"Hey Hale, sorry to call so late, but I spent the day with Lauren and didn't have a chance to get away. She's in the shower now so I have just a few minutes. Did your text mean what I think it means?" Bo blurted out in a rush.
"Yes Bo," Hale chuckled. "There was some grumbling amongst the Elders, but you were right, they didn't even know that Nadia was cursed! They bought the same bullshit story that the Ash told Lauren. And Lachlan never told them either. And they were certainly not happy that the old Ash conspired with a Dark Fae. Frankly, those crusty old farts were probably more upset and embarrassed about that than the injustice done to a human. But whatever, it still works out in our favor. So anyway, it was agreed that the contract was fraudulent."
"Holy shit, Hale!" Her heart started racing for the second time since she got the news. "I feel like my head is gonna explode!" Bo's voice waivered slightly. "It's just hard to believe this day has finally come. So when can we tell her?"
"It was supposed to be done by the end of business today, but the legal team still has to finish some of the paperwork. But I'm going to make some calls tomorrow morning because if the final copy is just sitting on someone's desk then I'll go pick it up myself instead of waiting for a courier to bring it on Monday.
"Legal paperwork? It's supposed to be unconditional!" Bo protested, suddenly worried that Lauren would still be in the Fae's grasp in some way.
"Now hang on Bo. It's virtually unconditional, there are just a couple disclosures to sign. One states that she will be subject to Fae law in the event she deliberately exposes the Fae to humans or otherwise acts to harm the Fae. Which I know isn't really an issue with Lauren, but the Elders insisted it be put in writing. The other disclosure simply states that the amount of protection we can provide is dependent on where she chooses to live, but it is still her choice to make."
"Alright I guess those are understandable."
"I really hope she chooses to live somewhere with more rather than less protection. Not only will it allow us to more easily come to her aid, but it makes it much less likely that the Dark would try to mess with her."
"Yeah, I'd rather her have more protection too, but it's her choice. God Hale, how am I supposed to keep this secret for another day? Or two? I feel like I'm gonna faint."
"Just breathe, you'll be fine. It might not even be that long – but you'll be the first to know. Oh and another thing. As you suggested, we're going to make her a job offer, so there's paperwork for that too. She doesn't have to make a decision right away. She should have plenty of time to review the proposed contract."
"That's awesome, Hale. Although," Bo chuckled, "if she does want the job, I think she might want an extended vacation first!"
Bo thought she actually heard him smile. "Yeah, I would imagine she does! Oh but there's one other thing. Just so you know, in case I don't continue to be the Ash, no future Ash has the power to reverse her release. Once that's done it's done. But I can't guarantee that a future Ash won't be an ass and rescind the order of protection or not renew her job contract. I honestly think that's unlikely because Lauren has a long history of being a very valuable asset, so it's in The Light's best interest to treat her right. Not to mention that she has treated a few of the Elders who wouldn't want to lose their personal physician. But if she were ever to go unprotected, at the very least you know that Trick, Dyson, and I will have her back."
"Hale there are just no words to express how grateful I am. And you know I will always have your back too." Bo's eyes had started to water. "God, I think I might cry and blow my cover!" She chuckled.
"Keep it together, girl." He smiled playfully on the other end of the line. "Well I'll let you get back to your girl. I'll call and arrange a meeting as soon as I can get the paperwork back, otherwise we'll have to wait for Monday. But until then, keep it under wraps, ok?"
"Ok. Oh, can I be at the meeting when you tell her? I have to be able to see her reaction!"
"Oh sure, it goes without saying. The meeting will be for both of you."
"Great. Oh, and one more thing, Make sure you have a full box of tissues on your desk before we get there!"
Hale chuckled, "Consider it done."
"Ok I gotta go now. Thanks again, Hale, so much."
"Catcha later Bo."
Having just stepped out of the shower, Lauren stood at her bedroom door, wrapped in a towel with another wound around her head. She was mesmerized by the exquisite vision of Bo seductively reclining on the bed, gloriously nude. "Wow. I was disappointed when we showered separately, but if I knew what was waiting for me I would have finished sooner." Lauren stared in awe, as if seeing her girlfriend for the first time. "My god, you're beautiful."
"I never get tired of hearing you say that, babe. Ever since you told me on the day we met, it has never failed to give me chills."
"I gave you chills that first time?" Lauren asked gleefully, as she strolled toward the bed.
"Oh yeah. But it also might have had to do with your fingertips skimming over my naked back – and ass – during that oh-so-professional exam."
"I still can't believe I did that!" Lauren chuckled exasperatedly, as she sat on the bed. "Trust me, I have never been anything less than professionally clinical when examining patients." She trailed a fingertip from the side of Bo's knee up to her hip. "But you just came along and totally melted my brain!"
Bo closed her eyes and shivered from Lauren's teasing touch. "mmm…Well, it's only fair, Doctor, because that's when you just came along and totally melted my heart."
Lauren took the towel off her head and started rubbing it vigorously through her wet hair. "Bo, my love, you are the most romantic person I've ever met." She then playfully smacked Bo with the wet towel. "And the cheesiest!"
"Well it's all your fault! You activated the cheesy romantic gene when you taught me how to not kill everyone I slept with. 'Cause ya' know, being a sexual serial killer pretty much puts a damper on warm fuzzy feelings. But seriously," Bo stroked her thumb over Lauren's cheek. "It took me awhile to figure it out, but that's where it started – you got under my skin the moment we met."
"So it was love at first sight for both of us? That's so amazing, baby," Lauren sighed melodramatically and stood up from the bed, "and it only took us two years to get our shit together and become a couple!" she teased. "Now, speaking of skin…" She whipped off her towel and flung it into the hamper, posing proudly for Bo's benefit.
"Oooh, baby!" Bo's eyes feasted on her girlfriend's naked flesh and she licked her lips obscenely. "Come to bed, lover."
Bo and Lauren had been thoroughly exhausted from their day at the falls and their subsequent night in Lauren's bed, so the two lovers slept past noon the next day. Taking advantage of Lauren's better equipped kitchen, the couple decided to stay in for a leisurely brunch. They were reveling in domesticity; Bo prepared coffee and cinnamon raisin bagels while Lauren stood over a hot skillet, tending to a luxurious frittata.
"Have I ever told you how much I love cooking with you?" asked Bo, as she buttered a bagel and slid it into the toaster oven.
"Really? I just figured you didn't like to cook since you and Kenzi only seem to eat pizza and takeout."
"It's Kenzi who doesn't cook. I know how to cook – you like my eggplant parm. I was brought up a country girl, and mom taught me well. I actually won a prize for my peach cobbler!"
"Oh my god, you're kidding!" Lauren squealed and giggled. "Could you be any more adorable? …or sexier? I can just see you in a red and white gingham apron...mmm…and only an apron." She reached out for Bo's hips and pulled her into a lingering kiss. "We need to get you in the kitchen more often."
"I'd love to. But I'll only cook the good stuff for you." Bo held Lauren in a loose embrace. "And don't you dare let it slip about my cobbler! I have a bad-ass reputation to uphold, you know!"
"You are definitely making your cobbler for me." By now the couple was gently swaying. Lauren cooed in a sing-song voice, "Because you know how much 'I love to eat your peaches,'" Lauren leaned in for a steamy kiss, tugging on Bo's bottom lip and sliding her tongue in to join Bo's in a sensuous lingual dance.
"Mmm…and you 'wanna shake my tree?'" Bo responded, breathily singing the familiar lyrics as they swayed.
"All the time, baby." Lauren kissed up Bo's neck and jaw and lightly nibbled an earlobe. "That's why I'm 'the gangster of love.'"
Bo pulled back and smirked, "And just what the hell is the 'pompitous of love,' anyway?"
Both women dissolved into a fit of giggles. Soon Lauren groaned, "oh god could we be any more syrupy?" She laid her head on Bo's shoulder as they just stood holding each other. "Did you know that kd lang did a cover of that song? Much sexier than Steve Miller Band."
"Oooh…that needs to go on my ipod."
With a loving pat on Bo's back, Lauren gently pulled away to turn off the stove and move the skillet to a cool burner. "So reputation aside, why did you stop cooking?"
"I think it just became a habit to do whatever was quick and easy. And when you spend ten years on the run, quick and easy is sort of necessary. Most of the time, I didn't even have a kitchen. But even now, I'm always on the go, in and out at weird hours, and I don't have a whole lot of kitchen stuff." Bo wrapped her arms around Lauren from behind and looked over her shoulder as Lauren filled up two plates. "But when I'm with you, it feels so good to take the extra time and effort to make the little things in life special. Like breakfast."
"Like you." Lauren turned her head so she could steal a quick kiss from her girlfriend. "Because everything is special when I'm with you."
Bo turned Lauren around to face her. "Aw, flattery will get you everywhere, babe." Bo gave a kiss in return, but let it linger. "Mmmm… even cheesy flattery!"
"Hey, I thought we already established that you're the cheesy one!"
"Not by the looks of that omelet. That's all you, babe."
"It's a frittata."
"And it's cheesy."
"Shut up and pour me some orange juice. And your bagels are burning."
"Shit."
As they were clearing away the dishes, Bo froze when they heard Lauren's familiar ringtone. Lauren went to grab her phone off the coffee table. "It's Hale. I wonder what he wants on a Saturday? Because I so don't want to work this weekend."
"Hey, Hale. What's up?"
"Sorry to bother you Lauren, but something's come up and I need you to come in today."
Lauren looked over at Bo and waved her arms angrily, and scowled while mouthing, "Fuck!" exasperatedly. Bo just looked back with an amused grin.
"Is there a medical emergency?"
"No, but it's important and I didn't want to wait. And I need you at my office, not the lab."
"Oh. Um, what time?"
"How soon can you be here?"
"Is forty-five minutes ok?"
"That will be fine. And bring Bo with you."
"Ok. Hale, what's this about?"
"I'll give you all the details when you get here. See you soon."
Lauren stood puzzled for a moment before she even realized Hale had hung up. "What the hell was that about?"
"What is it, babe?"
"Hale wants to meet with us ASAP, but he wouldn't say what for. He was all cryptic and just said it was important. Shit, there goes the weekend."
"We don't know if it's necessarily time consuming, he just said important." Bo continued to play dumb while inside she was about to explode with joyful anticipation. This was it. It was finally happening.
Lauren sighed, not sharing Bo's positive attitude. "Well we better get moving. I told him we'd be there within the hour. You can have the first shower if you want."
"Maybe we should share to save time." Bo suggested with a sly smile.
"You're kidding, right?" Lauren chuckled. "Since when has showering together ever saved time? It's pretty much a guarantee that we'd stay in there till the water ran cold."
Bo smirked, "Ok, fine. Can't blame a girl for trying." She gave Lauren a quick peck on the cheek and headed for the stairs.