Grace shows up one day at Lauren's lab and while Jeanette is out, she asks Lauren "What do you know about stone giants?"

"Why do you ask Grace?"

"Just curious, I heard of them and they sounded interesting."

"Okay. First, they aren't giants as we normally think of giants. They are normally actually undersized sized compared to typical human males… overall and there isn't anything stone like about them. Fae names are often misleading until you understand them. In fact, they often don't refer to themselves as stone giants often as the term is a bit derogatory and it only applies to the males of the species. Other fae nearly always call them that and it has become the common name for them. The term comes from their giant …. stones." Grace is confused and Lauren continues. "They have large testicles…. actually all of their parts down there are large." Lauren explains and Grace nods. "Did you meet one?"

"As you and Bo have taught me, it isn't for me to say."

Lauren nods. "If you did, never refer to him that way, as I said it's derogatory. Also, you can imagine what one of their vulnerabilities is and what would happen. They are very secretive and shy. Their females are even more secretive and reluctant to mate. The females can store the male's semen and one mating is sufficient for a lifetime's worth of procreation, assuming they mate with one of their own. As you would expect, this is why the males have evolved to have such large testicles... They might only get one chance to father a lifetime of offspring, if they stay within their species and they aren't physically compatible with most females of other species."

"I see." Grace responds taking in the information.

"You aren't going to tell me why you're asking?"

"No. What do they feed on? I read different fae feed on different types of chi."

"They do, but they'll all take regular chi. It's sort of like people like different foods, but if you're hungry enough you'll take anything. Stone giants prefer female love chi; they certainly don't get much from their own species."

"Thank you. I've been staying away from Jeanette. I'm hoping to make a break until she adjusts. How is she doing?"

"She's doing her job well, but she's sad. I think she's working so hard to keep her mind occupied. Tamsin's been sniffing around. On one hand, they are both lonely but I'm afraid they are both too needy right now. Tamsin makes comments about keeping her as a pet and I'm afraid Jeanette may actually allow it."

"Oh my…."

"Yes. You should check on her. Tasmin isn't all bad, but she isn't good either. She has a special relationship with Kenzi and is on her best behavior when Kenzi is around so don't judge her by what you see in Kenzi's presence."

"Why Kenzi?"

"Tamsin regenerated and Kenzi mothered her as she went from a baby to resuming her full grown self. That's why she calls Kenzi 'Moms' and defers to her."

"How long did that take?"

"Not that long, a month or two. I wish I could have studied the process, but since she's dark fae…." Lauren shrugs.

"It is fascinating isn't it… all of these advanced beings, so similar yet so different." Grace says and Lauren nods with a smile. "I associate with humans, because despite my lack of aging that is what I am. You are human. How do you feel about how the fae feed on humans?"

"I try to keep a clinical viewpoint. I'm a doctor to the light fae and occasionally a dark fae when ordered by the Ash, so they are my patients. I've managed to enable Bo to control herself so she doesn't accidentally kill when she feeds…. normally. I keep telling myself that the humans they feed on aren't my patients, but in my heart…"

"I've come to terms with the fact that most of my immortal friends have killed, some have killed others that I cared about… I tell myself they had good reasons, that it was part of the Game, but in my heart…"

"I can see why Jeanette fell in love with you. If I weren't in love with Bo, I could have as well." In response, Grace blushes slightly and smiles not sure what to say and Lauren continues. "I'm sure she's in pain, but it would be better if she weren't so vulnerable. Tasmin is not at all like you. I try to tell her the fae are dangerous, but I don't think she appreciates how much. They might look like us, but they aren't like us."

"But you are with Bo…?"

"I am and I'm not…. Bo feeds sexually, and no single human has enough chi to keep her fed and she needs even more to heal if injured. So I must harden myself to the necessity of her taking others into her bed. I also know that she will out live me; that as I age, she will remain young. That she may someday not find me attractive; that she instead may find me inadequate." Lauren chokes up expressing her fears to Grace.

"Lauren, I don't know what the future holds. I don't know Bo as you do. But I can give you examples of immortals that stayed with mortals…"

"I read your file. I know about your last husband, Paul. I know he didn't take it well."

"He didn't. But it made no difference to me that he'd age and I hadn't. When he was young it didn't bother him, but as he became older he could not avoid the thought that I would leave him for someone younger. It was something that ate at him. Don't let it do that to you. The other part…"

"I don't even know if Bo is capable of a long term relationship. She's never had one last beyond the early stages."