Kenzi and Lauren arrived back at the safe house, and Lauren went straight to the kitchen to pour them both a glass of wine. Kenzi was flopped on the couch and gladly accepted the glass Lauren offered to her, despite the fact she wasn't much of a wine drinker. At this point, she would have drank anything offered to her.
Lauren sat down in the chair to the left of Kenzi, and took a deep gulp of the wine, closing her eyes as the last remnants slid down her throat. She wasn't sure how she was keeping herself together at this point – all she wanted to do was curl into a little ball and cry. Well, what she really want to do was crawl in to bed with Bo and make love to her for hours; it was the fact that she couldn't do that that made the ball of tears her second choice.
"We're going to get her back," the soft voice dragged Lauren back to reality and she opened her eyes to look at the small goth, who was sitting on the couch watching her intently.
Lauren felt the tears welling up in her eyes, and nodded quickly, trying as hard as she could to keep them at bay, closing her eyes tightly to keep them trapped.
"It's okay to cry. It's human. I am scared too."
Lauren opened her eyes and looked up at Kenzi. "On top of all this Kenzi, on top of worrying about Bo and missing her so much it physically hurts, I don't even know if I *am* human anymore."
"You know what Doc, it doesn't really matter. You are still you. You are still the woman that my best friend is madly in love with, and she doesn't care if you are human, fae or a giraffe. None of us do."
Lauren let out a crooked smile. "Giraffe? That would make kissing a bit of a challenge, wouldn't it," she said as she chuckled to herself, imaging Bo trying to kiss a giraffe.
Kenzi smiled back, glad to see Lauren in a bit of a better mood. "Hale was right, we should get some sleep. He will be calling for us by 7, so we should get what little rest we can. Are you going to be alright?"
Lauren nodded. "I have no choice Kenzi, I have to get her back." And with that, both women headed off to their rooms, both dubious that they would actually get any of that much needed rest.
XXX
Bo and Lauren were standing under a giant Willow tree, hands intertwined as they stared in to each other's eyes. Lauren had on a crisp white button down shirt, fitted around the chest, and grey dress slacks that accentuated her long legs and toned body; she was classically elegant. Bo had on a beautiful maroon corset and matching waistcoat, with a pair of tailored black pants. Their styles were very different, but they came together well, blending classical and modern, with a touch of the darker side thrown in for fun.
Though there were several hundred people watching them, neither seemed to notice as they were both mesmerized by the beauty of the other. There was a man in front of them speaking, and after a few minutes, both women smiled and leaned in for a kiss.
Lauren woke with a start as her alarm went off. She reached across the bed to shut it off before leaning back in to the pillow to try and capture some more of the amazing dream she was having. She and Bo were getting married and Bo looked amazing. They were so happy. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to mentally prepare herself for what was going to come today. Either they would save Bo and everyone would live happily ever after, or they would fail, in which case she didn't really care if she lived or died. She tried to send Bo loving thoughts through their bond, willing her to have the strength to hold on for just a little longer. She silently prayed it was enough.
xxx
Bo woke from her dream with a smile in her face. She was so weak she couldn't stand up at this point, but her dream had made her happy. She and Lauren had gotten married. Lauren looked as beautiful as ever in her grey tailored pants and perfectly fit button-down shirt. Her heart ached to see the blonde again, to hold her close and feel her heart beating next to hers.
Hearing a noise to her left, she lifted her head from the floor and propped herself up against the wall. "Is someone there?" she asked, her voice cracking from the dryness.
She was shocked to hear Dyson's voice answer her question. "Bo, it's Dyson, I am here."
Feeling her excitement pick up that Dyson was here and would rescue her, she was able to squeak out "thank god, I thought I was going to die here," as she tried to see in the dark as to where his voice was coming from.
There was a pause, before he replied, "I am sorry Bo, but I am a prisoner here, just as you are." Bo could hear the sadness in his voice.
"What? You too? I don't understand, who is this psychopath and what does he want with us?" she asked, her heart plummeting back down in to her chest.
Again there was a pause before Dyson replied, his voice laced with regret. "I am so sorry Bo, I swear to you I had no idea. I would have stopped him if I had known, I never wanted Lauren to be hurt or you to be brought here."
"Dyson, what are you talking about. Who is holding us?"
It was several seconds before Dyson responded. "My father"
Bo was shocked, it certainly wasn't anyone she had considered. She had never even met Dyson's father, in fact she couldn't even remember a time Dyson had ever mentioned him.
"Your father," she finally whispered. "why….?"
"He knows of your destiny, to be ruler of the fae and wants me to rule by your side. He knows I have mated to you, and I think he is going to perform a ceremony to force you to mate with me tonight," Dyson choked out. "I am so sorry."
Bo was quiet as she tried to process what Dyson had just told her. She was having a hard time focusing in her weakened state, but the thought of being forced to mate with someone made her sick to her stomach. She was Lauren's and there was no way she was letting anyone force her to break that bond.
Tears started running down her cheek as she felt her resolve start to crumble at the mess she was in. Ironically for once, it wasn't one she had brought on herself, but that only seemed to make it worse. Why did the fae have to suck so much with their prophecy's and lies? All she wanted was a quiet, normal life. A life with Lauren, a house, a drooly dog and maybe some kids someday. Instead the only family she knew lied to her at every turn, her lover nearly died because of those lies, and now here she was, waiting to either be force to mate like an animal, or die of starvation.
Dyson heard Bo crying and could do nothing but hang his head in shame. Despite the fact that he was just as much a prisoner as Bo, he felt responsible since the man behind everything was his father.
"Dyson…?" came a tentative query from Bo.
"Yes Bo?"
"It's not your fault. I know you well enough that you are probably blaming yourself right now, but don't. You didn't know what your father was doing, you are just as much a victim as the rest of us."
Dyson knew Bo meant what she was saying, and it meant a lot to him. "Thank you Bo. You should try and get some rest. Hale and Trick must know by now I am missing as well, and I am sure they are working on some way of finding us."
Bo nodded, even though she knew Dyson could not see her. Lying back down on the ground, she curled into as small a ball as she could and hoped her memories of Lauren could get her through a few more hours. Somehow she knew Lauren was coming to save her – she couldn't explain it, but she knew. She just had to hold on for a little longer.
