Chapter Twelve

How to Deal With

Awkward Moments

Emma sat in Martin Kessler's office slowly sipping her Earl Grey tea with lemon and honey. She lounged back on the large leather sofa with her hands wrapped around the hot china cup as she blew the steam off of the top for her next sip. The dizziness had returned shortly after her arrival and she had never thought to be so grateful for English hospitality.

As she lowered the delicate cup from her lip, Martin had slid a plate of tea cookies in front of her on the table. "Biscuit?" He offered quietly.

"No thanks." Emma waved off his offer before opening her eyes. As she did open them, she noticed the plate of cookies and helped herself. "Oooo cookies!" Martin smiled and gave her a napkin. "This is great, thank you. You know, I had you Brits all pegged wrong. You should be thankful that Layla isn't an ambassador or anything."

Virginia had been hovering about her ever since she was ushered in feeling faint. She had insisted upon staying at Emma's side with a cool rag and a fan. Emma had spent the better part of a half an hour doing her best to dismiss the unneeded nurse but to no avail.

"Thank you, I'm fine really. I really don't need anymore washcloths on my body." Emma protested while pulling rags off of the back of her neck head and finally one from under her bottom.

"Oh dear your not thinking clearly! Just a couple of more cool rags and you will be right as rain!" Virginia assured while dabbing Emma's forehead.

"I know we're in England and you guys tend speak a different version of it, but, does this woman not speak English?" A frustrated Emma asked her hosts.

Martin rolled his eyes rubbed his tired face. "She speaks it all right she just doesn't bloody understand it! VIRGINIA! The girl wants to be left alone now. Thank you, you may go."

Virginia smiled and gathered her rags. "Alright then dear. If there is anything you need you just give a shout for me, or ring me on the phone and I'll be right there!" With that she had bustled off for the large oak doors.

Emma glanced over at her twin who had been lying on the loveseat opposite to them with his feet up and one of Virginia's cool rags on his forehead. He had vomited twice since they stepped off of the jet. Once when they were driving; luckily the driver had pulled over in time, and secondly when entered the large lobby of the Motherhouse. Virginia had been thoughtful enough to place a waste basket next to him, just incase.

Emma set her cup down on it's saucer on the table and wiped the left over moisture from her forehead. "So let me get this straight, the Ba Musal was actually the child of a Vampire and a mortal woman, and this is a fact that has been kept secret for thousands of years. Why?"

"For the same reason The Faithful don't believe that you should be blessed with her spirit. The ancient elders believed that something as holy as she could not be tainted with such a history." Mary Agnes answered.

"I get it sort of the out of sight out of mind theory." Emma mused while stuffing another cookie into her mouth. "So why now? What exactly are they doing?"

"We believe that they are attempting to create a new Ba Musal. We don't really know how or where as of yet, but we will find out." Martin cleared his throat, rose from his seat and began to pace the room.

"How do you plan on finding all of this out? The Faithful weren't even considered "real" until recently. Where would you even know where to begin to look?" Layla blurted rising from her seat near Jimmy. "You didn't even know about the Hogan's before yesterday and you can't even find Howard!"

Martin had had quite enough of Layla at this point and turned abruptly to face her. "If you don't mind Ms. Fellows. I refuse to take censure from a little girl who runs away from home! Now, if you don't have anything helpful to add, then I would ask if you would kindly sit down and shut up!" Layla took a humbled step back and seated herself on the large wing backed chair against the wall.

"As our Aiden here as certainly told you, it has been his job to collect all of our incarnates through out the world and bring them back here so that we may protect them. And also so that we may find The Faithful and put an end to their plot before it can go any further. We have room prepared for you and as soon as you are feeling well enough, which I do hope is VERY soon, you will meet the other young woman who are exiled here and begin training with them."

Emma looked up in surprise at the mention of her "beginning her training". "Begin my training? No offense Mr. Kessler, but I have been training for three years."

"No offense to you Ms. Hogan, but, you have been doing what YOU think is training. Here you will be properly trained on how to use your abilities. And I must add that things are far more different these days. You are no longer a mercenary; you are a soldier in an army. The Faithful have their own army, and you can be assured that they know how to fight as one. You must do the same. I leave them to you Mary Agnes. Aiden, Ms. Fellows, if you would accompany me." Aiden and Layla got up form their seats and followed Mr. Kessler through the large doors of his office.

"Hey, what about me? I take offense! I'm the one who's been training her so 'improperly'!" Jimmy grumbled as the doors shut with a thud. He lifted himself from his lounging position and sipped water from a glass. "Please tell me this is jet lag and it will only last another five minutes."

Mary Agnes smiled as she watched him. She marveled at how much he resembled Jonathan. His curly brown hair, his high cheek bones, and even the way he wore his glasses. "Your father didn't much care for flying either. He would invariably have the same reaction you are. He never did have a strong stomach."

The twins froze and looked at one another in amazement. Did this woman really know their father?

"Unfortunately, what you are experiencing cannot be blamed on jet lag alone. And it will most likely continue until we stop The Faithful and bring balance back to the spirit. Which, whether Martin chooses to admit it or not, off its axis since all of the incarnates were awaken. The Faithful are correct in their belief that something has to be done. But, I wouldn't go so far to say that killing off all of the slayers is the way to go about it." She chuckled uneasily and stood from her leather wing back chair and gestured for the twins to follow. "Come now, I will show you to your rooms."

They both stood, looking confused and curious, as they met her from their opposite locations in the middle of the room. "Did you know our father?" Emma spoke up eagerly.

"And your mother, yes." Mary Agnes admitted nodding her head.

The two exchanged glances and then looked back towards the lovely woman before them. "Did you work with them? How long did you know them? Did you know them well?" Jimmy ran off his string of questions in one breath.

Emma laid a hand on her excited brother's shoulder. She had to admit she was pretty anxious as well. "Easy Jimmy, take a breath. To repeat his last question though, how well did you know our parents?"

Mary Agnes smiled and pulled a couple of photographs from her suit pocket. Like the one she had been reminiscing over in the car, their edges were frayed and tattered and the colors had faded slightly. Without hesitation, she handed them over to the awaiting hands of Emma. The two looked down at the yellowed photo of a much younger and beautiful Mary Agnes sitting on a swing with a young boy they recognized immediately. As the expressions of the twins changed from curiosity to surprise, Mary Agnes' heart began to pound and her face flushed as she offered her explanation. "Well, I would like to say that I knew them quite well since I am Jonathan's mother."

They jerked their heads up quickly and their mouths seemed to drop all the way to the floor. They couldn't speak! A grandmother! THEIR grandmother! They had a grandmother! They had family! All this time they never knew, and she was there in the world! Jimmy opened and closed his mouth several times in an attempt to respond, but, it seemed that he couldn't form words. Emma just stood completely still not even trying to speak. Finally after several attempts, Jimmy spoke. "You're our grandmother?"

"Yes boyo. I am." She replied.

After a long silence, it was Jimmy who spoke again. "So what, do we hug now?"

Aiden and Layla walked the open halls of the London Motherhouse with Martin. It seemed like ages since Layla had been inside those walls. Once they had left Mr. Kessler's office reception and entered the halls, Layla walked to the balustrade in the center of the hall and looked down into the third floor. She remembered how much she loved watching the people below come and go down in the common areas below. When she was little, she thought it looked like a missing puzzle piece. A big open square in the building awaiting its final block.

As they walked together, she continuously looked down over the railing; running her hands along its smooth and polished mahogany surface. This place was as she left it; quiet yet busy. Amidst all of the fond and happy memories she had of this place, it brought back painful ones as well. The last time she had thought of her childhood home was when her parents died. It was hard to believe that this rich and beautiful place was once nearly destroyed by Naberius and his deluded legion of vampire followers a year and a half ago. "But no time for that no. I can wallow in self pity all I want later. Time to pull my socks up and save the world again." She thought to herself.

"Aiden, I need you to go and make sure that Ms. Guerrero is aware of Ms. Hogan's arrival and have her prepare a 'debriefing' as she so likes to describe it for our latest addition." Martin patted Aiden on the back as he began to walk away. "And dear boy please remember this time, knock before entering. It took the healers a week to get your arm back right after last time!" Aiden nodded as he rubbed his right arm and hurried off on his way.

Martin sighed as he turned back towards the day dreaming Layla. He hated to put this to her but it had to be done eventually. And Martin at least tried his best not to be a procrastinator. "Ms. Fellows. Of course you know that we need to have a chat. As you are aware, we don't take deserting lightly here. But, given the out come of your leaving unannounced, I think we can settle for a simple explanation. The fact that I happen to like you might hold a bit of weight with that as well." He smiled gently as he tilted his head to catch her eyes. She seemed to continue to look off down the hallway silently as he still struggled with her. "Love, I changed your nappies a time or two. Even cleaned up your spittle. I don't think any less of you for leaving. In fact I might even understand why if you would just tell me. I was just a little hurt that I wasn't let in on the secret."

Finally she lifted her eyes and met with his. This kind man was like a favorite uncle to her. He had always been close to her family. It wasn't that her reasons were less than admirable. It wasn't that she was afraid of being in trouble. She was afraid that she had let him down. Admitting that she had weakness was embarrassing for her. She spent most of her energies to portraying the image of woman who wasn't afraid of just about anything! And if she admitted that it wasn't completely true, then what was she?

"I'm sorry Martin. I really am. It was really hard for me to deal with everything that was going on at the time. After my parents were killed, I guess I kinda lost my faith. This great organization that I was brought up in and taught to believe in failed to protect what I held most dear in my life; my family. I began to question things, to look for alternatives to help me 'feel better'. I didn't want to hurt inside anymore. I felt empty and lost when they died and there remained this hole that not even my coven could help fill. So, when Aslyn appeared to me and said that there was an incarnate in Missouri that existed without the knowledge of the Brotherhood and would soon desperately need my help; I jumped at the chance! Although her intentions were not what she said they were, and well, pretty much turned out be completely mental, her warnings were true and I got to help save the world!" As she spoke the words, her confidence in her actions began to return. "I should have told you, I know. I'm also sorry for keeping myself hidden. But, I have been happy there, with Jimmy…. And Emma too; sometimes. Even after I had to banish Aslyn, I was happy there. I felt like I had found my place."

Martin placed a hand lovingly on her shoulder and squeezed tenderly. He never married nor had children of his own. Those who grew and lived with in these walls were his family. And the many children that ran through these halls and constantly destroyed the libraries; he loved as if they were his own. Layla was no different. In fact she stood out from the rest. It was he who held the hand of Layla's father as he lie dying on the floor of the first level lobby. He promised him then that he would keep watch over the last remaining Fellows and he had no intention of breaking that promise. No matter if the next time she ran away it was to the moon!

Layla smiled back at Martin feeling better after having explaining herself. When suddenly, an odd sensation took over her body. It was as if someone were calling out to her. She began to feel light headed and put her hands on her face to help keep steady.

"Are you alright dear?" Martin asked concerned.

"I'm just a bit knackered that's all. I think, maybe it's jet lag. Maybe I should go lie down and get some rest before I start to gen up on the whole vampire baby thing with you. I'll just head up to my room for a kip." As she walked away she couldn't help thinking of poor Howard. She was certain that something terrible had happened to him. She felt it in her gut. That lurking emotion of guilt once again began to rise in her chest. Howard had come to see her to apprise her of the situation they were all facing. That was the last anyone had heard from him. She couldn't stop herself from believing that if he hadn't come to see her, then he never would have gone missing.

After Mary Agnes' revelation, Emma had remained silent. Several moments had passed and still there was not even a sigh of mal content. She stood frozen to her spot.

Jimmy laughed uncomfortably and tried his best to lighten the atmosphere. "Boy, don't ya just love these uncomfortable silences!" Mary Agnes simply smiled and then looked down adjusting her stylish suit. Jimmy looked back at his statuesque sister and nudged her slightly. "Emma!" He grunted lowly. "Say something!"

Emma's frustration had become apparently and she flashed a violent look towards her twin brother. "You want me to say something?" She snapped and then whipped her head back around to flash the same look at her newly discovered grandmother. "Fine. How about this. Where the fuck where you?" Jimmy and Mary Agnes' mouth feel agape and Jimmy shoved Emma's shoulder. "No? Not good enough? Ok then, how about this then. Why the hell didn't you try to find us over the last twenty-five years? Hmm? Don't know? Ok then." With that, Emma pushed passed the appalled two and stormed out of the room.

Emma pushed through the doors and began to run down the hall. How could she just drop this into their laps? How could this old woman think that she could just tell them that she is their long lost grandmother and expect them to be ok about it while leaping into her arms? Her heart beat in her chest like it was breaking. She felt like a little girl again and wanted to hide. She remembered all of the times growing up; seeing all of her little friends brag about going to their grand parents' house for the weekend made her jealous. When they were children, they always wished that they had their very own grandma. Someone to bake cookies and send awful knitted sweaters that they would never wear and just hide in a drawer; someone who would spoil them beyond all reason and then send them back to their parents where they could deal with them.

Knowing now that they did have a grandmother all of this time, was painful for Emma to accept. This meant that it could have been different. It meant that they didn't have to be alone when their parents died. But it also meant that it was all over and done with and there was nothing Emma could do about it. And she hated that. She hated being reminded that she wasn't in control. It was like nails on a chalk board set in the very middle of her brain.

She continued to run down the hall and turn a corner searching for the stairs when suddenly her face made contact with a man's chest. As she tried to side step and continue to rush passed, she realized that it was Aiden's chest she had crashed into. The intoxicating smell of his cologne made me wish she had lingered there a little longer. She smiled awkwardly as she gazed up into his brilliant green eyes. He knitted his brow as he looked down at her.

"Are you lost? You must be looking for the toilet if you that big of a hurry!" He smiled back and then saw the trouble brewing her eyes. "What's the matter? You look like someone shot your dog!"

The utter compassion in Aiden's eyes threatened Emma's wall. It was her job to be tough and not to allow things to affect her. She had a responsibility to herself and to everyone around her to be hard and untrusting. What would happen if she just let herself be as "girly" as she wanted and walked around like a blubbering idiot? How was she supposed to fight blood thirsty vampires if she was too busy whining about grandmother-less childhood? But, there was something about this mysterious and devastatingly handsome man that made her feel like ice melting.

She looked at him sternly at first, but the more she hung on to his bedroom eyes, the more her face softened and the emotions came bubbling to the surface. She wanted to cry like a cartoon baby! With her mouth wide open and squalling and rivers of tears flying out from her tightly shut eyes. For some reason all she wanted to do was fall back onto his warm chest and lay there until it all went away.

Slowly, he reached forward with one of his large hands and softly moved a piece of hair away from her face. "It's ok. I won't tell anyone." He whispered.

Emma's chin quivered as she allowed herself to feel the pang in her heart. She slowly opened her mouth and spoke. "I, I never got a card with five dollars in it." Was all she could muster.

Aiden smiled and wiped a tear away from her cheek with his thumb. "You talked with Mary Agnes I take it?"

Emma blinked in confusion. "You knew?"

"Yeah. I wasn't allowed to say anything though. She wanted to be the one to tell you." His hand remained on her cheek as she nodded in agreement.

She allowed his warm hand to hold her face. It was comforting. She liked how it wasn't smooth but slightly rough and calloused. She wondered to herself if she should be worried that she was feeling these things about him so quickly. But, for the most part she didn't care. She was actually thrilled to have this sensation again. That anxious elation of wondering, what was going to happen next? That feeling of nervousness about making sure you were sending the right amount of signals without looking too desperate yet desperately interested! "Yes, this is a good thing", she thought to herself. Even though it seemed her world was in complete upheaval, she found herself enthralled by the dizzying effects of attraction and infatuation.

The words he whispered to her echoed in her mind. "It's ok, I won't tell anyone." It was him telling her, that it was ok to be fragile in front of him. That she could allow herself to be hurt and he wouldn't tell the world that her warrior's exterior was almost solely a shell. Closing her eyes, she let her tears come and she fell into his chest allowing him to wrap his unyielding arms around her. She muffled her sobs with his muscular frame and relished in the sense of utter release wafting over her.

He smoothed her chocolate silken hair and whispered over and over again that every thing would turn out alright. These words made her heart expand with every beat. It was amazing what two simple words can do. "It's alright". He cooed. "Come on." He said. "I have a few pints in me fridge up stairs. This seems like as good an excuse as any to get sloshed!"

"Yeah." She agreed. "It is Wednesday."

They had been sitting Aiden's suite for about an hour drinking pint after pint of Guinness. She had just about told him her life story and even in her ale soaked haze, she knew she would feel like an ass tomorrow for it. But for the moment they were laughing and enjoying each other's company. She clapped and cheered as he dazzled her with his telekinetic talents. He made flowers float in thin air and Emma watched in awe as the petals would burst from the stem like earthen fireworks. She in turn, entertained him with her wit as she teased him with dry sarcasm. She told him funny stories about why she doesn't hop out of the shower any more on one leg.

"I swear!" She laughed. "I fell flat on my ass! My legs went straight up into the air, my head bounced off of the floor and there I was sliding down the hall on my back completely naked until I hit the wall!" The both laughed until no sound came from their mouths.

They sat in the darkened room slouched on his corduroy sofa laughing hard and slurping the rest of their black ale. "Seriously, I wouldn't have ever known you have a fake leg if you hadn't told me." He said as he took another gulp of his ale and nudged her shoulder. "And to tell you the truth I can't say that I even believe you now!" He challenged.

"Well, then your right. I'm freakin liar! That shiny plastic there isn't my leg it's a cast." She said as she lifted her leg to his lap and rose her cuff just enough to show the shiny flesh colored plastic.

He reached down and smoothed it with his hand. "Really?" He asked half believing her.

Emma laughed and took another drink of her Guinness. "Ha! No it's my leg."

Aiden looked at her confused and went back to touching the plastic limb. "Seriously?"

"I'm messing with you, it's a cast." She mocked trying not to laugh.

Aiden began laughing and tried to force the correct answer from her. "Come on stop acting the maggot! Which is it?"

Emma laughed harder and grabbed her sides. "I'm sorry! Seriously, it's my leg! I couldn't help it!" She raised the can to her lips and took another drink. "Man, how can you drink this all the time? Don't you have any Bud? This stuff is like drinking rye bread! So bitter!"

He stopped inspecting her leg and leaned forward offering his ale. "Maybe you should try mine then. I think it tastes fine!" He brought it to her lip and began to tilt it upwards as she drank. However, he tilted too far to fast and she couldn't keep up. This caused the Guinness to spill all over her cheeks and chin.

He chuckled as he pulled the tall can away and apologized. "Fuck me, I'm so sorry!"

Emma looked up and realized that his face was with in inches of hers. And that he had placed his hand on her right thigh to hold himself upright as he leaned across her. She couldn't deny the warmth building up inside her. It was as if her insides were on fire! She wanted so badly to be that girl that was chased for once! To be the one that was hounded with phone calls and flowers until she finally caved. But it just wasn't her! Her desire to grab a hold of him and rip all of his clothes off was more powerful than her desire to be wooed. "Oh." She mumbled softly as she looked down and then back up into his eyes. "Look what you did. Now you have to lick it off."

Only a millisecond passed before he had placed both hands aside her face and licked her from her chin to her awaiting mouth. She pushed up down with her hands to right herself and then place hers on his face. Her body tingled as her kissed her passionately and greedily; gently waving his tongue in her mouth and tugging at her bottom lip with his teeth. He licked the roof of her mouth and pressed his lips to hers then kissed both cheeks. They pulled back and looked at each other almost dazed for a moment.

"Wow." Emma said stunned.

"Now what?" Aiden asked as they both refused to let go of each others' faces.

"Well, I should probably go. I should apologize to Mary Agnes and Jimmy." Emma stammered still not letting go of Aiden's face.

Aiden nodded reluctantly. "Yeah, you probably should. But it is getting late."

"I could always tell them in the morning." She added before once again falling into a passionate kiss. This time Aiden wrapped his arms around her waist and she wrapped hers around his neck as he allowed himself to fall backward with her falling forward on top of him.

She gave in completely as he covered her in kisses and ran his hands down her spine. Her head was spinning! She couldn't believe that someone as amazing as him was kissing her!

Every once in a while, they would bump noses or hit each others teeth causing them to laugh and point at one another. He slowly slid his hand under her t-shirt and grazed her back. His hand against her skin felt like electric to her and it quickened her passion all the more.

Aiden tried to suavely roll over onto her, but being that they were on a couch it became more of an awkward jerking. Eventually, they both rolled and then fell onto the floor. After first erupting into laughter, they found each other once more and slowly crawled back to the couch where Aiden successfully laid himself on top of her.

Emma reached up this time and ran her hands under his shirt, up his chest until she found his flex pectorals. She pushed with her arms and tried in vain to pull his shirt from his body only to have it catch on his nose and yank his head back. "Sorry." She whispered as he pulled it over his head the rest of the way.

As Aiden removed Emma's shirt at about the same success rate as she had with his, he nuzzled her neck forcing her head further into the couch cushion. When she began to pat his back signaling him that she couldn't breathe, he stopped and yanked her back up out of the couch. This allowed her to gasp for air.

"Sorry." He apologized as she leapt forward onto him which once again knocked them from the couch. They laid there laughing as Aiden spoke. "You know, I was going to suggest moving into the bedroom, but, how do you casually walk into 'the bedroom' without it being murderously awkward?"

Emma leaned over and pressed her lips to his tightly and then smiled. "Well, I guess we'll just have to run! Race ya!" She yelled as she leapt from the floor and took off like a shot for the open doorway across the room.

As Aiden lifted himself from the floor, he thought to himself about the amazing creature that had stumbled into his life. It had only been one day, but he knew she was something special. She had that hidden vulnerability that most strong women have that made him want to hold her, caress her, and take care of her. She was feisty, proud, funny and smart. Emma Hogan was the most beautiful and surprising woman he had ever met.

With all of these thought rampaging through Aiden's head, he made it to his feet and ran after the petit vixen that he knew would steal his heart.

Layla tossed and turned in her posh and fluffy four poster canopy bed. Her dreams were chaotic and jumbled. Images flashed in front of her mind like so many flash card being thrown into a fan. She fought tirelessly to focus on one thought at a time, but the voices began to rise to deafening levels. "STOP IT!" She screamed hoping that vocalizing her demand would make everything fall into place. But, all continued to whirl around her like a hurricane.

She knew that this was no dream. But she couldn't make head from tails of it. She reached down with in herself to find what she needed to pull the thoughts together, but still, they seemed meaningless and random.

"Fine. Then, if this is happening in a dream, then I will treat it like one." She imagined herself in a great white room with the "cards" swirling around her. She threw her right hand in front of her and opened her eyes that began to glow brilliant blue. As she did, the cards stop in there places and began to reverse their tracks; stacking together as a deck. When they had done so, Layla turned her hand palm up and waited as the deck slowly landed there.

Holding the deck, Layla sat down Indian style and began to shuffle. "Ok, you unruly little buggers, you're going to show me what you are here to show me." She cut the deck and started to lay them out as if they were tarot. When she did, their true purpose and origin came through clearly. She looked at the cards without astonishment but in reverence.

"Howard." She said aloud. "Ok, show me everything!"