Later that afternoon, Kenzi walked into the room of The Regnant. Kenzi wanted to visit the Regnant to thank her personally for saving her life.
"Your Majesty." Kenzi said when she entered the room and curtsied. The Regnant acknowledged it with a bow of her head, and Kenzi stood back up.
"Ms. Kenzi, it is good to see you! How are you?" The Regnant asked.
"Your Majesty, how are you? And please, only Kenzi. The Ms.'s part makes me sound mature." Kenzi replied.
"Very well then."
"How are you feeling, Your Majesty?" Kenzi asked.
"Feeling much better. My body seems to be working out the poison. Feels like my bearings are coming back. Please sit." The Regnant said as she gestured to a nearby chair.
"Thank you." Kenzi said as she glanced at the Seneschal and took a seat next to The Regnant.
"So I understand that you decided to meet the perpetrator of this attack on my person in my stead." The Regnant probed.
'Yes, Your Majesty." Kenzi replied.
"Why?"
"You all were having your big meeting."
"You could have postponed the meet until I was able to attend myself."
"Honestly, I thought it was just an information exchange." Kenzi answered.
"From what I understand you had enough foresight to know the meeting was questionable at the start." The Regnant said.
"Goes with the territory." Kenzi said then thought for a long moment. "Plus, I didn't want anything to spoil the big day."
"Oh."
"You have no idea, Your Majesty of what we all have been through over the last 15 years. Promises, hopes, dreams, failures, death. Especially, for Bo who has been told time and again that this was her destiny, that was her destiny. We chased so many leads about her destiny that it became a running joke. Nothing really came out and said 'wolla, here I am!' until you. Now we know it's for real."
"You are a faithful friend, and a brave one at that. Taking risks, dodging Basilisks. Bo is lucky to have you." The Regnant said.
"Yes she is!" Kenzi said. The Regnant took a long hard look at Kenzi who suddenly became self-conscious.
"Your Majesty? Is there something on my face?" Kenzi asked. The Regnant smiled then turned to the Seneschal.
"I need Nadu."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The Seneschal replied, bowed, and departed the room. The Regnant looked around.
"I am hungry." The Regnant said. Kenzi sat up straight.
"Not Succubus hungry, Your Majesty?" Kenzi replied a bit apprehensive. The Regnant laugh out loud.
"No. Just food-wise. Helen will not allow any deviation from the meal plan proscribed by the medical staff, but the food here leaves a lot to be desired."
"Well, I can get you something else if you like. Pizza perhaps?"
"Piz…za. What is Piz…za?" The Regnant asked.
"What? Your Majesty, you've never had Pizza before?"
"Apparently, not. What is it?"
"The best food ever made. So long as it is without green peppers." Kenzi replied.
"How long will it take to make this pizza?" The Regnant asked.
"That is the beauty of it. Someone else makes it and can deliver it here in 30 minutes or less."
"What? Like the Seneschal?" The Regnant asked. Kenzi see-sawed her head in response.
"Your Majesty, you asked to see me?" Agent Chennai inquired as she entered The Regnant's room an hour later and curtsied. The Regnant acknowledged the curtsey with a quick nod of her head as she and Kenzi bit down on slices of pizza, and watched an episode of Star Trek on TV. She looked over at a nearby table that had five boxes of pizzas sitting open with slices taken from each one. Agent Chennai took in the sight of it all with a perplexed look. She glanced at the Seneschal who met her glance but their faces betrayed nothing.
"Yes I did. Please sit down with us." The Regnant said as she finished eating another slice, and motioned for the Seneschal to bring her another.
"Your Majesty, may I ask, what is that you are eating?" Agent Chennai asked.
"Pizza. Kenzi here got it for me." The Regnant replied.
"Yeah, but don't rat me out to Lauren, or she will have my hide for feeding Her Majesty pizza. It is bad enough with the Seneschal over there giving me questionable looks." Kenzi said.
"I would be as well. It looks…greasy. Is that even healthy?" Agent Chennai said as she made a slight face.
"Whatever it is it tastes wonderful. Would you like a piece?" The Regnant asked.
"No thank you, Your Majesty. Where is Her Majesty, may I ask?" Agent Chennai said as she glanced at the Seneschal whose gaze betrayed nothing.
"Touring." The Regnant replied.
"She even ate lunch at the Dal Riata with Bo, Evony, Sadie, Trick, and the gang."
"Really?" Agent Chennai said in disbelief.
"I told Helen she needed to get some fresh air, and tour where Bo lives and works." The Regnant said.
"Which is good because that allowed me the window to sneak in the pizza." Kenzi replied. Agent Chennai glanced at the Seneschal again, and the Regnant noticed.
"Yes, Nadu the Seneschal are just as appalled as you are." The Regnant said. Kenzi smiled to herself as she continued to eat her pizza.
"How are you feeling, Your Majesty?" Agent Chennai asked.
"Still a bit hot, but better."
"I want you to know the entire Presidium is rejoicing at your recovery." Agent Chennai said.
"Thank you, Nadu." The Regnant said as she smiled and then turned to Kenzi.
"So Kenzi, what will you do with yourself once Bo departs for the Presidium?" The Regnant asked.
"I dunno. Keep up with Faedashians, I guess." Kenzi quipped.
"Faedashians?" The Regnant queried.
"An attempt at humor, Your Majesty." Kenzi replied.
"I was thinking," The Regnant said as she glanced at Agent Chennai, "with the transition we are about to make with the humans, and your efforts here working with the Fae to integrate them into the human world with jobs and housing, I agree your experience would be essential at The Agency."
"At The Agency? Are you offering me a job, Your Majesty?" Kenzi asked mid-munch.
"Are you interested?" The Regnant asked.
"Wow! Wait, what's the pay scale like?" Kenzi said as she looked to Agent Chennai.
"I am told you are quite a wealthy woman already." Agent Chennai replied.
"And I intend to remain wealthy." Kenzi said. The Regnant and Agent Chennai both smiled.
"Currency would not be an issue for you." The Regnant said.
"Really? Since when is money not an issue with anyone?" Kenzi asked.
"It is not a concern for members of the Presidium." The Regnant replied.
"Wait. What do you mean members of the Presidium? You want me to move to the Presidium, Your Majesty?" Kenzi asked incredulous.
"That was the expectation implied in the job offer." The Regnant replied. Kenzi stopped chewing her as her mouth opened slightly revealing unchewed food as she fell back in her chair floored. Agent Chennai and The Regnant exchanged small smiles. After a few moments she finished chewing her food.
"I thought you expected me to work from here, on this plane, Your Majesty?" Kenzi asked.
"I think your new responsibilities will have you moving back and forth. It would be best if your primary domicile were at the Presidium, don't you think?" The Regnant said.
"Have you told Bo that you were offering me a job?" Kenzi asked.
"I was going to leave that pleasure to you."
Just then the doors opened and The Queen Consort entered with Dr. Prescotti. Both Agent Chennai and Kenzi stood up and curtsied before The Queen Consort. The sight of The Regnant and Kenzi eating pizza made The Queen Consort and Dr. Prescotti stop in their tracks. They quickly survey the room and saw the five open pizza boxes.
"What are you eating?" Helen asked her wife.
"It's called pizza." Ari replied.
The Queen Consort walked over to the nearby table, peered at the five pizza boxes, and shook her head.
"Sweetheart, this looks like it could stop your heart. There is grease seeping through." Helen said.
"It tastes great, though. Here, bring me a slice." Ari replied.
"I don't think so." The Queen Consort shut the cover of the pizza box, and gestured the Seneschal to take them away which they did quickly.
"Honestly, Ari. Television, and now this pizza? We need to get you back to the Presidium quickly." The Queen Consort said.
The Regnant's shoulders slumped as she looked at Kenzi.
"Tyranny, I tell you." The Regnant said resigned. Kenzi, Agent Chennai, and Emilia all smiled hard as Helen gave Ari a look.
Lauren had coming running down the stairs when she heard squealing that could have woken the dead.
"What on earth is going on? Your squealing startled both Maddy and I, and the children." Lauren said.
"Kenzi is coming with us!" Bo squealed as she Tamsin and Kenzi all hugged one another and jumped for joy. Dyson was outside stoking the BBQ with the Seneschal trying to start dinner while Trick was preparing the celebratory drinks.
"What?" Lauren said incredulous.
"The Regnant offered me a job! With The Agency! I will be doing what Agent Chennai does, and will be working to place Fae agents here to monitor the transition." Kenzi informed.
"Wow! Well, I have never heard of a more perfect job to transition into. Congratulations!" Lauren said as she and Kenzi hugged.
"What spurred the offer?" Lauren asked when they broke their embrace.
"Have no idea." Kenzi replied as she quickly threw hands up.
"Well, congratulations again." Lauren said. Trick proceeded to hand out drinks as they all heard Dyson curse the BBQ grill for some transgression.
"One would think in all of his years he would know how to work a BBQ." Lauren noted.
"I heard that!" Dyson shouted.
"Glad the wolf hearing still works! Now if you would only come in for a physical!" Lauren shouted back.
"I swear it is a conspiracy with these things." Dyson said still arguing with the BBQ.
"Dyson, leave that thing for a moment to join us in a toast." Trick yelled out.
In frustration, Dyson dropped the tongs he attempted to use as a tool on the BBQ and went and joined the rest of the group. Trick raised his glass, and everyone followed.
"To our family. Many, many blessings for our present and our future." Trick offered.
"Here! Here!" Everyone joined as they toasted their glasses and took sips of their drinks.
"What have we all gotten into?" Bo said.
"The ride of our lives, baby!" Kenzi answered.
In the middle of the night Ari woke up to find Helen sleeping in a satee chair in the corner of her room and took in the beauty of her wife. Helen must have sensed her watching her as she awoke and smiled at Ari.
"Hello, my love!" Ari greeted. Helen stood up, went over and kissed Ari.
"Hello, my love." Helen replied.
Ari looked at her wife and raised her eyebrows up and down a couple of times. Helen smiled as she ran one finger down Ari's face.
"I have been waiting for you to wake up. Really wake up." Helen said.
"I have missed you in my arms." Ari replied.
"Let us see what we can do to remedy that." Helen said as she backed up from the bed so Ari had a full view of her. Helen then untied her dress from the side, and dropped it to the ground. She was wearing a white, lacy, corset style underwear. She then let down her long, auburn red hair, allowing it to flow down on her shoulder and on her chest.
"You are a magnificent woman." Ari said as she took in the sight of her wife. Helen walked up, climbed onto the bed and straddled Ari.
"While medical ministrations have certainly played their role, I believe a little Fae healing can now play theirs," and took Ari in for a deep kiss.
