Valhalla.
"That's a brilliant idea, Tamsin. But you better hope it works. That's borderline disobedient to Trick." Ciara said seriously.
"I have to try something. Kenzi is screwing up by the hour." Tamsin pleaded as she sat waiting.
"Trick is going to have both your asses. Ciara will likely be warned, but you Tamsin, you might be seeing Hades a lot sooner than you think! Hale warned as he left the ladies to their scheming.
Bo and Lauren.
"Bo if you keep that up, you will be up walking them tonight, alone". Lauren laughed.
"Aww Lauren. Don't be that way. You have had them to yourself for hours. It is my turn to play with them". Bo raised her head to meet the Doctor's eyes.
"And you shouldn't be that way. I was running tests on them. To make sure they are growing as expected. That was not about playing with them." Lauren laughed as she threw something into the nearest trash bin.
"I wasn't blaming you wife of mine. I was just pointing out how long you had them. Don't you get it Lauren? Bo asked.
"Get what Bo? Lauren asked as she took a seat.
"They are you. Two more of you actually. They smell like you. They look like you. Look curious about everything like you do. I have three of you now, and I love all three of you. And the ones we will have in the future." Bo said quietly as she bent down to kiss Charlotte and Chloe on their foreheads.
"Bo I was never blaming you for anything. I was teasing you sweetie. You can play with them as long as you want, whenever you want. If you ever grow tired of walking them, just let me know and I will help." Lauren stared at the Succubus and wiped a tear from her eye in the process. Bo looked so beautiful playing with the kids. She changed them even before they had done anything. Fed them before they were scheduled to eat. It was as if the woman was trying to keep them alive and safe. But these gorgeous dolls are never going to die. Never be harmed to the point they can't self-heal.
"Bo there is something that I need to tell you, when you are done playing with them that is." Lauren said quietly.
"Help me put them down for a nap, and we can talk." Bo nodded at the girls. Lauren stood up and walked over to take Charlotte from Bo. They walked them to the nursery and made sure they had plenty of milk and blankets.
Once Lauren grabbed a baby monitor, they each kissed the babies, and left them to sleep.
Bo grabbed a few beers from the kitchen and joined Lauren in the living room.
"Okay babe, it is just us now. What's up? Bo asked as she settled comfortably next to the Doctor.
"Bo there is a reason I was running so many tests. It's the same reason for all the tests I have run on them recently." Lauren said as she watched Bo open her beer for her.
"I'm listening." Bo half smiled. She didn't like the tone in Lauren's voice, but trying to change the subject or run off like she used to, wasn't going to solve anything.
"I worry about them Bo. I worry that something is going to go wrong with them because there might be something wrong in me." Lauren pushed back in her seat and took a few sips.
"Lauren as I understand it, there is nothing wrong with you. Nothing that could ever go wrong with you. But if you are that worried about it, then yes. Run as many tests as you need to run. If you like we can go and see grandmother today and talk to her about it. She will gladly make time for us. You know that." Bo said as she took one of Lauren's shaky hands.
"I would prefer we keep this to ourselves. If I go to her with this, she might be insulted. She might start thinking that I don't trust her, or trust what she's done for me." Lauren kissed Bo's hand and squeezed it.
"I can understand that. But I don't want you worrying about something that you don't have to. I can always say that I am worried about it. So that she can't think you doubt her. But I have known you a lot longer than she has. If you have a bad feeling, then it is something worth exploring. I didn't always see that like that, but I do now. We can go and talk to her, and I will say that I am worried about the babies. I will take her wrath, if it comes to that." Bo pulled Lauren into her arms and squeezed her. "It is okay my love, we'll get through this."
"I am sorry. I know this is stupid. But I don't want us to have any hidden worries or secrets between each other. I just love you and them so much. I have to be prepared for whatever. I kept my own illness from you, I don't want you to ever see our children sick, harmed or wounded." Lauren gently sobbed against Bo's shoulder.
"This is not stupid Lauren. I am glad you told me. We can address it and talk to grandmother. She loves you Lauren. I know she does. She wouldn't have brought you back to me otherwise. When the girls wake up, we can go see her. That way you won't have to sleep on this one more night." Bo whispered against Lauren's head.
"I love you Bo. I love you so much." Lauren squeezed the Succubus hard. It kind of tickled Bo, but she squeezed her wife back.
"I love you to. We will be fine. They will be fine. Grandmother will be fine. You'll see, and rest tonight. In fact, lets go and get the girls up. They can sleep some more on the way over there. I want you to have your answers right now." Bo took Lauren's beer from her and set it on the table. She pulled the Doctor into the nearest bathroom so they could freshen up before they went to get Charlotte and Chloe up. They made a rule they would never kiss their children with beer or liquor on their breaths. Bo patiently waited for Lauren before leaving the room. The doctor had scrubbed her face free of tears, to the point she had to reapply her makeup. Bo didn't see the difference. With or without makeup, Lauren is the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. She is not too bad on the inside either.
Bo had laughed at Lauren when she climbed out of bed saying she was going to check on the kids. They had plenty of baby monitors, so to say they were crying would have been silly. But nothing was funny or silly now. Lauren had a legitimate fear for getting out of bed, as she does right now. Bo can never laugh at that again. She loves this woman and her family more than anything. But since Lauren needs assurance from Isabeau, she is going to get it, and whatever else she needs. The young Succubus is going to be more attentive to her wife now too. She had missed the clues. It was embarrassing. But now that she knew, she can focus on helping Lauren. Helping her before Charlotte and Chloe are big enough to read her aura, if they haven't already. She could have two very angry baby Succubus on her hands. They don't deserve that, and Lauren doesn't deserve to worry as she already does.
"Bo. I said I'm ready now." Lauren said quietly.
Bo snapped out of her head and grabbed Lauren's hand as they walked to get the kids. Once they were packed up and dressed warmly, they were strapped into their car seats.
Bo drove them so Lauren could relax. They had an escort in front and behind them. They could have ridden in the Royal Hummers, but Bo insisted that she drive. This was going to be as normal as can be.
They pulled up and took the kids inside. Once the Queen and Aife cooed all over them, they were taken to the royal nursery to watch cartoons on the massive flatscreen that hung on the wall.
"I'm sorry we just showed up without calling first Grandmother, but I need to talk to you about something. It is urgent." Bo stood in front of the Queen. She looked imposing for the first time, but Bo wouldn't back down.
"You never need an excuse to come here. Now what is it that you need to talk to me about Bo? Queen Isabeau asked.
"I am wondering how healthy the kids should be at this stage? We want to make sure we are not missing anything." Bo said quietly.
"That's what you're worried about Bo? Queen Isabeau asked.
"Yes. That's what I'm worried about." Bo answered and tried to keep the lie out of her face.
"It is okay Bo. I will ask her." Lauren noticed her wife struggling and stepped forward.
"Okay ladies. What is this? Aife asked.
"For the last week or so Lauren has been getting out of bed to run tests on the kids. She did that for a few hours this morning. She's worried they may come down with something and is trying to stay ahead of it. Whatever it could be. I thought she had been sneaking out to spend time with them. But it has progressed farther than that. Lauren thinks something in her could or has hurt them." Bo replied.
"Lauren come here." Queen Isabeau said seriously.
"Grandmother…". Bo started.
"Stand down Isabeau." The Queen said.
Bo rubbed her head and moved backwards. She looked at Lauren but couldn't do anything to help her but squeeze her hand and let it go.
Lauren wasn't afraid, but she was deeply concerned the Queen Succubus was upset.
"Lauren I don't know what else is missing in that story, but it sounds like you were afraid to come to me with your concerns. I don't know what I have done to make you feel that way, but I will correct it, as soon as you tell me what it is." Queen Isabeau said as the Doctor stood in front of her.
"Here Lauren. Sit." Aife stepped forward with a chair.
Bo tapped her foot until the Queen turned in her direction. "I think we should all be sitting". Bo pushed a chair next to Lauren's and took a seat.
"Sit Aife." Queen Isabeau said.
The Succubus nodded and took the seat next to her mother.
Lauren was embarrassed with all eyes on her now. The only sound was a clock ticking in the corner. The room had been emptied out the minute Bo spoke about Lauren getting out of bed. There were drinks all around them, if they needed something. Food was behind them on a long table.
"Lauren." Queen Isabeau spoke softly as she watched the Doctor almost pant in her seat.
"When the Doctor I would come to know to be Hades arrived in my lab, and saw my experiment, I thought I was on my way to forever. That I was on my way to be free from human lifespans and diseases. Then I found out that I had a disease. I had already injected myself with my own serum and never thought I would feel anything but powerful again. Lisa brought me the test results, never knowing they were mine. I was quickly dying and couldn't bring myself to tell Bo. I thought I would have more time to experiment. To find a cure for myself since I hadn't been able to do so before. Then when I thought I was coming close to curing myself, I thought I was going to be able to inject the other serum to buy myself more time. I thought the antidote that I had taken had given me a little more time. I was human again. I was hopeful the Hades serum had been the cause for my Parkinson's, and that the antidote would have taken it all out of my system. I had failed. I had failed myself. I had failed Bo. I died, and you two brought me back. But now we have kids, and that part of me that was so sure I knew everything is starting to seep in again. I don't want my shortcomings from my human life, to befall our family.
I didn't want to come to you with this because you might think I am insulting you, and that's not it at all. I just want to make sure my babies are healthy, and that they will stay that way." Lauren sobbed into the tissue Bo had just handed to her. The brunette rubbed her back, until she was ready to face Isabeau.
"Well I am upset. I am upset that you thought you couldn't come to me with this. I'm upset that I must have appeared uppity and unapproachable to you. But none of that matters now.
You matter. You matter now Lauren. You never have to be afraid of insulting me with anything because I have always been a step ahead of you, and your fears. When I told Aife we were going to get you, I had already prepared for this. But I wasn't going to push until you said the words yourself. Although I never thought that you would.
I know you are concerned about them, you wouldn't be you if you weren't. But my young Royals will be fine. Sure, they will get bumps and bruises, like human children do when they play, but they will never be ill. Not my great-grandchildren. Not ever.
Now as far as your fear of insulting me. That is never going to happen. None of this would have been possible without you Lauren. Isabeau can always heal herself and bring back whomever she wishes to. But she couldn't reach you, so I took it upon myself to call in some century old favors, and I would do it all over again. You are not a burden or an insult Lauren. You are a gift. A gift that keeps on giving. With every law and decision, I make. Each morning we all wake up is because you once existed in the human world. Bo's world. Now you are our world. Our family. There is no way I would have done any of this for any of us to die again. I love you. We love you. Come to us with anything, is that understood? Queen Isabeau asked.
Lauren blushed in embarrassment. All three Succubus were being so attentive. Even Aife with extra tissues and water bottles.
"She's right you know. We owe you everything. I get a chance to be the mother I never had a chance or time to before. This is all because of you. If you didn't love my baby Isabeau like you do, I wouldn't be here. So, whatever, whenever you need anything, call or come by any time. Anywhere." Aife spoke softly and they wall waited for Lauren to make the next move.
"I'm sorry. This is embarrassing. I just don't know what else to say." Lauren said after a good amount of time had passed.
"It's okay babe. They understand. We all understand." Bo furiously rubbed Lauren's back to get her point across. She sighed in relief when Lauren's embarrassment aura started to fade. She had started doing that since they left the house. She wanted to be prepared for whatever emotions their talks would bring out of the Doctor.
For years Bo had never known what a true family is. She had longed to find her mother even longer than that. Now she had her grandmother and her mother showing loyalty to the woman Bo loves without bounds.
It almost made her want to cry but crying wouldn't help them get out of this awkwardness. As strange as it felt, it felt right.
"It is almost noon. Why don't we all have lunch in the Royal Dining room? Aife suggested.
"That's a great idea mom. We'll check on the kids first and join the two of you down there." Bo nodded as she waited a little longer for Lauren to gather herself.
"Let the guards know if you need anything before then." Queen Isabeau said as she stood and patted Lauren's shoulder once more before she left the room with Aife.
"Are you okay? Bo asked gently.
"Better than I was. Thank you Bo." Lauren smiled.
"There is no need to thank me Lauren. I know you. Once you get some uncertainty in your head, it is hard for you to let go of it". Bo smiled rubbing Lauren's back again.
Lauren nodded and stood with Bo's help. She took a deep breath in relief knowing that Isabeau knew about her concerns and addressed all of them.
"The Scientist in you hardly rests. But hopefully after today, you will sleep a lot better now." Bo said quietly as they walked to the nursery. Lauren slammed Bo into the nearest wall and kissed her. The Succubus moaned at the taste but pulled back before anyone could see them.
They smiled at each other and hurried into the nursery, grabbed a baby and hurried to the dining room.
Kenzi and Dagny
"Are we clear on what you are going to do? Kenzi asked.
"I don't think that's going to work Kenzi. Bo will never allow me to babysit them alone." Dagny said shyly looking around. She had always felt like they were being watched but never saw anyone out of the ordinary.
"You won't be babysitting, you will just be snapping pictures and sending them to my new phone." Kenzi said.
"Bo is not going to stand or sit still long enough for me to take pictures of her holding the babies. She already doesn't trust me much." Dagny shook her head. She was starting to tire of Kenzi's antics. Sure, she raised her, but that didn't mean she had to obey her any longer. She missed her mother, but she is not ready to die. Bo wouldn't kill her, but Aife and the Queen looked far more frightening than anyone or Fae she had seen in her young life.
Kenzi shook her head. She just wanted pictures of her nieces. They aren't actually family, but Bo was. Once. There's no way Bo would continue to exclude Kenzi from her life or theirs. When Bo and Lauren want to go out, the children are attended to by maids, butlers and everything else the Queen hires. Bo will eventually tire of that and want a real babysitter. One like she asked Kenzi to be with Dagny as a baby.
She shook her head to think of a better plan.
Valhalla
"You owe me Freyja. You bet me that I would never deliver Rainer to you, and I did. Now do as I ask and help my daughter. I can't go unless I am going to get a body." Tamsin pleaded. She didn't want to sound desperate, but the situation called for it. Kenzi was getting desperate and dragging Dagny into that madness. She thought when she left her to Bo, that Bo would be watching her. She couldn't go back and fix that either.
"Fine. Give it to me." Freyja said as she snatched something from Tamsin and walked towards the Gates of Valhalla. Once she was out, she used her wings to find Dagny. She looked for almost an hour before she found her. Once she did, she remained in the air and dropped the bag to the ground. Once she saw her take it, she flew away.
"Going somewhere? A voice laughed.
"No. No Cedric! I am leaving I promise! Freyja froze in the sky.
"You will tell the Queen about this. You will come with me. The Blood King won't mind". Cedric laughed as he pulled the screaming Valkyrie to him.
Aife
The Succubus had eaten and stepped out of the room when Bruce had come for her.
"What is it? Aife asked.
"We just got word that Freyja is in Cedric's custody and they are on their way here. Kenzi's phone has been located and the news is not good." Bruce bowed.
"Make those bitches wash first before they are presented before the Queen." Aife snapped.
"Yes, Your Highness". Bruce bowed.
Aife smiled. If Cedric was involved, there must be trouble coming. Freyja had been a pain in Aife's ass during her short time in Valhalla, now she was in Isabeau's colony which meant Aife could be a pain in her ass and she had no control over anything.
And Kenzi? Well she better hope whatever was overheard is nothing threatening. The Queen was on her last nerve with the woman. Aife has wanted to kick her ass for weeks. But she's only a Princess. Isabeau told her to be sure before they make a move. It was going to be a deliciously fun move if Bruce's aura was correct.
TBC
Sorry my updates slowed down. But I wanted to get this one out before a new year started. Have a Happy and safe New Year!
