Hey there, everybody! Now that I finally finished my other story I can focus solely on this one so here is the next chapter! :) As always thank you for following, favoriting, reviewing or just reading the story. I can't believe the response it gets :) Also, this time a special thank you goes out to Yeuchc22 for taking a good look at the chapter and just being awesome ;) So, all there's left to say is.. Enjoy!

Chapter 14: Pictures from the past, Glimpses at the future

It was the sun on her face that finally woke Bo. She hadn't really been asleep for a while but for some reason her body had refused to fully wake up until now. Opening her still sleep-filled eyes she blinked a few times against the warm rays of the sun, getting used to their brightness. She slowly came back from the dreamlands and realized that the sun was coming from the wrong side. Usually when she woke up in her bed the sun shone into her room from the left, dimmed by the expensive red satin curtains of her canopy bed. Right now the light came from the right and it reached her with full strength. Not that she was complaining, it was a welcome warmth on the bare skin of her back, caressing her like the soft hands of a lover. The thought triggered a memory and suddenly Bo was wide awake in Lauren's bed. Alone.

The Succubus rolled onto her side away from the large windows before pushing herself up on one arm and examining the room since she didn't really get a chance to do that the evening before. It wasn't so much a room, she found. Like the rest of Lauren's huge apartment, it was open, only a half-wall made out of the same wood as the floor separated the sleeping area from the rest of the upper level. Bo had noticed before that the blonde's bed was extremely low above the ground but now she saw the light wooden framing holding a thin, but unbelievably comfortable mattress. The Succubus smiled. She had seen one of these beds while she was looking for furniture with Kenzi, it was a Japanese Tatami bed. Even back then Bo had found it extremely comfortable but had decided against it as it wouldn't have fit the flair of what Kenzi liked to call the 'Crack Shack'. She had been right but here, in this open and modern apartment there was nothing Bo could picture that would have suited Lauren better.

Finally turning further and sitting up Bo stretched, the thin black sheet covering her sliding even further down in the process but the brunette could care less. After all, she was a Succubus and as such she was never shy about her body. There was not a dip or curve of it Lauren hadn't explored last night anyway. They had worn each other out over several hours of what had been frantic need at first but turned to slow, burning passion after the most primal parts of them had been satisfied. Bo still felt the hot swirling of Lauren's Chi in the pit of her stomach, the most potent and fulfilling energy she had ever consumed. As the Phoenix had taken her to greater and greater heights the Succubus had marveled at the fact that Lauren's Chi flowed down her throat like the perfect whiskey, burning her insides with liquid fire. She had once slept with a Leviathan, one of the many different water spirits there were, and his Chi had been cold like the sea but at that moment she hadn't thought anything more of it. Now it seemed that the Chi of Elementals resembled their nature but Bo still thought that nothing could ever compare to Lauren, even if she were to feed off another fire spirit. Not only because the Leviathan's Chi had lost its coldness the moment it melded with her own but the blonde's still warmed her like she had ignited a crackling flame inside her. It was also the way Lauren had touched her, how her eyes shone brighter and brighter, how she screamed her name at first and later whispered it into her ear along with hoarse whimpers that made the Succubus' heart swell with pride knowing she was the cause of them.

A movement in the corner of her eye caught Bo's attention, pulling her from her memories. What she saw when she turned her head made her breath hitch, wondering how she had missed this vision for so long. There, in front of the full-glass wall opening to a spectacular view of the waking city stood Lauren, her eyes glued onto the horizon. The sun was already up higher than Bo had thought and it highlighted every single one of the strong lines and soft dips of the blonde's body in a marvelous way. Her hair was mussed the brunette noticed with a grin, not like after a good night's sleep but like after a night full of passion. It turned into a frown briefly when she saw that Lauren had put on some clothes but she soon realized that it was the black silk blouse she had chosen the moment she had been called to the Morrigan. The garment hung off Lauren's strong shoulders perfectly, a little ruffled from being taken off so hurriedly last night but she still looked divine. Well, it also helped that she was wearing nothing else, Bo thought with a grin. Still, the sight of Lauren in her clothes, the thought that she had put them on deliberately, made the possessive beast the Succubus never knew she had inside her purr with satisfaction.

Slowly she got out of bed as quietly as she could. She didn't want to disturb the perfect picture of Lauren in the morning sun wearing her blouse. Not bothering with putting on clothes of her own she walked over to her and gently wrapped her arms around the blonde's midsection, noticing that Lauren had opted to leave the blouse unbuttoned. This time it was her Succubus side that purred in delight. At first the Phoenix' body tensed ever so slightly but when Bo placed a gentle open-mouthed kiss on the base of her neck she relaxed into the embrace. "Good morning my beautiful."

Lauren's soft melodious chuckle vibrated through Bo's body before the blonde answered "Good morning to you."

Another kiss was placed onto Lauren's neck, this time teeth grazed her skin. She could feel the Succubus smile into her neck. "Why aren't you in bed with me?" Bo's voice was low, seductive, almost possessive and the words were underlined by Lauren being pulled further into the Succubus' naked body, her nose travelling up the blonde's neck.

"I admit, it was hard leaving you but I'm a morning person. I had to take care of some work but after that I came right back up with my tea." She pointed to a still steaming black mug standing on the banister, the smile in her voice evident.

Bo's hands were slowly travelling upwards on Lauren's torso until they grazed the underside of a breast, making the blonde lean back into her embrace just a bit more. "Work this early in the morning? Oh come on, all work and no play makes Dr. Leavold a dull Phoenix." By now Bo had reached Lauren's ear, husking into it. The Succubus shifted, the hand that wasn't currently teasing the blonde's left breast coming up to cup her chin and turn Lauren to face her. The Phoenix chuckled again, although this time it sounded richer. "Why? Did you consider last night dull, Miss McCorrigan?" She stared deeply into Bo's eyes, bringing her face closer still.

"Anything but, that's my point." The Succubus answered, closing the remaining distance for a surprisingly gentle kiss that seemed to last forever, leaving both women breathless. When it finally did end Lauren grinned broadly. "So, back to bed then?" She couldn't believe how playful Bo was being. She had been prepared for a satisfied Succubus darting for the door as soon as she woke up, for Bo's normal behavior around her, even for her self-entitled brat side but this was a more than pleasant surprise.

"No.." Bo was trying to look like she was contemplating before she continued, even lower than before. "I don't have a problem taking you right here in front of this window, for the world and heavens to see." Her eyes flickered blue at the thought.

"Well, then." Lauren leaned in once more to bite Bo's lower lip, grinding her barely covered ass into the Succubus' core, to which she growled in response, ridding the blonde of her blouse with one forceful downward tug. The Phoenix finally turned to face her lover fully and in an instant was smashed up against the glass behind her, Bo's mouth finding hers in a demanding kiss that made her tingle all over. She wrapped one leg up and around the Succubus' waist, granting her better access to where she wanted her the most and Bo understood immediately. A hand slid between them, quickly dipping lower. Lauren moaned into Bo's mouth when two fingers effortlessly slipped inside, orange pulses making the blonde tremble with pleasure and need, her eyes turning golden-red. The Succubus set a slow pace, thrusting deep into her lover and almost lifting Lauren off the floor each time.

To Bo it was clear now. Nobody had made her stay longer than one night, held her interest for longer than a few hours but Lauren was special and Bo doubted that she would ever tire of the beautiful blonde. Especially right now, their bodies heaving in a passionate embrace, the Phoenix' moans becoming more and more hoarse as she was pushed closer and closer to the edge. Ignoring the soreness of her muscles from last night Lauren rolled her hips to meet her lover thrust for thrust. Her walls were clenching deliciously around Bo's fingers, eyes fixed on the brunette's. With a last forceful jerk and a "Gods, Bo!" she surged forward, crashing their lips together again and even though the Succubus had probably fed more last night than ever before in one night, she couldn't resist and so she started pulling the Phoenix' burning life force out of her again. Like the Whiskey she had compared it to before, the Chi made Bo's head swim deliciously as Lauren trembled and shook against her. Finally, they both slid down the glass wall to rest on the wooden floor, limbs tangled deliciously.

"Bo?" Lauren whispered.

"Yeah, babe?" The Succubus asked, her head resting on the blonde's shoulder.

"The windows are made of one-way-glass. Nobody could see what we were doing." A grin started to grace her features and it showed in her voice. Bo's head shot up to look into mischievously glinting eyes. "You're so going to pay for this." Was all the Succubus said before Lauren found herself back in bed at last with Bo pinning her down on the thin mattress.

They were too caught up in each other to hear Lauren's cell phone on the nightstand vibrate and bleep once, indicating a text message.

-x-

Charlotte smiled as she slowly walked to the library of the Leavold mansion, passing heavily decorated hallways and rooms. She had just come back from the Light Fae compound, half an hour early for her private lessons in the library. That was something new as Charlotte Leavold was constantly late for everything. It was the reason her mother always hovered near her whenever there was official business to attend. Elizabeth never grew tired of complaining about her youngest daughter but Charlie's father laughed it off every time. "If that's the only thing she complains about." He often said, placing his large hand on his daughter's shoulder. "Don't let her tell you that Lauren was any different. I wish you could have seen her when she was young, she was such a free spirit." It was moments like that when Charlie wondered what made her sister the person she was now.

Arriving at the library, she sat down in one of the plush chairs, crossing her legs and laying her head back against the headrest. Soon, she was sinking back into her thoughts. It wasn't that Lauren was closed off, at least not with her. It was obvious that she loved her baby sister very much and they shared a special bond, but there were things that the oldest Leavold daughter told nobody, not even Charlie. Sometimes she hated that she was so much younger than her sister. Most of her friends had siblings as well, but they were one or two hundred years apart at the most. Lauren and Charlotte were separated by more than a millennium and that was more than Charlie could even wrap her head around. She couldn't imagine a life that long, filled with so many memories. When her parents told her that she couldn't keep seeing the human friends she had made in school because they would eventually notice that she wasn't aging like them she had been inconsolable for years. Eventually they had all died, Charlie watching only from afar, still looking like she was barely twenty. Lauren was the one to make her feel better back then, telling her in a quiet voice that she had once loved somebody dearly who also died way too soon. They had cried together that day and it had been the only time she had ever seen her older sister cry. At the time Charlie had thought they were feeling the same pain, but a while later when she asked her father about it he only shook his head, saying that it wasn't his story to tell but the look in his eyes spoke volumes. Whatever happened, it had broken Lauren and made her the person she was today. Still, Charlotte was closer to her than anyone else and sometimes when she laughed about something her little sister had done the young Phoenix thought that maybe that was a glimpse at the younger Lauren.

She had wanted to pay her sister a surprise visit at work today when she came from her weekly class that all the Elder children under 130 years attended. To her disappointment she had only met Lauren's assistant who was just talking to Dyson. The wolf shifter had greeted her friendly, informing her that her sister had the day off but since she practically never took days off she wasn't able to dodge the order like him. The two of them had a small laugh about the older Phoenix' workaholic side before Charlie said her goodbyes. On her way home she sent a text to Lauren, she didn't bother calling. If her sister was off work today she was probably sitting next to her phone anyway, staring at it and waiting for the Faepocalypse to happen on exact that day when she wasn't on duty.

"Hey Laur, tried catching you at work but since you've obviously been grounded I'll come by later ;) Love, Char"

Charlotte was pulled from her daydreams by her private teacher entering the library and clearing his throat. She looked up at his slightly amused face but she could also see his surprise that she was already there. After years of teaching her he knew her habit of running into the library at least ten minutes late panting apologies.

"Well, Miss Leavold, since you are on time for the first time in ages why don't we start right now and maybe the extra time that you'll have at the end will help you show up on time for your next appointment." He didn't really smirk but his tone told Charlotte all she needed to know. Her teacher, a short and slender Ifrit, rarely showed a lot of emotion but it was his voice that usually gave him away and right now the young Phoenix could hear his smugness very clearly. Charlotte rolled her eyes good-naturedly, something both Leavold sisters had in common, but she still got out her book and notes on the old Fae language.

-x-

"I think I could get used to this" Bo murmured into Lauren's hair, nuzzling the blonde tresses lovingly and inhaling their addicting scent. They were lying in Lauren's bed, the sun now shining from a way higher angle but it still hit them directly, lighting up the bed like a stage and warming the two lovers. The blonde's body was curled into Bo's, her face pressed into the crook of her neck and one arm draped across the Succubus' stomach, fingers drawing mindless patterns. At Bo's words they stopped and Lauren lifted her head from its resting place to look into the brunette's eyes. "To what?"

"To you and me." Bo smiled, the arm she had wrapped around Lauren pulling the Phoenix a little closer to her, emphasizing her point further. "Like this." She placed a soft kiss on the blonde's lips, both of them smiling into it.

Lauren was more than aware that they were in a hormone-induced bubble right now. She wouldn't dare calling it a love bubble even if it sure felt like one. She knew that people tended to say things during and after great sex that they didn't mean, the hormones swimming in their system making them feel things they usually wouldn't. If the same could be said for Bo, the blonde wasn't sure. The brunette was a Succubus and it was usually their nature to hit and run so maybe the fact that she was still here made this special to her as well.

Lauren didn't notice that she got caught up in her head again until Bo nudged her softly. "Hey, did I say something wrong?" She questioned, her eyes the gentlest the blonde had ever seen them. Lauren shook her head. "No. I just tend to get lost in my head. I'm sorry."

Bo's smile was brilliant and infectious. "Don't be." A hand came up to caress the Phoenix' cheek. "Want to tell me what's going on in there?"

Lauren's features hardened a bit, her eyes wandering around the bed before they landed back on chocolate-brown. "Bo... It's just that I'm still not sure about any of this. Not sure about you."

The brunette's face fell and Lauren hated being the cause of it even though she knew they still needed to talk. "If this is about that night, I meant what I said yesterday. I regret what happened that night more than you know."

"And I want to believe you but what tells me that it won't happen again? That the first time you come here and for whatever reason we don't end up in bed together another human won't die?" Lauren's voice was still soft, she wasn't trying to start a fight but they needed to talk about this. Her long-lost passion had gotten the better of her last night, preventing her from saying all that she had wanted to.

The brunette grinned in her careless nature. "You're saying that we will end up in bed together again?"

"Bo." Lauren scolded softly and the Succubus sighed. She smiled sadly and shrugged as much as she could in her position. "There is nothing I can say that would change this, right? So the one thing I can ask is that you trust me on this. Let me prove to you that it won't happen."

Their lips met in another soft kiss before Lauren pulled back. "Bo this is nothing you can treat lightly. This isn't some childish bet. If you can't keep your promise it's not me who will get hurt and I never want to play with the lives of humans, the lives of anyone like that. I couldn't live with myself if I did." She explained, sitting up and looking back down at the still naked Succubus. The sight already stirred a barely quenched longing in her again but now was not the time. Bo sat up as well and leaned back against the headboard, opening her arms ever so slightly. Lauren smiled a small smile before she leaned back into the Succubus' warm embrace. It seemed she couldn't deny the beautiful brunette to herself.

They stayed like that for a while before the silence was broken. "I don't mean this degrading but they are very important to you, aren't they? Humans I mean?" Bo's chin rested on her shoulder, warm eyes looking up into Lauren's. "Yes, of course they are. Because they are like us, creatures with wishes and dreams. We don't have the right to treat them the way we do." Her voice was full of passion and it surprised the Succubus in its intensity. She pulled the blonde tightly against herself, wrapping the black bed sheet around them both. One of her hands found Lauren's as if it had a will of its own, their fingers lacing together.

"Tell me why you think that way." Bo said but it was more of a careful question that made Lauren chuckle. "There has to be a reason?"

"No." Bo hummed, placing a kiss on the blonde's shoulder. "But I get the feeling there is. Also, you are a member of one of the most powerful Light High Elder families. I wouldn't think that they second your opinion."

"And you would be right." Lauren sighed. "And until a few hundred years ago I wasn't much different."

"What happened?" Bo asked, genuinely interested. It surprised herself that she had this beautiful naked woman in her arms yet all she could think about right now was learning more about her. It had never happened to her before but then again, she never lingered after she had gotten her fix but it wasn't about that anymore.

Lauren contemplated for a moment. She had never told anybody about this although many had asked, just like Bo did. But they hadn't asked like the Succubus, had they? They hadn't been in bed with her, hadn't looked at her with honest brown eyes that spoke not only of curiosity but of genuine interest. If she wanted Bo to understand why this was as important to her as it was, didn't she have a right to know? The brunette had been honest with her, at least that's what Lauren thought, so she should be honest in return. She took a deep breath to steady herself and began to talk.

"You know, fate sometimes has its way of forcing you to see things differently. I never was one of those Fae who killed for fun, plus I am an Elemental. I don't feed off humans, my energy source is the sun, any kind of fire or heat for that matter so I just never bothered with humans. Their lives were so short I didn't think that getting to know them better would do me much good. I lived in France at that time, serving in the Ash's personal guard, in fact I was their leader. Of course I also had a human occupation as a soldier in the royal army. It was quite the uproar to have a woman in their ranks." Lauren chuckled. "The fact that I could beat each and every one of them ten times over made it easier and harder at the same time. Looking back it probably also fueled my belief that Fae were better than humans, after all I only had a five hundred year practice advantage on them."

The irony in her voice was evident as she turned her head to look at Bo with a rueful smile before she continued. "It was required that every soldier, at least those of higher rank, had a painting done of them. So the day I was promoted I was sent to this little shop in the middle of an overflowing Paris. It was supposed to be an artist's studio but it was little better than the rest of the reeking city, small and crammed with color and paintings in every free space. Yet, it somehow exuded its very own charm. I waited there for a while until a door I hadn't even noticed was there opened, knocking over one of the half-finished paintings in the process. I had expected to see a skinny worn-out man but instead there stood this beautiful young woman with dark brown curls and almond-shaped eyes. She curtsied the best she could, I knew she was frightened and why wouldn't she? We were so different. She was wearing old clothes that had probably been white at some point long ago while I stood there in my new uniform and one of the weapons you fought me with yesterday on my belt. The sword alone was probably worth more than the whole studio."

Bo smiled at that, finally knowing why Lauren was as good with the blade as she was. "I went to take her hand and kiss it, taking off my hat as I did so. I guess my long blonde hair made her notice that I was no ordinary soldier and she told me that she was only the daughter of the painter who usually did the portraits for the army but that he was sick. She offered to do it instead if I was okay with it and since I didn't care about the painting that much anyway I agreed.

Faith had it that our paths continued to cross and I soon found that I was falling in love with the young woman whose name was Nadia. At first I fought it, telling myself that I was being stupid but when I was promoted again and had to get another painting done I gave in to her. We were together for nearly forty years before she died." At the end Bo thought that Lauren looked like she would cry but she didn't.

"I'm sorry Lauren." Was all Bo could think of to say but she still felt stupid for doing so. What did you say in situations like that? Was there even a right thing to say? It made Lauren smile, though.

"Thank you but don't be. I knew what I was getting myself into and it was a long time ago." The blonde soothed her and Bo nodded, though not really convinced. "She must have been really good then? A good painter I mean?"

Lauren laughed, it was a sad sound but it still made her look even more beautiful with the sunlight reflecting off her face. "She was." At first Bo didn't know why the blonde lifted her gaze to the wall above her but when she followed suit she knew. She hadn't even noticed that above Lauren's bed hung one the most detailed paintings she had ever seen. It showed a soldier standing next to a black horse with a red and golden saddle. The soldier wore a deep blue coat with white lapels that ended just above the knee. Shimmering golden buttons in two broad rows had golden ornament cords attached to them, long legs clad in tight show-white pants ended in high black boots. A gun belt crossed the white vest, holding a heavily ornamented sheath with the familiar winged crossbar looking out of it and a heavy-looking pistol on the other side. The soldier Bo identified as Lauren stood straight, looking out from the painting, her face turned halfway to her horse, one hand on its neck while the other held a bearskin to her side. Her gaze was victorious, the corner of her mouth turned up just enough for it to look condescending. There was no doubt about it, this Nadia had been a brilliant painter. She hadn't only perfectly captured Lauren's features but also the aura of power that surrounded the blonde wherever she was.

"You look pretty arrogant in that picture but it could be the uniform." Bo grinned, turning her head back to Lauren who was still looking at her younger self.

"I was arrogant at that time. I thought I was invincible, that my life full of glory would never end and once I had Nadia I was convinced nothing could even harm me anymore." She looked back at Bo with a sad smile. "But like I said, that was a long time ago." She said it with such finality that the Succubus knew that this was all she would be hearing for now. Still, Bo felt grateful that Lauren was willing to share these memories with her. "Thanks for telling me about Nadia. I think I understand you better now, although I never lost someone I held dear."

Lauren relaxed visibly, snuggling back into the brunette before she said as if she was deep in thought "You should consider yourself lucky then."

Bo hummed in response but she wasn't sure if she really was. In the two and a half centuries she had been alive the only one remotely close who had died had been her uncle, her mother's brother. Well, half-brother but nobody knew that save for her grandparents, Trick and herself. Bo never really knew him since he was always on some mission for the Morrigan. One of those missions finally got him killed and a 67 year-old Bo had attended the funeral, watched as her mother and grandparents spilled obligatory tears while her father had stood next to her, a hand on her arm. They both didn't spill a tear for the man they barely knew. Later, back home, her father had come to her to tell her that he was proud of her in his usual dark and cryptic way. He had said that emotions were something that made you weak, that having unnecessary ties to people only served your enemies because they could easily be used to hurt you.

Bo had asked a childish question that evening, asking what her father would do if somebody tried to hurt her or her mother. He had smiled, his pearly white teeth showing and glinting in the fading light. "If somebody were to hurt you I would make sure that his unworthy presence is eradicated from the face of the earth." He had said it with a smile in his voice but Bo had no doubt that he would do so in the blink of an eye. From that day on the young Succubus had wondered what it was like to love somebody so much that you would kill for them. She never knew and that's why she didn't consider herself lucky now. There was no one she held dear enough, maybe Kenzi, but that was another kind of love.

Lauren startled her from her memories by saying "I think I'm going to make us a late breakfast. I'm starving."

"Great idea." Bo answered and gave Lauren one last kiss before the blonde untangled herself and stood from the bed. While, to Bo's disappointment, she put on some clothes she told the Succubus "If you want to shower before we eat I always have another towel in the bathroom."

Bo chuckled. "Sounds like you often have somebody over."

Lauren rolled her eyes at the brunette but chuckled with her. Without giving a real answer she walked over to the window front where Bo's blouse lay, picked up the wrinkled black material and put it back on. With one last smile she padded over to the stairs where she finally disappeared from Bo's view.

Sighing, the Succubus also stood from the bed and gathered her remaining clothes that lay scattered around the bed. She smiled as she looked at the ruffled sheets, one of the pillows was even on the floor next to the bed. Picking up the last of the missing items Bo made her way to the upstairs bathroom for a much-needed shower.

-x-

Charlotte was sitting through dinner with her parents, the seat where Lauren usually sat was void like it had been for weeks. Her mother had insisted, like every evening since her oldest daughter left, that the table would be set for five and like every evening, the fifth spot remained empty. The Leavolds ate in silence, Charlotte had been careful but Elizabeth knew that her younger daughter would go see Lauren as soon as they were finished and it bothered her. It was not so much that Charlotte went to see her, it was more hat she herself couldn't go. Not like she hadn't contemplated it many times but the last time she had a major confrontation with Lauren it drove them apart for almost half a century. Elizabeth didn't want it to happen again.

When they were done eating Charlotte stood up quickly and walked down the hall to gather her things. She was surprised to find her mother standing right in front of her when she turned back around. "Charlotte, please tell Lauren that I still want her to come home and talk." She took a deep breath. "Also I'd like her to know that I miss her, your father as well." Charlie didn't think she heard right at first. Her mother seldom showed any sort of feelings if ever.

"Mom I.."

"I'm not stupid. I know where you're going so just pass it on to her." Elizabeth's voice sounded a bit defeated and so Charlotte just nodded before she walked past her and towards Derrick who, as always, opened the door for her with a genuine smile and a "Have a nice evening, Miss Leavold."

-x-

"That was Kenzi." Bo informed Lauren when she joined her on the ground floor again, her phone still in hand. "She wants me to come home." The Succubus chuckled but her face betrayed a hint of sadness. Lauren smiled. "That almost sounds like she's your mother." The comment made Bo laugh as she pulled the Phoenix into a loose embrace. "She always says she is. I have no clue where she got that idea from."

"Well" Lauren's voice was playful. "Then you shouldn't keep mom waiting, should you?" Immediately, Bo picked up the mood and responded "I'm sure she won't mind if I stay a few hours more." She leant in close and placed a small kiss on the blonde's jaw, finding warm honey-brown eyes directed at her again. Lauren raised a hand to cup her cheek before she softly said "Bo, if you stay a few hours you'll stay a few more, you'll stay the night and I need to go to work tomorrow." The obvious sadness in the Succubus' eyes almost made Lauren reconsider but she reminded herself of how much out of character she was already acting. Bo seemed to sense that the Phoenix' decision was final and nodded once, untangling herself but found herself stopped by a hand holding hers. "Don't be like that. We're still on for the weekend you know? Saturday evening? It's not off the table just because you came here yesterday." Bo's smile was brighter than the sun when she looked back. "Of course." She said, her voice now full with joy again. Squeezing Lauren's hand she went to collect her leather jacket and boots while the Phoenix thought about how easy it was to make this beautiful woman happy. As they spent the day together she learned even more that Bo was a person led almost exclusively by her emotions. It put a lot into perspective but it didn't forgive anything of course. She found herself wondering if these emotions were a good or bad thing, deciding that for now they were neither and both at the same time. Right now she was happy to just stare at Bo and smile as she fiddled with the zipper of her jacket, giving up eventually with a frustrated groan.

Over at the door they looked at each other for a few moments before they moved to connect their lips in a loving and passionate but slow kiss. Reluctantly they broke apart and it was Bo who broke the silence saying "I guess I'll see you Saturday, then." Lauren nodded and opening the door, she leaned into the Succubus for one last kiss. Bo's grin was wide, her dimple in full effect as she gave a small wave and made her way down the small flight of stairs that would lead her to the elevator.

Lauren closed the door, leaning back against the cool wooden surface. There were so many things to think about, most of all why on earth it had felt so right to fall into a happy-couple routine today with Bo. She was still Dark Fae, still a McCorrigan, still a Succubus, had still killed and attacked two humans in a childish fit, oh let's not forget Dyson still thinks he mated with her. This is wrong in every way but the one that matters. The memory of Bo's voice was in her head almost instantly and the problem was, the Succubus was right. Lauren groaned, letting her head fall back and closing her eyes. She needed to think.

-x-

The elevator doors had just slid closed behind Charlotte on the top floor, the elevator rattling off to another floor when she heard the sound of a door opening. At first she was confused but then she heard the sound of heals clicking before they stopped. Then there was a small pause and a sound as if from a kiss. If the situation didn't have Charlotte's undivided attention until then it certainly had now. She knew she had to get away from where she was or she would walk straight into whoever had been visiting her sister. In her panic the glass door with the stairway down came to her aid. Nobody ever used it, it was just there because of emergency reasons and so she opened and closed the door as quietly as she could and leaned against the wall out of sight. Not a second too early, she realized as she heard heels clicking once again, this time coming down the small flight of stairs leading to Lauren's apartment. Charlotte saw a shadow pass the glass door next to her and only when it stopped a few feet away probably waiting for the elevator doors to open did the young Phoenix dare to look around the corner for the shortest of moments. She pressed back into her hiding spot immediately. She had only caught a glimpse but it had been enough. Lauren had lied to their mother. Lied to Charlotte herself and it stung her but there was one thing that made her at least understand it somewhat. If this was something more than a fling, something worth hiding for Lauren, it was serious. Charlotte Leavold was young but she knew the rules. Relationships between the sides were forbidden, especially between the Elder families and with very few exceptions everybody abided by those rules. After all, if proven guilty, it was punishable by death.

That's it for this time but be sure to leave me a comment, I love hearing what you guys think! I'll see you soon with the next chapter, hopefully :)