I stared at the peeling stairwell before me, and wondered how something could end, if it never even begun.

Then, after a time I didn't measure, I snapped out of my dead end thoughts, and decided it was time to rejoin my watchman in the night.

As I made my way down the crumbling stairs of the abandoned building Bo called home, I found myself feeling quite a bit emptier than I had before.

Before Bo had agreed to help me rescue Nadia from her five-year stale mate.

I had a feeling creeping up my spine that I was missing something, but when I looked at my hands, I saw the famously called 'collection of belongings'.

Belongings Bo had discarded from me, in two very intimate situations.

Belongings that smelt like Bo, that reminded me of Bo.

Belongings that resembled determination and resistance.

Belongings Bo put her mark on.

I, after what seemed like hours, made it outside of Bo's building, and caught eyes with the watchman.

"Ready?" He asked as a way of greeting, and I was grateful to breathe in the night's fresh air and see a familiar face.

Peter Karsson was one of the nicer Fae in charge of watching over my whereabouts. Actually, the only nice Fae Watchman I had come across. Peter always meant well, and being as emotionally drained as I was at the moment, I allowed him to take my bag without a fight.

"Thank you, Peter." I tried to smile at him, as we started walking down the street, but even I knew it looked more like a grimace than a smile.

"You look tired," Peter commented, "Time for bed?"

"Maybe a drink, if you're up for it." I glanced up at the seven foot tall Fae before me. "If Danny is waiting on you, don't worry about it, though." I added on second thought.

"Actually, he's at Lisel's tonight. She wanted to be with him for Mother's Fae day weekend, so a drink sounds nice if you're buying." Peter smiled, showing me his pearly whites. It amazed me that he could be just over a thousand years old and still have perfect teeth, but that was Pete for you; completely anal, to a point where he rivaled me.

That's what I liked about him so much, he understood my articulate ways, he knew how to make me laugh, and how to get me to talk.

And his breath didn't stink.

"I'm always buying," I replied rolling my eyes, as we crossed a street and began a good ten minute long walk to the Dal.

"I'll buy next time." Pete winked, and I couldn't help but smile, but my face contorted into a grimace again, and I realized I was holding back tears.

The familiar sour lump in my throat, the sting in my eyes, that pressure under my forehead, the twitch of my left ear- I could only come to one reasonable conclusion.

I was about to start crying. However unreasonable that actually was.

"Whoa there, Doc, take it easy,"

I didn't trust my voice, so I nodded, and untangled my face from its previous distortion. Remain calm, neutral, breathe in then out- Do not panic, Lauren.

"It's Bo again, isn't it?" He asked, and I shook my head in vain, vigorously, "What did she do this time?" He sounded protective.

I swallowed as forcefully as I could and whispered, "Nothing."

He just gave me a knowing look; probably similar to the look he gave his son when Danny was lying.

I wouldn't give up that easy.

I wasn't a fucking kid. However old that kid actually was.

"Come on, Lauren, I know when you're feeling down, and I know when you're feeling down about her."

Nope, he wouldn't get an answer, I quickened my pace instead.

"Was Dyson there?" He fished blindly, and he struck gold- hit one my incredibly rare nerves.

I couldn't help but turn around with blind rage lighting up my eyes, "She didn't do anything, okay? She found out about Nadia, and she offered to help me. She was mad, she said some things I deserved, but in the end she did what she always does, and she wants to help me!"

Peter Karsson nodded, "You wanted her to fight for you."

I looked away, "No, I just"-

"You're bothered that she fought for Dyson, even after he physically couldn't love her, and now she's not fighting for you."

I glared at the ground, and refused to meet his gaze as I gave up concealing my emotions, and begrudgingly let the first tear fall. "No, Pete. She is fighting for me- she's going to get Nadia back. She wants to help me, and that doesn't surprise me. What bother's me is that she said after she gets Nadia back we are over."

"You never were." Peter reminded me unnecessarily.

"Exactly. We never were. Never could be, never would be. Nothing would ever work between us, so why even think about it? So, I didn't think about it. But now, now I can't stop thinking about it. How is that even fair? She tells me we'll be over? I wasn't even aware she thought- I didn't expect her to- Peter, she thought we had a chance…She wanted a chance-It's so fucking unfair." I tried to catch my breath.

"And do you think so?" Peter asked, but I barely heard him, because I couldn't stop venting, I couldn't stop, because if I did then I would crumble.

"I finally have a chance to get Nadia back, and all I can think about is Bo, and how she thinks we have something- that we have something to end- And how she's willing to give it up, so I can have Nadia back, and"-

"Lauren. Forget Nadia, forget species, forget limitations. Do you think you two have a chance?"