"I'm going to be late if I'm not careful. If..," Lauren stopped and sighed contently as Bo kissed her neck, and her hands roamed her body. "You keep doing that I'll never leave." She finished before Bo brought their lips together.

"So," Bo answered against her lips. "You're the boss, be late."

Lauren chuckled. "I have various early morning meetings that I have to attend."

Bo drew back. "Ok. I understand." She wiped a smudge of makeup off Lauren's cheek. "Go to work."

Lauren checked her appearance in the mirror, smoothing out her dark gray suit. "I told Lucy to buy me out." She said, remembering she never told Bo about that. She watched Bo's expression through the reflection of the mirror. "I just want to start a new company away from all this, at home. So, we can be with Charlotte and the babies." She paused. "And Dyson and Mark."

"Really?" Bo's face was creased in surprise. She thought Lauren liked living in New York.

Lauren nodded. "We need to be with Charlotte and the babies." She paused and turned to face Bo, with a solemn face. "I feel so much guilt about my relationship with Charlotte. Maybe," She swallowed and dropped her eyes to her feet. "I didn't put enough effort into that relationship. I wonder if I focused too much on Ethan and Mac and let my relationship with my daughter fall by the wayside."

Bo wrapped her arms around Lauren and shook her head. "Lauren, no, you were-are a great mother. Relationships are tricky. Charlie is a tough one. She lives in her own little world, sometimes, and she doesn't always see what others do for her. Or how much they care about her."

"But I'm the parent. It's my responsibility to fix the mistakes of the past."

"Charlotte's an adult now. It's also her responsibility."

"Ok." Lauren rubbed her palms into her eyes to relieve a stress headache that was approaching. "But I still want to go home."

They moved into the kitchen and Lauren made coffee.

"What about Mac?" Bo asked sitting at the kitchen island watching Lauren.

"We could talk to her father about her staying with us until this cure is found." She sipped the coffee carefully. "I know everyone would like to spend some time with her…in case…" She let the sentence drifted off unfinished.

They sat in silence and Lauren made Bo a cup of coffee. She handed it her and Bo said. "I'm glad you didn't sell the house. Heck, if it were up to me it would've been sold years ago."

Lauren cupped her face "Bo you were hurt. I can understand not wanting to be there with the constant reminders of our marriage and raising our children. It would be difficult." She stroked her thumb over Bo's cheek. "I just want to go home to our house, have our entire family together."

"How will you get Lucy to agree? That woman's nuts."

"She'll agree," Lauren promised adamantly.

Bo frowned, she was skeptical that Lucy would agree, she seemed obsessed with Lauren, obviously, why else would she make such a ridiculous proposal.

Lauren broke Bo from her thoughts. "In a way, I'm happy this mess with Lucy happened. It made me realize I'm not happy here with this company. I need a fresh start, where I can work on what I want without worrying about board members, budget meetings, product development, and so on. This company got a lot bigger than I ever imagined it would." She rolled her eyes at all the things she had to deal with in a single day.

"Should we get Lucy a present or something, then?" Bo teased.

Lauren slipped on her jacket and kissed Bo. "Haha. I want to focus on my family, Mac's cure and my charity work, and only do the science I'm passionate about."

XXXX

15 years earlier.

Ethan read his book intently, although, it was difficult through the chaotic noises on the bus. He pressed his fingers into his ears, hoping to muffle the sounds.

"Charlotte you're so pretty." Someone behind him said loudly and he rolled his eyes when his sister answered. 'I know'.

"Ethan is a cutie but Charlotte's beautiful." Someone else said, and he ignored them and didn't respond.

Someone flicked the back of his head, and he turned around to see Amber smiling at him. "I said you're a cutie."

Ethan managed a smile and slunk back into his seat, holding his book over his face to cover his blush.

A few minutes passed and Ethan's head rose. He noticed a new girl standing awkwardly in front of everyone, not knowing where to sit. As she walked down the aisle, no one let her sit down. Scooting over and placing their bags in the empty space, Ethan heard Charlotte chuckle behind him.

Ethan frowned watching the girl. She was very tall and bulky with big, frizzy, untamed hair that didn't look brushed. Her clothes didn't fit right on her body. She looked like a mess, honestly.

A few kids got on the bus and pushed past her, knocking her to the ground. Charlotte and her friends snickered loudly in the back.

The girl pulled herself up and moved toward the back of the bus until she was standing by Ethan.

He smiled up at her and nodded to the empty space next to him. Her face lit up, and relief washed over it. She settled into the seat quickly.

The girl sat down and pulled out a book of her own and began reading. Ethan did the same.

XXXX

Jasmine wove through the crowded traffic, completely ignoring the speed limit.

"Do you want to slow down?" Bo asked, gripping her seat tightly. "We'll wreck with you driving like a maniac."

"This is New York. You have to drive aggressively." She said one hand on the wheel and one playing with her red hair.

"You can still go the speed limit." Bo snapped back. They should have taken a cab or borrowed one of Lauren's cars, but no Jasmine had insisted on driving, and Bo, against her better judgment, agreed.

Jasmine took another sharp turn and stopped in front of Lucy's apartment building. She checked her hair and makeup in the mirror and smirked at Bo. "You ready?" She grabbed the door handle. "I love this...it's so exciting."

Bo glared at her and got out of the car without saying a word.

After they knocked Lucy answered quickly and stood staring at them with wide eyes, not blinking once. They pushed passed her and walked confidently into the apartment. They stood side by side in front of her. She was still stunned, it took a few minutes, but she collected herself and faced them. "What are you doing here?" She barked, tapping her foot forcefully on the floor.

Jasmine sauntered forward, swinging her hips with brashness. She surveyed the room, with a sly smile. "I think this will do," At last, she pulled out a chair and sat quickly. Bo did the same sitting next to her. "Have a seat." She gestured to an empty chair for Lucy to sit. Curious, about what they were doing there, Lucy sat without arguing.

"Beautiful apartment you have here," Jasmine said watching Lucy fidget uncomfortably in front of her. "Not my taste, but I can see you spent a lot of money on it." She pursed her lips together. "Which I appreciate." She gave Bo a sideways look and pointed at her. "This one could learn a thing or two about putting some money into the décor." She shook her head. "Have you seen the Dal? Looks like it was decorated a hundred years ago by a blind Harpy."

Lucy snorted in aggravation. "Enough with the small talk." Her gaze narrowed on Bo. "Why are you here?"

Jasmine's sly smile held, and her expression turned spirited. "We're here to deliver Lauren, of course." She said and patted Lucy's knee.

Lucy's head jerk to Jasmine, and she slapped her hand away hard. Bo stayed quiet, she knew Jasmine always needed to put on a show before any real business could be done. But she was mindful of the time and would stop things if it went on too long.

Jasmine was delighted by Lucy's reaction, and she grinned at her. "I'm just kidding. Wouldn't that be something? Us here delivering Lauren to you." She arched her eyebrow at Lucy. "You wish." She turned to Bo. "This one is so desperate for your wife. Isn't that weird? I mean I get the allure but not the extremes. It's not like Lauren's vag-"

"Don't mock me!" Lucy interrupted with a high-pitched voice. "Tell me why you're here." She demanded her face was turning red from rage and annoyance.

"Enough with games, Jasmine. Get on with it." Bo gave Jasmine a warning look.

"Fine." Jasmine sighed deeply. "You never let me have any fun." She pouted, briefly, then reached into her purse pulling out a thick contract. "This is the paperwork to buy Lauren out. As you can see, it's very fair." She turned to Bo. "A lot less than I would have asked for." She looked back to Lucy. "But we're looking for a quick sale here." She winked amusedly at her.

Lucy crossed her arms and shook her head. "No way. I'm not signing anything. Not without getting my weekend first."

Bo tilted her head into Lucy's line of sight. Her deep brown eyes changed to a burning blue, as a pointed warning, and she didn't say anything, she didn't need to.

That caught Lucy off guard, but she tried to stay poised. "Threaten me all you want. I'm not doing it." She stared back at Bo challenging her with her eyes.

Jasmine's shrewd grin returned, and she stood up and walked away. "I'm no longer here as a lawyer. For the record, I'm only a friend now."

Bo jerked Lucy forward gripping her hand tight. Heat and craving coursed through Lucy's body, and she suddenly had the desire to do whatever Bo asked of her, she was almost in a trance. Her earlier resistance crumpled.

Bo's voice dropped to a sultry tone. "Sign the papers, Lucy." She demanded stroking her fingers over Lucy's hand, sending out more waves of persuasion. Lucy unable to stop herself took the pen from Jasmine and signed every document.

When she was done her head, momentarily, cleared. "That's not right using your succubus powers on me." She said with a disgusted expression.

Bo sent another swell through her body. "We're not done. Give us all the information you have, about my wife, her serum, Mac." She squeezed Lucy's hand hard, digging her fingernails into her flesh. "Now."

As if walking in a daze Lucy obeyed and, within a few minutes, produced all the information. She gently sat it in front of Bo.

"This better be all of it," Bo said aggressively, flipping through the items unimpressed, clearly there had been a lot posturing from Lucy about what she had.

Lucy nodded weakly, and Jasmine sat back down and pulled out another paper. "This is your signed agreement to stay away from all members of the Lewis-Dennis family. And a non-disclosure agreement to never speak about these events or the information you illegally obtained." She slid the papers across the table to Lucy.

Lucy scowled and signed the papers without needing another push from Bo. She thrust the signed papers back at Jasmine and looked at Bo with tears in her eyes. "All I wanted was a chance to prove to Lauren that I love her and that she could love me back."

Bo felt sorry for her, at that moment. How sad and lonely must a person be to go to such extremes for one person, a person that doesn't want them at all? As pathetic as it was it was still sad in a way.

Despite feeling, a little sad for her, Bo really considered slapping her across the face. But instead, she leaned down and furiously stared at Lucy, her voice dripping with revulsion. "Lucy, whatever you feel for my wife it isn't love. Love is about thinking about the other person, not just yourself. And sometimes making decisions that might break your own heart, but doing it anyway, because it's what's best for them. What you feel is selfish, and it's not about Lauren or love. It's about you and nothing else. Come to terms with that or don't, I don't care. But if you come near my wife or family again I will kill you. Understand this isn't an idle threat but a promise."

As Jasmine and Bo walked toward the door of the apartment, Jasmine whispered, "That was hot," into Bo's ear.

Lucy's moping expression hardened, and she gave the closing door a fierce look. If Bo could use her powers on her, then fair was fair, she'd fight force with force. All she wanted was one weekend, one weekend and they couldn't give her that, so now she wanted nothing more than to see Lauren bleed, make her pay for this humiliation.

And she knew exactly who to call.

XXXX

10 years earlier.

Charlotte ran her fingers through Brooke's frizzy hair, as she sat nervously looking at Ethan. "Let me give you a makeover. You'd be so pretty with your hair done up and a little color on your lips." Charlotte said to her. "Just a little touch up here and there makes a lot of difference."

After Ethan had offered his seat to Brooke, they had become best friends, spending almost every day together, and he was very protective of her.

"Leave her alone, Charlie," Ethan said noticing the expression on Brooke's face. "She doesn't want you messing with her hair and face."

Charlotte put her hands on her hips and tossed her dark brown hair dismissively. "Everyone likes to look good, Ethan." She leaned down and peered into Brooke's eyes. "Do you want me to give you a makeover? It'll be fun."

Brooke shrugged. "Sure. I guess."

Charlotte clapped her hands together and skipped off to her room to get her stuff. She returned with a smile. She rummaged through her makeup bag looking for the right color for Brooke. "Perfect." She held up a little brown pencil and softly took her face and started applying the makeup.

Several minutes later, she held up a mirror for Brooke to look at herself. "See. A little color is all you need. Simple."

To Ethan's surprise, Brooke's face lit up, and she smiled back at Charlotte.

"Do you want me to do your hair now?" Charlotte asked, brushing a few frizzy strands of hair from Brooke's face.

Brooke shook her head. "No. I like my hair."

"Ok. Well, just so that you know I think you'd look beautiful with some bangs or maybe some soft highlights."

Ethan got up and took Brooke's hand, to save her from Charlotte, "We're going to be late for our movie."

"Thanks, Charlotte," Brooke yelled over her shoulder as Ethan ushered her out the house.

"Sorry about that," Ethan said, walking beside Brooke.

"It's ok."

As they walked the down street toward the movie theater, a group of kids from school walked a few paces in front of them. They laughed at Brooke when they passed by and shouted: "You still look like a troll. Makeup or not!"

Brooke looked at Ethan, with a wounded expression. He stared straight ahead, with a clenched jaw.

"Put lipstick on a pig and it's still a pig." One of the boys yelled out, laughing at his own joke rowdily.

"That's it." Ethan walked quickly to the group. "What did you say?" He asked shoving the large boy hard.

He laughed in Ethan's face taunting him. "Your girlfriend looks like a troll!"

Ethan sprang forward and swung his fists, hitting him in the face with all his strength. The boy fell back onto the street, hard, and with a shocked expression and holding his bleeding mouth, the boy said. "Geez, Ethan. Relax."

"Leave my friend alone," Ethan said forcefully, kicking at the boy's leg. Brooke took Ethan's hand and led him away from the boy, before the situation turned into a bigger fight.

XXXX

Ethan was fuming as he paced back and forth, in front of Lauren, mumbling to himself and running his fingers through his hair.

Lauren paused, put down her paperwork and studied him. She was struck by how much his mannerism matched Bo, at that moment. Ethan never looked more like Bo than he did when he was angry.

She saw a transformation in his face that turned from angry to furious. "Really, ma? You paid Gus off? Gave him money for what he did." He shook his head appalled. "That worm shouldn't have gotten anything."

"What would you have liked me to do? Not every problem can be solved by force." Lauren said, bringing up a chair to sit in, her eyes still watching him closely.

"Fire him! Threaten him. Not give him money." Rage filled him and clouded his mind. "Charlotte's right you think money solves everything." He crossed his arms and turned away from her.

"That's not fair and it's certainly not true. I handled it the way I thought was best." She said keeping her tone as soft and calm as she could.

Ethan flipped around and gave his mother a sharp look. "It's a family matter. You should have discussed it with us first!"

"Calm down. Gus was my employee, and this is my company." Lauren was starting to match Ethan's anger. For him to insinuate that she didn't have the family's best interest in mind, really upset her.

"He bugged my briefcase. He was my roommate, it affects me too." He was practically shouting now.

"And I took care of it."

He scoffed. "The only way you know how. Money."

Lauren considered this for a second and softened her tone, trying to defuse the situation and his anger. "I'm sorry if this upsets you." He rolled his eyes, and her temper flared again. "But, like I said, I did what I thought was best." She paused and used a gentle tone again. "I have too much on my plate to put much thought into Gus. He's gone that's all the matters."

Ethan bit his lip to hold back another heated retort, swallowing all the things he wanted to say about Gus, Lucy, the whole situation, he threw up his hands and left the lab.

Back in his office, he sat down at his computer. Within a minute, he had the information he was looking for, Gus and his flight information. He knew where he was now. He rose quickly and left the office, with only one thought: he was going to show Gus he couldn't get away with what he'd done.

XXXX

6 years earlier.

Ethan watched as Bo took down some notes for a case she was working on. He beamed at her. "Let me go with you on a case. I'm old enough." He said persuasively.

"No way. Your mom would kill me." Bo answered promptly. "Are you trying to get me in trouble?" She paused and looked away from him. "I'm already in enough trouble with her." She muttered to herself.

"Come on." He urged. "I can help."

Bo gave him a sympathetic smile and patted his hand. "I'm sure you could, but I can't put you in danger."

He scoffed and crossed his arms. "But it's ok for you to be in danger all the time?"

"I don't need that from you. I get it enough from my wife." She said curtly, turning her attention back to her work.

"Fine. Keep treating me like a child. I just want to help." He got quickly and left the room.

Bo contemplated going after him but decided to keep working on her case instead.

XXXX

"We're going home," Bo said merrily serving Lauren and Mac their food, her smile not leaving her face.

Mac laughed. "I can't believe the craziness of this family." She darted her eyes around the kitchen. "Where's Ethan?"

Lauren shifted in her chair and looked uneasily at Bo. "He's mad at me."

A moment of silence passed, and Mac changed the subject. "When are we going home? I'm super excited to see Charlie. I can't wait for those little babies to be born."

"Soon," Lauren answered. "I have a few things to work out first."

Mac looked warily at Bo and Lauren, held in a breath and asked. "About my cure?"

Bo couldn't help but be alarmed at the noticeable tension she saw in her wife. There was always tension in her, these days, but it seemed to be getting worse. Just now, she looked stiff and distraught. Bo's heart sank, at the stress Lauren felt. She had thought taking care of the Lucy problem would have allowed her to relax, even if only a little, but based on Lauren's appearance that wasn't the case.

Lauren's gaze settled on Mac and her face softened. "No. I can work on that anywhere. A few things with the buyout still need to be worked out."

A smile lit up Mac's face, as she made a decision. "Lauren, I want you to turn me Fae." She announced with confidence and conviction.

"Really?" Bo and Lauren asked, in unison, both shocked.

"Mac, don't make any rash decisions that will affect the rest of your life. There's still time to find a cure." Lauren urged, taking Mac's hand and squeezing hard.

Mac danced her eyes back and forth between them. "I've always felt more connected to the Fae world than the human world. And I won't be losing my humanity. I'll be like Bo, a Fae with a human heart." She gave a bright, shining smile.

Bo and Lauren exchanged a loaded glance. Silence fell over the table, as each was pondering the situation from their own angle.

"That's not an easy process. It could take months before I could do something like that." Lauren finally said after considering the situation for several minutes.

"I understand," Mac said earnestly. "But will you think about it, Lauren. Please?"

Lauren relaxed her expression and nodded. "Of course, I will."

XXXXX

"Can you believe that?"

Lauren was startled by Bo's voice as she walked into the bedroom later that evening. She was curled up on the bed reading, but her mind was too full of everything that was happening to really focus on it.

"Babe?" Bo asked when Lauren didn't answer.

"I'm very surprised," Lauren answered and rubbed her hands down her face.

Bo climbed into bed and stretched her body out beside her. "Why are you so stressed out?" She kissed her shoulder after asking.

"I just want to go home." She peered up at Bo over her shoulder. "Let's go home tomorrow."

Bo took her middle finger and trailed it down Lauren's arm. "Lauren, would you like me to help you relax?" She sent a tease of a warm pulse into Lauren's body. "How does that feel?" She lightly brushed her fingers down Lauren's cheekbone hitting her with another wave.

"Hmm. That's quite lovely, thank you." Lauren sighed blissfully.

Bo eased Lauren on her back and hovered over her. Her lips traveled down Lauren's collarbone, her hand lifting Lauren's shirt. Lauren closed her eyes and put her arms over her head and let Bo help her unwind.

A moment later, Lauren's eyes opened and held onto Bo's, as she leaned over her, their matched expressions equal parts affection and lust. Bo tilted forward but stopped promptly when a small drop of blood fell from Lauren's nose. "Lauren, you're bleeding."

Lauren brought her fingers to her nose and examined the blood. "Oh, I'm sorry about that."

"Don't apologize for bleeding." She sat straight up and studied Lauren's face. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah, I feel fine," Lauren said and got up quickly to wash off the blood. Bo's body slumped as she watched her go. Her expression was heavy and concerned, her chest tight, as she waited for her wife to return to bed.

AN

Lucy knows about the Fae (that was revealed several chapters ago when Lauren and Lucy talked about Bo being a succubus, I can't remember the chapter number). I figured someone with a lot of money and connections would probably have come across the Fae before.

Next update, Ethan chases Gus down and Bo, Lauren and Mac return home.

Any interest in a Lucy backstory?

Thanks for reading!