ZEDD - ANOTHER WEEK LATER

I sigh heavily as I check the coordinates once more before glancing back at my mate who currently seems to be practicing some form of meditation with Pina on the other side of the room. Looking next to Dar and Kira who are much more logically sharpening and checking our weapons over, I have to say I'm still rather disappointed our game is about to come to an end as truthfully I'm really not done torturing and tormenting Essa, but at Thomas' request - nay, demand - we're on our way to finish the job. I understand his concerns regarding the children and his own frustration in what amounts to his captivity due to the situation, but Essa deserves all of this and so much more. Once more promising myself that this will not end with her alive, I think back over the last week or so.

After the first week, her frustration and then panic was all too obvious as she couldn't 'find' the children either. Through my magic, I was able to make myself look worse and worse for every call. At this point, she should think I'm nearly on my deathbed, the only thing keeping me alive being the hope that my younglings are alive and all right.

Goldar actually came up with the best idea. The intruder - still haven't learned his name, although I'm sure that Thomas and Goldar know it - was offered five times his usual rate and his life to help us. Not to mention I'm sure that Dar has added him to our list of contacts for future use in other capacities. Dar had tormented him a bit, but really far less than he deserved, while I myself made certain to give him matching scars to those that he inflicted on my mate, all of which in fairness fit into the plan quite well.

After we were certain there would be no further double crossing on his part, at least none directed at us, we 'released' him, allowing him to call Essa from his ship, looking as if he'd been beaten within an inch of his life. Most of it superficial, but still. We'd been with him for the call, out of sight of the monitor so she couldn't see us, but we could see him.

"Finally! Where in all the hells… What happened to you?"

"I'm sorry. I can't deliver the children to you."

"WHAT?"

"They've been taken from me." He indicates his face. "I've tried to get them back several times, but after the last beating I lost them. I don't know where they are now."

"When were they taken?"

"Within a day of me getting them. I've been chasing them ever since. Unfortunately, every attempt I've made to reacquire them since then has - not ended well."

"Who has them?" she demands.

"They are not familiar to me, although-" Oh he's playing it up well.

"Although what?" her voice has a dangerous edge to it.

"Based on some of the bits of conversation I overheard, I think they might be slavers."

She launches into a long string of profanity and we can all hear things breaking. "You are going to wish they killed you if we can't get them back and soon. Those are Lord Zedd's children and if I don't kill you, you'll wish I had when he gets his hands on you."

He continues to play his role, looking shocked. "Lord Zedd? THE Lord Zedd?! You should have told us that! Who in the universe is foolish enough to go after his children? And, by the powers, murder his mate? I would have never taken the job if I'd known! I'd rather have starved!"

"Well it's too late now and you have to help me get them back."

"No. There is no possible way I am remaining anywhere near this galaxy now. Keep the pittance you offered me and leave me out of it."

He reaches to disconnect the call, but her next statement stops him. "If you help me find and save them, Lord Zedd won't have to know that you took them in the first place or that you killed his little pet, and instead of his wrath, you'll have his gratitude."

There's a long pause. "I suppose that's true, but how do I know that he won't find out that I'm involved? And for that matter, what's to stop me from going to him and telling him that you commissioned the job in the first place?"

"I guess we'll just have to trust each other, since we each have information that insures that Lord Zedd would destroy the other in the worst possible manner. After all, if you tell him I'm involved, then I have to tell him that you are too."

He frowns thoughtfully. "And the reverse holds true as well. All right. I'll see what I can do about finding their current location."

She'd called me not long after that, claiming she might have a slim lead. Claiming she'd heard a rumor that a child fitting Mara Jane's description had been spotted with some slavers. I'd led her to believe that I was going to head out immediately and she needed to send me the coordinates, but she talked me down. She pointed out that Lord Zedd showing up and throwing magic around would only drive the abductors further into hiding if her information was wrong. Either drive them into hiding or force them to kill the children and neither one was a good option. 'Reluctantly' I agreed, demanding that she call me the instant she had any information, day or night.

Once things had gotten out of her control, at least she thought they had, her determination to fix things showed quite clearly, though mostly out of desire to still reach her own selfish goal in the end. This, quite frankly, is the reason that I bothered with her at all so many years ago. She's not the first contact or minion that I've had try and best me, but certainly the only one to ever try and go this far or give me such a strong desire for revenge.

Not that any of that really matters anymore however as the day before yesterday, Thomas and I got into a huge fight about the whole situation.

"Zedd, mate, this has gone on long enough. It's time to end this so we can move on with our lives."

"She's not been punished nearly enough."

"Kalleimat, I understand the want and need for revenge, believe me, I do, but it's come to a point where enough is enough. I don't want this putting our lives and future on hold any more and if I'm honest I really don't like what this is doing to you."

"Doing to me? What about what she tried to do to me and you?! She intended for you to die, Thomas, and then keep our children from me for at least a week! You know as well as I do what could have happened to them in that time, especially Jacob."

"Mate, I know, and Mara Jane being so frightened along with the large risk to Jacob is why I even let this game go on as long as I have but-"

I'm angry and turn on him without thought. "How can you be so damn forgiving? Is it because she came after your life instead of mine? Do you value yourself so little?"

What he says next only makes me angrier. "Partially. I have no doubt, if our positions were reversed, I'd be just as upset as you are. We're both very protective of each other, to the point that we'll risk ourselves for the other's safety."

"Then you should understand!"

Now he's angry as well. "I do! But I'll be damned if I'm going to let your need for revenge hurt the kids!"

"How dare you accuse me of hurting them! I'm trying to protect them against someone trying such a thing again in the future!"

"No, you're not! If that was the only goal, you'd have either killed her or let one of us kill her by now! You're only tormenting her for your own selfish fun, the rest of us, our needs and wants don't matter to you at all! Zedd you told me once that I help keep you in check, keep you from giving in to temptations that could consume you like your power did once, this is no different. You are becoming obsessed with this matter and it's turning you into someone that I know you don't want to be again!"

"That's not true!"

"It is and the saddest part is that you are so caught up in doing this, you don't even see it or what it's doing to our daughter! Mara Jane hasn't been able to go outside and play for more than two weeks now because we can't take the chance that someone will see her and word gets back to Essa that she's actually here and fine! We can't go back to Earth so that she can start school until this is resolved because I know that nobody at that school is capable of protecting her if Essa or someone else were to come after her there!"

"It's not really a loss if she starts later! She'll be fine with it! She was willing to wait until next year just so that she could be here when her brother was born!"

"But now that he's here, she doesn't understand why she has to wait. He's here and I'm healed enough to travel! This crap with Essa is the only thing stopping us and it's not fair to her!"

"Life's not fair! She needs to understand that sometimes things happen that we can't control!"

Suddenly, his voice turns soft, sad. "Is that what this is really about, Zedd? Trying to control the uncontrollable? Or controlling your family?" I stare at him shocked into silence. "You've had Essa dancing to the tune you set for almost two weeks now. Which wouldn't bother me in the least if the rest of our lives could go on normally, but they can't. Mara Jane is practically a prisoner in her own home."

"No she's not!"

"Yes she is - and so am I." Once more stunned into silence, I know my jaw drops at this quiet announcement. "Zedd, I love you so much and this is our home, but lately it's been feeling like a prison. And in spite of its size, it's feeling smaller and smaller every day. I finally realized that it's not the castle making me feel that way, it's the situation. And I've had enough."

"I-"

"Let's end this, Zedd. Now. Together. We'll end it and go to Earth and move on."

"Thomas-"

"Please."

After that, I couldn't argue anymore. We made arrangements for my parents to stay with the children as Thomas, Pina, Dar and Kira all informed me that there was 'no way in hell' that they were going to be left behind. The next day, I called Essa and informed her that I was coming to help her prod her contacts into results, pointing out that it wasn't necessary to tell them that it was my children we were seeking, only that I was involved should get people moving faster and looking harder.

And now we're on our way there. As far as Essa knows, I'm the only one coming. Well, nobody actually said that, but I didn't say that I was bringing everyone. Although if she doesn't expect us all, she's more of an idiot and a fool than I ever would have expected.

I turn my focus to the upcoming confrontation. There are several different ways that this can play out, but it only ends one way as far as I'm concerned - with Essa dead. I run through different scenarios until it's time to land. The only thing we have all agreed on is the element of surprise is on our side. Truthfully I can't wait to see the look on her face when she sees Thomas alive and well and if I'm honest I can only hope that look can help erase the still present one of my bleeding and near dead mate that I still see far too often when I close my eyes.

It takes longer then I would like to finally arrive, but once we do and have landed, I disembark, staff in hand, followed by Pina, Dar and Kira all armed as well, leaving the ramp down for now. Thomas remains just out of sight, waiting for the right time to make his appearance. I'm a bit surprised at the number of people that are gathered here. Is she expecting a fight or is this to show me how many people she's recruited to find the children?

Essa approaches me, a smile on her face, but concern in her eyes. "Zedd. How are you doing? You look - good?"

I keep my voice low, so that only my companions and she can hear me. "Magic. If we're not telling them that it's my children, they cannot know how affected I am by this."

"Of course" she agrees before taking me more than a bit by surprise when she hugs me. I however recover quickly, grasping the reasons for her move. One, to show 'her people' that we're close which enforces her authority if she says it's a job for me and two - no doubt because she wants to. Little does she realize that the first is unnecessary because in a few minutes, all these people will be my people.

Pina hisses at her. "This is business, not playtime, child. Act like a professional!"

"Never mind the inappropriateness considering his mate has just been laid to rest" Goldar adds in a clearly disapproving tone.

Hearing my companions, and giving them both a slight look, her grip on me tightens briefly before she lets me go, no doubt noticing that I've not moved to return her embrace in any way. "Pardon me for offering comfort to a friend." Friend indeed.

"That won't be necessary." I step forward to address the assembled group. "Everyone listen up. I have an announcement to make."

When any quiet talking quickly ceases I continue seriously. "I am aware that for the past two weeks you have all been searching for two missing children - a young girl and an infant boy. What you have not been told is that they are, in fact, my children with my mate, Lord Thomas."

Cutting in, her surprise clear, Essa is now obviously lost to what I'm doing. "Zedd what are you doing? I thought –"

"You thought wrong." Returning my focus to the group I let my voice falter as a low murmur moves through the crowd. "As for the rest of you, I have no doubt you are all too aware of the penalties when they and the perpetrator are found."

A male in the group addresses me. "Forgive me, Lord Zedd, but who would be so foolish as to take your children as well as murder your mate? The entire universe knows that all that would do is bring down your wrath and destruction on whoever did it and any planet foolish enough to shelter them."

I sense Essa shift beside me uncomfortably. I ignore this for the moment and address the speaker. "The only thing that we've been able to come up with is that the responsible party thinks that the reward they seek will make it worth it, whatever the end goal is." I let this sink in for a minute. "Regardless, this will not go unpunished. Someone decided that murdering my mate and taking my children was a good idea and I will not tolerate it. Up until now, we've kept it quiet that they are my children so that they hopefully would not be killed, that they would be returned safe and quickly. Now, I want the word spread far and wide to all corners of space what happens when someone messes with not just me but any of my family as well." I wave my hand to indicate the three behind me.

Thomas' voice comes from the top of the ramp, hard and angry. "As well as the fact that we do not tolerate traitors either." Out of the corner of my eye, I can see all color leave Essa's face, immediately followed by a flash of rage. "Isn't that right, mate?"

"Especially traitors" I agree calmly.

"Surprised to see me, Essa?"

Still rooted in place either due to rage or shock, Essa finally manages to address my mate. "You can't."

"I can" Thomas states seriously. "You think you're the first person to try and slice me open? Please, I may not like you, but I sure as hell thought you were smarter than that."

"What's going on?" comes the inquiry from one of the group, obviously just as surprised as our target by Thomas' appearance.

"Just a little surprise for your host." Thomas continues as he makes his way down to the ground, "I mean she put so much work into all this, it only seems fair to give her the recognition she deserves."

"And she does deserve all that's coming to her" I agree.

"Yes she does" Thomas replies with a nod. "However I do suppose I'm being rude. After all this is her party here, so why don't I let her tell the story? Go ahead, Essa. Why don't you explain to them all, how you engineered this whole thing? And, by all means, tell us why you sent people to kill me and steal our children."

She curses and spins on him, rage and fear making her shake. "You know why, mutt."

"But I just love to hear you say it" Thomas baits.

"You want me to say it? Gladly! You aren't good enough for him! He deserves more than a well trained pet and a vessel to carry his offspring! Never mind he should have a proper female for that, not an altered life form!"

"Like you?" he challenges.

"Yes!" Whispers are once more circulating, but there is an undertone of discontent.

I speak next. "Oh you silly, silly female. First of all, I carried our first born, not him. You yourself mentioned that you'd heard the rumors of what happened on Eltar. How could you not suspect that, with that temper, I'd been the one to carry her?" I wave my arm to encompass the people before us. "Not to mention I'm certain that you've not offered them nearly enough to actually find her or her newly born brother."

A female in the group speaks up. "Are the children still missing, Lord Zedd?"

Thomas stands beside me, a wicked little smile on his face. "They never were missing. As I survived the attack, so too they never left our care. Essa's been wasting your time from the start."

I know that she can hear the anger in the crowd now as well as I can when she protests, "But I didn't know that! Zedd said…" She turns on me. "You've been playing with me!"

I make certain that everyone can hear me. "You tried to kill my mate and take my children. Not only that, but you had made arrangements to keep them from me for at least a week! Do you really think that you deserved a quick death for that?"

I can feel my power surging, begging to be let out as my temper rises. Instantly, she backs down. "Zedd, please, I-"

Thomas cuts in with a snarl. "You should consider yourself lucky that you've been granted these last two weeks of life as it is."

She turns on him, fury escalating at an alarming rate. "Shut up! This is all your fault!"

"My fault?" Raising a brow at this, Thomas' tone is one of clear disbelief. "Oh please do explain how you attempting to kill me and terrorizing our children is somehow my fault."

"You wouldn't have even had those children or Zedd if you hadn't been so pathetic that he refused to bring me back to the palace with him!" What the hell is she- oh, oh lord she is insane.

"What?" Seeming lost now, Thomas looks to me for clarification.

"When Scorpina and I came to aid her all those years ago, when she was injured and you remained at home with Goldar. She inquired about joining us when it came time to return home" I explain, not honestly having thought much of it at the time aside her being leery of any further attacks while still healing.

"However Zedd and I both informed her that you were still adjusting to things and recovering from your own trauma and we didn't feel bringing strangers into the household at the time would be a wise idea."

"You ruined everything! Do you have any idea what I went through only to come and find out too late that some stupid, sniveling human had already taken my place?! "

Narrowing his eyes, Thomas' next statement makes me realize just how long she has apparently had this matter in the works. "You planned this. You planned this years ago. You got attacked and let yourself be injured like - for hell's sake, you psychotic bitch what is wrong with you? Even if for some reason your plan had worked back then, even if I wasn't already Zedd's mate and bonded to him, do you honestly think he's so stupid, so clueless that he wouldn't realize how insane you are?" Shaking his head, Thomas makes a gesture of dismissal. "Besides it wouldn't have worked anyway."

"And why is that?" she growls through clenched teeth.

"Because quite frankly, there's no way you could even come close to satisfying him like I do." Checkmate.

Apparently that being the final straw she suddenly launches herself at him before I can react. I can't help but sigh. I know that Thomas is more than capable of defending himself, but it also means that he might end up killing her as angry at her as he is and I really don't want him to have that blood on his hands. I mean, I know he's not all that innocent, but still he's never actually intentionally killed someone and I'd prefer to keep it that way. Besides, I want to be the one to kill her.

I feel the smile creep across my face as I watch the fight before me. Thomas is toying with her. He's the significantly better fighter, in spite of her centuries of practical experience. Not to mention that Thomas' natural grace makes him a pleasure to watch anyway. One corner of my mind starts planning wicked things I want to do to him later. That is, until I hear one male nearby start taking bets on the fight. A quick glance at Goldar and I see that he's caught the conversation as well.

And are they seriously running a thousand to one odds against Thomas? More of my attention is drawn away from the fight when I notice an elder male approaching the bet taker. "I want to bet all the credits on this card on the boy."

The man takes the card from him and scans it to see its value. "I - can't cover this."

Goldar goes to look for himself. "Zedd."

I don't even hesitate. "Cover it. Thomas will win it."

Someone in the betting group asks the elder, "How can you be so sure?"

His response has the bookie closing betting quickly. "He's a power holder, you idiots. Has been for years. He was the Green Ranger for Rita on Earth, what, twenty years or so ago?" He glances at me for confirmation.

"Something like that, yes." Another brief look at Goldar has him drawing the man aside and getting his information. Someone as well informed as he seems to be could make an extremely valuable ally.

Just as I'm about to return my full attention to the 'battle', I'm approached by a couple with similar markings and dress. Both of them drop to one knee before me, the female addressing me. "My lord."

Are we really going to do all this now? "Rise and speak." True, most of my attention is still on Thomas, but this could be interesting.

"There are few here who support Essa's actions or want to incur your wrath."

"Get to the point."

"There is no practical reason for you or your mate or family to dirty your hands ending her life when there are so many others willing to do it for you."

Hmm. I know that I'll be unhappy if Thomas kills her, just as I know that he'll be unhappy if I do it. Equally so with our other three companions, not to mention each of us is eager to be the one to do it. However, if I allow them to deal with the situation - well rewarded, of course - then we all will be happy and frustrated in equal measure, but the job will be done. "Let Thomas finish humiliating her first."

The couple exchange gleeful looks. "As you wish, my lord."

Returning my attention to my husband, I say, "You still have a little while yet. Give your contact information to Goldar. We may have work for you in the future." Gleefully, they head over to Dar. I watch a little longer, irritated when Essa strikes out, missing Thomas but ripping his shirt. That's one of my favorites on him - tight enough to show off his physique but loose enough to remove easily.

Still toying with her, Thomas calls out, "Zedd! She ripped your favorite shirt on me!"

"End it, love." Wicked grin spreading across his face at the statement, he launches into a full on attack - his first since she attacked him. It's almost amusing to watch all the faces in the crowd change from interested to stunned as he swiftly disarms her, stuns her and puts her on the ground.

"It's over, Essa. Hope it was worth it." He turns away from her, looking at me sharply. I know he's too smart to turn his back on an obvious enemy so he's intending to let her try something. Sure enough, she doesn't disappoint. Barely waiting for him to get out of reach she is quick to remove a knife from her left boot before rolling and throwing it at his supposedly unprotected back. A single shot from my staff however shatters the projectile in midair.

I only get a brief glance at the shock and hate on Essa's face as two voices - one male and one female - shout out a command in a language I don't know before she disappears under the onslaught of bodies. Her shrieks and screams don't last long and it's over. I pull Thomas against my side, relieved that he's not hurt by a lucky shot on her part. I press a brief kiss to his temple. "As soon as the rabid crowd settles down and Dar gets contact information, what do you say we go home, have a night to ourselves, pack up and go to our home on Earth so that our beloved little princess can start school?"

He smiles brilliantly up at me. "I think that sounds like a fabulous idea."