"JOSU!" Liliana shrieked. She'd only ever seen her brother get this way once before, his unbridled, righteous fury combined with his fierce protective instinct would take over his senses and he would do something irreversible.

Liliana seemed to bring her brother back down to earth. If she could do nothing else, she could speak directly to his psyche like no one else could, they shared the simplest, easiest bond. Liliana wore an expression of intense disgust, furious with her father and with Kate for not giving Josu and Kaalia's child the love it deserved- her father wasn't a stupid man. He had to have known this was coming, Josu and Kaalia were made for each other. Kaalia sat, against the wall, walked across the room to hold Kaalia's hand, she couldn't afford the panic attack. Those were Kaalia's struggle- the panic attacks, constant, never ceasing anxiety.

"Look at me, Lia," Liliana said. Kaalia's lower lip quivered and she fell into Liliana's shoulder, sobbing.

"LOOK AT WHAT YOU"VE DONE?!" Liliana shrieked at her father. Scared by the sudden outburst, Loki clawed up Jace's shoulder, he took a sharp breath in.

"Sit your ass down, young lady," Rafael growled at Liliana. Jace's hands clenched into fists. He could feel the blood pumping in his temples, there was a taste of salt in his mouth. He bit down on his lip, hard, trying to stop himself. Jace would be damned if anyone would talk to her that way, he sure as hell didn't.

"Don't speak to her like that," Jace said, his voice a deadly whisper. Liliana's head whipped around, her eyes wide and very much terrified. She'd never seen Jace's eyes the way they were now, blazing in fury. This is why she'd given herself to him the way that she did. She belonged to him, not because he forced her, the way that her father did, but because she wanted to. She wanted Jace to have every single part of her. She'd give him anything. She'd give him everything.

Rafael snorted under his breath. "She's mine, and I'll do whatever I damn well please, boy,"

Jace knew that this was meant to intimidate him, and that was the only way that he'd been able to parent Josu and Liliana, through manipulation. A terrible thought struck Jace. Was that why she was so scared of his hand? He pushed the intrusive thought to the back of his head.

Jace stepped toward Rafael, unafraid. He'd dealt with bullies his whole life. Throughout school, even now in his adult life. Rafael wasn't like Josu. He wasn't acting in Liliana's best interest. Josu always did, he'd gathered that much. And right now, he'd defend his girlfriend and Josu.

"No man would abandon his family when they need them; no man would have a daughter that was terrified of him. Boy.." Jace said, standing his ground. "No man would be sure to differentiate between his children. Don't call me a boy when I'm more of a man at nineteen than you've been in forty years. Are you scared that Josu is going to be more of a father than you? Are you scared that he's more of a man than you? Because that's already came to pass, General. You think you can come in and command because of a title? You know what? You've failed as a parent. You've failed as a man. And that baby, that little life that Kaalia and Su created could be your second chance. But here you are, shitting all over it. You know that the baby can hear you, but more over Josu can hear you. Kaalia can hear you. And they're hearing how not to parent. Not that Liliana and Su haven't seen it for the past twenty years. Sir," he tacked onto the end, pumping it full of snark.

Liliana sucked in a breath and Josu cleared his throat. Rafael seemed quite speechless after Jace's tirade. Jace just positioned Loki more securely on the crook of his arm and walked upstairs. Liliana made to follow him, but Rafael stopped her, stepping in front of him.

"I don't know what's going on, young lady, but I'll damn sure find out," he said,, under his breath. Liliana swallowed and tried to put on her bravest face. Jace hadn't heard.

"Kind of hard to when there isn't anything," Liliana said, trying to infuse strength into her quaking voice. She was done being scared of her father. Jace was right in the fact that he had ruled her through manipulation alone. Fear.

She heard Josu's voice ring out again. She couldn't take the screaming right now. She felt an unwelcome, nauseated feeling in her stomach. Rather than rushing into Jace's arms like she'd liked to, she rushed into the bathroom, retching. Nothing came up, nothing was on her stomach. The excitement of the evening seemed to be in another world now. A strangled sob wracked Liliana's chest. She knew this wasn't some empty threat. Rafael was going to take Jace away from her. As much as she belonged to him, he was hers. Really, truly hers. She couldn't lose Jace.

Almost silently, Jace picked Liliana up off of the bathroom floor, cradling her close to his chest. She lost it. Her body broke against his. Her breath was short, her stomach churned. She could feel the end in sight.

"Shh, leesi…" he crooned. "The baby will be fine. Josu will take care of them. You can't doubt that. I know you better than that, love." He twisted a strand of Liliana's hair in his fingers.

"H-he told me that he'd find out, Jace. He has to know." LIliana said into his chest.

"He doesn't know shit, he's bluffing, Liliana," Jace said to the top of her head. "I meant what I said. He's ruled you both through manipulation and lies. Don't give him anything to work with. You can't let him win, Lili.."

"He always wins," Liliana said into Jace's shoulder. He gently tipped her head up, looking into her bright green eyes. He gripped her hips as close as he could to himself and said "You've never had anyone in your corner before."

They'd postponed the trip to Ral's after the fiasco. Rafael had attempted to put them on lockdown, and Liliana thought it was best if they just played along. Jace disagreed, but also felt it was futile to argue with her in the state of petrified fear that Rafael put her in. Jace hated him the most for this. Liliana was strong and fiercely independent, her father sought to take that from her. It made Jace sick.

Jace was weary and Liliana was wary. She was so scared of them finding out, so tired of being his secret, but mostly, she was scared of losing him. Jace needed to see the old fire that used to be in Liliana's eyes. Rafael hadn't warmed up to the baby anymore, in fact, he was making snide comments about how Josu was ruining his legacy. Josu didn't care. He loved his little bean. Josu and Jace had spent many nights sitting in his room after Liliana had went to sleep, talking. He understood why he was his Lili's safe place. He was wise.

Liliana and Jace left separately, she was supposed to be going to Drana's, after all. They only went a few blocks before ditching Liliana's car. Jace thought she looked absolutely beautiful in the white lace dress and her hair slung in a loose braid over her shoulder. Liliana assumed her normal riding position and curled up right underneath Jace's arm. After the events of the day, it felt right, it felt safe. Jace had invited Kaalia and Josu, as well, to try to get them out of the house. Ral had accepted, he knew that Jace didn't often branch outside of his siblings.

Liliana didn't understand why Jace put himself out there to protect her, not yet, not really. Jace had fallen into this role with relative ease, and she was kicking and screaming, as per usual. She was sure she was going to embarrass herself tonight, but she was trying not to think about it. She needed calm. Jace cleared his throat, shifted in his seat.

"Stop thinking, doll," Jace said. Liliana blinked and sniffed, clearing her throat too. Of course he knew. He was the most perceptive person Liliana had ever met. She started to play with the buttons on his shirt, desperate for a distraction. She wasn't proud, but this worked better than anything. It always had. Jace nodded his head and kissed the top of hers.

"Text your Dad and tell him you're staying with Drana."

"But.." Was that really the best idea after what had happpened last week? After everything her father had said?

"Liliana." Jace's tone rang with finality.

"Fine," she said. "But I want.." she let her hand trail to his inner thigh.

"Later," he smiled. "I know you. I know what you need," he said.

"I'll give you what you need," Liliana crooned.

Everyone was here, even Su and Lia. Sorin, Avacyn, Emmara and Nissa, waiting on her and Jace.

Ral was waiting out on the porch for them. Jace pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and smiled. Liliana took the sight before her in. Small brick house with a huge backyard, The swingset, she assumed from their childhood was still there. Ral looked just like Jace, only with flecks of gray peppering his black, Polish curls. They had the same facial features, the same bone structure, Jace was just a few inches taller than his father. As much as the twins looked like Kate, Jace looked like his father. Ral wrapped Jace in a bonecrushing hug, picked him up off his feet, like he weighed two pounds. Their relationship was- adorable.

"And this must be Miss Vess!" Ral said. Liliana just smiled and handed over the cheesecake brownies she'd made for the occasion. Incidentally, cheesecake was Ral's most favorite thing, a devilish grin flitting across his face when he saw them.

"You're every bit as lovely as he described,, Liliana." Ral said, brushing his lips across Lili's cheek. "And you make him very happy." he whispered. Liliana couldn't contain her smile.

"He talks of you often," Liliana said. "You're his hero."

"No, he's mine." Ral said simply.

That's what Liliana wanted. Roots. And she knew the person she wanted to plant an entire forest with. Jace grabbed her hand and led her inside, a smile on his face.