Note: So, this gets a bit racy. I tried to edit it, but… well… you'll see…

To Become a Queen

Niall sighed as he leaned back in his chair, looking around the bar. He had been content to stay at the Dark Court, but Seth had dragged him out, saying it would do some good to be distracted. Otherwise he might drive himself crazy sitting around waiting for Maeve to call or message.

His shadows hovered around him, sensing his agitation. He wasn't angry, no. But he couldn't seem to settle, feeling on edge the more time that passed. But still, he wouldn't reach out to her, determined to let Maeve come to him when she was ready. If she ever was ready.

He took a drink of his beer, his eyes once again roaming across the bar. Seth remained silent at his side, knowing that he would speak when he wanted to talk. And for now, he preferred to sit in silence.

But then he felt something. A slight shift in the air.

Niall sat up in his chair, feeling as though something was coming towards him, but he didn't know what. He fixed his eyes on the crowd, waiting. And then suddenly it parted slightly. And he saw her.

His eyes widened slightly as he watched Maeve walk towards him, a brilliant smile on her face and her charm gone. He knew that he wasn't the only one who sensed the power emanating from her as other faeries turned to watch her. It wasn't nearly as strong as him or the other monarchs, but it was stronger than the average faery.

More than that, she was wearing a tank top, allowing everyone to see her scarred skin but yet, still held her head up high.

Like a true queen.

The closer she got, the more his agitation abated as a calm fell over him. Without thinking, he found himself on his feet, walking to meet her.

"Maeve," he said softly as he reached her.

"I know that this is all confusing and in a lot of ways, it makes no sense," she said before he could say anything else. "But one thing I know… I want to be with you, Niall."

He couldn't speak as he let that one phrase wash over him. She had chosen him. Maeve reached out, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him closer.

"This… is who I am. And if being with you means that I accept taking on the Dark Court with you, then that's what I want," she continued. "And I know now that… I am strong enough. I want to do this - rule the Dark Court - with you."

He couldn't help as he broke out into a grin, his hands finding her waist. All the worry and fear he had felt earlier completely disappeared as he stared down into her eyes. It felt like the world had finally settled around him and was no longer spinning out of control.

"All I want is to be with you," he replied. Maeve grinned up at him as he bent down and took her lips in a kiss.

It as if that one kiss had unlocked the heat of a thousand suns. As soon as their lips touched a fire roared to life within Niall and he was desperately clinging to Maeve, using her to somehow keep himself grounded. If he thought what he had felt before was intense, this was tenfold more so.

"Niall," Maeve said breathlessly, pulling away from him.

"Mmm?" he replied, trying to kiss her again, unable to control himself.

"Think we should take this somewhere more private?"

He stopped and glanced around, his eyes wide as every human and faery in the bar was watching them. He then looked down, seeing he had one hand already up Maeve's shirt and had pulled her flush against him.

"Right," he said, noting her flushed cheeks. She smiled and nodded, starting to walk away, but keeping his hand firmly in hers.

As soon as they stepped into Maeve's apartment, she barely had time to turn around before Niall's lips were once again on hers, his hands moving all over her body. The heat from their previous kiss had dulled to a simmer as they made their way quickly to her building but was now at a full-on boil in mere seconds as she began pulling at the buttons on his shirt, trying desperately to pull it off.

There was a soft pattering on the floor, and she pulled away, finding that she had ripped the damn thing open, causing all the buttons to pop off. Maeve met his eyes, hers round in shock as he chuckled.

"Someone's a bit eager," he said softly before his lips met hers again. Maeve forgot all about the buttons as her hands roamed his hard chest, feeling the grooves of his scars, as they began stumbling backwards towards the stairs leading up to her bedroom. For a moment she worried about the hazards of making their way up the stairs in this state, but as if sensing it, Niall smoothly lifted her up into his arms and quickly made his way up at a speed that might have otherwise made her sick. But for some reason now it didn't.

He deposited her in front of the bed, letting go of her long enough to pull her tank top off before his mouth was on hers again.

Maeve felt as though her body was more alive than it had ever been with each kiss, each caress setting her veins aflame. She reached down, fumbling with his pants, wanting to get rid of every single clothing barrier between them as quickly as possible.

Niall seemed to have the same idea and in a frenzy of pulling and tugging, Maeve finally found herself lying on the bed staring up at him.

Her breath caught in her throat, thinking he was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. And he was hers.

All rational thought then completely left her mind as he crawled on top of her and it was once against a push and pull. A battle for dominance. She flipped them over, straddling him as she left a bruising kiss on his lips. Then suddenly, he was above her, pinning her down to the bed as he attacked her neck. Maeve's eyes rolled back into her head as sensations more intense than anything she had ever felt before coursed through her.

God, if this was what it was going to be like being with Niall, she wondered how they would ever leave the bedroom.

Regardless, Mauve gave into it wholeheartedly, closing her eyes as she felt his hands moving everywhere. His lips covering nearly every inch of her. Soft and gentle when they touched her scars, searing nearly everywhere else.

More than just the pleasure, she could feel something else. The very same thing that she had felt all the other times. But this time, as she locked eyes with Niall, neither of them feared it. Rather, it was as though they were barreling unabashedly towards it.

She could feel the pressure beginning to build, becoming so intense that she had to close her eyes, for a moment thinking she was about to lose herself.

"Maeve," Niall breathed. "Look at me."

She opened her eyes, seeing the dark swirling pools of his own. For a moment, it felt as though she were falling into them.

"Stay with me," he said. She could only nod, unable to even manage speech.

Then suddenly, it was as though the fabric of time and space had completely ripped. Maeve forgot where she was or who she even was. It was as though the universe had exploded and then somehow managed to sew itself back together. When she finally came back down, nothing looked the same. Though she wasn't sure just what, if anything, had actually changed.

Maeve and Niall laid still a few moments, both breathing heavily as their hearts beat at a rapid pace. Maeve felt like she couldn't move, as if all the bones in her body had disappeared. Finally, Niall rolled over, pulling her close to him. He gently brushed her hair out of her face, smiling softly as he gazed lovingly at her.

Maeve felt like she must be the fucking holy grail with the way he was looking at her.

"What is it?" she breathed. Niall gently kissed her.

"It's… I don't know, but… you've changed," he said. Maeve chuckled.

"Thought we discussed that already," she said.

"No, Maeve…" he stopped as he looked down her body and then back up. He lifted her hand until it was right in front of her face. Maeve's eyes widened as she saw the swirling shadows circling her hand, in between her fingers.

"What the-"

"Well… I guess we can officially say that you are the Dark Queen," he said. Maeve met his eyes and grinned. "You're full faery now."

"That's all it took?" she asked. "Wait… that's what I felt, wasn't it? I just thought you were really, really good at this." Niall chuckled and pulled her closer to him.

"Oh, I am, but I do think part of that was… well, I suppose when we consummated our relationship, that meant you accepted your place with me in the Dark Court," he replied. Maeve rolled her eyes.

"Go figure. Sex would be how I become the Dark Queen," she quipped. "Fitting."

Niall was silent a few moments, just watching her.

"What, Niall? I can't read your mind," Maeve said.

"Are you happy?" he asked, a bit of worry creeping into his eyes. Maeve laughed loudly and then planted a quick kiss on his lips.

"Yes, you idiot," she said. "I told you - I want to be with you. To be the Dark Queen. You're stuck with me now." Niall grinned in response.

"I couldn't imagine being stuck with anyone else," he replied before kissing her softly.

"So… what comes next?" Maeve asked.

"Other than you? Hopefully several times tonight?" Niall asked, grinning. Maeve rolled her eyes. "Anything. Though… now that you're officially queen, we will need to go to the Dark Court. You need to be filled in on everything that's going on."

"Right, this war business," Maeve commented. She expected to be afraid, but for some reason, there was no fear.

"Don't worry. We'll beat this," Niall vowed. Maeve smiled and nodded.

"I know," she said. "We're stronger together."

"That we are."

Aislinn stopped on the sidewalk, looking up at the night sky. She had been walking around for hours, unable to bring herself to go back to the loft just yet. But she had felt something in that moment. A shift in the atmosphere.

She was certain that it meant Maeve had made her choice.

A soft smile came over her face. While she wasn't sure what this would mean for balance between the courts, she was truly happy for her cousin. She had been through enough in her young life and deserved happiness.

If that meant being with Niall, accepting the mantle of Dark Queen, then she would be happy for her and accept whatever consequences would follow. Despite the uncertainty, Aislinn couldn't help but think this would be a good thing. That her bond with Maeve was strong enough that it might bring about a final peace between the Summer and Dark courts.

"Ash?"

She looked down from the sky, finding Seth standing a few feet away from her, seemingly surprised to see her out on her own without her ever present guard. Awkwardness settled over the two as they stared at each other, neither moving towards the other.

"Hey," she finally said softly, smiling at him. Seth relaxed slightly, returning the smile. "I, ah, needed some air. Thought I'd take a walk."

"Mind if I join you?" he asked. She shook her head as he walked over and they began a slow, steady pace walking through the empty streets of Huntsdale. "So… you feel that? Kind of weird. Like… something shifted."

"Yea, I think… I think it means Maeve's found her place," she said.

"Thought as much," Seth replied. "She showed up at the Crow's Nest. After a fairly heated makeout session, she and Niall went off somewhere." Aislinn nodded slowly, her cheeks blushing slightly.

So that's how it worked with the Dark Court. Though she figured it shouldn't be that surprising.

"I'm happy for them," she said. "I think they'll be good for each other. Maeve'll help balance out some of Niall's darker tendencies and Niall will..."

"Remind her how strong she is," Seth finished for her. Aislinn stopped walking and looked up at him.

"Yea," she replied softly. She held her breath as they stared at each other, unsure of what would come next. She knew that she still loved him, but after everything, she wasn't sure what to say.

"Ash…" he said softly. "I'm sorry… about everything." She nodded.

"I know," she replied. "I still love you, you know."

"I still love you, too," he said.

In that moment, it was as though everything aligned and Aislinn knew that things were right between them. Seth bent down and she met him halfway in a soft kiss.

God, she missed this. This closeness with him. And now that she knew she wouldn't hurt him, she didn't hold back, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him closer.

"Are we going to be okay?" she asked softly, leaning her forehead against his afterwards. He nodded.

"Yea, we're going to be okay…"

Keenan jolted up from his chair, knocking over the goblet of wine that had been sitting on his desk. He looked up at the ceiling, frowning as he quickly went through over all the possibilities of what could have just happened.

Was it Bananach? Had the war begun?

His thoughts then turned to Maeve and Niall. His eyes widened as he sat back down, the realization of what had just happened washing over him.

She had chosen the Dark Court.

"Tavish! Cian!" he shouted. His two advisors quickly made their way into the study.

"Yes?" they asked.

"Where's the queen?" he asked.

"Still out. She hasn't returned," Tavish said. "She sent the guards back." Keenan frowned. It wasn't safe for her to be out unguarded. Especially not now. Part of him didn't think that Maeve would hurt her, but he wasn't sure just what would happen now that she was the Dark Queen.

"Is something wrong?" Cian asked. Keenan sighed and rubbed his face.

"I'm not sure," he replied, looking up at them. "The Dark Court has just gained more power."

"How so?" Tavish asked, confused.

"It's now gained a Dark Queen," Keenan said. The two advisors looked at each other in shock and then back at Keenan.

"But… how-"

"Maeve - Aislinn's cousin - seems to have accepted her destined role," Keenan said tiredly.

"What would you have us do?" Tavish asked. Keenan sighed.

"I don't know," he said. "They haven't done anything to threaten us yet. I suppose we just… wait."

"Wait?" Cian asked. Keenan nodded.

"That's all for now," he said, dismissing them. The two walked out of the study, leaving him alone with his thoughts. Keenan leaned back in his chair, his thoughts whirling. He had worried about this very thing but had no idea what to do. He knew that Aislinn would probably be happy. Tell him to continue the relative peace between the courts. Say that this could be a good thing.

He couldn't help but wish that he could go to Donia. Talk to her. Ask her advice. Or just… be with her. It was obvious that he would get nowhere with Aislinn. Even if she and Seth were no longer together, she still loved him. Probably always would. He, Summer King, would never possess her heart in the way that Seth did.

And to make matters worse, now even Niall had someone. A queen. A powerful one if that shift was anything to go by.

The Dark Court had just gotten stronger, and Keenan was left feeling alone and utterly lost.

Irial leaned against the building, blending into the dark shadows that surrounded him. He blew out a stream of smoke, his dark eyes fix on the small group of people making their way down the sidewalk across the street from him.

He wasn't sure if she would sense him or not. He knew she still had the Sight, but he didn't want her to know that he was there. That he stopped by often to check on her.

Leslie laughed loudly, tossing her head back as she leaned on one of her companions. She looked good. Happy. Healthy. Maybe it was a good thing that she had left the faery world behind. It still didn't stop the ache in his heart.

But perhaps things could change. Could be different. He had felt it. The moment Maeve had accepted her destiny as the Dark Queen. There was no love lost. He was happy that his daughter had now become part of this world, knew that she could make Niall happy in a way that he couldn't. That even Leslie couldn't. He hoped that Maeve would come around to forgiving him, maybe open to a relationship with him.

And more than anything, he hoped that if he could repair his relationship with her that meant someday, he could repair his relationship with Leslie.

He watched as she called out good-bye and made her way up the stairs to the building. She paused for a moment, looking around as though she sensed him there. But then she turned back to the door and went inside.

Irial sighed, putting out his cigarette.

"Soon," he whispered into the night as he turned and started walking away. Just exactly what that meant, he wasn't sure. But couldn't help as a smile came over his face.

There was always hope.

So… yea, this is a bit racy, but as you can see, I couldn't really edit out the love scene completely as it's a bit important to the actual story.

But hope you enjoyed!