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Lauren's POV

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My eyes slowly flutter open, greeted by darkness, but it's a peaceful darkness I welcome with the biggest smile. Muffled snores from my better half earning the softest of laughs, sixty some odd years later and she still swears she doesn't snore. If only I knew where I dropped my phone. Her foot kicks me as she rolls over and for a moment I think she's woken, only to be assured quite the opposite as her pillow is no longer muffling the sounds coming from her.

Shaking my head to myself, unfortunately already fully conscious with my mind running at full speed I slip from the bed. Eyes already on the bag Kenzi had dropped in here before our arrival. Simple change of clothes, just enough to get us through the morning to pick up our real luggage and head to the 'honeymoon hotel' as Ethan says, very creepily.

Current objective in question as I catch a glimpse of Bo rolling back onto her back, smile replaced with a smirk. Loving and sweet thought replaced with something still loving, just not quite so sweet. Abrupt internal debate beginning between my head and body, finish up remaining work or…or…train of thought quickly ending the debate.

Carefully I maneuver myself back onto the bed on my knees, right between her thighs and left on the other side. Fingertips gently running down her collarbone over the top of her breasts. Pressing my thigh harder against her, hands resting on the mattress above her shoulders as I lean down. Lips softly moving over every inch of skin from her shoulder up to her neck. Soft moan and subtle stir all I manage to earn.

"You're getting old."

"What?"

"You heard me."

She slaps my ass, grinning. "I'm not."

"Took you quite a while to wake."

"How do you know I haven't been awake this whole time?"

"Apart from the snoring?" My eyebrow raising, dipping down to steal a kiss. "You can't resist touching me."

"Is that what you think?"

"It's what I know." Sitting up atop of her, making no effort to move my fingertips idly moving over her stomach with no direction.

"Let you be on top ONE night and now look, inflated ego."

"LET me?"

She nods. "Mm-hm."

"Delusion is another sign of old age."

"Ass." She laughs out, giving me another playful smack. "I thought you'd be at the lab getting your smarts on and wrapping everything up."

"I can't believe you just said that. You're spending too much time with the boys."

"You're just mad cause I'm hip."

"Hip?"

"Isn't that the word?"

"Not in a few decades, my love."

"Oh well. I already have a ball and chain, doesn't really matter if I'm cool or not anymore."

"Ball and chain?"

"Old lady? Missus?"

"How about better half?"

"I don't necessarily know if you're my better half." Her hands gripping my hips as I attempt to move off. "You know I'm kidding."

"Better be."

"Or what?" She challenges, hands moving to the sides of my stomach. I know what's coming but I'm not fast enough. My laughter filling the room as she tickles me, maneuvering us so she's on top of me. "Huh? Huh? What are you gonna do otherwise?" She challenges in between soft kisses over my face.

"I'll throw you in the dungeon."

"Sounds kinky." She laughs, finally stopping tickling but letting her weight lay over me.

"Bo, there's something I have to tell you." Laughter subsiding, playful moment slowly moving to something…else. "I should have told you sooner, but the wedding just kind of grew into this monster that…"

"Consumed our lives for the past two months?" She laughs, resting her chin on my stomach as she looks up at me.

"When I go to the lab…"

"And revert to your days of sexy scientist slash doctor woman again?" She nods. "Mm-hm."

"As of late it has been because I've been working on the F.R.H.K. virus again."

"Lauren."

"I know we agreed I would let it alone, but I couldn't,"

"But nothing Lauren." With a sigh, she sits up leaving me no choice but to follow suite. "Last time you…"

"It won't happen again."

"You don't know that."

"I do."

"Lauren, I watched as you spent twenty four hours a day in that lab. Forgetting to eat, drink, talk to your family. It almost destroyed you."

"I promise, I have it under control. I am only monitoring the progress of the cure."

Sighing, hands running through her hair before turning to face me. "And?"

"Unfortunately, no change."

"One day we'll find a cure babe."

"When? When ninety percent of the human population is gone?"

"It won't come to that, I know it seems like a million years away before we find a fix, but it won't be."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because that's what we thought fourteen years ago and now every baby inoculated will grow up immune. In a year or two years you will find a cure for those infected." She reaches out, taking my hand in her own. "I have faith in you."

"Too much."

"Never too much." Smiling softly, she maneuvers onto her knees crawling the small distance to me. "Never too much." Repeating herself in a whisper, she kisses my cheek. "Go take care of what you have to so we can go on our honeymoon babe, and when we get back, I will help you in whatever way I can to fixing this."

"Yeah?"

"Mm-hm." Nodding, her nose brushes against mine. "Even if it is just putting on a cheerleading outfit and rooting you on."

"Mm, I like where this is going."

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Charlie's POV

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This is stupid….no this is insane. That's all I can manage to think as I grab the wooden board, my lifeline, the only thing keeping me form falling off this excuse of a truck.

I wanted new, and I've certainly gotten it. This…truck something called Toyota. The faded year on the back saying 2030, I never even knew people kept cars past five years. Though if this is what happens to them, can't exactly blame them. The body small and rusted. What I am assuming was once a forest green paint only remaining in blotches nearly covered in rust. The hood and driver's side door a bright sky blue that isn't quite so…missing, and two inches too small to actually fit. Obviously taken from another vehicle.

Three miles I had managed to make it before getting picked up, something I reluctantly accepted. Unfortunately my trip so far hinting that I might actually be a bit of a hypocrite. I've always prided myself on being opened minded, but when this ridiculous truck pulled up alongside of the road made for maybe four people at best, but carrying seven full grown men who all looked like death run over, I judged.

One of the younger guys had offered to ride in the truck-bed so I could manage to squeeze into a seat, but I quickly declined. Mom's words echoing in the back of my mind; 'Always have an escape route'. There was more than a couple times during our seven mile rough and rocky drive that I thought about jumping out and running home. Running back to my life and calling it a day, but instead I kept a hold of the piece of wood and watched the scenery gradually change from gorgeous to scary to downright pathetic.

"We're here."

One of the men calls out to me as we abruptly stop at the corner of what I assume was once a city…maybe a town. Not exactly sure what to call this monstrosity. Carefully I maneuver myself down, stumbling but I keep my footing. "Big mistake Charlie." I say to myself, noticing four small groups of people scattered nearby, staring at me like some kind of circus freak.

"You lost?" The voice causes me to nearly jump out of my skin. Spinning around, fist clenched remembering how mom used to say that if your fist was already balled it would save a good one to two seconds if you needed to start swinging. "Yeah, you with the doey-eyes."

"I-I'm not from around here."

"No freakin' kidding."

She's young, older than me but young. Slightly taller too and absolutely gorgeous. Seventeen years and I don't meet one interesting person and now two in less than twenty-four hours. Her long, black hair pulled back loosely, some of which had come undone and hangs into her face. She's dirty, in need of a serious shower or four, but far cleaner than most starting at me.

"You look like your wall bred."

"N-no. No, I'm from the states."

"Which?"

"Chicago."

"Chicago isn't standing anymore."

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Lauren's POV

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"You should already be on your way to District Three." Kenzi scowls at me from across the table.

"Just tying up a couple loose ends."

"Hon-ey-moon." She sounds it out for me and I have to try not to laugh. "Go."

"Where are we at?"

Sighing, she spreads out her multicolored folders. "As far as?"

"As far as everything."

"Leo found himself another three mercs." She shrugs, giving me as little information as possible.

"More with personal problems with me or…"

"Who are you kiddin'? Two are human rebel deserters, not sure how they got in but I'll figure it out. And the other is Kayla Grey."

"Why does that sound familiar?"

"She was Skylar's student for a min. Then her husband caught the F.R.H.K. and she wasn't so fluffy toward our cause."

"Speaking of," My eyes on the green folder she keeps tapping. "The death tolls from this month?"

"You really put off your honeymoon to find out about the virus?"

"Kenzi."

"Fine. Fine. From North America, they aren't so bad. Only seventeen."

"Seventeen?"

"Yeah."

"As in seven plus ten?"

"More like seven plus ten…plus one thousand six hundred and eighty three."

"That's not good."

"It's tapering off."

"Sure."

"On the plus side, the wedding did a number on moral. The celebration isn't estimated to taper off until Monday."

"That's great."

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Charlie's POV

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My eyes move passed her to the several little crowds taking notice of our conversation. I could run, but help is ten miles away. I can't outrun them for ten miles and genius I am, I left my tacker at home. Mom's escape plan advice is good, but I don't have one. Mother's advice of always go the diplomatic way first really doesn't seem like they would be open to. Ethan would just walk away, but I don't think that's an option. Michael and Ria would jump at the chance for a fight…or bullshit their way out of it.

"It's there. Beaten and broke, but it's there. Unless something happened I don't know about."

"You don't got an accent."

"Yeah, well when the population on your street has a turnover rate of once a week, hard to develop one."

"You speak in a lot of big words."

"And you make a lot of accusations. Either do something, or let me be."

"Let you be?" She snorts a chuckle, taking a quick step toward me and by some miracle I don't flinch. "Nah, you aren't form the city, they're cowards." Her hand reaches out for mine. "Trini."

"Excuse me?"

"My name, Trini." She looks from her hand to me, giving me no choice but to reluctantly shake it. "Short for Trinity."

"That's your name?"

"Do you have a problem?"

"No, I just never heard it before."

"And what's yours?"

"Charlie."

Her eyes run over my body and I'm unsure if I'm flattered or irritated. "Don't look like a boy."

"Short for Charlotte."

"Do they not have a sense of humor down there?"

"Not really."

"Ha—oh, you aren't kidding."

"Not really, not." Shaking my head. "Where I am from is pretty humorless."

"We're gonna have to get you one." She throws her arms around my shoulder, guiding me down the street.

I know I must look like a school girl being led around and occasionally teased by this woman who in my opinion is the definition of hot…and irritating. Must be how mom felt when she met mother. It was all so new. The attention, the people, the surroundings. Never in a million years would I have pictured this.

Trini's hand falls to my lower back, guiding me away from one street and down another. I've always talked crap to Michael, Ria and Ethan because they loved the attention, but I can see why now. I, like them am daughter of the Queen, well QueenS now, and the eldest female hier. It was rare for anyone to want to try and date me. They would want to court me, take me out and obtain the benefits and attention of being with me, but it was never about me. Never had they tried to hold my hand or even kiss me. They would never take the liberty that she is.

But on the other hand, when I manage to get my mind away from the butterflies in my stomach and the burning in my cheeks, I feel sick. The further into the city we go, the worse it gets. It wasn't long before my head came down from the clouds realizing the dozens of sleeping people in the streets were not actually sleeping, but rather dead. Or dying. Only the frames of buildings seemed to have stood the test of time. Pictures from Ancient history class came to mind, The destruction of Germany during World War Two as they called it, had nothing on this place. Names upon names were written upon the remainders of walls, like gravestones.

Whispered under my breath. "Death to the Queen." The words written across a building top.

"Rebel HQs. Steer clear." She warns, nodding us to the left further away from the building. "The sentiment is the same though, rebel or not."

"Why?"

"Why?"

"I only mean there was a lot of factors that went into what had happened, it wasn't solely her fault. Besides I hear she drops food and supplies monthly."

"This better be a part of your weird humor…it's not." Shaking her head, we come to a stop. "First off, I don't know how it's done in the states but around here, you need to watch what you say. Second, if you're planning on staying around here you need to get over that puppy dog, idealistic thinking you got going on real quick. That Satan worshiping bitch of a Queen is the reason for this." Taking what I would assume is a much needed breath, she holds her arms out gesturing to the onslaught of destruction. "And as far as those care packages, most of us never touch them."

"Most?"

"Some people get a pass. Children under thirteen, anyone over fifty."

"It's food and medical supplies. You people obviously need it."

"It's from her."

"And?"

For a solid six or seven seconds I'm sure she's going to really let me have it now, but instead her features soften. "I forgot the states had the bombings, not the plague." She nods for me to follow and against better judgement I do. Another four bocks further into destruction and two left turns before we come to one of the most stable buildings I've seen since arriving. "This is what she did to us and why we'll never accept anything from her."

It doesn't take long to realize this is a sorry excuse for a makeshift hospital. Rows upon rows of people laid across the broken floor, some motionless and some in the middle of spasms. Some silent as death itself and others screaming out in pain. The voices screaming for death cut through it all. Some had torn shambles of blankets and others don't even have shirts.

"This is the plague. Or what they dubed Fae Resistant, Human Killing virus. It was worse in the beginning. Don't get me wrong I'm not old enough to remember the first waves, not really but I remember enough. I heard in China and France there was a strain that had people's skin falling off the bone."

"I, um…"

"I thought the states had gotten it too, guess not like us."

"N-no."

"The Queen is a wretched, worthless, Satan worshiping, soulless killer. Fae are disgusting abominations and any human that's sided with them deserves to die the same death."

I wanted to say something, but I find myself standing in silence like a belittled child. My first instinct despite our differences is to defend my mother, my kind, my family which consists of both these 'disgusting' fae she speak of and 'traitorous' humans, but how can I now standing in the middle of a graveyard caused by their hand. This was nothing like what I had expected. This isn't what I had wanted to see. Even with reading everything the schools allowed of the war and the virus, it was nothing like this. In our history it wasn't my mother who caused this, in our history it wasn't even…this.

"I'm sorry. I lost my family to the plague and the war. I'm also a nurse here in the seventh circle of hell, so I see the carnage day in and day out, over and over again. All I'm able to do is lie to them, tell them it'll be alright knowing damn well it won't be. It builds up, sometime you don't even catch it. I didn't mean to snap at you."

"it's fine."

"It's not though." Gently her hand comes to rest on my shoulder, a completely different demeanor. "Everyone around here has grown a second skin and innocence is something in fairy tales like true love and happy endings." She hesitates, gentle smile. "It's nice to meet someone who still has some vulnerability and humanity left in them."

"Thanks." I think.

"You are eighteen right?" She laughs, hand falling to her side. "Age isn't really a thing anymore I know, but it's a personal, moral thing I have going on."

"Hm?"

"The touching and apparently less than successful flirting."

"Oh…oh!" Dumbass Charlie, keep up! "Yeah, yeah I am definitely eighteen. Way, way over. I'm practically ready for a walker."

"That's….good to know." She laughs, hopefully not at me. "Look Ms. Ancient, I got a lot of work to do, but maybe tomorrow we can hook up for a less than aggressive conversation? If you're still around."

"Yeah. Yeah. Definitely."

Shut up Charlie!

Stupid smile and excessive nodding continuing until she's out of sight, letting me know I can leave. This social interaction is hard stuff! Usually people are nice and accommodating pisses me off…but this kind of does too. Grinning to myself. My hands find their way into my jacket pockets as I walk back the way we had come. The only difference now is instead of having my attention divided, I observe every inch of devastation I see. A fifteen minute walk must have taken me an hour, the sun fully overhead now.

They should be long gone now and the streets still filled with partiers. Its all disgusting now. Massive city wide party where pounds of food will be wasted while these people can barely eat. Money wasted on decorations and crap that no one needs while these people live in garbage. How is it like this? How?

My anger and disgust reaching a peak before slowly dissipating, replaced by an unusual guilt. I wanted to stay livid, I am really, it's just not my main train of thought anymore as I clear the city and head back toward my prison. What is my main train of thought is Trini, with her unique name and equally unique mood swings. Her unusual speech patterns with words with meanings that are completely different to us. But most of all the way she made me feel, nervous and calm and irritated but intrigued all at the same time.

"Hey you. I know who you are."

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Lauren's POV

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Will this man ever shut up?

Leonardo Wright, or as Bo loves to call him solely to annoy him, Lenny. His thick Boston accident only making his speech drone on longer than it should be, or at least that's how it feels. I had never noticed that until Bo had pointed out in one of her rants against him and his political tactics. I can't begin to remember which one.

Bo leans back in her seat, yawning and I want to smile, but I can't. Instead I sit toward the edge of my seat, back straight and fake every ounce of attentiveness I can imagine. My eyes momentarily leaving his face to the clock behind him, already an hour and forty three minutes late.

"Excuse me." My hand goes up on reflex, silencing him. Attention shifting to my two youngest standing by the wall as if at attention. Now they chose to behave. "Michael. Victoria. Wait outside."

They momentarily look like they're going to protest, but they begin their walk of shame in silence. They stop at the door, glancing back at me like kicked puppies and I was going to smile at them, let them know I'm annoyed more than anything, except I can't. Instead of a reassuring smile for them I find a tightness in my chest at the sight of Danielle staring back at me. Logically I know she isn't standing there, I know it's them, but I see her there staring back at me with that same kicked puppy look she had given so many times before.

It's not their fault, it's not anyone's fault that they look so much like her. They look like Bo in the overall essence of things. Extremely black hair, dark eyes, naturally tanned skin and athletic builds over slender or muscular, but they look like Danielle now. The three of them unmistakably siblings. Something that seemed to happen overnight, really. One night they were fourteen and Bo's mini-mes and then the next they were turning sixteen becoming Danielle's doppelgangers.

"What is this about?" I ask, my attention shifting back to Leo.

"I told you. Your son and daughter were caught shoplifting, you're lucky it was here rather than somewhere else. They may have simply thrown them to the authorities with this kind of deviant behavior and given your history with Skylar, it could have been complicated."

"No Leo, truthfully, what is this about? You know they're my children, they have more than enough money to pay for whatever it is they were….admiring. Besides most people would have let them go for the sheer fact that they are my children, yet here we are. You detain them without authority, force us down here and then attempt to berate us. Why?"

"Lauren, time has made you cynical and paranoid."

"So this is strictly about the money?"

"Of course."

"Nothing more?"

"Nothing," He leans back in his chair, smirking at Bo.

If I could have gotten away with it, I would have slapped him with the way he looked over her. I know the look well, or should I say, I remember it. It's been a long while since anyone has dared to look at her like that, at least in front of me. Being Queen does have some perks after all. Annoyance and nearly a decade year old rivalry getting the better of me, I open the little hand purse I had been gripping for the better part of an hour. Standing, I toss several hundred dollar bills over his desk…or okay, I admit, at him.

"The hundred for what they were admiring and the rest for your troubles, since you seem in such dire need."

Without another word I start for the door, knowing Bo is right behind me. Or at least I had thought she was until the sound of her voice stops me, my hand on the doorknob as I look back in curiosity as she asks him, "What did you call me?"

"What?"

"What did you just call me?"

"I didn't say anything."

"Bo, are you okay?" I can feel my eyebrow raise as I look over her. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." She shakes her head, starting toward me. "Thought he said something." Her words a whisper as she pulls the door open for me.

"Not now." I hold my hand up to my children as we walk passed them, more in a mothering way than a Queen way, but I suppose I've perfected both.

"Mother, just let us…"

"Your mother said not now."

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Charlie's POV

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"Cat got your tongue?" Initial fear dissipating as I find Danielle smirking at me, just as she had last night. "Or are you just that devastated over finding out what mommy is capable of?"

"Why are you out here?"

"Same reason as you I suppose. I want to help."

"Really?"

"Don't seem so surprised. I've been called a bleeding heart more than once, hate it, but I guess there's some truth in it."

"It's just everyone within the walls, our city or anywhere else doesn't want to think about out here. Let along do anything about it."

"Well, I'm not everyone. I just see all this destruction and it makes me want to…"

"Do something?" I smile, shaking my head probably a little too eager at her words. "Thought I was alone."

"No." She shakes her head, beginning to walk beside me. "Did you see what you needed?"

"Yes. No. I'm not sure. I expected bad, but this was something…" I trail off, glancing over at her only to have my attention stolen by the glimpse of these two guys who had been following behind for a while now. "Do you know them?"

"Them?" She laughs. "No."

"Do you think they recognize me?"

"No, why?" She glances back, somewhat disinterested.

"I saw them by the hospital, they were staring then too. Now they're following."

"You don't need to be worried, I can protect you."

"I'm not worried." I lie. "I just don't like it."

"Really? A princess who isn't used to being watched?" Smirking, she turns around still keeping up with my pace but walking backward as she stares down the guys. "Relax princess, they don't like your company. Probably were going to scare you."

"My company? You?"

"Ha. No. That girl you were talking to. She's a little too…dark for them."

"Dark?" I stop, more than confused. "She's human."

"Jesus." She snorts at me. "She's black. Light, but still black."

"What?"

"Ah yes, forgot mommy got rid of racism too. Now it's just good old classism." Her smirk annoys me this time more than intrigues me. "You do know what racism is, right?"

"Yes, I do. Thank you…I've read about it."

"Just checking."

"Seems more than a little silly to be concerned with something as pointless as skin color now when this is their life. They all need the same things, they all die the same."

"Would you care to go explain that to them?"

"I would actually, yes." It's her hand grabbing my bicep that keeps me from moving.

"Relax Cujo." Despite my current irritation with her, I can't help smirking to myself. My aunt and mom both loving to use that saying, I guess she really is older than me…more than I thought. "Humans have been dealing with that issue for a millennium. You're not about to solve it with a good talking to."

"If you don't talk then how can you resolve it?"

"You're going to…" Abruptly she stops, running her hand through her hair. Sighing, before forcing a smile. "How about we schedule solving racism for the humans for next week and this week we work on helping the hospital?"

"I just…we?"

"Yeah, saving the world seems like something that's better done with a little help."

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Lauren's POV

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"If it isn't our degenerate siblings." Ethan laughs from the couch as we walk in,

"Shut up." Sean orders, tossing his Sports Illustrated at his brother, eyes remaining on the football game playing on the television.

"Now isn't the time." Bo shakes her head, taking a seat on the couch.

"What were you thinking?" I place my purse down, attempting to balance my irritation and concern over Bo's change of mood since leaving the mall. "Hm? You don't have everything you need? You don't have a credit card? You don't have at least three hundred in cash on you at all time? You couldn't have picked another time? Another place? You had to go specifically to his territory and steal?"

"We didn't take it, so technically it isn't stealing…per-say." Victoria chimes in.

"Oh. Bo, our daughter must have chosen a vocation. And where one of these two go the other must go. Should we start looking at law schools for them now?"

"Naw." Michael answers for them.

"Naw? Boy you have a very, very expensive and Ivy League level education. Words like naw, should not be in your vocabulary."

"Babe."

"This is embarrassing, both of you. Not only for the two of you, but for the entire family."

"We're sorry." Victoria pouts, leaning against the wall.

"And over a pair of headphones, seriously? If you're going to steal something then at least steal something worth it. We had to travel through parades, drunken crowds, across town and delay our flight, over cheap headphones worth…"

"Nine, ninety-five." Bo answers for me.

"Next time, I'll make sure to pocket something expensive." Michael laughs, Bo throwing Sean's magazine at him.

"I am going to finish packing. You all will be your aunt's problem very soon and she will be in charge of your punishment."

"You know that's no punishment, right?" Bo laughs, looking back at me with a smirk.

"I'm going to pack."

This family….

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Charlie's POV

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Coming to the edge of my block I find myself lingering, eyes focusing on the sign 'Santiago Drive'. Road named after my family. Entire block completely dedicated to my family. Apparently we're just too good to live with anyone else. Fancy houses, fancy lawns with fancy garages full of fancy cars. It always seemed pretentious, but now after today it all seems…disgusting.

The first house Denzel's and across from his is Soren's. Family, but guards must be first of course. Then followed by Uncle Travino's house for when he's in town. Because of course you need a house where no one lives for most of the year. A ways down the block, the starting construction of Ethan's house, because he'll get one long before me…I don't stuck up quite the right way. Sean and Milas's house further down on the right straight across from Aunt Kenzi's. Then of course ours at the very end. So many houses far bigger than need be, so much land ready to be built on for us.

This family…

My steps slowing as I see my parent's car in the driveway. Slight panic setting in. They were supposed to be gone hours ago, no one was supposed to notice I was gone. They're going to murder me. I am going to be dead just as my life is starting.

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Lauren's POV

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"They feeling any better?" I glance toward the door, zipping up my bag.

"Which one? They all seem to be on the same pain in the ass wave link. Sean is fighting again with Mila. Charlie got home and is now just sitting on her bed scowling every time I walk by like a lion watching a zebra. And the dangerous triplets are currently in a wrestling match over the last bowl of fruity pebbles."

"Wrestling?"

"Yup. Think they broke a chair. Aren't you glad I convinced you to take our honeymoon out of district?"

Laughing, I toss my bag to her. "Yes, yes you know everything."

"Damn right." She sticks her tongue out at me, putting the strap over her shoulder. Her mood seemingly returning to normal.

"You know if they continue like this…"

"Babe, I will handle it."

"Bo."

"Lauren."

"Bo, I'm serious."

"So am I. Kenz and Sean will keep them in line. There's nothing to worry about. What I am worried about is that if we don't leave now, we won't make it there tonight."

"You're right." Sighing, I walk over to meet her. Pushing off any anxiety nagging at me. "You're right."

"Always am."

"Don't push it." With a laugh I lean in stealing a quick kiss. "Let's go. Quickly before the children cause another ruckus."

The sound of something breaking from downstairs filling the house no sooner than the words make it out of my mouth. Both of us silent as we stare at one another, both contemplating saying something. Instead we find ourselves sharing a laugh.