Notes: Sorry for you all you Liege/Khan fans, but things might change in the future. No fear.

Extra happy thing: So this is chapter XXX (or for other Vin Diesel fans, xXx) and quick story – my friend goes to the same school that Vin Diesel's niece goes to and this past week he was sighted at the school. Just thought I'd throw that out.

Chapter XXX: Love and Loyalty of Liege

Liege was glad to see that Khan played his part well, even going above and beyond duty when he knocked out one of the more sober guards. She sat in an actual room, McKellern's, to be exact. She desperately wanted to talk to him, to tell him everything, to be with him. She knew this was dangerous and stupid, that he could be doing this just to fool her.

She sincerely hoped not. Sitting on his bed with her legs crossed, she awaited his return. Liege would be comforted just by his physical presence if nothing else.

Becoming impatient, she began to slid two blades together, causing a very screechy, shrill and blindingly painful noise. Sure enough, this got the attention of the crew as Liege grinned when she saw McKellern thrown into his room, yelled at to shut her up.

"Ye stupid bitch, was just about to get some booze." He grumbled, grateful that she had stopped.

"Yer the stupid one." She retaliated, watching as he approached her. Sitting next to her he laid back, so his legs still hung over the edge but he was relaxed on the mattress otherwise.

"Thas what ye want to think." He said quietly, turning his head to look at Liege, who was still sitting. She copied his form and turned to face him, not alarmed at the closeness of their heads.

"Ye know tha' ten years ago we would be in firm denial of us in this sort of position." She stated, watching as his thoughtful look turned into a perverse grin.

"But ye obviously want it."

"Perhaps I do. What I want is for ye to explain why the 'ell ye abandoned me da." She snarled, pinning him to the bed instantly, her blade at his throat.

"Shut the fuck up." He said, leaning up against the blade, as if tempting her to cut his throat. "Ye da wanted me to go to look after ye, not become part of this crew."

"And how am I goin' to believe tha?" She asked, backing up off him.

He didn't reply but removed his neck from her blade, which was now a few inches away from his throat. Rubbing it, as if he had been strangled, he grumbled something.

"Didn' catch tha', luv." She irritably snapped.

"Cause I love ye." He said louder, turning away so as not to see her easily-predicted rejection. Instead he was met with a sudden embrace, full of the need for safety and protection.

"Missed ye, ye stupid bastard." She said, muffled in his chest, which heaved with relief.

"Same 'ere, luv." He returned, petting her hair. They fell back to the mattress where Liege cuddled up to McKellern, yet as her hand rest on his stomach, she was still armed with a blade. Old habits die hard.

"So how did all of this happen? Wheres da?" Liege asked, trying not to fall into the comforting embrace of Kell.

"Yer da is safe, I made sure of tha'. When ye make yer decision, or whenver what 'appens, we're takin' ye straight to yer da, promise." He said, looking down at the now-grown girl who he had a crush on since he could remember.

"But how did all this shit 'appen anyway?" She asked, fingering his shirt with a free finger that wasn't gripped around her knife.

"There were rumors tha' yer da was failin' in power 'n in profits, which was untrue, before O'Calhern fucked everything up, yer da was at the top of the league. 'e was makin' profits tha' could topple economies of a' least fifteen different systems. So O'Calhern planned n bought 'is secrets from betrayers, who are now top bitches in O'Calhern's gang. So, wha' happened was that one night tha' bastard attacked yer da's compound." He stopped when he felt Liege stiffen at the mention of an attack. Breathing deeply, he knew she would calm at the sound of his heartbeat. Sure enough, seconds later, she relaxed again. Rubbing her head on his shoulder as if to signal him to start again, she swallowed quietly.

"So, course ye da's compound was well guarded, like it always is. I was top in security, but I wasn't makin' rounds outside, so I was actually talkin' to yer da when the attack started. O'Calhern would've decimated the compound if it hadn't been for yer pack of vicious dogs." Liege smiled at this, she had raised at least twenty dogs on the compound, training them as defense dogs. "Course since ye left they bred 'n taught themselves to fight, so when O'Calhern 'n his men came round, they burst from the territory round the compound 'n ripped 'em apart. None were lost, luv."

"Thas good to hear. So how was da overturned?"

"I 'ate to say this, but O'Calhern threatened to kill ye, he showed us a live feed of ye in school and 'e said there were men standin' by to shoot ye down if commanded to. 'n yer da was furious, but 'e instantly gave up. 'e's a good da." Kell ended, his arm falling to the bed as Liege sat up besides him, her hand still on his stomach but the blade was abandoned.

"It was a lie, I 'ad everything checked out a' me school, I would've known if there were bastards trackin' me." She said quietly, sheathing the blade. "Is my fault, then."

Kell sat up and gently took Liege's chin in his hand and tilted her head towards him. Looking straight in her eyes he spoke honestly, hoping she would agree with him.

"Don't ye say tha', Liege. It isn't yer fault, yer da loves ye and didn't want to take any chances of ye bein' hurt. I was shocked when I watched tha' feed, I hadn't seen ye in years, 'n the first thing I thought of when I saw ye was, 'Tha' lass is strong, stronger than any man I know.' 'n is true, so don't go blamin' yerself know, ye hear?" He finished, relieved to feel her nod slightly in his hand.

As he began to remove his hand, he was startled at the sudden movement of Liege gripping his hand with both of hers. Silence prevailed as she held his curled hand to her lips and kissed the scarred knuckles. She remembered how Kell always got into fights, never backing down.

As her grip loosened, he slipped his hand from hers to the back of her neck where he pulled her forward and kissed her full on the lips. Liege draped her legs over his, straddling him while sitting. His hand wove into her hair and his thumb rubbed over the lock of hair above and behind her ear. As the kiss deepened, he slowly lay back, letting his hands wander further down her spine.

Breaking apart, Kell was struck full of lust as he saw her flushed face and felt her panting breaths against him. She looked down at him and closed her eyes, trying to regain control of her breathing pattern.

She slipped off him and snuggled against his side, holding him tightly to her. He felt joyful and content at her immediate acceptance of his approach as he snaked an arm around her waist and tugged her closer to him. Whispering 'lights off' to the room, the pair was safely resting in darkness.