The red striped ball zipped from bumper to bumper on the pool table, rolling casually into the corner pocket next to Mark's hand. He shook his head, exhaling.

"Nice shot," he said, sipping his fourth beer.

Dyson glanced at him as he stalked around the table. He leaned forward, his arm stretching out, his eyes leveled with the table. A quick pull and another striped ball ended up in another pocket. Mark looked off toward the bar where Vex performed an animated reenactment of an old conquest for Kenzi, who cheered when the evil Fae was vanquished. The smile on his face faded as his ears picked up the subsonic growl from the man across the table.

"What's your problem?" Mark said, hushed, but insistent.

Dyson chalked his cue, not used to another shifter, especially a cat, around him who would be able to hear it. "Nothing."

"Bull shit." Mark started around the table, but the harsh growl stopped him in his tracks.

"Do not talk to me like that." His chest rumbled. "I'm your father."

Mark frowned and took the last defiant steps toward Dyson. "I don't care who you are, it's still bullshit."

Dyson growled in frustration. "Why do you have to defend him constantly?"

"Because he's my boyfriend and he's a good person."

There was a long pause while Dyson chose his words carefully. "If you knew what I know, you would not say such things."

"What does he have to do to get your approval?"

Dyson gripped the cue in his hands. "Maybe not sleeping with my son might have softened me up."

Mark waved his hand. "That's old news."

"Well, it still feels pretty new to me."

Vex appeared between them then, neither shifter had noticed his approach. Several drinks in, the Mesmer was feeling good and hopped up onto the pool table, crossing his legs. "What are we talking about?"

"Nothing," Dyson grumbled.

"I'm going to go get another drink." Mark turned and walked off to the bar.

Vex looked from Mark to Dyson. "Something I said?"

From her seat at the table, Kenzi winced at the shifters and Vex. And Kenzi thought she had family troubles. She turned to Lauren who smiled at her. Dagny had been quite literally attached to Lauren's hip since they walked through the door.

"Can't get enough of that kid, hey Lauren?"

"She's beautiful." Lauren admired the child like facets of a precious gem.

"I'm getting some serious baby-making vibes from you right now, Doc." Kenzi moved her arms for dramatic flair.

Lauren blinked and straightened in her chair. "What?"

"I've only seen you look at one person like that, Doc, and her name rhymes with toe." Lauren who was playing This Little Piggy, pulled her hand away from Dagny's foot abruptly.

"What gives, Doc? Is Bo on board?" Lauren shook her head and passed the baby back to Kenzi. An obvious sore spot. "I mean, you know Bo, she can be a little slow about working things out."

"Yeah." She nodded. "I know Bo." Lauren pushed her chair back and stood beside it. "I'm just waiting my turn," she said, retreating to the bathroom.

The heavy door swung open into the alley with a metal grunt and Kenzi stepped outside. She looked left and right before she smiled. "Thought I'd find you out here."

Bo was standing in the alley staring at the sky, trying hard to make sense of her life. "You know me too well," she said with a smirk.

Kenzi pulled her jacket around her as she took a few steps to Bo's side, carefully maneuvering through the snow. "So you wanna tell me what's up with you and Lauren, then?"

Bo sighed and looked away. "It's a long story."

Kenzi looked around for effect. "I've got time."

Bo chuckled. "I guess you're right."

"So…?"

She stared at Kenzi, having a hard time getting her words in order. "Lauren wants a baby."

Kenzi made a face. "Well, that's simple. I have a baby. Let's talk business."

Bo laughed. "Kenz seriously, what am I going to do?"

The answer seemed obvious. "You're going to give her a baby." Kenzi shrugged.

Bo scoffed. "I may be Fae, but I'm not that kind of Fae."

Kenzi rolled her eyes. "No, but you can be supportive."

"I am." Bo was quick to respond, but frowned as soon as she said it. "I think. I mean, I want a baby too…"

Kenzi shrugged again. "Then what's the hold up?"

"I don't know. I just feel like there's never been enough time for us to be together."

Kenzi looked skyward and groaned, her breath curling over her head. "Girl, you've spent five years going round and round, you weren't worried about time then."

"I know." She smiled when Kenzi moved in front of her and took her hands.

"Listen, taking care of Dagny has been an honor and I'll admit it has made me feel mom-like things, but I know I'm not ready to be a parent. I'm a glorified nanny." Kenzi smiled and squeezed Bo's hands. "You… you're ready, Bo."

"How can you say that? We haven't even spoken in almost a year."

"Because I know you. And I know Lauren. And you guys are going to be great parents."

Bo sighed and looked at their snow-covered feet. "I wish I could be so sure."

"Trust your heart, Bo." Kenzi rubbed Bo's shoulders through her coat. "It won't lead you astray. It got you this far, didn't it?"

Bo was chilled through by the time they stepped in from the alley. Night had fallen while they were standing outside and inside the liquor was flowing freely, their friends happy to be together again. Christmas carols piped endlessly through the bar's antiquated sound system set the mood as Vex's near-perfect Christmas pudding was served. The room smelled of coffee and sugar, quiet conversations soothed her nerves while the ill-timed boisterous laughter from the boys at the pool table only served to set her on edge again. With practiced grace, Bo pushed away from the table, gesturing to Kenzi that she was going to look for Lauren. Kenzi smiled at the pair-the chase was still alive.

Bo stopped outside the ladies' room. She might not have been making any noise, but Bo knew Lauren was in there. It was a place she retreated to when she wanted to get away from the 'Fae of it all,' she said. Bo knocked on the door softly and waited - almost a full two minutes, in fact - before the door clicked and swung open.

"Hey…" She smiled and stood at attention in front of Lauren. "I missed you."

Lauren smirked at the slur in her words and shook her head, both at Bo's charming inebriation and her own inability to resist it. "You're drunk."

Bo wagged her finger. "I'm tipsy." She stepped into Lauren's space. "I can't stand it when you're mad at me."

"I'm not mad." Lauren shook her head, her expression unreadable.

"Then what would you call this?" Bo called attention to the fact that Lauren was leaning away from her.

"A safe distance."

Bo slumped. "Where's the fun in that?" She played with the subtle curl in a strand of Lauren's hair. "You're right. You shouldn't have to wait your turn. You should never have had to wait."

Lauren cocked her head with interest. "Are you…?"

"I'm ready." She nodded with a grin.

Lauren's hands came to rest on either side of her face, ardently kissing Bo. Her hand stroked Bo's cheek as they parted. "I'll call the clinic next week and we'll start the process."

Bo nodded enthusiastically. "Great, yeah." She didn't have a clue what the process was, but her aim was to be as supportive as possible. And for Bo, in her inebriated state, that meant celebrating. "Come on." Taking Lauren's hand, Bo tugged her toward the keg room.

"Bo," she whispered as Bo pulled her inside. The room was dark and it smelled of hops and oak as she stumbled through the doorway behind her. "Whatever you're thinking of doing…"

Bo's mouth was on her almost immediately, kissing a trail from her ear to her shoulder. "Mistletoe," she mumbled.

Lauren let her head fall back, her eyes opening to a bundle of mistletoe hanging above them. A chuckle from deep within rumbled through her chest. "When did you put that there?"

The group was rowdy now and their voices carried through the walls. Holding Lauren against her body, Bo smiled. "A succubus has to have some secrets…" She said before ducking her head again.

"Bo… as much as I might want to explore exhibitionism with you, all of our friends are out there."

"They'll understand." Bo tugged at the hem of her blouse.

Lauren began to relax into her, sliding her hands up Bo's back, embracing her. "You do make a lot of sense sometimes."

Bo pulled away from her and laughed. "Sometimes, huh?"

Lauren smirked. "You can't win them all."

Bo's hands were at her waist, lifting her onto a barrel. "Is this one of those times?" She grunted.

She hummed. "Mmmaybe."

Bo was three buttons in to her shirt when Lauren kissed her fiercely. Soon Bo's hand cupped her breast, her bra a long-forgotten remnant of their embrace. Lauren sighed at the familiarity of her touch, so comforting and yet still exciting.

The succubus tore at the button on her slacks, Lauren leaning back, holding herself up with her hands as she lifted her rear. Bo yanked her pants over her hips and stepped into the vee of her legs. A smile, the twinkle in her eye, her tongue darting out to taste her own lip, Lauren was imbued with the succubus' charm. If she wasn't sitting down, Lauren may well have swooned.

Bo ran her fingertips between Lauren's breasts, over her stomach, and lower still. Lauren saw her wrist turn, feeling Bo's fingers on her. Lauren sighed again, this time for the arousal she felt. Gasping as Bo explored her thoroughly, Lauren was hushed with a kiss.

Stroking her thoughtfully, Bo nipped at her earlobe. "How 'bout now?" Her voice was honey and silk and Lauren felt each of her words reverberate between her legs.

Just as she was formulating a reply, Bo sunk into her. A low groan escaped the blonde before Bo covered Lauren's mouth with hers again. The slow slide of her tongue against Lauren's was enough to drive anyone crazy, but right then it held a strange power over her. The way she tasted of wine and gingersnap cookies made her question whether she was ever really alive before that moment.

She pulled away before pressing deeper and snatched the gasp from Lauren's mouth with her own. Her touch was maddeningly slow, and Lauren had to banish thoughts of climaxing in a rush as it was clear that Bo was going to take her time.

Bo nudged her legs open wider and stepped between them. Her eyes fluttered as Bo's hand worked rhythmically between Lauren's legs. She gripped the barrel as Bo leaned over her, kissing her with an outrageous affection. It was then her hips began to rock, her arm serving as an extension. Deeper she pressed, thrusting insistently, her hips moving against Lauren's, whose head fell back, a cascade of blonde hair dangling behind her.

"Bo," she whimpered.

But Bo didn't speak, instead rocking her hips against Lauren's, driving her fingers deeper. When her thumb flicked against her roughly, Lauren's arms wrapped tightly around Bo. With each rotation of Bo's hips, Lauren came closer to the edge of the abyss. She knew she would never be lost in its depths with Bo holding her so carefully and so she let herself sink.

The concentration and pleasure scrawled across Bo's features left her breathless. And as she brought Lauren bliss, Bo's attention never wavered. That a Fae whose purpose it was to take and steal chi could be so giving boggled Lauren's scientific mind but knowing Bo, whose purpose it was to save and help others, it was very believable. Bo inhaled her skin before tasting the sweat that had begun to bead on her chest as her hips wound Lauren tighter.

Hips alive with purpose, Lauren pressed against her hand, coordinating her movements with Bo's, who captured Lauren's mouth again. Their hips pulled and pushed with a frenetic urgency, their mouths locked together, and Lauren trembled in her arms. She tore her mouth away, gasping as she buried her face in Bo's neck. And then oblivion was at Bo's fingertips and, with one judicious swipe of her thumb, Lauren was undone, her cries muffled against Bo's neck.

Dyson was pouring himself another pint when Kenzi sidled up to the bar. They both looked toward the keg room as a few thumps could be heard and then they both sighed as if it was scripted. Kenzi looked up at Dyson when he passed her the glass and they smiled at each other while they each enjoyed the first sip of their beer.

"You talk to Bo yet?" Dyson broke the silence first.

"Yeah." Kenzi took another drink. "'It's too dangerous,'" she mocked, rolling her eyes.

"Well she's not wrong."

"She's not right, either," Kenzi snapped. "I'm sorry, but any Fae that wanted to could grab Dagny from me while we were on the way to daycare… or shopping." She stared at her glass. "And then what? Wait for one of you guys to drive four hours to rescue me?"

Dyson raised his eyebrows, unable to argue. He took a drink from his beer. "Look, Dagny's safer in the Human world right now. And Bo trusts you."

Kenzi looked off to Vex and Mark who rocked the baby in her carrier. "I know she trusts me, I just don't trust myself."

"Kenzi…" There was that tone she hadn't heard from him in months, maybe years.

"I let my guard down, Dyson. The tow truck driver. I thought I could trust him… he was close enough to… I don't know.

"But your instincts were right."

"But what if I wasn't?"

"But you were." He smiled like an all-knowing Fae. He reached across the table and took her hand. "There isn't anyone more suited to look after Tamsin's heir than you, Kenz." When her eyes lifted to his face, he continued. "This is an unfortunate necessity with Fae that are destined for something greater. Remember Bo's origins." Kenzi nodded. "It won't be long, at least. Six months, a year maybe?" He lifted her hand and kissed it before refilling her glass. "We miss you, Kenz."

She smiled. "Same."

Lauren pressed her against a barrel and Bo grinned at the beams above them and the mistletoe that hung there. "Oh my," she said breathlessly. Lauren's laugh was a low rumble, still raspy from her own release, and she unzipped Bo's top, her ample bosom spilling out as she did away with her bra. "Doctor," Bo said flirtatiously.

"Shhh…" She wagged a finger at Bo and claimed her lips. Her hand unzipped the synthetic wonderland that was Bo's pants and yanked them off her hips. Bo laughed and Lauren hushed her again. And when Lauren hooked her fingers around the waistband of Bo's thong, she sat up and took notice. Sliding down her body, she pulled Bo's panties away and, hands on her thighs, lowered her mouth to Bo.

Bo jumped at the sensation and exhaled a shaky breath. Lauren was amazing at everything she tried except maybe acting at ease in social settings. But this…this was wonderful. Her voice caught in the back of her throat when she tried to urge her on, hand coming to rest on the side of her face.

Bo's eyes burned into her and Lauren had to close her eyes to keep from being drawn up to her again. Instead her focus remained true, pleasure for a succubus who had given her so much. To be able to give her a fraction of that was a privilege she didn't take lightly. Bo may have been with so many more than Lauren ever cared to know about, but there was an agreement between them, however unspoken. Lauren held Bo's heart and there was no deviation from that truth. So now, cheek pressed against Bo's thigh, neck straining against the pressure of her hips. She worked furiously, her head nodding encouragement as Bo's breathing quickened.

Bo's hand squeezed her shoulder, her hips undulating against Lauren's mouth. She watched her closely now, her eyes bright blue as they blinked open and then squeezed shut as she began to tremble. Lauren caressed Bo's forearm, still clinging to her shoulder.

The pressure was intoxicating, as were the well-timed swipes of Lauren's tongue. Her back arched and she rode the wave that would lead to her own release but she held on, clawing at space and time, devouring her pleasure as freely as it was given. When Lauren hummed against her, Bo was crippled. Her knees shook, her breath caught in her throat, and her hips thrust into Lauren. And through it all, Lauren held her, cared for her, loved her. It was the very opposite of what Bo had become used to as a single succubus, but now it was all she craved.

Lauren pulled away from her slowly and sat back on her heels, looking up at Bo who blinked back emotion as she met her gaze. She tilted her head and shook it, her hair falling from side to side as she did. "You're amazing."

She smiled as she dusted her pants off and stood in front of Bo. "It has come up before." Laughing, Bo reached for her, pulling her into an embrace. Lauren kissed her on the cheek, lips traveling to Bo's ear. "We should get back," she purred.

Bo grunted. All she wanted now was Lauren. It didn't matter how many miles Kenzi had driven, or how much time Vex had spent on the Christmas pudding, at that moment the Doctor was all she needed. So when she smirked before ducking out of Bo's embrace, her eyes followed her retreating form eagerly. The way she let her body sway as she walked away left Bo feeling things that should have been settled moments before.

Bo groaned. "You never did fight fair."

Bo took her time redressing before taking one last glance at the mistletoe and returning to the dining table. Lauren was holding Dagny again and looking so peaceful with a smile that touched her eyes, her hand soothing the baby's hair as she laughed with Kenzi and Dyson. This was the beautiful envelope of their family and bringing another baby into their world didn't seem so scary anymore. Lauren smiled at her from afar and Bo felt it in her bones. She was loved. And there was plenty of love to go around.

End part 3