Bo walked into the Dal. She had agreed to wait a few days before she went to Lilith. She wanted some time alone with each of her people. Granted, the lunch with Dyson, Hale, and Ciara had been more awkward than reassuring. The time was spent with Dyson mostly telling her to run and Ciara explaining that Bo was a great warrior and he should understand why she wasn't. Hale had to siren them to calm them down when their verbal argument was getting heated. Bo had just sat there and watched them talk around her instead of to her.

This morning, she had gone to Lachlan, who had given her some of his venom that Lauren had managed to prepare before she had taken her vacation to move into the Clubhouse. He reminded her that naga venom was one of the deadliest weapons in faedom, and that she should not give up without a fight. Then, he took her back to the secret room that held their family history before handing her the sword of Samael, reiterating his belief in her as the champion. As one final gesture, he also granted Lauren one extra day on her vacation, with the instructions that they spend the whole day together before Bo went on her death march.

Trick was calling in any favor that anyone ever owed him, trying to find any information on how to defeat Lilith, but he had worked for nothing. Bo thanked him for his efforts, but tonight, she wanted to spend time with her real grandfather. They hadn't really spent much time outside an apocalypse, so it seemed, which made it hard to find time to sit and talk about family and develop a real familial-type bond. She found she wanted what Lauren had with Gram. Even with the knowledge that he was her grandfather, Bo still felt like Trick was just the wise man that she came to for answers. She had wanted more time to change that.

Kenzi had promised to help behind the bar tonight, though Bo wasn't sure that was a good job for her best friend, so that Trick could have the night off to spend in his quarters with her. Instead of talking about anything related to Lilith or Bo's probable death, Trick told her stories about her grandmother and mother. He told her about the Great Fae War, about going into hiding as the Blood King, and about meeting the old Ash. They played some ancient fae game that had apparently been her mother's favorite growing up. Of all of her goodbyes today, this one felt the least like a goodbye, and she loved her grandfather for that.

Lauren was doing something stupid. She knew that, but she was desperate. Seeing Bo feel so helpless to stop her own death, the doctor forced herself to be strong enough for them both. She was going to fight, even if Bo didn't. Even if it meant doing something this stupid.

Looking around the modern office, Lauren realized she had not been in here for over five years, and she was honestly surprised that the Morrigan had granted her a meeting, since the doctor was in service to the Light. Evony's assistant had ushered her into the office, stating that the Morrigan would be with her once she finished with her new client. Lauren couldn't help but wonder who was getting the talent sucked from them today.

Being alone in this office brought back memories from when she had first been brought into the fae. The Morrigan could have easily have sucked the talent from the doctor, so that she would become one of her addicted thralls. Lauren never understood why the leanan sidhe didn't use her powers, instead resorting to old-fashioned seduction.

Lauren had enjoyed the release of the two days she spent with the Dark Fae leader, which is something she always hated herself for. She had been seduced by the dark side, and she felt guilty. It was what made her completely commit herself to her work with the Light, believing them to be the good guys.

Now, she was here to ask for a favor of the Morrigan. Somehow, she knew the woman would grant her the favor, though she wasn't willing to admit why. Still, it was potentially her only chance to save Bo from Lilith, and Lauren was willing to do whatever it took to keep her girlfriend alive.

"Dr. Lewis, always a pleasure." Evony came quickly into the room, startling Lauren from her place by the full-walled window overlooking the city. She was not as startled when the Morrigan came to stand next to her by the window. "I'm going to go out on a limb here and say you're here for your succubus girlfriend. Why else would you trespass onto Dark Fae territory?"

"I need your help." She did not really want to be here, and the sooner she left, the better her chances. Bo would be back soon from her time with Trick at the Dal. She had known the Morrigan would be here late, since the woman thrived on all things dark.

"I'm flattered." Evony was standing several feet from her, but it still felt like she was invading Lauren's personal space. "Why would I want to help you? You rejected my offer; I'm still scorned." The woman's sarcastic pout was not endearing.

"I need Vex." Lauren could feel the saliva travel down her esophagus when she swallowed. She went to tuck her hands into her labcoat, a nervous habit, but she only found her pocketless jeanclad thighs instead. "Actually, Bo needs Vex. If she has any chance of defeating Lilith, she needs someone there that can literally move the odds in her favor."

"Like a Mesmer." The Morrigan narrowed her eyes, replacing her menacingly flirty banter with actual wickedness. "Vex is on my shit list these days; it would be a fitting punishment to send him to his own death by Lilith's hand. It prevents me from having to kill him myself." Lauren chose to remain quiet. "If I grant this request, then you will owe me a future favor regardless of whether your little girlfriend lives or dies, to be cashed in whenever I wish."

"Of course." This was what Lauren was afraid of; she did not want to owe any favors to the Dark Fae, especially its leader. The doctor closed her eyes and nodded, feeling stiffer than usual.

"You will need to keep Bo on a leash until I release him." Evony would have no way of knowing that Bo was not going for another two days; surely, she would release Vex before then. "She's a succubus; if you want to keep her alive, I'm sure you can think of some way to distract her."

"When will you release him?" Lauren steeled herself and tightened her posture. She did not want to give away her fear that Lilith would kill her if Bo failed to show sooner than later. Lauren thought her girlfriend was already pushing her limits by waiting three days. Bo wanted a full day and night with Lauren tomorrow; she was sending her to the compound to be under Lachlan's protection while she spent her last day with Kenzi before going to Lilith that afternoon.

"I just need to convince him that helping is in his best interest; don't worry. Despite my failed attempt with you, I am actually quite persuasive." Evony did not sound like she meant to give Vex the option of pleasure. Lauren wanted to say thank you, but she steeled her jaw and breathed deeply through her nose instead. She nodded one last time before exiting towards the door, ignoring the Morrigan's final shout to her, "What? No goodbye kiss?"

Bo woke up to see Lauren sitting up in the bed, fully clothed, freshly showered, and sharply concentrated. The doctor was doing doctorly-looking things on her tablet computer. Even though the sight of her girlfriend being there was comforting, especially after their amazing day yesterday, Bo started to regret that she was sending her girlfriend back to captivity. Today, though, she wanted to spend some last hours with her best friend, the first person who had ever treated her as anything other than a monster, even after knowing what she was.

Plus, she was more than likely going to her death today. Bo did not want Lauren around to witness that.

Honestly, Bo did not want Lauren around to distract her. She would be too focused on defending and keeping her girlfriend safe that she would miss the offensive and probably get them both killed. That thought bothered her even more than the knowledge that she had no game plan for when she went to that house this afternoon.

"Deep thoughts?" Lauren smirked, though Bo could read the worry.

"Nothing other than your basic 'oh, I'm probably going to die today' musings." Bo smirked back, but she regretted her words when she saw Lauren tense. "Hey, I'm going to fight. If I can, I'm going to fight. We just don't know enough about Lilith, and there is no guarantee that Lachlan's venom will actually work. I'm being realistic."

"You can fight this; you're more powerful than you give yourself credit." Lauren's eyes softened. "You have faith in yourself; in your heart."

"It's not my heart I'm worried about." Bo observed her girlfriend: the cute wrinkles in her furrowed brow; the barely parted lips; the carefully curled blonde locks falling down her shoulders. The woman really was beautiful; her awkwardness and sweet and loyal traits made her breathtaking. "I love you."

Lauren just stared at her, eyes relaxing. "Then live." She looked away to obviously rein in her emotions before resuming eye contact. When Lauren looked at her like this, Bo felt completely loved. It gave Bo strength to fight.

Lauren had left for the compound, stating that it wasn't goodbye because Bo was coming home after the battle. Even though she sounded more resolute than she actually felt, Lauren did her best not linger a little extra with the parting embrace and kiss.

Right now, Lauren was staring at her microscope but not really looking at it. When she was alone, she didn't have to pretend that she wasn't worried. There was no word if Vex had even been released. Would she still have to pay her debt to the Morrigan if Vex never showed to help Bo? If Bo died, how would she know if Vex actually did show?

No, Bo was going to live.

Lauren clutched the pendant around her neck, rubbing it between her thumb and forefinger.

If Bo died, would she have to move out again? She doubted Kenzi would let her stay, even for the subtle comfort that she could offer in remembrance of Bo.

No, Bo was going to live.

Lauren didn't say "I love you" back to Bo this morning. This memory suddenly crashed into her senses, causing her ears to pound and face to flush from the quickened panic. What if she never saw her again to tell her? Sure, they had said it to each other dozens of times, but this time was different.

No, Bo was going to live.

Lauren looked over at the framed photograph of them that Lachlan had agreed to let her place in the workspace. Even though the picture was across the room, the doctor knew the picture well enough to recall details without being near it. It was the only picture she really had of Bo and her together. She had never really liked being the subject in photos. When she dated Nadia, she always felt awkward and dissected whenever the woman would take her picture or use her as a model for a homework assignment because she was too lazy to find someone who actually would do a better job.

This photo was different, though. Lauren wasn't even aware that Gram had taken the picture until after the flash had blinded them. It was from when they had gone to help Bo's mother at the farm. They were sitting on the couch in the main living area, supposed to be watching the movie with Kenzi and Gram, but Lauren had found watching Bo was more interesting. Bo was watching the film, but her smirk and seductive glance backwards told her that the succubus was quite aware of the ogling. When the flash had gone off, Lauren had jumped, but Bo just chuckled.

Bo's mom.

That was it!

The de-faeizing formula that she created to help Bo with her mother: that was how Bo could defeat Lilith.

Lauren jumped from her stool, not minding the screech from the metal scraping across the floor. She went into the sample room and found the vials hidden in her safe. Now, she just had to get the formula to Bo.