Title: To Be Without Regret

Author: Kori/justagirl8225

Rating: R

Pairing(s)/Characters: Lita/Christian, Christy/?, Victoria/Edge, Trish/Jericho; Randy, Tyson, Batista. Many others are appearing.

Disclaimer: I disclaim

Spoilers: None, it's purely A/U

Summary: She believed everything she knew about them, she hated them just like she was supposed to… And then, everything changed.

Warnings: a little bit of violence in this chapter

Notes: All previous notes apply.

Two days later …

For reasons that no one was willing to discuss, David, Luna, Dawn and Scott were detained from the fortress for another evening; leaving Jason with the task of explaining some of Amy's purpose for being there. Naturally she hadn't taken it so well once she had learnt some of the truth … but that was because she just didn't want to believe in a future controlled by a vampire society. She, like all humans, knew full well that a society dictated and run by vampires wouldn't be ideal … just as a society dictated and run by humans wouldn't be ideal for vampires … but soon it would be necessary. The temporary truce had long since ceased to exist, pockets of war breaking out here and there but nothing too significant yet … but that too would change and it would change in the near future. Once all of the preparations had been completed and once all of the necessary soldiers had been gathered for both sides; the final battle would begin. And in addition to the physical war, a power struggle of another form existed … Amy somehow finding herself at the center of that struggle, despite the fact that she didn't want to be there. Ideally, she wanted to be fighting alongside her friends … and maybe she would be, just not the particular group of friends that she had originally anticipated. Still, it had been two days since she had arrived to Liege, her primary source of company being Jason and the numerous books he had.

Amy blinked at Jason's back, "where are we going now?"

Jason smirked slightly, catching her confused expression in the mirror above the dresser. "For someone who complained so much about not being able to go anywhere, I would have thought you would welcome this small reprieve."

The redhead frowned, "well yes, of course I do but I wasn't expecting—"

He shook his head and then turned so he was facing her, "there are humans residing within this fortress Amy, they are merely kept well hidden. For their own safety, they are not a source of food."

"I wasn't going to ask about that, I was going to ask you where we were going since you haven't told me."

"I had thought, perhaps, you would want to see more of the fortress. Since it is only early afternoon, many of the occupants within the fortress are still at rest. It is the safest time for you to venture outside of this room."

Amy eyed him skeptically, "but you had said that it wasn't safe for me to walk around this fortress by myself."

Jason nodded shortly, "and you will not be alone, Amy, I fully intend to accompany you. Afterwards, we shall need to speak with David and Luna; they are in the midst of another Council meeting; otherwise we would have spoken to them when they returned last night."

She finally moved from the chair she had been occupying, "and just what is so important that we need to speak with them about? What else aren't you telling me?"

He released a nearly inaudible sigh, "there is much that you still need to know, much that you need to learn and there is only so much that I can fully explain. Some of it, I am certain, you will acquire on your own; but … Luna and David had felt it necessary to appoint me as your primary teacher."

Amy frowned, "so you're my teacher, my keeper … what else are you, huh?"

Jason shook his head, "it is so much more than you say, such an intricate situation … within our society, the process of choosing a mate is not one that we take lightly nor do we rush into it. The bond formed is permanent and there are few ways to break it. And perhaps that is why the process itself has become so complicated."

"We have time," she said as she walked towards him, "explain as much as you can to me."

"That was my intention, pet." He opened the door for her, waiting for her to exit their quarters before joining her in the hallway. "Without having to explain the entire history of our society to you, I shall at least start with our Coven and the state that we currently find ourselves in."

Amy tucked a few strands of hair behind her ears, "and that would be everyone in this fortress?"

Jason nodded shortly, "nearly everyone in this fortress and others who are stationed elsewhere. Our Coven, to put it simply, is in a time of transition. The changing of the guard, if you will … David, Luna, Dawn and Scott are making preparations to step down from the Council. Though they will still remain on the Council, the authority that they hold will be passed to Joseph, Keith and I."

An amused smirk crossed her features, "I was under the impression that you were going to have sole authority…"

He smirked fully, "even then it would not be sole authority as you will share it with me, pet. But, primary authority will be mine and then split between Joseph and Keith."

"So what does choosing a mate have to do with all of this?"

"Not just a mate, Amy, but a life-mate. There is a difference."

She nodded in reply and remained silent for the moment …

"With Joseph and Keith, they have chosen mates and while the process can still be complicated, it is significantly easier to break that sort of bond. A mate is chosen for any number of reasons that aren't always necessary nor are they always explained. Of course, it isn't to say that a mate can not become a life-mate. But that all depends on whether or not both parties are willing."

"And what am I to you?"

Jason paused as they reached the end of the hallway, the blond vampire then directing her towards another hallway. "Do you really wish to know?"

Amy gauged his facial expression carefully and then held his icy blue gaze, the redhead somehow knowing that she would find more there … "Yes, I really want to know."

He clasped his hands behind his back, "very well, then I shall try to keep this as brief as possible. When one in our society seeks a life-mate, several things must be taken into consideration and there must always be a reason. In most cases that reason is to unify rogue covens or to strengthen existing power within—"

"So it all boils down to how much power you can have?"

"Not entirely but that does factor into the decision," Jason paused as they reached another turn in the hallway, leading her towards the inner courtyards as he continued to speak. "Most life-mates are decided upon by the Council, with a select few given a choice and very few given entire control over the process. In my particular circumstance, it was decided upon by the Council that I should take a life-mate."

Amy stopped in her tracks, "are you trying to tell me that you had a choice as to whom you could take?"

Jason didn't reply just yet, "At first, I had been under the impression that they would also decide upon whom I would take, but then it occurred to me that had already been taken care of … and at a time when I did not realize it at all."

Amy's forehead etched in confusion, "why me? If you had a choice, what do I have to do with this? What does my family have to do with this?"

The blond vampire waited until they had reached the main foyer of the fortress and then guided her towards a grand staircase. "Nothing and everything, pet. Nothing in that your family in particular, really all of your family members and their numerous descendants mattered not as we were only concerned with one."

"Me."

"Correct," he confirmed and then paused as they reached a balcony; "everything in that finding you was the key. You are the last remaining heir of Amy Dumas and thus the only one capable of fulfilling the oath that she had sworn to David."

Amy reached up to touch the choker she wore, "but this tells me otherwise, that my ancestor and the promise she made has nothing to do with your decision."

"Though David's Blood created me, I am not completely under his influence nor dictated by his desires."

"I don't understand."

Jason rested his hands on the railing, "David may advise or attempt to influence my decisions, in particular where it concerns such important matters as choosing a life-mate, but the final decision as to whom I choose is up to me. Or to who my soul chooses."

Amy cautiously stood beside him, "your soul?"

Jason arched an eyebrow at her, "just because I am dead does not mean that I lack a soul. Surely, Amy, you of all people would know this."

Amy rolled her eyes, "I wasn't trying to imply that you lack a soul, I know the differences between us Jason. I've studied your kind long enough."

"Then it should not be so hard to understand the concept that my soul decided for me and chose it's mate." The faintest traces of a smile appeared on his face, "that in itself is rare within our society, which is why when it does occur … one will go through great lengths to get what they want."

She turned so she was leaning back against the railing, "it almost seems unbelievable, that your kind would have such a concept as soul mates, but I guess it really doesn't matter. Fate doesn't care if you're living or dead." A moment of silence lapsed between them, "but that still doesn't explain—"

"If your soul had not accepted mine, you would not be standing here and you would not have survived past the first night that we met."

The redhead didn't have to ask for a further explanation, nodding her understanding to him instead. "Then if this is as simple as it sounds, acceptance and whatever … then why are you—"

"Drawing this out?" He continued for her and then smiled wickedly, "you decided to resist, Amy, and since you claim to know my kind so well… aside from that, I am not above admitting that the thought of you begging me…"

"If you'd excuse me," Amy managed after a long moment of awkward silence on her part, "I'm just going to go back inside now."

She had only been inside for a few seconds, one foot set in the once previously empty hallway when she found herself pinned against the wall. And while this situation wasn't entirely unfamiliar to her, the being pinning her to the wall was different.

"So this is what Jason has been hiding from us," the burly vampire practically hissed, his hand tightening around her throat. "Such a delicious meal should not go to waste."

Her attempted scream came out more like a whisper, Amy trying to fight off her captor as best she could … but it was in vain. She was still a human, after all, and her captor was a vampire determined to kill her. And then before she knew what was happening, the weight was off of her; Amy sucking in a much needed breath as her hands rubbed at her tender throat.

"You dare to touch what belongs to me?" Jason growled low, Amy's once would be attacker now held in one of the blond vampire's hands, "you will use the last breath in your pathetic body to apologize to her."

"Jason—"

David held out an arm to block her path, "do not attempt to interfere, child. He is within the right to demand whatever he wishes." He nodded slightly towards his progeny, "your attempt would be in vain, anyway. He has lost control of himself to what it is that we truly are."

"Apologize to her while you still can."

"His eyes," Amy whispered as she finally got a closer look, "they're red."

"His anger has been provoked, child." David rested a hand lightly on her shoulder, "Jason is one of the better at self control, save for his childish temper tantrums now and then … but even he is not immune to the inner Beast. Which is why you must keep your distance from him, he may know you but in this form, he is unpredictable."

Amy turned her face away from the suddenly gruesome scene, Jason's already limited patience apparently gone as he tore his claws through the lesser vampire's throat. The floor beneath them soon drenched in blood.

David gently urged Amy away from him, "stand perfectly still, he needs to regain control of himself and anyone standing near you … he would perceive them as a threat."

It wasn't the first time she had felt afraid and it wasn't the first time that Jason was the source of her fear. But this particular time, with blood dripping from one of his hands, fangs no longer elongated but his eyes still red … as he approached her, she backed up instinctively. Amy could hear her heartbeat racing in her ears, her chest heaving as she was once again pinned against the wall.

"And let this be a lesson," David announced to the crowd of vampires around them, "now that you have all seen firsthand what you had only heard of before. For those who may have wondered if Jason was weak, I believe you have your answer."

Adam blinked, "damn. I've seen him destroy trees, potted plants and a couch but that…"

Chris rolled his eyes, "there's a difference between one of his temper tantrums and what just happened."

Adam smacked the shorter vampire on the back of the head, "I know that, I was just saying. Jason's wrath has never been provoked to that extent before."

David arched an eyebrow at the two blond vampires, a pointed look cast in their direction before he left the area…

"Alright everyone, the show's over!" Adam announced in an authoritative voice, "Clear out because there's nothing else to see." Smacking Chris on the back of the head again, he continued: "that means you too, Jericho. We're hunting tonight so let's go."

Amy watched as the hallway quickly emptied, leaving her alone with Jason … and she was still more or less trapped; his hands resting against the wall on either side of her head. And even if she did have the space to move, Amy wasn't sure if her legs would work properly; the redhead still very much afraid of the vampire before her. His head was bowed, shielding his eyes from her, Amy guessing that he was trying to regain control of himself…

"Did he harm you?"

She shook her head, not quite trusting her voice yet, Amy flinching as his one of his hands grasped her chin.

"Did he harm you?" He repeated, the blond vampire still not meeting her gaze directly.

"No," Amy managed shakily, "you stopped him before…"

"You're afraid," red tinted blue eyes finally met hers, his hand releasing her chin. "You're afraid of me."

She studied his face, not relaxing in the slightest just yet. "You scared me … yes, you saved me, but you scared me."

He frowned, "I apologize for that Amy, I did not mean to lose control like that, but I could not stop it."

Amy bit down on her lower lip carefully, "you were just trying to protect me, Jason. And you had warned me that I shouldn't walk around alone, I should have been more careful."

Jason shook his head, "that is no excuse for my behavior, to behave as such in front of you. I ask for your forgiveness."

She had the distinct impression that he wasn't one to apologize very often or ask for forgiveness for that matter… Amy tentatively reaching up a hand to touch his cheek, "you are forgiven, Jason."

His stance slackened just slightly, "after what you have just witnessed, you needn't tolerate my presence if you do not wish to."

"And if I want to?"

Jason smirked a fraction, "then I would surely question your judgment. You are a strange creature, Amy."

Amy rolled her eyes, "which says a lot about you, Jason, since you claimed that your soul chose mine."

"Or perhaps you just can not stay away from me."

"Oh yes, that must be it."

"Of course it is," he said without hesitation, "you belong to me, pet, it would only be natural for you to want to be around me all the time."

"I think I liked you better when you weren't being this arrogant," she replied and then shook her head. "And if I'm really not in trouble anymore, do you think you could move?"

That all too familiar wicked smile formed on his face, "I could do that but I do not believe I will. I rather like you in this position." An eyebrow arched, "if you really want me to move … beg me."

Her reply was not spoken and wouldn't have had the chance to leave her mouth if she tried, Jason's mouth claiming hers in a bruising kiss. Although he was still somewhat gentle, this kiss was another show of power, another display of control and dominance. Finally pulling back when he knew she needed to breathe, Amy's face flushing, lips swollen from his kiss … she didn't hesitate as he held out a hand to her, the two continuing on their tour of the fortress as if nothing else had happened.