Familiar

Chapter Eleven

Stepping Forward


Disclaimer: We know the drill

A/N: My muse is leaving me, reviews are like cookies to it. I still have about 5-10 chapters left, bear with me!


Circle me and the needles moves gracefully
Back and forth, if my heart was a compass you'd be North
Risk it all cause I'll catch you if you fall
Wherever you go, if my heart was a house you'd be home

~Owl City, If My Heart Was a House


Trent was looking over his laptop and the blood samples. He was frowning when he couldn't find the father of the children Rachel was carrying. He was running the program for the third time when Riley looked up from her bridal magazine, "Does that pixie always have to be here?"

In unison, both Trent and Josephine muttered, "Yes."

Riley frowned, "I'm dumping Vera Wang and going with Maggie Sottero."

"Mmm."

Riley glared at the pixie, "I'm not comfortable with her in the room."

Josephine pressed her hand to Trent's neck. She gave an irritated sigh and swiftly left the room.

Riley smiled like a cat in cream, "That's better." She got up and walked over to Trent, draping herself over him, "What's wrong?"

"I've run the DNA in the amniotic fluid three times now, and I can't find a match for the father."

Riley's eyebrows rose, "So, she was lying about being knocked up by an Elf?"

Trent's lips went thin and pale, "It's not that, it could be anyone that isn't in my database." he ran his fingers through his hair, "For all I know she found an Elf in the Ever-After and that's the father."

Riley cocked her head, squinting, "Have you run your DNA through there?"

Trent moved aside, his ears red, "You think I'm the father? I've never slept with her! Besides, yes, I'm in there. As is my father, my mother, etcetera."

Riley leaned back and put a finger to her lips, "But you're sure they're Elven?"

Trent stood up abruptly, "That's the thing! The test is showing positive for Elven DNA." he sat down, sighing, in almost a defeated manner, "They're showing signs of Brownstone syndrome. Elven, not common..." he tapped on his keyboard for a moment, "It's not as bad as the majority of Elven diseases, they would make it to puberty before showing symptoms, which means I have an ample time frame to fix it." He tapped a bit more, "I could probably fix it during her next appointment, actually. It's just a quick injection."

Riley smiled, her finger still placed thoughtfully on her chin, "What if you didn't?"

Trent looked at Riley, "Why wouldn't I?"

"Well... if it kills them off before puberty, you'd never have to worry about their children and passing on the Demonic genetics. Right?"

He frowned, "I can't do that. These are Rachel's tadpoles. She'll raise them well, and if not, I can always step in."

Riley placed her hand on either side of Trent's head and made him look at her, "No, you aren't. Because you aren't going to fix it."

"I'm not going to fix it."

Riley smiled, "Why aren't you going to fix it?"

"Because they could be Demons, and I have to stop them from having more children or all my people's work would be for nothing."

Riley straightened up, "I'm glad we could see things my way."


Rachel sat next to Ivy on the couch and snuggled up to her, "What's up?"

"Reading."

Rachel peeked around the book, "What to expect when you're expecting?"

Ivy raised a brow at Rachel, "It's a very good book."

Rachel pouted, "Then why don't I have it?"

Ivy smirked, "If you could read, then I'd give it to you."

"Hey!"

Rachel sat back and rubbed her stomach, at twenty-one weeks, she was pregnant. It was now noticeable on her lanky frame. People gave her looks of terror as they saw her stomach, and she attributed that to people wondering if they asked her, if she'd beat them senseless. As the old saying went; never ask a woman if she's pregnant until she's in the delivery room.

She took a bit of comfort in people being afraid of her.

Rachel turned around and put her feet on Ivy's lap, "My ankles are swollen, rub them honey!"

Ivy pinched some of her sock and moved her feet away, "They are not."

"Sure they are!"

Ivy rolled her eyes, "You just want a foot massage."

"I'm carrying twins, be nice!"

Ivy gave a low chuckle, then an exaggerated sigh as she picked up Rachel's foot and placed it back on her lap. She set her book down and began rubbing the foot while Rachel snatched the book.

Rachel smiled at her victory and began to flip through the book, "Hey, they're supposed to be kicking. They aren't kicking!" her face went white, "Oh, God! I have to see Trent!"

Ivy sighed, "Not every woman feels the kicks until later, some not at all. Don't get panicky. Your next appointment is tomorrow."

Rachel whined, "But they should be kicking!" she poked her stomach, "Maybe they hate me."

"They won't hate you until their teenage years. Maybe they're being nice."

Rachel snorted, "I have Trenton Kalamack's spawn in my belly, and you think they'd be nice?"

Ivy snickered, "Point and match."

Several pixie children came in holding sides of a cloth napkin and hovering it into the living-room, "We made you a snack Ms. Morgan!"

"Our mom was always hungry when she was pregnant!"

"You'll really like it!"

Rachel lifted her hands and took the parcel from the kids, "Thank you!" cautiously she opened the pack and smiled triumphantly, "Peanut butter and jelly! I love you kids!" and took a big bite of the sandwich.

"Morning Ms. Morgan!" said a little golden spark flying in the room.

"Josephine! I take it Quen is over with Ceri?"

"Mm-Hm! Guess what me and papa did! We messed with Trent's laptop, and he'll never find out who the daddy is!"

Rachel snickered, "You guys are awesome."

Jenks flew in the room, "She's a good kid, needs work on her CSS, but her hex is dead-on." Jenks flew over and took a bit of her sandwich.

"Hey!"

"You're eating for three, not twenty." He said before devouring the crumb.

She sulked, then slammed the rest of the sandwich in her mouth.

Josephine and Jenks went to the kitchen to bond over Ivy's laptop, and Ivy switched feet.

To Rachel, this was pure heaven. Ivy was starting to fill her with calming pheromones and Jenks was playing with his kids while Madalena was teaching the older ones some household skills. The only thing that was missing was Trent...

For some reason, an overwhelming sense of sadness came over her. Ivy sensed it and looked at Rachel quizzically, "What's wrong?"

"I'm over five months pregnant, Trent still doesn't know, and I'm going to get really fat really fast." She gave a despondent sigh, "And the wedding is in four months..." She gave a sad chuckle, "I don't think it's going to work."

Ivy tipped her head. She took a deep breath, "So, how did you two first start... going at it?"

Rachel made a face at Ivy.

Ivy rolled her eyes, "You know what I mean! I'm trying!"

Rachel smiled, "Well, it was the whole 'emotional bond' thing. At first it was a side-effect. Then I started to torment him with it." She snickered, "Evidently, Trent can control anger, sadness, happiness... everything but lust."

Ivy snorted, "So the uptight Elf doesn't get any that often, poor him." She put Rachel's foot down and grabbed some lotion to get the sock smell off her hands, "Have you tried doing it again?"

Rachel held her belly, "Like he'll wanna tap this."

Ivy leaned over and kissed Rachel's forehead, taking Rachel by surprise, "You're beautiful. You may not have your old body, but you have a new... glow, to you. He'd be an idiot not to notice."

Rachel blushed and an uncomfortable silence filled the air.

Ivy got a little exasperated, "The key is getting Riley away for the day and you can put your moves on Trent."

Rachel hesitated, "What if Riley found out?"

Ivy sighed, "Do you love him?"

"I... I don't know!"

"Why don't you know?"

Rachel ran her fingers through her red curls, "I miss him, okay? I don't want to, but I do. I miss who he wanted to be, and every once in a while I see it in him. And it's even harder because I see it when he sees Olive and Ricky. I know he loves them, and he doesn't know why. But I don't know if he loves me."

"Does it matter if he loves you? Do you love him?"

Rachel took a deep breath, "I think I'm close."

Ivy nodded, a bit too briskly, "Okay then, when you know, work your magic on him and try to get a confession from him before you say your end of it. Then the spell is broken, we drag Maeve to the Ever-After, and then we get ice-cream."

"Mmm, that sounds really good."

"The plan, or the ice-cream?"

Rachel said nothing, and looked guilty, "If I said both, would you rub my back?"


The next day, Rachel grabbed her car keys, "I'm late for my appointment! I'll see ya later! Have fun!"

She went to get her purse and a packet fell out with two credit-card looking cards falling out.

"I got you a hotel room for the next week!" Ivy called out.

Rachel stopped cold in her tracks, "What? Why?"

Ivy entered the living-room, "The run I did last week paid pretty well, and after talking it over with the landlord..." she gave a sleek smile, "The construction will begin this afternoon for the new nursery. It's your baby-shower gift."

Rachel dropped her keys, "You can't be serious!"

Ivy shrugged, "They need to sleep somewhere."

Rachel plowed Ivy into a bear hug, "You are amazing! I wasn't even thinking about where they were going to sleep! Or live..."

Ivy nodded her head, "I know, but it's two separate rooms for when they get older; they're being added onto the living room with a small hallway. For now, we'll just use one room, and when they get bigger we can put them in their own rooms."

Rachel wiped away the tears at her eyes, "Ivy..."

Ivy batted the tears out of her own eyes, "Our Rachel is growing up, and she needs room." She gave Rachel a hug, "You're family, and anyone else you bring in here. I'm so sorry I was being such an ass."

Rachel smiled, "Yeah... but I know it's because you care. The idea of being with Trent... isn't as disgusting as it used to be."

Ivy snorted, "If he wasn't under a spell I would kill him twice for what he's putting you through. But it isn't him, so I can't be mad." she frowned a little, "I wish I could give these things to you."

"Ivy, you've given us so much... You're my rock, and I love you for it."

Ivy gave a deep breath, and it stuttered a bit, "You're going to be late for your appointment." in a flash, she had already picked up the keys to Rachel's hotel room, "It's the Hilton near Carew Towers, so you won't be far from anyone. You're suitcase is already in the room and waiting for you."

Rachel gave an excited yip before rushing off to her appointment that she hoped she wasn't late for. With traffic, she was actually pretty late. About an hour. This actually worked into her favor, because Riley couldn't wait any longer and had already left to the cake tasting. Rachel could only roll her eyes and slip into her disposable tunic before getting back on the table. Trent was just about to squirt her stomach, when her phone began to sing out, "I wanna live, where soul meets booooodyyyy!"

Rachel winced, "Ivy, just a sec." Trent gave a harrumph and set the gel back in it's warmer. Rachel dug through and get her phone and seeing the new text and read it;

"Remember the plan!"

She snapped her phone with a smirk and placed it back in her purse and looked at Kalamack in a new light. She was so excited she had forgotten!

"Good news I take it?"

"Ivy's building an addition to the church for the babies." Rachel said smugly, not letting him in on her text.

Trent's ears turned red, "Well, then they'll have two homes."

"Wait-what?"

Trent squeezed on the gel and Rachel squirmed, "I added onto Isabella's nursery. I thought it would be good to have them near in case something were to happen in the first few weeks."

Rachel laughed, "Turn yourself Trent, these babies stay with me."

If possible, the red from his ears spread to his cheeks, "I know that." he snapped irritably.

Rachel covered her stomach again as Trent made a grab for the gel, "You want me to move in?"

He frowned, still red, "You're a unique case. It would be stupid to keep you out of sight."

"Nuh-uh!" She smirked, "Besides, what does Riley think of this?"

"She's too involved in the wedding to ask."

Rachel slid off the table, "You're plotting behind her back!"

Trent raised his hands, "I am not plotting! I am trying to help you with the tadpoles."

Rachel frowned, "They aren't tadpoles anymore, they're Olive and Ricky." she waved a hand, "You're getting me off track! How could you not tell Riley?"

"Again—She never asked."

Rachel put a finger to her chin, "So as long as she doesn't ask, you don't tell her... Does she ask about me?"

"Not as much as she used to, she's been busy with wedding plans. She's talking about having Diana Krall sing at the wedding."

"The famous jazz singer?"

"That's her."

Rachel gave a low whistle, "That's gonna cost a lot."

Trent shrugged, "It keeps her busy."

Rachel's mind started to turn in gears. If she could become 'best friends' with Riley, enough to keep her away from Trent and off her tracks... It may give what time she had with Trent easier to keep from Riley. Huh, she was being deviant and sneaky... she glanced at Trent, he was rubbing off on her.

"I don't like that look Rachel." Trent said in a warning voice.

She gave a very full smirk that was pure seduction, "Is that right, Mr. Kalamack? And why is that?"

He raised an eyebrow at her, "Because somehow, I always suffer for it."

She reminded herself of the strained look of Trent's body on the plane, the tense lines and digging fingertips when he was trying not to touch her. The hormones flushing her body seemed to celebrate and kick it into full gear. She could hear Trent stutter on an intake of breath. "Somehow, I don't think you'd suffer very much."

He licked his dry lips and coughed, "We have an ultrasound to do, as well as blood tests."

Rachel slid onto the table in front of Trent, his eye-level was at her breasts, which finally gave off some cleavage. "Is that a statement, or a question?" She thought of Trent's response when she touched his ears and she had to tighten her fists not to do it again.

He looked down quickly, his ears and face red again, "It was a statement. I am a busy man, Ms. Morgan."

She had him, she knew it. She reached down and touched his cheek, barely grazing an earlobe, but his hiss let her know she had, "Ms. Morgan is a distancing technique. Call me Rachel."

His breath was slow and ragged, "Rachel."

She leaned closer, so her lips were very near his ear, "Yes?" She heard something distantly clatter to the ground, metal snaps flinging open, but somehow they were both overwhelmed by the person in her head screaming "YES!" and the other person who was in stunned silence. Stunned, because it had been some time since the last time Trent Kalamack had kissed her. The passage of time had dulled the experience, and now she was beating herself up. The way he hungrily claimed her mouth was something that could not be forgotten and she wondered how she had stayed away for so long! Her bare chest was placed against the silk of his shirt and she angrily ripped it away, happy at the 'plink!' noises it made when it hit the tile. She gave a low, claiming growl at the noise.

He was sucking at her lower lip while her fingers gently stroked his ear. He pulled back, dazed, "Rachel, I can't--"

She held his shirt collar firm and close, "Do you love her?"

"No!" it was quick, and he seemed embarrassed by it.

Softer, she asked, "Do you love me?"

He drew in a breath to argue, but found he couldn't. Instead, he kissed her hard again, dizzying her when those perfect arms leaned against the small table and pinned her down to it. She could feel him getting more and more sure of himself against her thigh. Part of her wanted him to say it, but another part said he hadn't let her ever play.

She brushed her fingers against his shoulders, wiggling the aura in her fingertips until she was caught in the web of his aura. She smiled against his lips and began to twirl small amounts of his aura in them.

He gave a ragged sigh, "Rachel..."

"You've never been with a witch, have you?"

He looked confused, until she pulled him back to kiss him. He was a witch-virgin! She began to use her aura to dance along his until she could feel them mingle. The sunshine yellow of his aura was lighting up the room, the darkness of Rachel's was giving it a warmer hue.

Trent sighed in pleasure, "Rachel..."

Rachel fumbled with the clasp of his slacks until it was free. His breath went in quickly as she touched him.

Trent tipped his head for access to her neck, and her aura jumped, the bright gold flooded the room for a moment before the smut caught up with it. She pulled Trent's aura with hers and he let out moan of pleasure.

"I want you." She groaned as her body arched up to meet his. It was a quick movement, and her maternity pants slid down as easily as sweat pants. She could feel him between the layers of silk and cotton.

"Sen--"

She kissed him quickly, reveling in the sensation of his lips against hers before she pulled back, "No, last time you said I could."

He gave her a puzzled look, "Last time?"

She arched against him again, she wanted to tell him 'How do you think I got knocked up?' but bit her lip at the last minute, "Long story."

Trent groaned as she reached down and manipulated him. "Promise to tell me later?"

"Sure, whatever!"

He gave a low chuckle, and it strained when she pulled his aura and began to roll it like taffy. He ducked his head back to her neck. She smiled against his ear and slid his silk boxers down so she could feel the heat of him against her thigh. He nearly ripped off her panties in return. The edge of pleasure was wearing thin, replaced by pain on her stomach as he pressed against her, and she against him.

"New position," she whispered in his ear.

He slid off her, and kicked off the rest of his clothes from the waist down. She moved to get up, and he turned her around until she was leaning over the table, her arms grasping it for support when he went into her. She mewled at the size of him and he waited until her muscles relaxed before plunging in again. Her fingers dug into the thick vinyl as they both began to pant in rhythm. She used what little sense she had to temporarily knit their auras close so every feeling was shared and amplified.

When she came, it was the last straw for Trent, and he came shortly after. The room seemed filled with lights and Rachel felt suddenly contented and full of happiness. Trent was leaning heavily against her for a moment before he slid his softening member out of Rachel. He kissed her shoulder gently, almost hesitantly, before he began to collect his clothes. Rachel grabbed her things before sitting in Trent's chair and looking like the cat who ate the canary.

He came back inside and gave her a rare smile, "It was the plane, wasn't it? On the way back from Napa?"

Rachel couldn't help but ask, "Was that all I needed? And you remember now?"

Trent sat down heavily on the table, "Some things... we have a bond, don't we? It's why I've been feeling off these last few months. It's what started all this, wasn't it?"

Rachel reached for Trent's hand, "It worked! Oh, God, if I knew that was all there was to it I would have done it ages ago!"

Trent gave a snort of laughter, "One time and even with my engagement you're after me? I admit, that was... something--"

Rachel shot up, "One time? You think this is only the second time?"

Trent's smile died on his lips, "There were others?"

Dread filled Rachel and she sank back down, "You only remember the plane ride..."

He frowned, "I thought you would have forgotten it, you went out like a light."

She turned her head so Trent could see her eyes misting, "Do you remember the opera we went to? The food fight?"

He scowled, "Rachel, what am I missing?"

She brushed the tears out of her eyes, stupid freaking Elf! Stupid Witch, thinking it was that easy! "I need a shower." She said shortly.

He nodded, confused, "Down the hall on the right. Rachel, what am I forgetting?" he paused, and looked at her with new light, "Are those tadpoles mine?"

She grabbed her things and shut the door, "You wish, Kalamack."


The jets of water from the shower felt wonderful. Go fig that even the stall for employee use would have four different heads and enough room to clean four. She let the water roll over body, cleaning away the tears and Trent's scent off of her. She was dreading meeting Riley, because right now, she wanted to punch her for all that she had. She was so enamored in her thoughts and the water, she didn't hear the door open and close. It was the cool breeze that hit her when the door was opened that startled her. She looked at Trent, his perfect naked body covered in steam and she held back the wistful sigh that wanted to leave with the warm air. Instead, she looked at him plainly, "What do you want Kalamack?"

He licked the thin purse of his lips, "We don't have much time before Riley gets back, I thought this would be faster."

She snorted, "Sure you did."

He gave an exasperated sigh, "And I want to know what I'm forgetting."

She raised a brow.

He ran his fingers through his hair, "Oh, to the Turn with it!" He said. He stepped in the shower and she took a step back, pinning herself between the wall. Way to get yourself between a rock and a hard place. She snickered in spite of herself.

It hadn't lasted long, Trent's lips claimed hers again while his hands roved her body, "You have to be quick, I wasn't lying about Riley."

She was just about to ask what he meant by 'You have to be quick' before his hair became plastered with water as he ducked his head to her thighs, and she had the momentary thought of 'Oh, that's what he meant...'


Rachel was fully dressed and gave Trent a searching look, "You sure she isn't going to notice your new shirt?"

He shook his head, "If she does, it would be a first."

Rachel gave a small laugh, "Why am I not surprised?" She glanced at Trent, "You know you're under a spell, right?"

He finished buttoning his last button, "I know. I've been compelled not to care."

"Oh." Rachel looked down and back up, "What if I knew how to break it?"

He raised a brow, "I dislike having spells on me."

She quirked her lips, same old Elf, "If you fell in love with someone, and they said they loved you back, it would break it."

His lips went white, "You've got to be joking."

"Slavery spell."

She could have swore she heard him curse, but in a louder voice he said, "It explains much."

She felt her cheeks redden, "What if it was me?"

Trent's shocked expression was covered quickly by confusion. His green eyes pierced into hers, "Do you love me, Rachel?"

Rachel jumped off the table and began to pace nervously, "I don't know! Maybe. I could." She said the last almost as a protest.

His lips quirked into a smile, "But would you do it for me? Because it was the right thing to do? ... " his voice trailed, he took a deep breath, and in a much softer voice added, "Or for our children?"

She rubbed her stomach and gave him a small smile, "Definitely for them, I'm pretty sure it's the right thing to do..." she met his green stare, "But would I do it for you?" she frowned in thought, "That's what makes it love though." She saw something flicker in Trent's eyes, "But that's why I'm here. I'm trying to love you Trent." Her face flushed red, "Do you think you could love me?" she regained quickly with; "Because if Riley erases all this, I have to know I'm trying for something!"

Trent looked at her, his eyes searching for something. It seemed like an eternity before he said with heavy deliberation, "It's not just the lust Rachel, if that's what you keep using. It's when you get one over on me, it's when you win that gets to me so badly. No one ever beats me and it's... refreshingly frustrating." he paused, "No, that's not all of it..." he looked at her, and somehow Rachel thought she had never seen him so vulnerable, "It's when you tell me I can be a better person. You of all people have every reason to hate and despise me, and for you to see that in me..." He grabbed her hands, staring at it, "It gives me hope."

Rachel was stunned; Trent was giving her the keys to his heart. He didn't love her, but he just told her how to get him to love her! "Trent How—What..." she shook her head, "No, why?"

His licked his lips, "I'm not sure..." She could see the back his neck redden and spread to the front, "But isn't that what makes it love?"

Rachel's jaw dropped, he had almost said it! He almost said he loved her! Say it Rachel! Say--

She grabbed Trent's hand and pressed it to her stomach, his eyes widened, "They kicked."

She nodded mutely, so overwhelmed by everything that her words were barely more than a whisper, "Trent, I--"

"I hope I'm not interrupting!" Riley said as she sashayed through the door with her hands full of shopping bags, "I thought I'd stop by and see how everything went." he looked at Trent's hand suspiciously on Rachel's middle.

Plan B; Rachel forced a smile and grabbed Riley's hand and pressed it to her middle, "Their first kick! Can you feel it?" Rachel had known Riley's interruption seemed to have disturb the twins, but she didn't let her know they stopped.

Riley looked confused, "No, I don't feel anything..."

Rachel shared a quick glance to Trent and forced back the smile to Riley, "You have to show me what you bought! It all looks so glamorous, I wish I could be as chique as you are!"

Trent's startled look changed into an amused one, and he coughed to cover it and buy the millisecond he needed to compose himself and realize what was going on. "Should I leave you ladies alone?"

Rachel waved him away as if he irritated her. And he did, so it wasn't a stretch, "Just have Quen bring us down something to eat--" she fained an apologetic look to Riley, "Well, I'm always hungry, but you have such a pretty figure, you don't want to ruin it."

Riley was shocked, to say the least. It sounded like Rachel was envious of her style and beauty! No one had ever... something choked in Riley's throat, "Yes, bring some pizza down, I haven't had any in ages!"

Rachel gave an astonished little look and prayed to whatever god was listening that she remembered some of Ivy and Ceri's fashion talks. "I can't wait to see your new Prada shoes!"

Riley gave a meek smile and went into her bag and took out the box, showing off a pair of black sneakers, "I had no idea that Prada made sneakers, but these feel like heaven!"

Rachel took the shoe and looked at it, she was a little shocked too; it was simple and well made. This would last her quite a few runs... Ivy would kill her twice for getting blood on them, though. Then again, these shoes were as much as some people in third world countries made in a year. She carefully gave back the shoe, "Those are amazing!" She swallowed the bile back and smiled, "What else did you get?" She heard Trent cough back a laugh and Rachel shot a look of venom in his direction. He responded with a bunny-eared 'kiss-kiss' before he left the room.

Rachel sat back, stunned. It only lasted a moment before Riley began to pull out clothes from her boxes and begin to show them off.

After two hours of wandering through Riley's closet, Riley gave a yawn and looked at her diamond encrusted watch, "Oh, look at the time, I can't believe it's so late!"

Rachel would kick herself for this later, but what better place to keep an eye on Riley? "Well, Ivy is constructing my baby shower present; a new addition for the twins." She gave a faked heavy sigh, "I should go back to my hotel room, and see if room service is still open..."

Riley gasped, "Of course not! You're staying here!" she paused, "Is Ivy you're girlfriend? It's just such an extravagant gift for people in your... financial situation."

Rachel gritted her teeth, "Yes, she is! I thought it was pretty darned expensive too! But Ivy is a Tamwood..." drawing the name as if it show off Ivy's lineage.

Riley clapped her hands, "You have to show me pictures! I'll have Jonathan set up a room for you until your renovations are done. JONATHAN!"

Rachel's jaw was starting to hurt from all the fake smiles she was giving, "Oh, how wonderful..."


A/N: It's gonna be a while for new chapters, bear with me...