Don't You Wanna Stay?

Disclaimer: True Blood and its characters are the property of HBO, Alan Ball, and Charlaine Harris.

Ten

Seren arranged herself carefully on the backless couch the television studio brought in for her as she waits impatiently for the next of the angelic envoys to arrive. While it's going to be solely her job to liaise with humans and supernatural once her people have been made public, she's not expected to sell their party line on national television all on her own. Envoys from all three castes have been selected with care to showcase a positive and charming image to enchant the world with the idea of real, live angelic beings.

Not that her family has given them much choice in the matter. When the ruling royalty of two out of three races says jump, most just ask how high. It is a definite abuse of power but one she's finding herself more and more comfortable with as the humans buzz around her.

They don't know what's going on. All they've been told is that there are going to be a trio of dignitaries with an important announcement going out live. Their speculations about what the announcement is run the gamut from a celebrity elopement to a business coup to civil unrest. Nobody is sure what's going on but each person has their own two cents to add.

Hearing familiar footsteps making their way towards the green room she's trying in vain to make herself comfortable in, she rises to her feet with a smile.

Seeing the iconic golden hair and ice blue eyes of one of the most "angelic" of the Angel caste she moves forward, giving her old friend a hug.

"Michael." She said, kissing the smooth cheek of the legendary warrior. "I had hopes but I never thought Luke would agree. The best I dared hope for was Gadrial or Orion."

Holding onto her arms the Archangel leans back, scanning his friend, niece, and occasional opponent with practiced eyes.

"Seren," he gives her a kiss on the forehead. "While Gadrial was slated to come, when I found out who would be representing the Seraphs I couldn't help myself."

"You pulled rank." She teases him, ushering him over to the couch to take a seat.

"Of course he did." Her youngest uncle and the last of her father's three brothers laughed as he entered the room. "Michael's been pulling rank as the second oldest for eons. Why on Earth would he stop now?"

Popping back up onto her feet Seren leapt into his arms. "Zacharias." She grinning at him as he gave her the family kiss to the forehead. "Father's really pulling out the big guns for this."

"Well," Zach said, motioning her back down beside his brother. "He originally thought to send one of your younger brothers but with Luke's nose out of joint over Michael coming…"

"He thought a little extra clout might be necessary." She finished for him. "And who's more important than one of the First?"

"Pretty much." Zach agreed shrugging, then trading back slaps with his older brother. "Let's be realistic. Luke's the head of the Angels but he's outvoted one-to-four when it comes to family affairs. And that's before we add in you and your brothers. He really doesn't have a choice in this and that has to potential to make him dangerous."

"To say he's not happy about your mate would be an understatement." Michael added.

Rolling her eyes she stands to pace in front of her uncles.

"I understand. I truly do. But this is my life and my choice. I'm done fighting other people's battles and protecting others so the world can keep turning and everyone else around me can keep being happy. Or happy in their misery." She added at the end, thinking of her uncle Luke. "My mate is my one chance for peace and happiness, and by the King I'm taking it."

Even if it means knocking Luke off of his Angel throne to do it.

"We know, little one." Michael stands up and sends her some peace and calm through his family bond with her. "We understand. More than you know. And we are here, standing beside you so that you can have your chance. We will not allow any dissention in the ranks spoil this for you." No matter the cost. Their little warrioress is due some happy for her own. Even if it's with a vampire.

xXxXxXxXxXx

Their interviewer from the television studio was clearly charmed by the handsome pair of brothers who were doing their best to enchant an entire country. The veteran show host with Emmys under her belt and two decades of experience just about melted into her chair when she announced the group and the two strode on the stage flanking their female counterpart.

Not that Seren could blame them. Michael was all golden good looks and flashing dimples, muscled and tall like a stained glass window from a church. Then there was Zacharias. Mr. Dark and Broody himself with a dangerous charm. Equaling his elder brother for both height and fitness his flashing black eyes and sleek black hair were an excellent foil for his sibling. They even dressed to accentuate the differences with Michael in all white linen and Zach in ink black leather.

Then there was Seren, seated carefully by her uncles between them in her blood red, backless silk dress and skyscraper heels. She managed to look otherworldly and like every man's darkest fantasy all at the same time.

For a random sample of her family it paints a rather accurate picture.

Finishing up the introductory "so glad you're here" spiel the woman finally comes to the heart of the matter.

"Now, you're all respected business people from different parts of the world and highly successful in your fields. Michael as a philanthropist and scientist, Zach you're a wildly popular musician, and Seren your fashion line is simply divine. What brings you all here today?"

"Well," Seren shoot the camera a dazzling smile. "We all share a secret and we thought," she looks at the men flanking her. "That it was past time we share it."

"A secret, well," the veteran reporter felt an Emmy tingle start in her belly. "Color me on the edge of my seat. What kind of secret?"

Giving the interviewer a teasing glance, Seren holds out her hands for her uncles to help her stand. Moving to directly center on the stage, she takes off her concealing sunglasses and unleashes her wings, ignoring the shocked gasps coming from both the interviewer and the audience.

"This kind of secret."

"You, you're…" The interviewer stuttered as the camera man began panning all around Seren, taking her in from every angle to show how her wings were attached and that they weren't some kind of hoax.

"Angelics," Michael smiles at the stunned woman as she gathers herself. "Yes, we all are."

"Angels?" She finally pulls herself back together as Seren retakes her seat on the backless between her uncles.

"Not quite." Zach answers. "Only Michael, here is an Angel. Seren and I are from the other two Angelic castes."

"Castes, like sub-cultures?" The interviewer clarifies.

"More like having three different breeds of the same species." Seren corrects. "We all are a part of the Angelic races but each caste has specific markers and duties."

"Such as your eyes and wings?"

"Eyes yes," Seren laughs. "Wings, somewhat. They both have wings as well but they would have to remove their shirts to show you…?"

"Fine by me." The interview laughs, watching avidly as the two men stood, removing their shirts and unleashing their own wings: Michael's pure white with gold tips and Zach's inky black with hints of red.

Sitting back beside their niece their wings all blending to form a beautiful patchwork of color.

"So each caste has different colored wings, is that right?"

"Yes." Michael's smile oozes charm. "There's variations of course but generally you have white for Angels, shades of grey for Seraphs, and black for Fallen."

"I'm sorry, Fallen?"

"We Fallen were originally Angels thousands of years ago. We chose a different path from that of 'normal' Angels and as a result gained a different set of powers and physical features." Zach said easily putting fears to rest. "We're not minions of the Devil or damned or demons. Just a different set of angelics with a different set of rules to live by."

"Well that's good to know." The interview laughed, patting her carefully coiffed blonde hair. "You say thousands of years, are Angelics immortal?"

"More like long-lived and hard to kill." Michael said with a laugh. "In fact the reason why we've kept ourselves a secret for years is because of a war that broke out a couple thousand years ago. Our numbers grew too few for us to risk losing any more people. So we stayed hidden for centuries until we felt it was time to come forward again."

"Why have you come forward?" The interviewer leaned in closer. "Why now have your people decided to come out into the public eye?"

"Vampires." Zach said chuckling at the confused look on her face. "When they came forward we watched very closely, paying strict attention to how they were treated. The general consensus being that if all went well for them that we would consider coming forward ourselves."

"And because a vampire is my mate." Seren said sweetly. "I have no wish to hide who or what I am. I want to be able to like freely and openly alongside my mate. Something that I felt strongly was only possible if the world know who and what I am. And who I love."

xXxXxXxXxXx

Sitting together in Seren's suite of the hotel, Zacharias and Michael stare in concern at their niece.

"The humans are going to ask questions eventually." Zach said at last. "The cover stories and fake lives we've set up over the last couple years won't withstand very much scrutiny. Eventually someone is going to figure out that we're closer to mercenaries than we are to heavenly beings."

"And that you're more than a pretty face." Michael pointed out as he took a drink from his Scotch. "We can just fade back into the ranks but you're the Seraph Princess, the delegate selected to be the face of our people and to deal with the other supes now that we're out in the open. That combined with your announcing your mate is a vampire on live tv…"

"That isn't going to do me any favors." She finished rising and moving to stare out over the Dallas skyline that is just starting to be painted with the colors of sunset. Her mate will be rising soon. "I knew that going in. We both did. But with as many enemies as having our relationship out in the open is going to create it will also give us a measure of security by being in the public eye. They're going to be ravenous for our story, we'll be the most popular couple in the world. At least for a time." And that small measure of time is all she needs to set things in motion.

"You're a grown woman." Zach said, moving over and giving her a kiss on her forehead. "You've won the right to live as you see fit on battlefields all over this planet and the angelic realms. Your family will support you."

"Even Luke." Michael said, picking her up in a hug. "Even if it means having all of his brothers knocking him upside his head. No one is going to mess with our girl and her mate. Not as long as any of us still breath."

Waving goodbye the brothers walk out onto the balcony and disappear in a flash of wings.

"Interesting men." Godric commented as he walks into the room. "Your brothers?"

"My uncles." She corrected with a smile as she moves over and gives her mate a deep, long kiss. "They were my backup for the announcement today."

"Ah," he nodded, tucking her hand through his elbow and escorting her over to one of the low couches. "How was it?"

"A load of bullshit buried under charm." She laughed. "They didn't quite know what to make of us but that blissful period of shock and awe is going to wear off too soon for my liking."

Pulling her over onto his lap Godric wraps his tattooed and muscled arms around his lady, drawing her in for another slow kiss.

"We'll navigate this storm. Together. A vampire and an angel." He laughs stroking one hand down her arm. "Together what is there that we can't conquer?"

"A Viking and a Fae?" She asked with an arch look, leaning back in his arms.

"Those two might be even beyond us." He shook his head with a grin. "Hopefully they're not beyond each other's help."

A/N: Ok not as long as I would like. Eric and Sookie pick back up in the next chapter and it'll be quite a few E/S centric chapters after that as everyone settles in for the calm before the storm.