Bo wore all black, like a shadow of the night as she entered the Dal. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail, high boots up her legs. She glanced down at herself and thought she looked presentable enough for the situation. She wasn't sure what protocols the Fae had in place to deal with someone like Evony. She didn't think it was likely that she would stand trial by a jury of her peers. And the idea that Evony might manipulate her way out of the situation terrified her.

She charged determinately through the room with Dyson by her side. The large, spacious bar was practically deserted, but tensions were running high. A murmur of conversation filled the room. They were all waiting, the whole place was.

Most of the occupants Bo recognized, some she didn't. "Who is here?" She asked Dyson, scanning the crowd. They all were dressed in prim and neat clothes with serious expressions.

"The former elders of the Light and Dark," Dyson answered, his gaze landed on Evony, Trick, and Massimo, who sat in front of the room.

Those words dropped into Bo's stomach like lead weights. She shuddered at the thought of dealing with the elders. She honestly had no idea what to expect, but she supposed she should have assumed the elders would be there. She sucked in her breath, gathering herself.

Dyson took a seat with the other spectators. But Bo went straight toward the front, and every occupant's head turned in her direction, and Evony flashed an angry glare at her. Trick was by her side, looking worse for wear. There was an anxious look on his face. She wondered what Trick had gone through being under Evony's ownership.

Ignoring Evony, she went around the table to Trick. She placed her hand lightly on his shoulder, and he turned to give her a small smile. "You'll get your freedom back, Trick," She said, her voice was a whisper. "I know it."

"Thank you, my beautiful granddaughter," He whispered back.

The crack in Trick's voice made Bo grimace, and she narrowed her gaze at Evony.

Her eyes shifted to the elders, giving them the politest smile she could muster as she collapsed into her chair next to Dyson. Bo's heart thudded in her chest with anticipation when the tribunal began.

A Fae elder with white hair and a handlebar mustache rose, and the room settled down immediately. He placed a briefcase on the table and riffled through some papers. "All right," He said, after clearing his throat. "So, Evony you stand accused of various crimes against the Fae. Among the charges: using a human terrorist group known as the Order of Six against other Fae."

Evony sat in a chair, legs crossed, looking as regal and smug as if she sat on a throne. "That's absurd." She hissed and folded her arms over her chest.

Bo caught a glimpse of a metal cuff on her wrists. She supposed that blocked Evony from using her powers. She had heard of such a device, but she'd never seen it in use until that day. She gave Evony a look filled with loathing and then shifted to concentrate on the tribunal.

"Once this information came into our possession, we sent our investigators to verify the details and gather more evidence." He looked over his papers and then turned to Evony and began his questioning.

Bo's eyebrows drew together as she listened to the elders ask questions that Evony answered in a calm, matter-of-fact way of hers, looking cool as a cucumber. She examined the faces of those looking at Evony. They were all powerful Fae, she just hoped they were fair, unbiased investigators. Her mind raced over possible outcomes. She tried to shake off the feeling of foreboding as she focused on the questioning.

"We have very conclusive proof of a conspiracy by you against the Fae. Through our investigation, we discovered evidence of your businesses funneling money to accounts that can be traced to the Order."

Evony interrupted, "A bold unverified exaggeration, I sought help from the Order, yes. But I've committed no crime. I took advantage of certain situations, but that's it. You can't pass judgment on me."

He slid a paper across the table toward her. "We have a clear, documented pattern of crimes against the Fae and humanity under your authority."

"Irrelevant." Evony rolled her eyes at the evidence. "I simply compelled the Order to do favors for me."

"She preyed on her own people." Bo hoarsely whispered to Dyson. Blood pounded through her veins as she watched Evony dismiss her crimes. She wanted to shout out the truth, but held onto her self-control, but only by a thread.

Evony gave a fake sweet smile. "I've made many bargains over the years, and those debts need to be repaid. It's not as if I can turn to the human legal system for assistance."

Bo shook her head and whispered furiously to Dyson. "She's sent them to attack different Fae. Of course, she's guilty. She's a master manipulator."

The elder addressed the room. "The circumstances of our time are certainly unique, but Fae against Fae attacks must be dealt with and can't be tolerated. We can't allow those crimes to go unpunished."

The back and forth continued for hours with each of Evony's crimes laid out and debated. Massimo was questioned, giving them the same information he'd given Bo. He wept the entire time. Finally, the elders announced they we're almost done and then they took a short break.

Bo sighed and rolled her shoulders. Everything seemed to be moving excruciatingly slow, and her nerves were jumping all over her body. "Do you think she'll get away with this?" She asked Dyson. She was unsure herself and she was looking for reassurance.

He shrugged and Bo's face clenched, and she remained silent until they began again. After waiting a half an hour, they walked back in.

"It is clear with all the evidence we have that Evony has been behind the Order for many years. This is no isolated incident. We can't ignore the fact that you've been using the Order to turn Fae human." He cleared his throat and read off a piece of paper. "In the wake of these revelations we sentence you to a term of a hundred years in a maximum security facility."

Bo exhaled deeply as she sank into her chair, discomfort pooled in her stomach. This was beyond disastrous. "Bullshit." She hissed at Dyson. "That's no punishment at all."

"What?!" Evony yelled, looking as if she couldn't understand what they'd said. "I demand a new trial."

The elder pointed a finger at her. "You are a traitor, and the law is inflexible. You are guilty of conspiring against your fellow Fae. If we cannot control our own and live amicably and peacefully together, we will end up facing the human militaries."

Evony rose from her chair and shouted to the crowd. "No prison can hold me. I'll be back, I'm Evony Fleurette Marquise." She turned and glared at a weeping Massimo. "And you are no longer my son." She spat out in disgust.

She turned back to the elders and went on a tirade, yelling and vowing revenge. Quickly, two armed guards began escorting her out, but her shouts didn't end.

Bo watched her go. The outcome got under her skin, making it itch and tingle with anger. Sure, Evony was going to prison, but she didn't like the short sentence she'd gotten. Not fair. Not even close. Plotting, always plotting that was Evony's way, and undoubtedly she would start planning a coup or some other evil manipulation to get out.

After the frenzied scene settled, Trick walked up to Bo with a smile. "You did well. I'm proud of you. You saved many Fae by stopping Evony."

Bo stood, her mood blackened while she replayed the events. "I appreciate what you tried to do for me, but it wasn't necessary."

"I wanted to make up for my past mistakes. You've been through too much, and most of it is my fault." He diverted his eyes to the floor in shame.

Bo ignored that and asked, "So, what happens now?"

"All my assets and the Dal will be returned to me, and Evony will have a hundred years to think about her crimes."

Bo watched as Massimo hung his head and ambled out of the Dal. "Doesn't seem like enough for what she's done."

"No, probably not." Trick sighed, and stared up at her, earnestly. "I hope that one day I can regain your trust."

The words left her unsure. Her marriage to Rainer had haunted her for years, but now she sensed that she finally had closure for the whole thing. But Trick was another matter completely, and she couldn't allow herself to be manipulated by him again. "We'll see." She said, non-committedly. "But I want to return your money."

Regret filled Tricks face, along with resolve. "No, please keep it. Do something good with it." His voice was gentle, pleading.

Bo's face tightened with skepticism. She met Trick's gaze, there was pain and desperation there. She hesitated for a long moment, and she glanced at Dyson, who stood silently beside her.

"There are very few of us, like you, who have the power to effect real change in the world, to do real good." Trick looked right into Bo's eyes as if willing her to see the truth in his words. "Please keep it."

It took considerable effort, but Bo didn't argue back. She debated the intelligence of accepting anything from Trick. As she weighed her options, she thought about Lauren and was struck with an idea. Without a word, she reached for Trick's hand and shook it before following the others out of the Dal.

She knew exactly what she wanted to do with Trick's money. She just needed time to plan out the details.

XXXX

Lauren and Kenzi sat in the kitchen, waiting for Bo. Kenzi handed Lauren a paper with a list of names as she explained. "Contact information for the parents."

"Thank you for this," Lauren said, taking the paper and reading over it. Deciding to teach the children was a big commitment, but she was ready. After a lifetime of working under HANE's control, she was no longer willing to play a submissive role in her life. She was free now, prepared to do exactly what she wanted. She had a sense of purpose, helping any of the children she could.

"Some of them weren't so sure about you helping them."

"I understand their concern, but learning their powers is the only way to keep them safe. They're vulnerable without training. So like it or not, there really is no other choice." She sighed and swept her finger over her tablet to a news article. "If the new treaty signed last week by the Fae and the humans is broken, the children will be in even more danger. Peace between the two races is shaky at best."

"And they're still looking for the Dragon," Kenzi added, wearily. "It's not over."

"And it never will be," Lauren answered, and studied her grimly, thinking things through. "The only thing we can do is, protect the children. These kids had their lives stolen from them, and I don't want them to feel weak and powerless outside of HANE's control."

Kenzi sucked in a breath, her gaze turning thoughtful. "No one's quite sure what happened at HANE. They don't know if the dragon attacked or helped. Everyone seems to have a different opinion."

Lauren nodded, and said, "And we should keep it that way. Let them speculate about it. Eventually, they will move on."

They shared a meaningful look before their attention turned to the door when Bo walked in.

As Bo approached them, Lauren greeted her. "Hey," She gave Bo a tentative smile. "How did it go?" She asked, bracing herself for yet another problem to be faced.

Bo pulled in a deep breath and let it out slowly, preparing herself. She leaned against the table and gave them a recap of the trial.

After Bo had finished Kenzi scoffed. "A hundred years isn't much for a Fae."

Bo's expression darkened with anger. "I still can't believe what she did. It's unconscionable." Annoyance rose to the surface, tightening her mouth.

Lauren took Bo's hand to comfort her. "At least she'll be away, where she can't hurt anyone else," She said, trying to look at the bright side. "It's not much, but it's something."

Upon hearing Lauren's words, Bo reined in her anger a bit. As much as Bo hated it, Lauren was right. A light punishment was better than nothing. "Even with Evony in prison, the Order will more than likely regroup. For all we know, they could be waiting in the shadows for an opportunity to strike." She replied with resigned disdain.

"Just like HANE," Kenzi added with sadness in her face and tone.

Lauren sighed, she was all too aware that the tension between humans and Fae, a long-running feud that claimed countless lives, would never truly be resolved. "That's our world. One group will always try to get power over another. The fact is they probably won't ever stop. Our two races will always be at odds, sacrificing time and resources fighting each other. There's too much suspicion, too much mistrust on both sides. But with this new treaty, hopefully, war will be avoided for a while longer. That's the most we can hope for."

A cold chill rolled over Bo's skin, emphasizing the reality of the situation. She suddenly felt fearful for what type of world Olive would grow up in. That fear weighed heavily on her shoulders. After nearly a lifetime alone, she'd become used to only worrying about herself, but now she had a family to care for, and the world suddenly felt like a much scarier place.

Sensing Bo's tension, Lauren grazed her thumb over the top of her hand. "All these groups it's like secrets within secrets, in a never ending cycle. HANE, The Order, the Fae…they're all the same." Bo said, meeting Lauren's eyes.

Lost in her own thoughts, Kenzi responded, distractedly, "A small wonder we've managed to avoid an all-out war."

Bo stepped away from Lauren and walked around the kitchen, to work off her tension. "If both sides would stop and think about it, they'd realize we're all better off working together."

Lauren rose to her feet, placed a hand on Bo's shoulder. She regarded her calmly. "Listen to me. Thanks to you, Evony's in prison and no longer controlling the Order. The rest of it is out of our control. The key is to keep living, and not let fear control us."

Bo kissed Lauren's hand, fighting against her desire to shield Olive and Lauren from danger was difficult. She jarred her mind away from her dark thoughts. "Living in fear just gives them too much power."

Lauren pinned her eyes on Bo and her face brightened. "And it's not all bad. We have many happy and real things to look forward to, a veritable wealth of happiness at our feet. The bottom line here is that the world will always be dangerous, but love and family those things will always exist as well."

A sense of belonging, of love filled Bo's chest, some of her pent-up nerves loosened. She simply answered Lauren by leaning forward, their lips touched in the lightest of kisses.

XXXX

A few days later, Olive swirled in front of the long mirror in her mommy's bedroom. She had on a blue ballerina costume that Kenzi had given to her for her birthday. Thinking something was missing, she picked up a long piece of fabric and tied it around her neck like a cape.

She smiled at herself. She looked like a superhero, and her heart lightened with happiness. She puffed out her chest, admiring her outfit.

She twirled in front of the mirror one more time before she darted off to find her mommy and Bo.

She skipped into the kitchen, practically tripping as she stopped. She was way too excited for her party, and her energy was running all over her.

She posed for the room, and fisted her hands on her hips, with innocence and pride. "When I get big I'm going to protect people; I'm going to be strong and brave." She spun around in her cape with a big smile.

Bo touched her finger to Olive's nose and tried not to grin. "Is that so?"

Olive's soft giggle washed over them. "Yep," She stated, proudly raising her chin.

Chuckling, Lauren watched Olive, and it took her several seconds to word her response carefully. "That's wonderful, but for now, let's just stick with being a kid and enjoying your birthday."

"Is my party soon," Olive asked, gazing up at the Happy Birthday sign propped up on the kitchen table.

Lauren nodded and fastened a few blue and yellow balloons around the room. Beside her, Kenzi was on kitchen duty, getting the food and drinks ready.

"It's all so pretty!" Olive bounced beside Lauren as she finished up.

Bo grinned at her and returned her enthusiasm. "Sure is, Olive. It's perfect." Truthfully, Bo had never been to a little kid's birthday party before, but to her, it seemed exactly what a little girl would want. Giant balloons decorated the kitchen and living room. Everything was color coordinated and handmade. Yellow and blue cupcakes stood on a cake stand on the table, colorful candies filled bowls, and little gift bags were decorated by Lauren and Olive with all the guests' names. All in all, Bo thought it was pretty cool and perfect for Olive.

Olive launched herself up onto a small stool to watch Kenzi pour out some chips into a bowl. "What's that green stuff?"

Kenzi laughed quietly and stirred. "Guacamole."

Olive swung her head around and looked at Lauren. "Mommy, do I like guacamole?"

Lauren stopped and shrugged. "Why don't you try it?"

Olive wrinkled her nose and looked at the bowl. "I think I like cheese better." She paused considering it. "That stuff looks like baby food," She whispered that because she didn't want to hurt Kenzi's feelings.

Bo walked over and picked up a chip and dipped it into the guacamole. "It's good." She chewed with a sly smile, waiting for Olive's reaction.

Bo could see her mind going, trying to figure something out. But nothing came, she just broke into a fit of giggles, and the sound was music to Bo's ears.

"Try it." She picked up another chip and offered it to Olive.

Olive was silent, for a second, as she stared at the food before she shook her head, her tongue peeking out.

"Come on," Bo said enthusiastically. She couldn't help but smile. Olive was just adorable, and her spirit was infectious. She marveled at what an excellent job Lauren had done with raising her on her own.

Bo teased her with the chip a few more times, and Olive jumped off the stool, trying to escape, and shook her head back and forth, pigtails flying. Laughing, Bo lunged for her as Olive giggled riotously, darting off out of the kitchen.

Lauren couldn't help but grin watching the happy commotion unfold as Bo chased Olive around the apartment. She could see how excited Olive was about her birthday, and there was nothing she loved more than seeing her daughter enjoying life. She wanted her to feel like the most important person in the world because to Lauren she was. Her little girl was seven now, and it was still hard to believe at times. She was relieved that, even after everything she'd been through, she still had an unmatched zest for life. It was really amazing, and she was so proud of her. Glancing at the time, she snapped her attention back to getting the party ready.

Minutes later, a breathless Olive barreled back into the kitchen and tugged on Lauren's hand. "Mommy, I want ice-cream." She fiddled with her costume and shifted from foot to foot. "I've been waiting all day!"

Lauren silently laughed at her overly excited seven-year-old as she headed to the refrigerator. Olive kept her on her toes, and she loved that about her. "No, you have to wait."

"Please, mommy. Please." Olive jumped up and down. Her glittery costume swung in the air, and her pigtails bounced with her every step. "It's my birthday! I want ice-cream." She chanted over and over again.

Lauren turned around and gave her a stern look. "You have to wait for your friends to arrive."

Instantly, Olive's bright smile vanished, and her lower lip thrust out slightly. "Can I have ice-cream if I wish really, really hard?"

"I have something better than ice-cream," Bo's voice wafted in as she entered the kitchen with her arms behind her back.

A sparkle of curiosity ignited in Olive's eyes as her head snapped in Bo's direction. "Really?"

Bo crouched down and placed a chain of daisies around her neck. "Beautiful flowers, for a beautiful girl. Happy Birthday." She leaned in and her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "I'm still working on getting you that puppy. But your mommy's a tough nut to crack."

Olive's eyes lit up in pure delight. She grabbed Bo's face with both her hands, looked at her directly in the eyes, and said. "You can do it. You can do anything."

Bo's arms wrapped tightly around Olive, so many emotions hit her all at once. She couldn't help but be happy around Olive. "I love you, Olive," She whispered into her hair.

Olive drew back and gave her a sweet smile. "I know that. I can see it on your face."

Bo reached out and played with her daisy necklace. "Yeah, but I just wanted to say it."

When Kenzi finished up with the food and tapped Olive on her shoulder. "You wanna help me with my hair and makeup?"

Excitement flickered across Olive's face. "Yes!" She cheered, and twirled around. "Can you wear pigtails like me?"

Kenzi took her hand and led her to the bathroom. "Of course."

Bo watched as Lauren busied herself with the party preparations. She had done the impossible. She'd fallen in love. She knew it every time she looked at her, every time they made love, every time she thought about her. It was real. She felt like she'd been given a second chance at life, and she was happy to love Lauren every minute of every day.

Lauren felt Bo's eyes and turned to look at her. "What is it?"

Closing the gap between them, Bo wrapped her arms around Lauren. "I'm really impressed with you, Lauren. This party looks great." She dipped her face down and softly brushed Lauren's lips, giving her a few light kisses.

Bo could feel Lauren's smile against her. Their lips touched for a long moment until Lauren spoke. "Thank you."

Bo shifted her eyes around the apartment, examining the party decorations. "After all the craziness, this birthday party feels a little surreal. It's just so normal."

Lauren wrapped her arms around Bo's neck. "It's important to make these things special for Olive. We don't have any control over what's happening out there in the real world, but we do have control over how we choose to live our lives. All we can do is carve out a little place of safety and happiness in this unpredictable world."

Bo kissed her again, her hands rubbing her back, gently. "She's very lucky to have you," She whispered against her lips.

Lauren put her hand on Bo's waist and pressed her forehead to hers. "And we're lucky to have you." She kissed Bo's lips, soft and sweet and filled with the same tenderness that filled her heart.

Finally, the guests arrived in a flurry of screams and giggles that flowed around them. Olive had invited six of her classmates, and excited chaos quickly filled up the small apartment.

As the party got underway, Bo took a seat and watched as Olive and her friends played games with Lauren giving them instructions. Olive was the life of the party, and Bo wasn't surprised. Watching Olive smile, laugh and have fun filled her with such happiness, and contentment. Her heart never felt so full, or so thankful. She let herself enjoy all the happiness that she felt at that moment. Nothing had ever felt more right.

An epiphany hit her: these small moments were what made life worth living. Life's uncertainties would always be easier to face with a home and family waiting for her at the end of the day. It made her want to look at the future with hope and not dwell on the past. Family and responsibility had crept up on her when she wasn't looking for it, but the best part was that she was totally ready for it. Olive and Lauren were what she'd been looking for her whole life, even if she hadn't realized it until now. Turns out she was always capable of deep, true love. It just took her a hundred years to find it. The thought made her smile. It felt right. Completely, wholly right.

Lauren caught Bo staring and gave her a small smile before looking back at the children.

Bo looked between Olive and Lauren with a big grin. She might be a powerful succubus and a hundred years old, but no matter how many days she'd experience before, somehow there had never been a happier, more perfect day.

Olive's cheerful voice cut into Bo's thoughts. "Bo, don't you want to play?"

A brilliant smile bloomed across Olive's face, and she started dancing around her friends. A delicate flutter moved in Bo's heart, and she gave Olive a smile that matched hers. "I would love to."

XXXX

AN

Next chapter: Olive gets a special surprise.

Thanks for reading and reviewing.