Bo breathed heavily. She knew eyes were on her. She'd opened her mouth before she had prepared what she was going to say next. She shook her head. Prepared? Why does she need to prepare her words like a public speech? If she means her words, they should come to her. Easily and freely.

"Bo?." Lauren sighed.

"From the moment I met you, Lauren. There was always something. I was sitting in front of people not knowing who they were and who I was. Then he sent me with you to be examined. From the moment you gently removed those handcuffs, things were about to change for me and us forever. For years I had people in my bed, in back alleys. Wherever I was, I had to feed quickly. I didn't even know why I was like that. I watched humans eat food for years and never fully understood why their food wasn't enough for me. So, I fed and killed. The moment you told me what I was and that there was nothing wrong with what I am, it was like you were removing my handcuffs again. Freeing me. Freeing her. Free from nights and mornings of the horror of finding dead people next to me or under me.

When you started those injections, I think she did more with them than your human science could provide. When we slept together, I knew she was there too. Protecting you like she never did any other Fae or human I had been with. There's only one person that knows how she feels. There's only one other person that knows how I feel. It is the both of us. We both love you. We both protect you. When you broke up with me, it crushed us both. She wanted to go on another killing spree. Then she thought of you. We can't be that monster and say we love. We can't be that killer and say that we hate everyone. Because we love only one. That one is you. It always has been.". Bo walked over to Lauren and took her head into her hands. "I want you to feel this. Feel the both of us. I won't kiss you. I won't have to. You will see it all in my eyes."

Lauren looked at Bo's hands. They weren't glowing but her eyes were slowly turning blue. The woman didn't say anything, she just stared into her eyes. Then it happened. Her hands warmed but they weren't orange. Bo closed her eyes and opened them again. Lauren squinted her eyes and knew they had changed colors. In she went. It was like the start of a water slide as her eyes went into blue turned deeper blue eyes. She saw it all. Every thought Bo had about her. Good and bad. But the good outweighed the bad. She saw her Succubus crying after Lauren had broken up with Bo. She saw Bo at the club house pacing back and forth as she cried too, trying to get her succubus to calm down enough that they were left with tears of love and not tears of vengeance. Bo fell to the floor like a child with her legs crossed. She bent over and put her head in her hands. She screamed so hard that the walls shook and made a few more holes in the structure. Then she saw every moment up until the moment Bo slept with Dyson in his gym. Closing her eyes, Lauren pulled Bo's hands away and stepped back.

"Do you really think he means that much to me? He's a free penis. That's all he is. He's just dumb enough to think Bo will take him back. He's dumb enough to think he's worthy of being a mate to a succubus. He can't handle a full blown succubus. He couldn't handle Aife. He couldn't handle me without telling Bo he'd had enough. When have I ever done that with you? When have I ever tried to kill you? When I brought him back to life, I took more chi from them and not you. Bo is right. You have belonged to the both of us. You just never knew it, until now and it's scaring you." The succubus spoke and stepped back herself.

Lauren turned and walked to the nearest window and looked out. She has studied Bo for years and never knew she could do what she had just done. Probably because she had never been a mate before. She now knows how she knew when Bo's succubus was on the surface when she hadn't seen the woman yet. Because this is something in the air when they are around each other now.

What's taking her breath away is that Bo loves her. She really does. Her succubus loves her. She really does. Can she really decide on which one to mate with? Would that be fair to either of them? To be fair, her succubus was always just hidden behind Bo until the Lich happened. That day will never leave the blonde's mind. The awe of seeing what she did and knowing she was protecting her. The worry of Bo being gone forever behind this person standing in Bo's body.

"It's okay, Lauren." Bo whispered.

"Bo." Lauren sighed.

"No. Listen. It is okay. You don't have to decide right now. You don't. We can't just jump into a relationship no matter which one of us you choose. We did that last time and failed. You wanted a break that you had every right to ask for. I jumped in and quit on you. I left you feeling lower than dirt. So low you asked for that break. This is nobody's business but ours. Like it should have always been. The Fae found out there was a new Fae in town and made my life hell. I made it worse by not seeing what I had with you. You couldn't even trust me with the truth and we both know how I react to the slightest hint of bullshit. I run. You tried to tell me about Vex and the Ash and I didn't let you explain. Dyson knew Aife was coming for me and didn't tell me but I let him explain. I didn't do that with you. It was easier to run and keep my distance than to stay and listen. Why should I let this or allow you to think this will be that easy. It shouldn't be. We have to work on this together. We can't run. We have to let each other explain." Bo bit her lip and released it.

"I don't think I can choose Bo. I don't think I will ever be able to do that. If I choose you, your succubus will be another Nadia. Sleeping in the back. If I choose your succubus, you will be another Nadia. Sleeping in the back. That's what I'm feeling right now." Lauren explained.

"And that's okay to feel that way. But I can speak for myself and my succubus. Your choice is your choice. We will be happy either way. She's enjoyed you as much as I have. That's something I can't say about anyone else. With everyone else, it was just sex. With you it was love and nothing but love." Bo stepped forward. "Come on. Let's go out for some air."

"Bo." Lauren sighed again.

"Hey, friends, go outside." Bo spoke over her shoulder and opened the patio door.

"I know you, Bo. I know you want a relationship." Lauren stepped behind the woman.

"I want you. If I have to wait for the relationship. I will wait for the relationship." Bo smiled and looked around. Fall has always been one of her favorite seasons. Not too cold but not too hot. Always leather jacket time.

Lauren nodded and looked out over the balcony too. She took some deep breaths and a seat. Bo was still standing. Probably good since she's never been known to be patient.

"I can be patient, Lauren." Bo whispered over her shoulder.

The Dal

"Is he settled?." Hale asked.

"Finally, yes". Trick nodded.

"If you strap his arm down, it might heal." Hale sipped on his coffee.

"That's what we did." Trick rounded the bar.

"Dyson is thousands of years old. He knows better than to mate with a woman he wasn't sure about. Kenzi and I used to bet on how long their thing would last but he upped the ante mating with Bo. She was into him but not into him. He kept going to that well until it dried out." Hale shook his head and pulled his hat off.

"He's never been that bright. Which makes it easy for his heart to get broken. I thought Bo and Lauren would be over once the doctor passes away but that will never happen now. He's a victim of his own doing. He can't force Bo to do or feel what she can't or doesn't." Trick leaned on the bar top.

"Kenzi is out looking for a new client. I told her I would help. It will be good to help her keep her mind off of Bo." Hale set his empty cup down so Trick could pour him a fresh cup.

"That's good and a relief. She'd drink me dry if she stuck to the Dal." Trick set the coffee pot down to brew more.

"Things are never going to be the same around here. That's a good thing. Bo has made her final choice and very publicly among the Fae. The old dog can live with it or die from it." Hale checked his phone for texts or messages.

"Come on down in my lair. We are going to search every spot to make sure there aren't any books I have forgotten about. Bo got lucky. I can't let anything else fall into the wrong hands." Trick nearly ran downstairs.

Aife and the Morrigan.

"Why couldn't that succubus write you as someone's mate? Then you would be off my ass." Evony groaned.

"Just hand over your Morrigan title and we will be rid of each other." Aife laughed.

"Hell no. I will never relinquish that." Evony shook her head.

"Actually I am getting bored with you. I only came by to keep an eye on you so that you won't be ordering my daughter's death. But you're a real boring bitch." Aife stood and threw her glass against the wall.

"How can a Queen's daughter not have etiquette or manners?." Evony groaned.

"I have them but won't waste them on you." Aife laughed and left the building.

The Morrigan stood up and ordered the entire compound to be scrubbed and sprayed clean. She hates that Lauren is no longer around. It was fun having Bo's biggest weakness in her compound. It pissed her off and that pleased the Morrigan.

Bo and Lauren

Bo sighed as she played with a patch of sand. They had gone for a drive and wound up on a secluded beach and laid some blankets out. Lauren was on her stomach staring out at the ocean. Bo would glance at her back, shake her head and have to pick up sand to occupy her mind again.

Lauren moaned and rested her head on her folded arms.

"If you are bored, we can go." Bo spoke softly.

"No. I am enjoying the quiet." Lauren replied.

"Well, it has been awhile since we've eaten, I will go and see what they have here." Bo stood and clapped the sand from her hands.

Lauren watched Bo walk away and closed her eyes. She felt her insides and knew her body will never be the same again. The brunette changed her DNA in a matter of minutes. She should have known the minute she said she wrote something down, it would stick. It is almost equivalent to Trick writing in his blood. But Bo's blood is so much more powerful. Bo's love is just as strong. Tears warmed in her eyes as she adjusted on the blanket. What is she going to do? Be patient? A doctor, be patient? They are not in a relationship but are spending a lot of time together. Bo could be home knee deep in one of her cases. Knee deep in one of Kenzi's schemes. But her biggest scheme was wanting Bo and Dyson together. Lauren thought she never stood a chance. Until today. She's not dumb by any stretch of the mind, but what she experienced and saw with the succubus today was beyond any science book she ever read. Bo is far more than Lauren ever thought she was. No medical test could find what she saw. No heart could break with love like that. Bo's hurt and broke. But it broke because Lauren had left.

She turned her head and looked the other way. Her heart broke too. That's why she left. Hanging on to a fantasy that she would someday be enough for a succubus. Living with the reality that she wasn't. Dyson or Tamsin would always be around Bo. Wanting Bo or her attention. Something Lauren thought she would get exclusively. Then the Dawning happened and Bo was all but gone. That left no place for a relationship and honestly, Lauren couldn't hold her back from that. She wouldn't push Bo to make a painful choice like Lauren had made with Bo and Nadia. Bags packed and ready to run. Ironically her bags were packed again and she walked out because of Taft. She opened her eyes and turned back the other way.

Bo was smiling and walking over with two dinner trays that she was trying to balance. "I'll help." Lauren jumped up and grabbed one.

"Sorry they are short handed and I told them I would carry all of this over." Bo gently sat her tray on her blanket and pushed her legs under it.

The women ate and Lauren took the trays back. Bo watched her go and turned away. There is something quietly off about Lauren and it scares her. What if the book writing has killed the part of Lauren that loves her? What if it killed the part of Lauren that Bo loves. Although she loves all of Lauren. Her warmth. Her kindness even in the face of bullshit. Lauren is a doctor and she's committed to that. Why couldn't Bo be just as committed to them? Tears warmed Bo's eyes as she thought of Lauren's tears when she asked for the break. Bo assumed simple sleep would heal her. Cure the weary doctor. She should have grabbed some blankets and watched Lauren sleep on that couch. Her bed would have been better since the first floor was where Nelson had attacked her. She felt every kick and bruise now. It coated her like goosebumps.

She watched Lauren helping the cook with their dishes. She laughed at something he said. At least she's smiling. She felt her teeth cold like the air was becoming. She rolled on her back and wrapped herself in the blanket like a burrito. She closed her eyes and settled in to try and rest her brain until Lauren returned.

Whatever she decides, we are going to be happy. We are going to be one. We are going to stay committed this time. We will make sure nobody can lie about us again. To make sure people know this is binding and forever. That lesson will be exclusively to Lauren too.

"I know." Bo whispered. For so long she wished she could be normal and in a normal relationship. That was when she met Lauren. She can have all of that with this woman. This beautiful woman. Lauren once said she's not enough for Bo but she really is. She's enough to keep her darkness in the light. She's enough to make Bo happy and whole. That's why she doesn't care who Lauren chooses because there won't be a loser. Bo stretched and put her hands under her head and stared at the sky. For so many days and nights she thought this position would be her end. The murders would stop. Her nightmares would be over. Now her biggest dream is better years with Lauren. Get off your ass and try. She jumped up and dusted herself off.

"Bo?". Lauren slowly walked over.

"I'm ok. I'm ok." Bo smiled and continued pushing sand off of her.

"I was just going to say I'm ready to go back." Lauren pulled her blanket into her hands and folded it over her arm.

"Back to where? Our hotel? Toronto?." Bo asked.

"Our hotel." Lauren replied.

"Okay." Bo smiled and folded her own blanket. The women walked to Bo's car and were off in minutes.

Bo sat on the floor waiting for her turn to shower. She felt dirty from the sand and thoughts of infiltrating Lauren's shower.

"I'm done." Lauren walked out blotting her hair dry. Bo nodded and stood. Lauren's shampoo stirred Bo's succubus but she kept walking into the bathroom. Twenty minutes later, she emerged, blotting her own hair. "You're still up." She smiled.

"I made popcorn." Lauren replied from the couch.

"What's this?." Bo asked.

"Bo I said I can't choose and I haven't but I did decide on one thing for sure." Lauren leaned forward.

"And that is?." Bo took a seat in fear.

"I want the three of us to date. I want to get to know her better before I decide on a relationship again." Lauren explained. "If I'm going to be a mate, I want to be a true one."

For the second night in a row Bo sat shocked. While this is good, she knows they need to be great. She never wants Lauren to feel like Dyson. She knows he will always be miserable without her. She knows Lauren won't ever and should never feel that type of pain and anguish. "Then this will be a movie date?." Bo smiled.

Lauren laughed. "Ok". Then the women sat back on the couch and touched hands when they grabbed bites of popcorn.

TBC