Disclaimer: Not mine all things Blue Blood belong to Melissa de la Cruz.
A/N: I felt that between the end of this book and the beginning of the next a few things needed to happen so we get an epilogue! Woot anyway happy reading and the sequel should be up sometime today!
Jack was sure of one thing, he had to make a choice. That was clear from everyone now, Schuyler was not going to back down, she rarely did anymore. For the last sixteen years of his life he had lived with his choice, he had to make do with what his mind dictated to his heart; now he was telling his mind to shove it.
However, he was not going to jump into this blind, he needed certainty in this world, he needed to know for sure that Schuyler was his end all and be all. Some part, no matter how small and seemingly insignificant, still needed and craved Mimi like she was the elixir of life. So he would sort his feelings out and he would make the decision he had put off for so long.
He threw clothing into a bag, his suits he would have sent to his apartment but he needed something to just live in.
"Dad?" Jack turned around Cam was paused at the door to his room?
"Sorry did you need something Cam?"
"No, just walking by and wondering what's with the bag?"
"I—well…"
"This has to do with Ara's mom doesn't it?"
"Yes and no, Cam your mother and I—"
"Divorce I get it, it happens to everyone."
"No not yet, I just need some space." Grabbing a piece of paper from the side table Jack scribbled down the address of his apartment. He held it out to his son, "If you need anything this is where I'll be and I will see you soon." Jack left before his courage could run out if he did not leave right now, he never would.
Cam stuffed the paper in his pockets and took the back stairs down to the street. There was no power on Earth or under the Earth that was going to keep him in that now empty house. Dealing with his mother when she was angry, well, hell would begin to look like a great place to buy a vacation home.
It was out on to the still busy streets of New York and back up to the hospital, he needed to talk with a friend. Madison was flicking half heartedly through the pages of Vogue when Cam sneaked in past the army of nurses.
"Hey." Madison's expression changed she was looking better and better, Dr. Pat must have paid her a visit because there was a line running from a sack of blood into her arm. "Not exactly your usual brand is it?" he asked indicating the bag.
Madison shrugged and relaxed tossing the glossy magazine aside. "How's life outside of here?"
"You know same old same old."
"Somebody is lying to me and you know how I hate liars."
"My dad finally left."
Madison stared blankly at him, her green eyes full of disbelief. "I swear to God it's about time."
"I know but when you are who we are you never expect to see your parents split."
"I guess but Cam your mother is a capital witch with a b, and this is coming from me, and I am not exactly the sweetest person around."
"He's totally into Ara's mom."
"Well incest happens to good people."
"What?"
"You know Star Wars totally happened to Luke and Leia, you and Ara, well technically you are not true siblings but you get the picture. It happens we move on, I mean this should really be our motto incest. Look around everyone marries their sister or brother, keeps all our wonderful money in the family."
"Are you always so rational?"
"Only after I eat if you call this day old bag of sludge a meal." Madison eyed the plastic sack with a mild look of disdain, what she would not give for a real snack. "So speaking of Ara?"
"She's not into it, and I don't know why, she keeps saying we can't and I don't know why." He rested his head against the window and closed his eyes. The lights of Manhattan blared against his lids making pictures form, but he could not focus the images and they vanished to the recesses of his mind.
Schuyler sat at her desk in the morning, it had been three days since she had played her hand as Kingsley liked to call it and she could not feel better. It was amazing how telling Jack how she felt actually made her feel lighter like she had shed fifty pounds, it was like walking on air. Studying the report in front of her Schuyler made a couple of notes in the margins before she had to smile again. Life was grand.
"Mrs. Perry?" her assistant asked poking her head in the door.
"Yes Kristen?"
"Your husband is here to see you."
"Great send him in." She nodded and the Oliver walked in looking a bit scruffy oh the life of an artist. She met him half way across the space and wrapped her arms around him. He was like coming home, she smelled the spicy scent of his after shave and the cool whiff of spearmint gum that he chewed while writing truly difficult scenes.
"Hello Sky," he smiled down at her even in heels Oliver still managed to be taller than her.
"Where have you been?" She asked tilting her face up to him.
"I dropped by to see Kingsley at the Bank and then I decided to stop here, just to check in on you. You seem rather chipper as of late."
"Just at peace with the world." She shrugged and pulled out of his arms. Turning around to her desk, she riffled through the pages.
"Strange thing about peace," she looked up at him, she hated that tone whenever he used it. It was the same tone that he used to tell her she needed to pull her life back together. "it never lasts long."
"I don't understand?"
"A couple nights ago, Ara came home and asked me a question about…"
"Oh God you told her?" Schuyler collapsed onto the edge of her desk, whatever zen like state she had entered the cold hard ground of Earth was not where she wanted to be.
"Ara figured it out already, she was just looking for confirmation." He kicked at the carpeting with the toe of his shoe. "I'm sorry."
"Its fine, I knew I would have to do this some time." Two times in one week great, Schuyler thought silently to herself.
"I'll see you later?" He asked.
"Yes, I should be home early not a lot to do today."
"See you later."
"Yup." He nodded and backed out of the room. Schuyler took a deep breath and went back to her work there was nothing else she could do at this point.
Kingsley Martin was buried under a pile of paper work, but what else was new? Dead ends certainly weren't, but they kept creeping up into all of his research. There was nothing, no answers, seemingly no connections, and what was worse he now had a special favor for a friend.
He sighed seeing Oliver made him realize now more than ever people knew about Schuyler's past indiscretions. What was worse his friend was no fool, Sky may have thought she hid her feelings for Jack well but they were there and Oliver knew it. There was where the favor idea came in; Oliver knew it was time, time to make a big decision of his own.
Kingsley went back to his files and picked up the latest on the Bliss Llewellyn she was the one who had booked the go see for Madison. Though she claimed to have dealt with this designer in the past and there had been no incidences. When Kingsley called the designer, he was vague about the time but assured him there was a booking that day at that address.
There was something about this whole thing that felt off to Kingsley this was not what the Clave needed or wanted to hear. They expected results and nothing less.
Stephen Chase felt odd. It was odd to be back in this body, to be back in this life. He was the same—well almost there was a nasty gash on his right shoulder where a dagger had been jammed deep into the tissue—but other than that, he was the same. It was odd to him to know that she was somewhere in this city and she was waiting for the end once again. He looked in the mirror every morning and saw the face of Stephen Chase, but truly that name that man was only an illusion an alias. His true identity was Airand and he was an Old One.
Years ago, he had been sent down from Heaven to look after one Blue Blood in particular, and his biggest mistake had been that he fell in love with her. Love was never part of the equation in the beginning, it was simple just watch over her and protect her from what was coming. That failed the moment he got to know her, because in truth Gabrielle had changed over the years. Stephen let his mission fly by what better way to protect her then to love her, and so he did and that was the end of it.
Stephen was lying on the couch at his apartment, one of the nice things about picking up his old life was the perks. Stephen Chase was a trust fund kid to the max, his parents had died in some accident it was all worked out to be truly tragic, and it was all just a story. He never had parents or anything, he just appeared, knowing what he needed to do. He moved into this apartment when he started at Duchesne. He had been mister popularity for a while but he tended to play the bad boy because it often got her attention and even if she did not like to admit that the darkness she saw in him was attractive he knew she loved it.
In the millennia, since he had actually seen Gabrielle in heaven she had changed so much it surprised Stephen when he met her for the first time. Gone was the impudent angel who during sparing matches often accused him of cheating. But the woman he met on Earth was not the Gabrielle he knew, she was different tamed almost, her willfulness contained or dragged out of her. It had been that fire in her that made Gabrielle leave heaven to help those on Earth. Stephen did not regret what he'd done in his last sojourn on Earth even if it did end with an angel stabbing him in the back.
Stephen cast a glance at the door as it opened and Dylan Ward walked through the thresh hold. True to his word, Stephen had not abandoned the lost angel. Though granted this was the first time someone had ever entered his home uninvited.
"I guess I shouldn't be surprised should I?" Stephen asked propping himself up on his elbows.
"It comes with the territory, private eye stuff." Dylan was pacing around the large open space agitated, "Alright I'll do what I can but I want real answers this time ok?"
"I'll tell you what I know."
"Who killed you?"
"That is between me and my murderer."
"But you were murdered?"
"Yes."
"And you survived?"
"Not exactly."
"Why are you here now?"
"I'm taking care of a few people."
"What do you have to do with me?"
"Think of me as a super sensitive conduit. I know everything you have ever done, and what's worse I know everything you've thought about doing. I am here to protect, guide, and whatever else is needed."
"Did you ever love her?"
"That is a question I am not going to answer at this time."
"Why me?"
"It's a universal question that no one really knows how to answer Dylan. So take a break think on it and then act. She's dying for you to save her."
Kaylamarie2012: Fabulous I am sooo glad that you loved it! Happy Rereading!
Like-Vines-We-Intertwine: I think so too! Hope you enjoyed the epilogue.
xox-JackandSkyForever-xox: Great!
Sky: lots more drama on the Jack/Sky/Oliver front, but don't worry it's all in my head!
JenJenLuvsVamps: It was kinda scandalous and I sooo love it! Thanks for the review!
anna: totally working on it I promise it's soooo juicy I love it.
xo-tink-xo: Still trying, unfortunately he's trying to work through his inability to remember!
spider-monkey-1994: The First chapter should be up today!
xtapx: Yes yes more is totally coming more answers more explanations it will all be fabulous! Thanks for the review.
Kennya: Yes Jack knows about Ara as to your other question it will be answered more in the sequel.
xhollymarie: thanks I am happy you enjoyed it!
The Silver Bullet: I love Stephen sort of like how I love Kinglsey but completely different. Thanks for reading.
Brittney: thanks for the review!
Wii-Luv-Twilight: Thanks for all of the reviews, some of your questions will be answered later but I can give you some answers. First Cam is a typical Blue Blood he was born in their "normal" way. And Madison not so dead, she's still around and kicking. Thanks again for all of the reviews.