A/N: Hello beautiful people, I have a very special request for you today. If you could all bring all your awesome over to my friend's Copdoc story titled Serenity (it's on here) I will be eternally grateful :D seriously, go show her some love, her story's great and I collab'ed chapter 10 with her. You can all move your very sharp pitchforks from my neck now, I hope you'll all enjoy where I'm going with this. Thank you all for your continued support; you've been the best readers EVER.
Note: this isn't the end; there are many more chapters to come.
Tamsin's eyes flew open as she sucked in a sharp breath. Emerald eyes - blurry and unfocused for a brief moment- stayed centered on the large person-shaped blob in front of her. Clearing up faster than mist at the first sight of sun rays, Tamsin looked around frantically and a rush of familiarity soon settled in.
The sun was beaming, yet it wasn't scorching her skin. The scenery was beautiful, almost impossibly so. The grass stood from the ground with a vibrant green. Waterfalls - attached to nothing, simply floating in the air - poured themselves into diverse ponds, rivers and lakes. It was nature as the Gods whom created it intended it to be: strikingly gorgeous (just as Odin had created the Valkyries in his image, and Tamsin was no exception to this rule).
The Detective also observed that a few men nonchalantly sat on the ground next to her and the person-shaped blob, which she had recognized as Odin, undoubtedly listening to his wise teachings. That is, until the Valkyrie crashed back into the warrior's sanctuary.
What she observed next was her appearance: she extended the pair of wings on her back like one would stretch their arms after a long and restful nap. Tamsin then noticed the white tailored suit that she was clad in. Not too shabby for a dead woman.
Having one thing on her mind, the blonde beauty stepped forward sharply as she eyed her maker. "Lauren. Did she make it?"
"Your sacrifice wasn't fruitless, child."
Relief washed over her, and just like ocean waves crashing against rocks, an unexpected whiplash from the brash end to such a peaceful motion put a damper on her mood. On earth, she was dead; gone and soon to be forgotten. She would have to be reborn and go through more than twenty years before seeing the Doctor again, and by then, Lauren would be in her golden years.
Would she settle down with someone else, forget all about her fling with the Valkyrie? Or will she wait for her? Who are ya kidding? Do you really think she'd wait for your stupid ass?
"Come." Placing a large hand between both of Tamsin's shoulder blades, he led her away from the group so they could gain some privacy to discuss 'business' related matters. "Each time I lay my eyes on you, I see a reflection of them and very little of myself."
"Still talkin' in riddle I see." Tamsin, although enjoying being back home, still couldn't shake the feeling in her chest: worry. Worry about the blonde Doctor. Would she be safe? Could Dyson – whom had been tasked with keeping Lauren safe if anything happened to the Valkryie – keep her out of harm's way?
"Sadness, anger, worry; they're all taking away from the proud warrior you once were."
In a typical Tamsin-like manner, she rolled her eyes and scoffed at his words, "I got enough pride to last me centuries; what are ya trying to say old man?"
"Humans. You've grown fond of them."
The Scandinavian didn't doubt her partner's ability to watch over her lover, in fact, she was far more concerned about Lauren's hard-headedness when it came to others 'babying' her, as she often puts it. She came to a conclusion, one single resolution to her problems. What would come out of her mouth next is unethical at best: "I've served you centuries, fought by your side and never gave you any reason for you to doubt my abilities to carry on your will,"
"What is it you wish to ask me, Tamsin?"
"All I ask in return is that you grant Lauren immortality."
"It will be done, though there is a very pressing matter we must discuss."
If she could, Tamsin would run in his arms and hug him, and probably twirl him around a few times. She dubbed this customary show of emotions a bit to 'human' for Odin and opted for a curt nod and a smile as she internalized her joy. "Hit me,"
"Loki and Hades-"
"Toasty."
"Tamsin,"
"Sorry."
There was a reason Odin had jumped the gun about fulfilling Tamsin's request: "A war is on the verge of breaking out. Panic, natural disasters, war and ultimately, the end of humanity as we know it." The Valkyrie, which he had known for over three millenniums, was the only one he could truly trust with this assignment. The price of giving a mortal creature eternal life in exchange for preventing earth's demise was a small one to pay.
Raising an eyebrow, the Detective scrunched up her face as she glanced at the sun. "Why do you care?"
"I will not let that beetle-headed scullion destroy humanity and wipe out the entire Fae race." Rivality between Gods wasn't uncommon, and Odin being the noble, yet prideful one, wasn't prepared to let a fool such as Loki destroy earth.
"That's nice and all, but where do I come in? If you haven't noticed," Motioning to herself, Tamsin forced a smile. "I kinda kicked it."
"You have been away for quite a while, Valkyrie. Have you forgotten what I can do?"
Mind running wild, her face suddenly became stuck in an awkward position as if her muscles had solidified like dried concrete: her mouth was agape to form an expression which looked like she was smiling painfully. Tamsin explicitly spoke each and every word slowly and carefully: "If you suck my essence into you, I will not only hurl, but I will be forever scarred and I will need years and years of therapy, which by the way, will be coming straight out of your wallet."
Crossing her arms over her chest, she frowned at the dumbfounded expression on his face. "What? Being a Detective doesn't pay as much as you'd think."
Smiling, the powerful God was not repulsed by Tamsin's humanity, but found it very noble that such a powerful creature would camouflage herself so well within such weak and fragile creatures. "Your life cycle shall be reversed without a rebirth, your youth fully restored. You shall lead the Fae to victory, and then I shall grant your request."
"Slow your roll Richard Simmons. Do I have any say in this?" Shit dude, this is my essence. As much as she loved the idea or going back, time moves differently in Valhalla. Who's to say how long she has been gone on earth and what has changed. It's not guaranteed that she will be welcomed back with open arms after being literally dead.
"Afraid not. Time is of the essence."
"But, I-" The ground beneath her feet began shaking and cracking, just like tremors of a violent earthquake.
"Off you go." Odin watched as the ground opened up as Tamsin's essence was shot back down to earth. The man walked away, though his face was lathered with nothing but a stoic expression, his worry had never been greater. Not even two minutes with the woman and her humans emotions were already tainting is soul. Shaking his head, he walked away and joined the rest of the warriors.
The soles of a tan pair of boots met grass, which they have gotten acquainted with quite well over the past month. This place of resting embodied great pain for most, though for Lauren, it meant spending time with Tamsin. Even if she couldn't reply per say, the Doctor found solace in paying her respects to the dead warrior; her lover.
Lauren had cut off most of her ties with the gang when she left the Light Fae. She owed her entire salvation to Hale and Dyson, whom arranged to put her somewhere safe where the vengeful Dark Fae couldn't get to her; not even the Succubus knew of her whereabouts and Lauren intended to keep it that way.
Leaving the Fae was a brash and uncharacteristic decision which left many baffled, though most understood where her frustration and anger was coming from. They are responsible for taking the life of an innocent by-stander caught in the crossfire; Nadia. They had tortured the Valkyrie to the point of complete exhaustion, which ultimately killed her. They had made her a slave for the past seven years. Lauren finally snapped and Tamsin's death was the drop that made her glass overflow.
Though she was thankful for Dyson's continued support, the Detective being the only one she chose to see very now and then. They both shared the same pain over the loss; the cross they had to bear had two sets of hands holding it up and two strong backs to carry it on, though it didn't make the path easier to get through.
Lauren slowly approached the familiar tombstone, on it engraved the woman's first and last names –some digging from Dyson revealed her surname was of Scandinavian decent: Eriksdotter. Under the Valkyrie's name, like a shadow of who she was, was written the phrase: "hér leggur mesta kappi sem alltaf var."*
Craning her head upwards, the lenses of her aviator sunglasses bounced off the sun rays. Though, it seemed to get brighter and brighter until it was impossible to stare at it. Dipping her head down, Lauren shielded her eyes at the intense ray of light crashing down and causing a violent shudder in its wake.
As the dust settled, a very lively hand pierced through the fresh, green grass; and another. A dirtied blonde head emerged from the ground not too long after and Lauren started enumerating what mental illnesses she could possibly be suffering from: PTSD, schizophrenia, delusional disorder…
"A little…help…here." The Doctor's previously dead lover managed to gasp between forced breaths, as the dirt heavily compacted itself around her chest, squeezing the already limited air from her renewed lungs.
Lauren's brain raced to form a logical explanation for what was happening right in front of her eyes. Though, Tamsin's distress snapped her from her reverie as she rushed forward, gripping both of the woman's wrists tightly. Solidly planting both of her feet on the ground, Lauren's shoulders and surrounding muscles tensed as she attempted to dislodge the Valkyrie from her own dirt filled tomb.
With one last big pull, she was pulled out fully. Tamsin fell to the ground immediately, by the Doctor's feet, coughing violently as her rejuvenated essence spread throughout her entire body. Muscles flexed, veins popped out and strained against the walls of her skin as if they were trying to breach through the thin barrier.
"I always forget how painful this is." Fists on the ground, the taller woman slowly pushed herself up, with the Doctor's help. Dusting off the dirt, which completely ruined the nice suit they had put on her, was as useless as washing an open wound with gravel.
Slipping her hands away from the taut body, Lauren was still completely awestruck at the Scandinavian's presence. "Tamsin..." Was spoken with both disbelief and bewilderment.
"Hey," That's not the worst thing you can say to your lover after you've been presumed dead for God knows how long, but I'm willing to bet it's not the best either. Tamsin, however, was going to worry about proper 'Hey I'm back from the dead' etiquette later (was there Hallmark cards for those?); she had been resurrected in broad day light and they had to split before rousing the suspicion of the humans walking their dogs in the vicinity, or jogging with their tight and brightly colored clothes.
The Detective jumped over her own tomb and hid behind it, only to poke her hand out and signaling Lauren to come closer. "Call the D-man, tell him to come pick our asses up-"
The Doctor cut in: "Or, I could drive us." The frown Tamsin made, even if her face was covered in dirt blotches, was incredibly cute; the most adorable she had ever seen. Though, her current status with the Fae and the happy sunshine gang would need to be discussed at some point in time.
"Since when does the Light-" There was no time to ask when they started giving their human slaves vehicular privileges. Cutting herself off mid-sentence, Tamsin waved her hand at the petite blonde. "Never mind, lead the way, Doc."
Lauren, whom was still not convinced this was all truly happening, nonetheless complied with the Valkyrie's demands and led them to her parked car by the side of the road. Tamsin had apparently brought back her sense of humour back from the dead as she jumped and ducked behind each object that could hide her on the way, leaving a cloud of dust behind her with each swift movement.
Walking up around to the driver's side, Lauren's hand gripped the small handle. She frowned, however, as she noticed Tamsin was hiding behind a large tree, making some unrecognizable hand signals her way.
Fifteen monkey-like motions, five pointed glares and two eye rolls later, Lauren –who was on the brink of walking up to the woman and simply asking her what she wants – understood what Tamsin was trying to communicate. She opened the passenger door at the back and watched the Detective perform an army-styled barrel roll before launching herself onto the backseat of the sporty Honda.
Taking the wheel, Lauren was still running on auto-pilot, much like she had been all this month; eating because her body needed it, but not because she enjoyed the taste. Sleeping because her body needed to rest and refuel, and not because she felt energized the next morning. Wine was the only pleasure she indulged in and it helped to relieve the tension in her neck, though thoughts of the Valkyrie filled her hazy mind and with each passing second without her, the longing became almost unbearable.
Each movement was made out of familiarity of the action as she started the engine, shifted the car in drive and rode away. Her brain was still trying to make sense of everything and she quickly made a connection with how Tamsin's essence had burst through the Dal's roof when she had passed with how, just a few moments ago,a blinding light seemed to have crashed down coincidentally on her tomb. Not seconds later, Tamsin was digging herself out of her own grave. The only question left unanswered was: why?
Why now? Where was she and what happened? Lauren had learned all that Dyson knew about Valkyries: that their essence goes back to Valhalla, where they wait to be reborn. Usually, they come back as babies; new soul new life. Though Tamsin had taken back control of her old body. Was she still at risk of expiring? Had she escaped Valhalla? Questions the Doctor was eager to find out. First things first, however, they had to get to Lauren's apartment (and get Tamsin cleaned up).
Hot water soothingly cascaded down her body; caressing every dip and curve, hitting every tense nerve like expert hands massaging knots out of their client's muscles. Threading her fingers through her golden locks, the usual clear liquid pooled at her feet dark and murky in color.
Lauren's new apartment wasn't too shabby, the Valkyrie thought. It retained the modern feel of her old place, previously in the Light Fae compound, minus of course the living wall. Which, she was sure will be missed by a certain blonde. Wolfman might be sad he won't have a patch of green to pee in anymore.
She hadn't pried for answers, haven't even asked how long she had been gone; perhaps out of fear. What if it had been too long and Lauren had moved on? How could she blame her, she died. Tamsin was dead.
A very distinctive click announced Lauren's presence in the bathroom and Tamsin intently listened to the Doctor lay the probably neatly folded clothes on the sink. There were some shuffling, sounds of clothes hitting the ground and then the shower curtain was rattled slightly before it was pulled open to allow a very naked Doctor to step inside and join the surprised Valkyrie.
Not giving the taller woman any chance to question her, Lauren took a step forward so that their bodies were almost touching, but not quite. Lifting her arms, her fingers languidly moved upwards on strong arms. Continuing their uphill path, they traced the protruding collar bones as they reached the taller woman's shoulders. Then they traced the swell of her perky breasts and the dips of her toned stomach.
Taking another step forward, chests now rose and fell in unison; touching. Lauren raised her hand to rest her palm against the side of Tamsin's face and craned her head to nuzzle the taller woman's neck. Wrapping her arms around her lover's shoulders, the human took a moment to relish in Tamsin's scent. Everything was the same. Everything was how she had remembered it; the softness of her skin, the familiar curves and her scent.
Lauren didn't care for the why and how, she didn't care what she had done to be blessed with this miracle. What she wanted, what she needed, was to just feel her. And so she did. Turning her face, she gently nudged the taller blonde's chin.
When the Valkyrie was coaxed to turn her head by the nose bump she received, she felt the warmth of Lauren's lips envelop her own in a soft embrace. Tamsin had noticed how robotic the Doctor seemed, disbelief written all over her face. Between not knowing what to say and overall shock, it was safe to say the ride to the new apartment had been as soundless as your new Sony speakers busting because you thought it was a good idea to let your uncoordinated drunk friends near them with a drink in their hands.
For Lauren to be so bold in her actions perhaps showed she needed confirmation that she wasn't going insane and that her brain was still functioning correctly. The Scandinavian wasn't going to put a stop to it any time soon.
Their lips moved together as if they had been perfectly synchronized to do so. Nothing was rushed as the smaller blonde took the time to taste and feel. That is until two palms and ten fingers pressed into her back, demonstrating a small portion of Tamsin's escalading desire.
Gripping the back of the golden blonde's head, the Doctor held Tamsin exactly where she wanted her as she forced her tongue into her partner's mouth. The heated duel earned a drowned out, throaty moan from the taller woman.
In a blur, Lauren's back was pressed against the shower wall, comfortably sandwiched between a horny Valkyrie and cold tiles. This combination caused the Doctor to emit a gasp, which was silenced as Tamsin's mouth covered her own.
The eager tongue explored and so did her hands; gripping the smaller woman's waist, Tamsin pushed her up against her hips and lifted her right leg up under Lauren's left one, resting her foot against the edge of the bathtub.
This motion caused the human to slide forward slightly onto Tamsin's propped leg, pushing both women's centers together; the angle and Lauren's elevation both worked in their favour, adding just the right amount of pressure. Groans of pleasure mixed with the suffocating heat of the steam from the hot water rising into the air and around their glistening bodies.
Placing two strong arms on the wall on either side of Lauren's shoulders, the Valkyrie's calf was used in providing her with the leverage she needed to power her hips forward. The first few thrusts were languorous, almost tentative, but as the Doctor's breathing hitched and grew louder, every last ounce of Tamsin's self control flew out of the window –or in this case, out of the shower. Each fervent thrust brought both women closer together and caused Lauren's back to slide up and down against the slippery wall.
Titling her head upwards, Tamsin's warm lips grazed the smaller woman's jaw line before she laid a kiss on her chin. The slender fingers spread apart on the wall behind them slowly retracted. Her short nails sliding against the surface of tiles before both of her hands closed into fists, knuckles tightly compressed against the wall.
Rolling her hips in time with the almost frantic pace Tamsin set up, her fingers dug into the soft flesh of the taller woman's shoulder. A loud moan reverberated low in her throat and a burning settled her thigh as her lonely leg attempted to keep her body from slumping down.
She was, although grateful, stunned by the Valkyrie's ability to effortlessly bounce her 110 pound body up and down with each powerful thrust. Sure the woman wasn't human, but even the healthiest Fae species have a limit to their physical endurance, and right now, Tamsin seemed to have no limit.
Peering into her lover's eyes, Lauren noted how the emerald in her eyes seemed so much more vibrant than it was before; tiny blue specs clustered around the iris gave the illusion that they were glowing. She couldn't make sense of this minor change. She couldn't make sense of anything. What she was able to explain, however, was the eager hand making its way up her stomach and cupping her breast. The contact on her already hard nipple was almost painful, though it made it all that much pleasurable.
Curling her fingers and squeezing her hand around the flesh, Tamsin threw her head back, silencing a groan as she bit her lip. Involuntarily scrunching up her face, she let her head fall forward on Lauren's chest, forehead lying just above the blonde's collar bone. A pair of lips grazed the shell of her hear, and she knew just by the way the Doctor's moans were short and closer together, that she was on the brink of coming undone.
Considerably slowing down, Lauren's pleas brought a smirk to Tamsin's lips. Nipping at her lover's collar bone, she dragged her fingers down Lauren's sides and tightly gripped her hips. Abruptly, she began to thrust into the Doctor with abandon as a stress relieving orgasm ripped through them like a bolt of lightning.
Lauren arched her back against the wet and cold tiles; lolling her head back she felt the ends of her now wet, blonde hair tickle the skin between her shoulder blades. Hooking her arms underneath Tamsins', a black hole engulfed her vision. Closing her eyes shut, a slight ringing settled in her hear as the aftermath of the climax settled into her whole body in slowly dying waves until she was able to breathe again.
Opening her chocolate brown eyes, she found a smiling Tamsin staring back at her and moving damp clumps of hair aside, which had stuck to her cheek, with gentle fingertips. To see her partner so happy, and alive, yanked out all the pain of pushing through life without her better half for three whole months. Her shoulders began shaking uncontrollably and she slumped forward, hiding her sorrow from the world in the crook of the Valkyrie's neck.
The sudden added weight onto Tamsin's right leg, and the unstable and slippery surface her left one was on, all contributed to her losing her balance and falling to her knees with the Doctor straddling her.
This was the second time Lauren had caught Tamsin off guard with an sob attack. Though, having gained just a tiny amount of experience in this specific area, she leaned back onto her legs and wrapped both of her arms around the human. Squeezing tightly, Tamsin attempted to soothe her grief, rocking them back and forth and quietly whispering shushing sounds into her ear.
A few moments past and the sobbing subsided until it was non-existent; both women were left in the tub, quietly hanging on to each other. Tamsin was the first to break the silence: "How long?" She whispered in a voice thick with emotion.
Lauren quickly converted the counted 2184 hours into: "91 days."
She knew days and hours passed much slower in Valhalla and to her, 91 days had felt like a couple of hours. Dismayed at how much time had passed, words left her. Tamsin couldn't wrap her head around the fact that she had left Lauren alone for more than three months. "I'm sorry," she finally spoke; her voice fragile and weak. Even in death she had sounded stronger than in this moment.
Lifting her head from the Valkyrie's shoulder, her arms rose to hold Tamsin's face between her hands. "You have nothing to be sorry for." Both women pressed their foreheads together, "You saved my life, Tamsin."
Was it worth it? The pain? The sorrow her unexpected death cast on not only her lover, but her friends? The pain she had suffered while fighting the Minotaur in the Zenith? Absolutely. And she would do it again and again and, for all eternity, if only to keep Lauren alive.
*"hér leggur mesta kappi sem alltaf var," is icelandic for: "Here lays the greatest warrior that ever was."