't supposed to long for every touch, every smile, every word. Perhaps I wasn't supposed to be willing to die for her. Perhaps I wasn't supposed to lose myself in her. Perhaps this was just part of maturing.

After all I had never felt that way with anyone other than one person. And that person was gone, or at least the side of her that I had fell in love with.

Where that side of Bo had run off to I have no idea, perhaps it was never there, perhaps it was all an illusion. All some game, some foreplay for her until she was ready to settle down with him.

There was still a small part of me something so tiny that it almost wasn't there, something I had forgotten was there until I saw her last night- that tiny part still believed in Bo. Believed she would come back for me. That she only needed a little time to learn that he could give her a proper life but I could give her the one she want. That believed when she would come, if she did, she would come sweeping in and erase all the hurt. Erase the past. And we would make this life work, but then again that was a silly dream that grew to disgust me so much so I buried it so deep I forgot was there.

So why couldn't I get rid of it all together?

That was a question I didn't ever want the answer too.