Epilogue

Bo watched her enter with Mark and try to sweet talk Dyson out of a beer as she signed the ledger. And even as she explained her peril, Dagny looked unimpressed. She was Tamsin's blood, of that there was no disputing.

"The girl you were with…she was Human," Bo said.

"Yeah, so?" The teen valkyrie looked annoyed.

"You have the potential to hurt or kill without meaning to."

She looked at Bo. "You and the Human doctor are a thing, aren't you?"

"I learned how to control my gifts. It's going to take some time for you to figure this stuff out. And we want to help. Lauren will monitor your health closely as you mature, Dyson and I will teach you how to fight, and Vex will teach you how to get inside your foe's head."

"Sounds like you have my life all figured out then."

"Some of that patented Tamsin charm," Lauren interjected.

"Holy baked beans and burritos! Doc! You're up." Kenzi came from across the room, holding an infant away from her as if it were a bomb. Lauren received the baby happily, disappearing downstairs to change her. Kenzi put her hand on her hip and leaned into Bo.

"Thanks for helping out, Kenz."

"Are you kidding? I am kind of owning this nanny thing now. In fact, I bet I could teach you and Snicklefritz a thing or two."

Bo laughed. "Maybe, but Lauren has this down pat."

"I notice you didn't rush to change Astrid."

Bo smirked. "We, uh, have an agreement about that."

"I have got to teach her how to bargain."

"Snicklefritz, huh?" Lauren stood behind the pair smiling as she fussed over the baby in her arms.

"You heard that?"

"Come here baby." Bo reached for Astrid, taking her from Lauren's arms. Immediately, the baby's hands were on Bo's perfectly coiffed locks. Lauren leaned in and untangled the child's hands from her hair. Bo was awkward with Astrid but she tried, oh, she tried. The baby began to fuss and Bo frowned.

"She's hungry," Lauren said and Bo transferred the baby once again.

"You guys are on your own for that one… Oh Dagny," she called in a singsong voice. "Dags, get over here." She scuttled away.

Lauren walked to the fireplace and the wingback chairs that faced it. She sat with Astrid, quietly unbuttoning her shirt. Moments later, she was feeding. Bo sat across from her and smiled at what most resembled family time these days. They would talk in hushed tones about their days or plans for the next as Astrid breastfed. It was a time of connectedness and Bo felt cemented in her new role even if she felt completely helpless half the time. It was her family.

"Are you really a cop?" Dagny asked.

"Yep." Mark nodded. "I'm taking up where Dyson left off."

"You've been following me."

"I heard you like trouble and I thought you might need backup eventually."

"I wouldn't call my situation tonight life-threatening."

"You're brand new. You don't get to do what you want, kid."

"Kid? Look at you, dude."

"This colony is different, but trust me, there are still rules."

"So no booze, no sex, no fun whatsoever while the movie monsters prepare me for the next apocalypse. What are you anyway?"

"It's not polite to ask that."

"I know. I just wanted to see if you'd answer."

He laughed. Tamsin would be proud. "I'm a shifter."

"Kenzi," Lauren called after her. "Do you have a minute?"

She frowned. "Sure? What's up?"

They walked to the old sofa and sat a comfortable distance apart. "I just wanted to say thank you, you know, for putting your life on hold and helping us out. It's been a real blessing."

"Aw shucks, Sugar! I'm just sewing my baby oats as they were."

Lauren laughed. "I never thought we'd get here, you know?"

"Get where?"

"Friends. You're helping to rear my child. It just used to be so different."

"When you used to stay over at the Clubhouse and drink all the wine and use all the hot water… Hmm, that's not making me like you very much right now."

Lauren laughed. "You were always watching Top Model and painting your toenails when I wanted to watch the news."

"Call it even?" Kenzi raised her hand and squeezed it into a fist, holding it expectantly out for Lauren, who awkwardly bumped it with her own. She made a face. "You'll get it one of these days."

Bo watched Lauren botch the fist bump once again and smiled. Social graces, she had plenty but Kenzi's unfinished symphony of scamp always gave her pause. She looked down at Astrid, snoozing in her arms and sighed. Bo was a mama. Astrid was just a few months old and Bo was still completely overwhelmed, but Lauren was calmer and more self-assured than Bo had ever seen her. The role reversal would have been alarming but Bo had realized it was her time to grow and that it was Lauren's time to shine. Bo and Kenzi were support staff but they were still an unstoppable team. And that moment was her moment with Astrid, the fire warming them as they sat in front of it, surrounded by the voices and laughter of their friends.

Dyson crouched in front of them. "You're getting the hang of it now, kid." He caressed the top of the baby's head.

"Are you talking to me or Astrid?"

"I always knew you'd be a good mother, Bo." He patted her leg and stood in front of her.

"Dyson," her voice was tinged with melancholy. She hated to see him so down but she no longer took ownership of making him feel that way. Still, his sadness affected her.

He shook his head. "It's okay," he said. "This is how it was supposed to go." He looked over his shoulder at Lauren. "It's good."

She smiled. He was trying. "I heard Mark was up for a promotion," Bo cringed as she changed the subject.

"He's a natural." Dyson smiled and Bo could see the swell of pride in his chest.

"We're gonna be all right," Bo said. She wasn't sure why she said it or who exactly she meant, but it was out there. Their eyes met and for all the sadness Bo saw in his, there was a reflection of hope, a sense that he was okay, and that she wasn't just reassuring him, he was reassuring her. He knew she was insecure about her maternal instinct despite learning more every day. And in that moment, as her and Lauren's baby lay sleeping in her arms, Bo didn't doubt that she had what it took to be a mother anymore. Lauren had enough instinct for the both of them, and Bo would learn. She was a fast learner. The fastest.

Dyson smiled and nodded, looking over his shoulder at Lauren approaching. "Yeah, we are."

Fin.