Fifteen minutes later the car came to a stop and Bruce opened the door for them to exit. Lauren exited first and reached back for Bo's hand to pull her out. Smiling a goodnight at Bruce, the two women made their way back up to Lauren's penthouse. Once inside, Bo was surprised to find a table set with numerous meats, cheeses and vegetables. Turning to Lauren she smiled. "Perk of being the Morrigan," she grinned in response, motioning for Bo to join her in filling up a plate.
Once they had full plates, both women got comfortable on the sofa, leaving just enough space between them to be able to maneuver their food. Eating quietly and staring soft glances at each other, both women used the down time to get lost in their own thoughts. And though it was quiet, it wasn't uncomfortable, something both of them took note of. When they were finished, Lauren took Bo's plate and returned it to the food table before moving back to the couch and cuddling up into Bo's waiting embrace. She smiled at the warmth and protectiveness she felt being held in Bo's arms and wondered how she had gotten so lucky to be the focus of the beautiful succubus' attention.
She was broken out of her thoughts by a tentative sounding Bo. "Can I ask you a question Lauren? I don't know how to ask other than to just come out with it, but I need to know." Suddenly concerned with where this conversation was going, Lauren turned around and propped herself up so she could look into Bo's eyes. Her heart ached as she saw the hesitation and fear in them. She knew this was about Lou Ann. "You want to know why I had Lou Ann killed," she got out before Bo could ask, rising from her seat and taking a step back to get some perspective.
She was surprised Bo brought it up so suddenly, but the reality was she had been expecting the question. She didn't know Bo very well, but she could tell she had a very strong sense of right and wrong and wasn't exactly the type of person to let things go. Having expected the question, she'd had time to ponder what her answer would be, but that time hadn't helped her. She still didn't know if she trusted the woman enough to tell her or not. Looking at Bo's face, she knew if she didn't tell the truth she would lose her from her life. Unfortunately, exposing herself with the truth and losing her were equally unattractive options.
Bo watched Lauren as the emotions flitted over her face and she contemplated her response. Bo knew she had surprised her with the question, but she couldn't wait for an answer anymore. Dyson had put doubts in her head and she really wanted Lauren to get rid of them. "Lauren, I'm sorry, I know I agreed to drop the Lou Ann thing, but I can't. I need to know why. I am going to be honest with you – I have feelings for you, feelings that I really want to see where they lead, but I can't be with someone who kills without reason. Getting to know you these past few days, having you save my life and care so much about the fae that you are willing to work with the Ash to protect them, I know you aren't the cold-hearted woman you pretend to be, but I don't understand why you did that and I need to in order to move on. Please help me understand why Lou Ann and her kids had to die."
Lauren was quiet as she watched Bo plead with her for answers. She knew she had two choices, neither of which were ideal. She could lie and have Bo hate her and lose the woman she was afraid to admit she was falling for. Or she could tell her the truth and risk her life and her heart if Bo said anything. She had worked so hard to protect herself from the fae, from the hell she had been through and in the process she had isolated herself from everyone except Vex (and that was a scary thought). Looking into the warm chocolate eyes of the succubus, she realized she was tired of being alone, tired of keeping her heart locked up. Deciding the risk of having it broken was a chance she was willing to take to get to love this woman before her, she made her decision.
"Come with me Bo, it's probably easier if I show you."
Bo looked at her skeptically, a flash of doubt in her eyes, but took her hand anyway and allowed the blonde to pull her up. Following Lauren out of her apartment, they headed towards the elevator and waited in silence for it to arrive. Once it did, Lauren pulled Bo along with her and hit the button for the 24th floor, several below the penthouse she lived on. Bo glanced over at her, sensing her nervousness. She wondered what Lauren was about to show her that would explain why she had Lou Ann and her children killed. For a split second she panicked that the Morrigan was taking her up to some abandoned floor to kill her too, but she swallowed down her fear and tried to have faith in the woman she was starting to fall for.
When the elevator doors opened again, both women stepped off into what Bo could only describe as a non-descript hallway. The walls were tan, the carpeting was tan and the only visible door was white. Lauren walked up to the keypad next to the door and entered a code, then slipped her hand into the reader underneath it. Within a few seconds Bo heard a click and Lauren opened the door, gesturing Bo in ahead of her. Much like the area they just came from though, the hallway here was exactly the same decor, only there were several doorways on either side of it. If she didn't know better, she would think she was in any random apartment building in the city.
Approaching the first door on her left, Lauren knocked quickly, stealing a side glance at Bo. Bo listened as the voices inside quieted a bit, before the door swung open to reveal a very much alive Lou Ann. Lou Ann smiled at the site of Lauren, "Morrigan, what a surprise! What brings you by so late?"
Lauren smiled as she greeted the woman. "I have a friend who wanted to see you, do you mind if we come in for a minute?"
Lou Ann peered around Lauren and took in the sight of Bo standing next to her. "Ah, succubus, why am I not surprised to see you again? Please come in," she said as she stepped away from the door allowing the two women to pass through. Bo walked in behind Lauren and was shocked to see her three children playing with a set of trucks on the rug in their living area. While not extravagant by any means, the apartment they were in was well decorated and spacious. And the children were having such a blast with their toys, they barely looked up at the visitors.
Lou Ann looked up at Bo, curious what the Morrigan was doing with the unaligned succubus, especially since she was pretty sure the fact that she was alive was a closely guarded secret. And for Bo's part, she was confused as to how or why Lou Ann was still alive and apparently being hidden by the Morrigan. While she was thrilled because this meant Lauren wasn't the cold-blooded killer she was worried she might be, she still needed some answers. However, she would wait for her and Lauren to be alone to ask for those. Since Lou Ann was here and she didn't have very much time to speak with her in prison, right now she wanted to get more information about her mother. "Lou Ann, I know we didn't have much time before, but I really would like to know anything you can tell me about my mother."
Lou Ann glanced down at her children and over at the Morrigan who was standing by patiently. While she didn't have a lot to share with the succubus, now still wasn't the time to do it. "Bo, it's late and I need to get my children to bed. Perhaps if you wanted to come back tomorrow, we could talk? I can't tell you much, but if the Morrigan doesn't object, I will share with you what I know."
Bo looked over at Lauren who nodded her agreement, and then replied enthusiastically, "Of course, I apologize for the late visit. Please have a good night and I will talk to you tomorrow."
Lauren smiled and walked back over to the door, ready to make her exit. Bo hadn't said anything to her, which didn't surprise her, so she was eager to get back to her quarters and give her the full explanation. She didn't know why, but she craved Bo's acceptance and wanted her in her life. And if setting her mind at ease about Lou Ann, despite the risk she was taking by sharing her secret, would do that, then Lauren would take that risk. "Sorry for barging in so late, if there is anything you or your family need, please just ask."
"Thank you Morrigan, you have done so much already that I can't even begin to thank you. Have a good night," she nodded as the two women stepped through the doorway and Lou Ann closed it behind them. Bo turned to Lauren to say something, but Lauren held up her hand before she could get a word out. "Let's go back to my apartment Bo, then we can talk."
Bo nodded and followed behind Lauren as she made her way back to the elevator and hit 35 once she was in. Bo could barely stand still she was buzzing with so many questions. How was Lou Ann and her children alive and why was Lauren hiding them? Was everything staged, and if so, why?