Lauren stirred during the night. As she turned over in Bo's bed she could smell that all too familiar vanilla scent. Bo looked down at her and kissed her.

"No, Bo. You don't want me anymore, so stop", said Lauren still feeling the effects from all of the Whiskey she had consumed.

Bo was hurt though. She thought they were making progress but even if a drunken Lauren felt that way then surely a sober Lauren does too. She could do nothing but turn her back to Lauren and try to sleep.

Morning came and Lauren was expecting to see Bo across from her but Bo was up and gone. She did leave a note that read "Please make yourself at home. Eat whatever you want. I will be back soon-Bo

"Hmm, ok", said Lauren. She had never known the succubus to be up so early and gone. When Lauren tried to stand she stumbled and groaned at the pain from her headache caused by her hangover.

She walked downstairs and Kenzi and Tamsin were watching TV nursing their own pain. They all managed good mornings and wanted food immediately.

"The Dal for breakfast? Lauren offered.

"Yes" said Tamsin and Kenzi.

They arrived and demanded "Pancakes, pancakes, pancakes".

"Well good morning to you too ladies", said Trick.

They noticed Bo wasn't there but didn't find it odd.

Evony was in her office. She knew it wouldn't be long before it wasn't her office anymore so she tried to make the best of it for now.

She looked up and saw the succubus standing in her office.

"Uhhhhh what are you doing here?

"I am here to talk to you, peacefully", said Bo.

"We have nothing to talk about. Not after you wrecked my clinic and your mother threw me on my ass yesterday".

"I only took my mother to your clinic to be treated. It is not my fault Dad made a mess of it by kidnapping them. But I'm sure you have staff that can clean up the mess and bill your insurance for damages".

"I don't want to bill my insurance. For once I want to make you pay". Evony fired back.

"As I said I came here to talk to you peacefully".

"I don't know what you could want from me. Rainer is dead which means your ties to the Dark are too".

"I don't know what you and Lauren have going on or the contents of your agreement with her, but I came here to ask you to release her from that agreement".

"Tsk. What?

"I said I want you to free Lauren from her Dark Fae contract or whatever it is".

"You must be kidding".

"No, Evony. I'm not kidding at all".

"Lauren is a brilliant Dr. We both know that and she's far too valuable to the Fae in general. I can't just up and let her go, as you say".

"And we both know that you are human now. But I'm sure the Elders would love to know that they have a human as their current leader of the Dark Fae".

"Why do you care? "You're unaligned again".

"I care about Lauren, Evony and you know that".

"Hmmm did you care about Lauren when you chose Rainer over her?

"That is none of your business, Evony".

"It was when I had a brokenhearted Dr, on my hands. But of course I'm sure you didn't see the damage, all you saw was your destiny . It was hard for her to concentrate on her patients but again, I'm sure you weren't concerned".

Bo broke a bit but she had to focus.

"Lauren is no longer your concern-

"Lauren is everyone's concern. She can't treat people if her mind is occupied because you were selfish and broke her heart. If she slips just once, she could cost someone their life and the last thing I need is a malpractice suit on my hands".

Bo broke even more.

"Don't worry about Lauren. Leave that to me. As I asked you earlier, release her".

"I won't".

"You will. I'm not asking you to fire her from your clinic. I am asking you to release her from whatever the agreement is. She told me this was on her own terms".

"It was until she turned me human. I had a little clause that if she betrayed me in any way, I would own her and I do".

"You will release her Evony and soon. If she chooses to remain at your clinic that is her choice but you will release her".

"And If I don't?

"Simple. I will go directly to the Dark Fae elders and tell them I have permanently chosen a side and to prove my choice, I would agree to become leader of the Dark Fae".

Evony was at a loss for words. She looked at the succubus and knew she meant every word.

"Hello, tick tock Evony?

Evony swallowed hard.

"Is that um all you want?

Bo thought about Lauren's shack.

"Actually no. You will release her and give her severance pay as a parting gift and make it good".

"Now I will sit here and wait for you to complete our agreement in writing. And by the way, as far as Lauren is concerned, we never had this conversation".

"Lauren was creating a serum to make me Fae again. I still need her for that".

"Be happy that she didn't kill you and if she decides to continue to work on that, that will be her decision. You will not force her to do it. You are her only chance before they elect another leader".

"Time's running out Evony. I will give you 20 minutes on the count of now".

Kenzi, Lauren and Tamsin had their fill of pancakes and were already back at the penthouse.

"Hotpants don't you have to work today?

"Kenzi it's Sunday".

"Ohhhhh. What shall we do?

"Pizza and a movie?

"Good idea, I'll order it".

Evony had written out the agreement to release Lauren from all things Dark Fae and handed Bo a copy.

"Sit, I want to read over this", said Bo

"It's all there succubus".

"Forgive me if I have trouble trusting you at your word".

Twenty minutes had passed and Bo was finally done reading their agreement.

"Ok. You will give this to Lauren immediately. Oh and as I said, it's up to her if she decides to continue working at the clinic", said Bo.

"Fine. Now get out of my office".

"While you still have this office", smiled Bo as she left.

As she was walking out Bo thought about what Evony said about Lauren. If the Morrigan saw it, then Bo really did have a lot of making up to do with Lauren and making love wasn't going to cut it. She needed to feel like she was unequivocally Bo's choice. She had another idea and returned to Evony's office.

When Bo returned home, she heard music blaring and the gang dancing.

"Hello?

"Hello? she called out again. Although she wanted nothing more than to walk up behind Lauren and dance with her.

"Ohhh Bobo, you're home", said Kenzi turning the music down.

"Tamsin, I hope you're sober", said Bo.

"I am sober Bo, enough for a conversation if that's what you're asking for".

"I am please come with me to the Dal", said Bo.

"The Dal again? Yes ma'am!

Kenzi and Lauren just poured another glass and went back to their movie.

"Cheers", they yelled.

Bo and Tamsin arrived at the Dal. Bo spotted Dyson, said her hellos to him and Trick and pulled Tamsin to a booth so they could talk privately.

"What's that about", asked Dyson.

"I have no idea", said Trick pouring Dyson a drink.

Bo and Tamsin were done and made their way back to the bar.

"Shot of Whiskey please Trick", said Tamsin

"Dyson can we talk?

"Ummm sure. A booth", he pointed to.

"I am sorry Dyson. I know I used you and it was unfair".

"Bo..."

"Please let me finish".

"Ok", he said waving his hand.

"You and I were once lovers and I know that was stolen from you, from us. But to be honest Dyson I love you as a friend now. We can never be more than that again".

"Bo I know this".

"Dyson...".

"I'm sorry go ahead".

"Now I know there will be times I will need to feed. I have decided to find someone else to feed from. Someone not in our close circle, so nobody's feelings are hurt".

"You mean Lauren".

"I mean everyone", she smiled softly.

"I don't want there to be anymore confusion about feelings or strings".

Back at the club house, their movie was almost most over when Lauren's phone rang.

"Dr. Lewis", she answered.

"Dr. Lewis I need to see you".

"Evony you're being so formal, what's up?

"Please come to my office Dr. asap".

"Ok I will be there in 30 minutes".

"Sorry Kenzi".

"I thought you said you were off today Doc", she laughed.

"I am. But she sounded serious and now I'm curious", Lauren said laughing too.

Lauren crept into Evony's office with her hand touching a syringe in her pocket. Ever the Dr.

"You won't need that said Evony pointing to the hand in her pocket".

"I won't need..."

"Lauren you're a doctor, you have syringes on your brain all the time".

"Ummm Ok. What is this about Evony?

"Read and I will pour..."

"Um no thanks. I've had enough today", laughed Lauren.

Lauren read over the documents and was stunned.

"You're letting me go? Just like that?

"You're valuable to the Fae. If I don't release you now the next leader likely won't. This means our agreement is over. Now if you wish you can still work for the clinic since it was opened in my name the Dark Fae has no say in your services there".

Lauren stood up and put her hand on Evony's head to check for a fever of some kind.

"Dr., please", said Evony half smiling.

"Well, this is uh, out of the blue or out of the dark", said Lauren laughing.

"You have the documents in your hands. This is legit Dr. Now about the clinic, you and I both know you're damn good at what you do, so I hope you will stay on but I won't pressure you in deciding. Just let me know what you want to do within 3 weeks. In the mean time I will start looking for other Dr's to work while you make your decision".

"Three weeks?

"Yes Dr., three weeks. So basically you're on vacation while you choose".

"But I-".

"Lauren you've worked nearly 7 years straight. Go home and get on with your human life. I will find good doctors to stand in for you, you know I only find the best".

"But I-"

"Guards. Come and escort Dr. Lewis to her car and make sure you see her drive off, if not, drive her home yourselves", said Evony.

"But I-"

"Good bye Dr. Lewis".

Dyson was dragging Bo into the crack shack.

"What the hell happened?

"Bo was attacked in the alley behind the Dal".

"Yeah I think they thought I was my mother. No matter though they look a lot worse than I do".

Bo turned to Dyson to feed. She needed to change clothes though and went upstairs to do so. Dyson and Kenzi continued talking about it when Lauren walked in.

"What happened asked Lauren seeing blood on Dyson's shirt.

"It's not mine it's Bo's".

"What?

"It's Ok Lauren. She's fine. She just went upstairs to change".

Lauren couldn't wait with the Dr. in her panicking, she ran upstairs.

"Bo?

"Lauren! I'm fine", she said.

"I just saw all of the blood...".

"Its Ok. See no wounds Dr.", said Bo pointing to her half naked body.

"Umm Ok... Um yeah I will let you finish getting dressed", said Lauren almost panting as she walked out.

Bo joined the others downstairs and pulled Dyson to the side.

"Dyson look Tamsin and I are working on a case, and I need you to look after everyone while we are gone. I don't trust Evony not to pull something while I'm away".

"Bo...", said Lauren interrupting.

"Yes Lauren?

Dyson walked away and gave Bo a wink in understanding.

"Look. I"m free".

"You're what?

Bo had to play it off.

"I'm free Evony just burned our agreement and gave me my walking papers. Well...my walking papers from the Fae. I'm finally free again!

"That's great and well deserved...news..Lauren", said a smiling Bo.

She hugged Lauren in celebration and nearly melted into her arms.

"Ummmm thank...you", said Lauren nearly panting.

Just then Aife walked in.

"Mom? Where have you been".

"I was at a meeting".

"Mom? What did you do?

"It's ok Isabeau, it wasn't that kind of meeting".

"Yeah well I think I ran into a few of your meeting buddies earlier today".

"What? Did they hurt you?

"A little but I hurt them a lot worse".

"Who were they?

"It doesn't matter mom, just promise me you'll be careful".

"I can promise you I will be careful. But I won't use care kicking their asses when I find them".

"Mom. We just got you back and I'm not ready to lose you again".

"I'll be fine Isabeau".

"I hope so" said an exasperated Bo.

TBC