"Lauren, wake up." Bo's voice was a faint whisper. I heard the gentle sounds of a operating and the softs sounds of a baby crying. I moved my head to look at Bo, she bent to kiss me, her eyes full of tears but she was smiling. "wake up and look." Bo bent back and in her hands was a large bundle of blankets, that moved ever so slightly. "its our little girl."

I smiled and started to cry. The nurses moved around in a whisper, pulling away the curtain and the cloths they used to cover me. They moved to me and helped me to sit up. Bo sat on the edge of the bed and whispered, "Do you want to hold her?" I couldn't speak, my emotions were all over the map, I just nodded and held out my arms. Bo handed our daughter to me, carefully setting the warm bundle in my arms. I pulled the blankets down so I could take a better look, Seraphina was beautiful, sleeping peacefully with a slight smile on her face. I whispered to Bo, "She's...beautiful."

Bo nodded and hugged me closer to her. My mother and Finnegan appeared at the foot of the bed, smiling like proud grandparents do after the birth of their first. I looked at my mom, who was still pulling off her surgical gown and cap, and before I could even ask, "she is perfectly healthy, happy and whole." she moved around to stand next to Bo and I, reaching out to brush back my hair, "and as are you." I looked at my parents, my wife and my daughter.

"Wait, where is Tamsin and Kenzi?" I couldn't see them anywhere in the room.

Bo laughed, "The big mean Valkyrie passed out when she saw your mother start the c-section, Kenzi is with her in the other room. Tamsin gave herself a nice little concussion." I shook my head and smiled, looking back at my daughter who was wiggling in my arms to get more comfortable as she continued to sleep.

My daughter was a week old by the time my mother was okay with letting me leave the fae hospital and go back home. The doctor in me thought I was fine the next day after the birth, the doctor in her wanted me to wait for my stitches to heal a little bit more. Bo never left my side and was already becoming and amazing mother. Tamsin and Kenzi showed up the next day after the birth to meet Seraphina. Kenzi wanted to hold her immediately then became nervous she was going to drop her. Tamsin held her for a minute than gave her back. There was something I could not pick up from Tamsin but it was eventually pushed away by the happy thoughts she had. Even Trick and Dyson stopped by to meet the newest member of the family.

I sat on the bed watching Sera stare at the canopy and wiggle. My mom walked in with a sheet of paper in her hand, "your little one is a succubus and a slyph like her grandfather." she handed the sheet to me so I could look at the DNA results my mother and I both ran. We had taken samples form the cord blood to get a jump start on figuring out who's powers Sera had inherited. I stared at the sheet, as my mother went to pick her up, "my little granddaughter has the ultimate gift of persuasion, she will be an interesting teenager when it all comes to fruition."

I sighed and set the results down, at least I had a few years before puberty hit and Bo would have a lot of explaining and teaching to do. "i should start stocking up on baseball bats now." My mother laughed, "i told you that it was a high possibility that she would take after Ysabeau."

"i know mom, I am just already dreading the birds and bees talk." I smiled as my mother bounced the little baby in her arms, "well take heart in knowing that she wont be as powerful as Bo, her slyph powers have balanced that out. But regardless, my dear, you do indeed have a future handful on your hands, just be glad she cant read thoughts like you and I and be a succubus." My mother went to hand my daughter back to me, "she looks equally like the both of you, but it looks like her hazel eyes will end up a more green." I smiled at my mother as Bo walked to me, planting a soft kiss on my cheek, "the car is all set and packed, Tamsin is waiting for us."

Bo stared at our daughter, she had not let the smile leave her face since the moment she laid eyes on Seraphina. My mother folded her arms and looked at the three of us, "all my girls together, I wish I had my camera."

"Elizabeth, I thing you have taken enough pictures over the last week to last a lifetime, even a endless fae lifetime." Bo smiled at my mother, "but I understand, our daughter is so cute."

"Yes she is Ysabeau, and she wont stay like that for long, they all eventually grow up into elegant women who have their own babies." my mother walked over to us, "Are you sure you wont consider staying in the compound a little longer, your father is still concerned about the information still coming in about interest in this little one."

Bo stood up and hugged my mom, "we are sure, I want to take my girls home and get them settled. Between Tamsin and I, I think we can handle what may come. Kenzi has even set up a baby safe place in the basement in extreme cases."

I sat and held my daughter tighter, I didn't want to admit that I also did not feel comfortable with the interest in my daughter by the dark fae and others. I knew that her combined families and powers would make her an interest, especially as it leaked out she was prophesied to be the next leader of the fae. I looked at my mother, "lets try it for a little while, I things get too intense, I promise we will come back until the dust settles, but I do, as much as bo, want to go home and start getting Sera adjusted to her new life."

My mother nodded and sighed hard, I could tell what she was thinking but at the same time she understood. She had been down the same road with me, protecting me and hiding me from those interested in my father. "alright, but the first sign of trouble and you will be back here faster than you can blink."

I sat in the backseat with Kenzi, Seraphina in her car seat between us. Bo was driving like an old lady and both Kenzi and I had to urge her to go faster, that it would be okay if she went the actual speed limit. Kenzi was making faces at the baby, who was just staring at her, probably mesmerized by Kenzi's dangly skull earrings. Tamsin was following behind us with our bags in her truck and I could feel her irritation at Bo's over cautious driving. We got closer to the house and my excitement began to wan and be replaced by something darker. I could feel fae coming closer, and they were not friendly, far from it. I ketp a smile on my face and sent a quiet message to Tamsin at what I felt, she was feeling the same thing. I leaned over and put a hand on Bo's shoulder, "Drive a little faster, honey."

Bo caught the look in my eyes, they were glowing slightly. She nodded and pressed the accelerator down as Kenzi sighed a "finally." and continued to play with the baby.

WE pulled into the driveway at the house and I could feel the fae hovering far too close. Tamsin parked behind us and rush to the car, trying to stay calm as she helped me get Seraphina out, she whispered close to my ear, "they are dark sisters of mine, the fallen ones who belong to no one but the darkest of dark and whomever can pay them the most." she looked at me in the eyes, "get the baby in the house and in the basement as soon as you can. They are here for her."

I paused, clenching my jaw as I pulled Seraphina into my arms and tight against my chest. Bo stood next to me and I smiled tightly, I started to walk to the door, "kenzi, can you get the door for me?"

"Sure thing momma hotpants." Kenzi bounced as I started walking quicker, Tamsin had stood with Bo and told her what was coming. I could feel Bo's emotions amp up fast and go into her protective succubus mode. I was a few steps away when I felt the fae energy swarm around me, I looked over my shoulder and saw four Valkyries hovering. Tamsin and Bo immediately stepped in front of me, to act as a shield. I looked at the Valkyries, they looked nothing like Tamsin or the other ones I had come across. Their wings were black as night and their eyes were soulless. The one in the center held out her hand, "give us the baby, now."

I could feel Bo tense up even more and her powers were beginning to glow brighter. I held Sera closer to my chest and I could feel the little baby's powers radiate from her. She could feel danger was around her and her body was going into protective mode, even if she wasn't able to understand what was happening. Tamsin glanced over her shoulder at me, "Lauren, get in the house now and into the basement."

I didn't argue, my eyes were glowing just as bright as Bo's. I knew what the dark Valkyries intentions were, they were sent by a evil dark entitiy that had nothing to do with any side of fae, the ash or the morrigan. I took a step back. That is when the Valkyries moved, swopping down. I moved fast and made it to the house and to Kenzi holding the door open, as Bo grabbed one of the Valkyries by the throat and pulling her chi faster than I had ever seen before. I stopped for a second as Kenzi pushed me to move into the basement, I looked down at Sera, she was asleep but had a gentle glow around her.

I looked up to see Tamsin unleash her Valkyrie sword and take on the last two of her sisters making a charge for me. She knocked one down with a swift backhand and nodded to Bo to deal with the downed sister. As she spun to meet the other, she was met with a sword that ran through her stomach easily. The dark sister laughed as she looked into the shocked eyes of Tamsin, "you cannot protect her, the baby is leaving with us." Tamsin laughed, "someone should be protecting you." she then held out her other hand and a second sword appeared. Tamsin let out a scream as she pushed both of her swords into the dark Valkyrie down to the hilt. Catching the dark sister by surprise. Tamsin stared at the impaled dark sister, then kicked her off the swords as she dropped to the ground in a black crumble.

Bo dropped the last dark sister as she pulled the last bit of chi from her, allowing her to remain alive but pass into a haze of ecstasy. She looked over at Tamsin and saw all the blood, "Tamsin, your hurt."

Tamsin nodded as she dropped to her knees before Bo could catch her. I felt her pain surge to me, I looked at Kenzi, "take sera to the basement and call my mom." I handed the still sleeping baby to Kenzi as tears began to well in her eyes, "blondie..."

I pushed Kenzi and my daughter to the basement door and ran back out to the front yard, stopping at Tamsin. I dropped to my knees and immediately began to asses her injuries. She half smiled as she looked at me, "rookie mistake, captain."

Bo was pressing her hands over the wound trying to hold back the blood, I could tell it was bad, worse than I wanted Tamsin to know. "you'll be fine, help is on the way, my mom is coming with help."

Tamsin smiled, "liar." she looked at me and pulled at my hands that were now pressing down with Bo's. She grabbed my one hand, holding it as blood smeared, "it is the only thing that can kill me quick, one of my sisters blades. I should have been more careful." she swallowed as I tried harder with bo to get the bleeding under control. Tamsin kept pushing our hands away, "let me go, let me end this cycle..."

I shook my head as tears fell, "no, I need you, our daughter needs you." I looked up at bo who was holding back her own tears, "We need you, commander."

Tamsin coughed, "you are so full of shit. Sera is safe now, she will be safe after this. The dark sisters wont want t fight you or your wife after I killed one in the name of that little baby of yours." she looked at me in the eyes, "let me have peace..." I shook my head at the silent request she asked of me, flashes of another time and another lost love radiating in her last thoughts. Tamsin squeezed my hand, "Lauren..."

I fought tears as I nodded, I pulled at Bo's hand as I removed mine from the wound. Bo fought me, "no, no, no...Lauren we have to help her."

Tamsin suddenly grabbed Bo's hand, "bo. Please."

Bo was now fighting back sobs as she understood what Tasmin was asking of us. The Valkyrie smiled at us, "i love you both, even you succubus. Thank you for this." she swallowed one more time as her breathing became slower and slower until it finally ceased.

Bo stood up, covering her mouth with her hand, holding back the sobs. I looked up at her, trying to keep as calm as I could, "Sera is with Kenzi in the basement, my mom is on her way." Bo nodded and ran to the house leaving me with Tamsin.

I brushed a few strands of hair out of Tamsins face, "dammit commander." I knew she had life cycles and had died a few times before, but it didnt make it any less painful to watch her die in my arms, and that she asked it of me. It was against my nature as doctor who swore to heal and save without hesitation. I bent down and kissed her forehead, "rest well, my sweet Valkyrie."

I turned to the sound of Kenzi yelling as she ran up the stairs, she pushed through the door and stopped when her eyes met mine. She started shaking, "no, no...not blondie. She's too big of a pain in the ass to die. She cant..." Bo appeared behind Kenzi, Sera in her arms. She wrapped a arm around Kenzi as she the little russian began to cry.

I sat with Tamisn until my mother and Finnegan arrived with the fae hospital staff. I took it upon myself to be her escort as we collected her and took her back to the fae compound. She was placed in one of the rooms until Bryn arrived. It was unknown when Tamsin would start her next life cycle, or if she would. Bryn showed up and we shared a silent moment as I said a quiet goodbye and watch as Bryn took over the escort duties to take her twin sister home. I did take one of Tamsins dog tags that she always had around her neck, she told me once it was unnecessary but a gentle reminder that even she had an identity in this world of death and war.

I drove home from the fae compound in the Camaro Tamsin had restored. I felt different, my mind was emptier than normal. The lack of Tamsins presence was gaping. I felt at peace at the same time, knowing that Tamsin would finally be able to break the curse she had been set with so many years ago. I smiled at the thought of maybe seeing a happy Tamsin soon. I pressed the accelerator and let the car show me its power. I whispered to the blurring outside, "dont be gone too long, commander."

I stared out into the backyard at Kenzi and Sera playing. I looked down at the Camaro keys with the gaudy Valkyrie and Tamsins dog tag sitting idly on the patio table top. Five years had passed since she left us, none of us really forgot her or wanted too. Kenzi took over her truck and it now sat in the driveway next to the Camaro. I had kept her uniform and hung it next to mine in the closet, and once a month we all would indulge in a zombie movie night. I sighed and stared at the keys, today was a day I missed my friend terribly.

Bo sat next to me at the patio table, a gentle kiss met my cheek. "you seem distant, Lauren." I shrugged and kissed her on the lips, "i am just lost in my thoughts."

Bo snuggled up against me, watching our daughter in the yard. Sera was tall for her age and towered over the other five year olds she played with, she also took after my genius genes. I smiled as her and Kenzi were intensely playing with Legos. Her curly blonde hair was flopping around her face, she definitely inherited most of Bo's good looks, even down to the dimple. Sera glanced at us with bright green eyes and waved at me. I waved back, I had just gotten home from work with my mother at the fae compound. I watched as Sera whispered to Kenzi and both smiled wide.

My daughter stood up and ran to me, "mummy! Aunts Kenzi and I have something for you." She climbed into my lap and hugged me. I smiled and pushed some of her hair out of her face as she reached for Bo, "mommy said that you would have a nerdgasm after you saw it."

I raised my eyebrow at my wife as she blushed, Sera was picking up dialogue faster than we could edit ourselves. Sera wrapped her arms around Bo's neck, squeezing her tight, I smiled as Bo continued to blush, "well, what is it?"

"ta daaaa!" Kenzi and Sera said it in unison as Kenzi set a lego molecule model down onto the table. Kenzi looked at me with a smirk, "your kid is a bigger nerd than you, doc."

Sera leaned forward in Sera's arms and pointed at the Legos, "this is the chemical structure of a zombie plague." her words were clear but with a hint of the little kid lisp learning how to navigate the s and the st of sentences. My daughter flashed a semi toothless grin, "Aunts Kenzi and I created it this afternoon while you were at work with grams." Sera then proceeded to point out what color was each chemical. I was mildly amazed that she had a decent basis of how to make a chemical structure, but also frightened that she was only two critical components away from a viable virus.

When sera was done she climbed into my lap and started playing with the keys, I stared hard at Kenzi, "i told you no more Zombie movies..."

Kenzi frowned, "you said you were worried she would have nightmares, she hasn't had one since she was two and I showed her night of the living dead."

I pointed at the Lego model, "you should be worried about that and not the nightmares. Or you will wake up a test subject zombie." Kenzi looked to the Lego model and to me, it started sinking in what I was implying. Kenzi groaned, "why does your kid have to be a super genius."

Sera answered for me, "because my mummy is one and my mommy is a superhero." she stuck her tongue out at Kenzi as bo and I laughed. Bo smiled, "She has you there Kenzi."

Kenzi folded her arms and pouted, Sera giggled and slid out of my lap to walk over to kenzi, "up! Lets go eat pizza." Kenzi shook her head as she lifted the girl into her arms, "i know, I know, I should not be feeding her pizza." Kenzi disappeared into the house.

Bo moved quietly and sat on my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck, "i missed you today."

I ran my hands down her back, "i know, that's why I came home early." I kissed the bottom of her chin, "you know our five-ish year anniversary is coming up. My mom said she could watch Sera so we could take a short trip somewhere."

Bo smirked, "she did, did she? Hmmm...days alone with you, no curious hyper intelligent girl wondering about everything and poking at lock doors, questioning why you moan so much at night if you don't have a tummy ache."

I felt myself blush, "i told you she is like me, sleep is not always a priority when she can read and learn more."

Bo kissed me, deep and passionately, "i cant say that I am not happy she is more into books right now, because I know when she hits puberty, we are in for a world of trouble."

I nodded and squeezed bo's side, "That is all you mommy."

Sera poked her head out of the door, "mummy, Aunts Kenzi wants to know if you will let us have waffles too."

Bo smiled and slid off my lap, "i will get this one, my love. Get cleaned up and join us for dinner, I promised sera we would tell her the story of how we met, minus the sexy bits." Bo winked at me and stole another quick kiss from me, "then later, we can recreate those sexy bits."

I sighed as my wife disappeared into the house. I grabbed the keys and headed to the garage. I switched on the light and set my briefcase on the desk. In the last five years my life had become almost normal and incredible. After that first attempt at kidnapping our daughter, Tamsin was right, no one came for her after Tamsin killed her dark sister. No one would even touch a contract to seek out our family, no matter how big the price. In time interest in our family fell back to what it was, I was the Ash's daughter and we were still unaligned. Bo and Kenzi continued doing their private investigation work, I went back to part time research work with my mother and had just begun to add hours as Sera was preparing to enter school. Bo and I were preparing for that as well, Sera was above and beyond the intelligence offered by public of private schools, so we decided the best thing we could do for her was hire private tutors that could give her the one on one time she would crave. One day she would be ash and I wanted her to be able to stand on her own.

I sat in my chair and leaned back, glancing at my medals and ribbons. I closed my eyes and tried to send her a message, I had given up years ago when I began to realize she would not be coming back. I waited a few minutes and felt nothing. I went to the closet to hang up my jacket, I smiled at the two plain black suit bags hanging next to each other, I shook my head at the memory of how I first met the Valkyrie. I closed the door and paused, I felt something in the room. It was faint but it was awfully familiar to me. I looked to the couch hoping to see Tamsin sprawled out throwing me a smug look, I smiled and laughed at myself as I walked back into the house to my wife, my daughter and her aunts Kenzi sitting on the couch playing polar bears or lions.

Later that night, as Bo and Sera snored together in the giant bed, I slipped out to do some work. Sera had climbed into bed with us to hear Bo tell the story of how her mummy and mommy met, she would often interrupt questioning about Bo's powers and when would she get her own, asking when could she juice people. I walked downstairs making a note to talk to Kenzi again about her language around the impressionable one.

I walked into the kitchen, looking for leftovers. I grabbed a half empty container of rice pudding and as I pulled it out, I felt an overwhelming prescence directly behind me. I tried to focus in on who it was, I went to reach for the knife drawer.

"Captain, please don't try and stab me, this cycle just started for me yesterday, and I would like to go a week or so before I start acquiring new scars." the gruff voice sounded lighter than it ever had before.

I turned and was reward with the sight of Tamsin sitting at the kitchen table, her jean clad legs up on the table as she tipped back in the chair. She held her arms out, wide smile on her face, "you miss me?"

Okay, probably one more chapter and a epilogue before I finish this and wonder about if there will be a third book...