A/N: At last, I have managed to write this chapter and finally end this story. It's pretty crappy of me to just leave you all hanging (especially with just one chapter left!) and for that I apologize deeply. But I'm sure you don't want to read about me now so I'll just let you get on with the story. More author's notes in the end.
Oh, also, since it's been such a long wait, better re-read previous chapters before tackling this one. I suggest re-starting by chapter 10. That's where I went. :D I had to go back and re-read stuff too to capture the spirit of the story.
Warning: unbeta-ed. Please be patient with the mistakes. :)
Chapter 14 - end
When he came to, Lewis had known immediately that he was in trouble. His head was pounding fiercely and he could smell and feel the sticky, dried blood from the wound on the back of his head. He probably had concussion too, judging from the nausea and the blurriness of his eyesight.
And then there were the ties on his arms and legs, rendering him helpless on the floor. Lewis struggled for a few seconds, testing his bonds, and quit before he threw up from the pain. He tried to stay still and calm his breathing but it didn't help and soon he slipped into unconsciousness again.
xxx
Lewis blinked awake and noticed that the pain had abated somewhat. It made him feel hopeful and more ready to face his situation. He gently manoeuvred himself to see where he was and stopped in surprise to see another man watching him.
The man's expression changed when he saw him looking and Lewis tensed despite himself. There was something in those eyes that suddenly frightened him.
"You're finally awake," the man said, startling him. "I was getting bored."
Lewis held his tongue, thinking furiously on how to deal with his kidnapper. He already had an idea that this must be connected to the Morrigan, and that he was probably going to be held up for ransom of some kind. He needed to wait it out patiently and try not to provoke his kidnapper's temper - he couldn't afford to get any more hurt right now. But even as Lewis thought that, he tried to suppress the other idea that had taken root inside him: that he would be considered expendable and would be disposed of anytime.
No, he had to stay positive.
"And there was something I was really curious about," the man said, continuing to talk. Lewis looked up at him in confusion.
"Does the Morrigan know about you being a woman?"
Lewis felt his breath stutter and almost choked on his own spit. Even though it made his head spin and ache like someone was poking his brain with an ice pick, he looked down on himself and finally noticed his torn shirt and loose bindings.
"Of course she did, right? That wily bitch wouldn't have made you her body servant without knowing everything about you," the man said, clearly not expecting an answer from him. "Now I'm wondering why she tried to hide your sex from everyone. It's not like it matters as much. Your being human is shameful enough." That last bit was growled out and Lewis felt a shiver of fear, as he jolted out of his panic. No one had seen him like this before. Even the Morrigan hadn't seen his real body when they had sex that one time.
It was too shocking, and he felt somehow like a deer in front of headlights, confused by the speed of the events unfolding and yet paralyzed with fear as well.
He... no, not he. Lewis was stripped away. She was just Lauren now.
Feeling small and vulnerable, she tried to curl up to hide her exposed chest, but stopped when she felt the agonizing pain of his kick on her shins.
"Ah, ah, no moving around. Wouldn't want you to escape... or at least try to."
"Who... who are you?" Lauren groaned out, unable to help herself. "What do you want?"
"Want?" The man's face changed then, the slightly amused expression was suddenly replaced with an absolute rage that scared Lauren into flinching, even though she had already warned against unnecessary movement.
"I want my family back, that's what I want. But they're dead, doctor. Killed in a senseless purge led by your mistress, the Morrigan!" He hissed her name like it was poison, spit flying violently into the air. "Their only crime was to protest your existence: a human daring to act as a fae's valuable right hand!"
He gave her another vicious kick that had Lauren crying out in pain, curling up tighter to protect herself.
"No! She's not even part of that coup! She was just a bystander, a distant relative that got caught in the madness! She didn't deserve her fate, doctor!" the man said, whirling at her. He bent down and grabbed her shirt to pull her up and shake her. The sudden motion sent a shock of white hot-pain on her brain and Lauren lost consciousness for a few seconds before she revived to his warm, dank breath, so close to her own mouth. "Lia was an innocent!" he snarled almost incomprehensibly.
When Lauren figured out his words, her already-pale face turned duller and more sickly. "Lia?" She remembered the girl immediately. She had been so kind to him, even knowing that he was just a human 'pet' and treated him like a friend. He had been so furious and so sad when he had learned of her fate, that he had literally snapped and assaulted the Morrigan.
That encounter had been less about desire but more about taking back control and banishing the despair he had felt. He had wanted to force his will on the Morrigan and pretend that for a moment, he was the one holding the reigns. That he could stop the stupid politicking of the fae and save the good people just because they were good.
In the end though, he had swallowed down the incident and accepted Lia's death as 'inevitable'.
Lauren felt ashamed now, for having "forgotten" the girl's sacrifice in return for her own well-being.
She didn't realize that she had closed her eyes for a second until the man began to shake her again, making his head feel like it was going to explode. She gagged violently and the man released her abruptly, only to kick her again and again.
"Bitch!"
Lauren curled up tighter and endured the vicious beating as well as she could. Her whole body hurt but the most painful feeling was the ache in her heart as she thought of Lia.
For a moment, she considered giving up and just let him kill her. She thought about uncurling and baring her vulnerable parts to his vicious attacks and just let him finish her off. At least then, she wouldn't have to suffer any more - physically, and emotionally, with the weight of Lia's life on her conscience. The burden of Nadia's life had almost broken her, and she wasn't sure she could handle Lia's too, now that she couldn't hide from it anymore.
Lauren was suddenly reminded of that day when she and Bo had gone to meet the Lich and how he'd taken her hostage. She could still vividly recall the way that knife had felt on her throat and the utter feeling of helplessness that had swamped her - followed by a split second feeling of euphoric relief. Relief that her troubles would soon be over and that in death, she would be free at last.
Afterwards, she had dismissed those feelings as a consequence of stress from the near-death experience.
Right now though, a part of her remembered and yearned for that relief again, and the release from all her responsibilities. If she gave up, everything would be over soon.
But the larger part of Lauren resisted, thinking of Bo and the Morrigan. Two very different women but both significant to her.
If she died right now, Lauren thought that it would be akin to 'letting down' the Morrigan. The leader of the Dark Fae had seen something worthy in her and it was enough to take a chance on a simple human. Giving up would be shameful and Lauren's pride wouldn't allow that.
But perhaps more importantly, it wasn't only pride that stopped her. Lauren too, had seen something in the Morrigan: a different persona from the one she portrayed all the time. A more relaxed, but still playful Evony - who would tease her just for the sake of it, and would allow Vex to cajole her into doing undignified activities - whom Lauren would love to see more of.
And as for Bo, they were just beginning to start again. There was no way she could give that chance up now.
Lauren had never been able to completely let go of Bo, even from the beginning. Her attraction to the succubus, her feelings - even though she wasn't supposed to feel them for her -Lauren had never been able to shake them off or rationalize them away like she had so many other conflicting choices in her life.
Even at her lowest point, when she had the chance to escape the fae completely, she had hesitated because of Bo and stayed nearby, putting herself through ridiculous lengths to protect herself from that decision.
It was the same feeling right now.
And Lauren couldn't let go of her life so easily, not when their chance of truly getting together was better than it ever was.
Her thoughts cut off as the pain she was barely managing overwhelmed her, but before Lauren fell once more into blissful unconsciousness, she thought she heard someone calling her name.
xxx
When she woke up for the third time, the man was gone. He was replaced by another unknown man, who noticed her waking but didn't do anything.
Lauren swallowed painfully against a dry throat and ignored the new person back. She concerned herself instead with her injuries - which was somewhat alarming - and the odd sensation creeping up her back. Despite the pain flooding her senses, there was a niggling feeling that she couldn't disregard.
She was gingerly trying to stretch a bit, making a lot of noise with the whimpers she couldn't suppress when she heard it.
"Lauren."
Her eyes immediately shot to her guard in confusion but he hadn't moved and wasn't looking at her.
"Lauren."
She heard it again, a faint voice calling out to her, but her guard remained oblivious. Was her concussion so bad that she was now hallucinating? Lauren thought worriedly.
"Lauren!"
That time, her guard finally reacted making Lauren sigh in relief that she hadn't been imagining anything.
He turned to open the door, stuck his head out and started conversing with someone outside.
The short burst of scream that shattered the relative silence of the place, sent her guard and whoever else nearby into a flurry of panic, and Lauren heard the sound of running feet as they turned to investigate the noise.
In the meantime, she took the opportunity to try and escape. Slowly, she pushed her injured body to the limits and struggled to stand up. She bit her lip against the pain that threatened to put her out again, but all her efforts were still in vain.
A couple of her ribs were surely broken and every breath felt like getting stabbed with a knife. Lauren eventually gave up, knowing that her lungs could get punctured at anytime and put her in more immediate danger.
She struggled instead to strain her hearing and try to figure out what was happening outside. A small part of her had already begun to hope that it was her rescue cavalry coming to save the day, but a large part also struggled to put down that hope to avoid disappointment.
But as the minutes grew without anyone coming to check on her, she couldn't stop the hope from growing and unconsciously began to whisper a litany of "Please, please, please" as she begged for help.
"Lauren!"
There! Lauren ignored the sudden nausea that assaulted her as she raised her head excitedly, definitely sure of that voice calling her now.
"Bo! I'm here!"
The effort to call out nearly wiped Lauren out, as she felt a stabbing pain and felt herself choke on blood. A broken rib had finally torn a lung open, she realized dimly, just as the door opened again with a bang.
If she hadn't been in pain and awkwardly gasping for breath like a dying fish, Lauren would have looked more dumbfounded at the sight that greeted her.
Bo had apparently kicked the door open, but the Morrigan had tried to go in before her, resulting in mutual snarling and glaring as both alpha women clashed.
The Morrigan looked seriously pissed and was repeatedly clenching her hands, as though she wished she could use them to suck Bo's talent until she turned to goop.
On the other side, Bo looked very fierce as well, with her eyes glowing an otherworldly blue.
And when she spoke, instead of relief, Lauren felt herself tense in panic instead because it was the unmistakable two-toned voice of her powerful alter ego.
"I grow tired of your insolence," the succubus began, sounding imperious and impatient. "I have tolerated you only because you could sense where the human was -"
"Excuse me? Tolerated me?" the Morrigan cut in irately. "No one just tolerates me! I am the Morrigan of the Dark and you're nothing but an unaligned succu-bitch -"
"I am power like you've never known and I could take everything and rule both Light and Dark whenever I wish!" Alter-Bo threatened, her voice booming with arrogance. Her eyes were glowing brighter and she took a threatening step towards the other woman.
"Hah! You can try!" the Morrigan said, standing her ground, although Lauren noticed the stiffness of her posture and knew that she felt nervous too. "You're the one who's not needed here!"
"She is my human!"
"No, she is mine! She is my body servant and by our ancient, sacred laws, she is mine in every way and no one can get between us!"
Alter-Bo looked murderous at being backed into a corner and Lauren tried to help to ease the tension. She tried to call out again but a wrong twitch did the trick for her when it suddenly sent her into a painful coughing fit - effectively breaking off the match before the two alpha bitches. She heard them run over to her and knew Bo's touch as the succubus cradled her.
"Lauren..." Alter-Bo murmured.
Lauren blinked in surprise at the audible concern in that two toned voice.
"You're badly hurt," the Morrigan said, sounding a little worried herself as she knelt on Lauren's other side. She furrowed her brows in thought. "We'll have to carry you out here."
"I will take her," Alter-Bo said, already moving to gather Lauren in her arms.
Lauren couldn't stop an agonized whimper when the succubus attempted to put her arms around her shoulders and choked out a bloody cough.
"Your lungs... is it your ribs?" the Morrigan asked, running an expert eye on her injured body. "Don't force yourself to speak, just blink once for yes, twice for no."
Lauren blinked.
The Morrigan turned to Alter-Bo, about to give her an order, no doubt, when the succubus turned Lauren's head gently to hers and touched their lips to one another.
Despite her collapsed lung, Lauren managed to gasp in surprise as she felt something enter her mouth and head directly, it seemed, to her bloodstream.
It was liquid energy, Bo was healing her, she realized immediately. She would have choked again, if she had control over her body, but she felt frozen instead and could only passively take in the powerful chi that was travelling all over her, leaving nerves seared with pain and pleasure combined.
It was unbearable but at the same time, was over too fast.
Lauren found it easier to drag her next breath in but lost it promptly when Alter-Bo smiled at her genuinely. "Are you okay?"
There was that gentle tone again that was so at odds with her still fiercely, glowing blue eyes.
"Bo?"
The succubus nodded. "It's me." She frowned. "Well, me and other me. I'm in control, Lauren."
"How?" Lauren asked in wonder, unable to help herself. This was so far beyond what she had theorized before. Bo's alter-ego had been a source of mystery to her for some time now and she had developed a few ideas to determine the origin of the other personality. But for all her thoughts on the subject, the notion that Bo could fully merge or control her primal self had always been a long term possibility. Lauren thought that Bo was probably too young as fae yet to be able to permanently access her more "powerful" side - but then what was happening now?
"I think it's you," Bo admitted, her eyes steadily dimming from its intense glow. "I... you've always sorta been a trigger for me and you being in danger... I needed -"
"Oh, cut the lovey dovey crap. Are you okay now?" the Morrigan cut in abruptly, destroying the mood.
Lauren raised an eyebrow and slowly nodded as she gingerly examined herself. "I'm better now." She looked back to Bo. "I don't know exactly how that worked but I'm okay for now."
"Good," the Morrigan said, standing up, "Let's go then."
Lauren felt better than she was five minutes ago, but it was still somewhat slow going as she carefully manoeuvred herself to a standing position with Bo's help.
"Are you really okay?" Bo asked worriedly, hovering behind her. Her eyes were back to normal now, Lauren saw.
"I am, Bo, thanks to you," Lauren said, smiling.
"Did... that guy..." Bo frowned and seemed to be getting angrier. "Did he do anything else to you?"
"What?" Lauren asked confusedly. She saw Bo checking her out and remembered her torn shirt and loosened bindings. Feeling self-conscious, Lauren immediately tried to fix her clothes. "No, Bo. He didn't touch me like that. He just..."
"Beat you up," Bo finished, eyes beginning to glow with rage again.
"Bo..." Lauren reached out to cup the succubus' cheek and sooth her. "I'm fine now."
"What are you slowpokes...?"
They both turned in surprise to see that the Morrigan had doubled back and was now glaring at them. She rolled her eyes at the sight of them standing close to each other and gave a put upon sigh.
"Oh, very well," she muttered, "Apparently, since you can't move without more fawning at each other, you can just take your time and go ahead without me when you're done." And then her expression suddenly shifted from feigned apathy to controlled excitement. "I'll handle the clean up."
They watched her go with a bounce in her steps before Bo turned Lauren back to her.
"I almost lost you," she whispered, gently enfolding Lauren in her arms.
Lauren had to choke off a sob that threatened to burst out, but allowed herself to melt into the succubus' warm embrace, tucking her head underneath Bo's chin. She was finally safe.
"I don't know what I would have done if I did, Lauren," Bo continued, murmuring in her hair and pulling her closer still, until there was no space left in between them. "I think... I think I would've gladly let my alter-ego destroy everything or take over the world and the fae... I would have just let her have free reign because I can't live a life without you. And I don't want to," she added with quiet intensity.
"Bo..." Lauren said, giving her a soft, comforting kiss on the collar bone and hugging her back, despite her own ribs' mild protest at the strain.
Bo pulled away to look her in the eye. "I couldn't even find you myself. The Morrigan did it with your bond. It was... she said she could feel you and she knew where to go. I just followed her."
Lauren thought she would see jealousy or irritation in Bo's face, but there's only resignation and something else that she couldn't interpret.
"She was frantic. She tried to hide it but I could tell that she was panicking about your disappearance too..." Bo paused and Lauren felt herself become anxious until the succubus finished with a hesitant-sounding, "She really cares about you."
"Oh," Lauren said dumbly, not knowing if or how she should answer that.
"I thought, well, I didn't expect this at all, Lauren," Bo continued. "Even after you tried to explain your bond to me, I didn't think that she would go this far for, uh, you." She sounded sheepish now. "Not that you're not worth it," Bo backtracked, "But I didn't think the Morrigan would see you that way or do so much or just..." She took a deep breath, shaking off her embarrassment and looked determined again. "You know what I mean."
Lauren took pity on her and nodded. "I know, Bo." She tried to step away from the succubus' embrace, wary now and wanting to prepare herself for whatever careless, hurtful comment would inadvertently come out of Bo's mouth, but other woman wouldn't let her go and gently tightened her hold on Lauren.
"This is real, isn't it?" Bo suddenly asked, stopping Lauren's dire thoughts short. Bo elaborated upon seeing her confused face. "This bond between you. It's forever. You're effectively a Fae now. I mean, being the Morrigan's bond servant thingy, aren't you technically higher in the pecking order of the Dark Fae than, say, Vex?"
Lauren thought for a second and then nodded cautiously. "I guess so?"
Bo looked disbelieving for a second before shaking her head. "I'm sorry." At Lauren's questioning look, she elaborated. "That I've been so stubborn about this. I hurt you, I know, with the things I said."
"It's okay -" Lauren started to say, but Bo cut her off quickly.
"No, it's not. I should have trusted you the first time you explained it to me."
But you didn't, Lauren thought silently.
Bo seemed to hear it anyway and looked grim. "But I didn't." She looked away, unable to meet Lauren's gaze. "I think part of me still couldn't believe that you were really back... and that you wouldn't leave again if you wanted to."
"Bo!" Lauren said, slightly alarmed by the succubus' tone. She felt a stinging sensation in her heart that had definitely nothing to do with her physical injuries, and everything to do instead with the sudden realization that she had hurt Bo badly when she left before.
And that wound was barely healed, still aching and infecting the succubus with poisonous doubts.
"I'll try harder, Lauren, I swear," Bo continued, oblivious to Lauren's painful thoughts. "I want to work on us... I want..." Bo took a deep breath and caught Lauren's chin gently until she was looking her in the eyes. "I love you, Lauren... I was an idiot not to tell you sooner. I want us to be together and I'll do anything to make that happen."
Lauren swallowed the ball of emotion in her throat and gave a shaky smile in return. For a second, she doubted that this was real and feared that she was still on the ground, concussed and hallucinating, waiting for death or a rescue - whichever came first.
But Bo's warm hand on her face, her soft breath on her face and her strong arm holding her together were real. This was really happening.
"I love you too."
Bo kissed her and Lauren felt her chest explode. She had time to worry that Bo was feeding her energy again but no, her brain corrected, this was just purely Bo.
Lauren let herself fall completely into the succubus' embrace, pouring every emotion she had harbored and suppressed from the past year into their kiss, and eagerly accepted Bo's feelings in return.
If she believed in happy endings, this could be hers, Lauren thought dimly, when Bo quickly pulled away for air and she could think again. This, right here, was everything she wanted. This woman loved her and was willing to work for their relationship.
"I love you so much," Bo murmured before kissing her again.
Yes, this could be a happy ending, Lauren thought, but she was too rational to believe in those things. She knew they still had a tough road ahead of them. Not everything was resolved and her association with the Dark would still come between them.
But there was one other thing that Lauren knew with certainty: she would never leave this woman again. Even if the Morrigan herself came between them, she would do everything in her power to stay with Bo and fight like hell to get the life she wanted and deserved.
THE END
A/N: Kinda abrupt but here's an epilogue to tie everything up nicely.
500 years later...
A woman stood by a clearing and waited patiently. She looked through the trees again, but like last time, she didn't see anything.
She sighed and fidgeted a little, glancing at her phone's clock once more, before turning back to wait.
It took ten more minutes before she heard the rustle of footsteps and saw them returning. Unable to wait one more second, the woman eagerly met them and caught one of the people in a tight hug.
"How did it go?" she asked anxiously.
"Everything went okay, Bo," Lauren replied, smiling.
"Good," Bo said, smiling widely as she gave her a loving kiss.
"Ugh, must you do that now?" a voice cut in from behind them. They turned to look at the Morrigan, who was looking irritated with all the nature around them. She swatted at the air around her viciously. "Let's go. You can do that in the privacy of your house, where you won't scar other people for life."
Bo gave her an impatient snort. All these years and the Morrigan could still get on her nerves with just a few words. So what if she was being affectionate to her mate just now? It wasn't like they were making out, Bo thought irritably. And she had legitimate reasons to worry. The first time Lauren and the Morrigan had bonded, they hadn't exactly intended for Lauren's actual life years to be bonded with the Morrigan's. It was an accident. And now that they had renewed the bond - and all the accidental 'side-effects' - she had the right to be anxious about the results.
But she didn't say anything in the end, feeling Lauren's hand slip into hers.
"Let's go home, Bo."
Bo turned back to Lauren and gave her a warm grin. "Okay."
...
...
...
...
...
"Whipped."
"Shut it!"
"Stop it, guys!" Lauren sighed exasperatedly. "Five hundred years and nothing has changed," she mumbled. "Still acting like kids..."
"I heard that!" the Morrigan glared at Lauren.
Bo snickered.
Extra stuff:
= Devlin got punished by the Morrigan for letting Lewis out of his sight (he was technically his bodyguard) but Lauren pleaded for him and was let go without permanent damage. He and Lauren are still "bros" until the present.
= Kenzi and Bo would have tried the bond servant thing too, especially since the unintended side-effects on Lauren became apparent but they decided not to instead, because Nate came back and he and Kenzi lived happily ever after as ordinary mortals instead.
= Lauren's "coming out" as a girl was met with less fanfare than she expected. Apparently, some fae already knew but regarded it as human quirkiness.
=The Morrigan and Lauren's partnership wasn't perfect, especially when they discovered that Lauren wouldn't die in the expected sixty years or so. They fought and even left each other for long periods of time - the longest of which was seven years - for space to cool off. Ironically, that seven years they spent apart wasn't because of a fight, but because Lauren and Bo's eldest child (Ysabela) was born and the Morrigan wouldn't come near them until the "perpetual snot-making, pitiful creature" became a child with actual reasoning capabilities.
She still insisted on being a godmother though, because of course she was "practically family". Especially to the Blood King's great-granddaughter.
PS. The Morrigan stayed when Bo and Lauren's two other children were born. She claimed it was a hassle to leave Lauren behind, but Vex would say that it was because she had become a softy and was wrapped around Ysabela's little finger. Like he had any room to judge. He was still Uncle Vexie today.
Writer's notes, i.e. hand-waving stuff:
- They re-did the bonding in the forest because the old Dark Fae compound had been destroyed and they needed another "special" magic spot.
- Evony is still the Morrigan. Somehow, I don't see her retiring on her own.
- Dyson found someone new and also lived happily ever after. I like happy endings.
- the scene where Lauren thinks of the lich and her strange defeatist behaviour at the time was the main inspiration of this story. I wanted to create a Lauren that would fight and not give in when put in a similar situation.
PROMISED A/N: Okay, first of all, let me repeat myself by apologizing again for the 2 month delay. I have no real reason for the hiatus, except for some of real life interfering and mostly a sudden lack of inspiration. I've been hustling to write this story before the premier of S3 and got burnt out by the pace I set for myself. And then watching Lost Girl took out the rest of my will to create as I got distracted by the story (BTW, yey for official DOCCUBUS! How great was Zoie in the scene where Bo confessed to sleeping with Dyson. I am in awe of her acting skills.) and also by an influx of new fanfic ideas.
Also, before I end this, I wanted to say thank you to everyone who's still with me and reading this fic, and those who left reviews with their gentle encouragement. You guys are the reason I got out of my slump. Thanks!
More thanks to everyone who reviewed/liked/subscribed to this story. I noticed there seemed a lot of people stumbling on to my stories lately and I'm glad to see, probably new fans of Lost Girl? Perhaps just now exploring the great internet for fics to feed their fae-love.
Anyway, this is not the end. I have bonus chapter for you, as a way to make up for the 2 months silence.
So click on the next chapter now. Enjoy!