A/N: Things happening now. Remember to get all your reviews in after this one so I can know what you think. Love hearing from you! Enjoy.


Chapter 8: Blood Runs Thick

Clubhouse

When the portal brought them back to the Clubhouse; Charlie had stopped crying. The four of them were met by Trick, Dyson and Mark. Who were all wondering who the stranger standing next to Bo was. Having never seen her before, they were a little sceptical.

"Home sweet home…" Lauren smiled, feeling so great to be back and more importantly; back with Charlie. "… I know it's not much. But it's your home…" She spoke to Charlie who was looking around, "… It's always been your home" she kissed her head.

Bo loved seeing Lauren so happy. "Why don't you take her upstairs to get settled?" She told her Girlfriend. "I'm sure Tamsin won't mine giving you a hand with the bags. Right?" She turned to her friend.

Tamsin saluted them, "No problemo…" She picked up her own bag and then Charlie's. "… Let's get you in your new digs huh?" She made a funny face at her niece. Making her laugh. She and Lauren both walked up the stairs.

Amara looked around; seeing that her niece lived in a rather depressing building. She was the daughter of a God. This wasn't how she should've been living. "May I ask why you choose to live like this? Is it a lifestyle you've chosen?" She turned to Bo.

Bo let out a laugh. "Yeah, it's the 'strapped for cash' lifestyle. It's a common choice in this time" she couldn't believe she asked her that.

"Well, you will live like this; no longer…" Amara said. "… You are our blood. Which means everything we have, is also yours. Money, land, anything you desire. That baby, should be living like a Princess" she wanted what was best for them both.

"How about we talk about this later? Right now, we have things to do. Like dealing with the Elders, now that we've brought Charlie back with us…" Bo realised, that she hadn't introduced Amara to everyone else. "… Oh, guys; this's Amara. My brand new Aunt…" She gestured to her. "… Amara? This's my friend Dyson and his son, Mark. And my Grandfather, Trick"

Trick looked at her suspiciously. "Aunt?" He was confused. "I know the name of every Greek God; and I've never heard of yours" he shook her hand gently.

Amara smiled, "Yes, well you can blame my siblings for that. They had me erased from history; quite literally. But if that was your way of saying 'Welcome'; it was lacking a little compassion. I suggest you work on it" she kept smiling.

"So where've you been all this time?" Dyson asked.

And she was happy to answer his question. "My brothers locked me away in a tomb. Where I've been rotting for the last one thousand years. You're probably wondering why…" She could see it on their faces. "… I vowed to kill them all; so they decided to try and eliminate me. When they couldn't; they sealed me away instead"

Bo saw the worried look on their faces when Amara told her story. "She's not here to harm us…" She told them. "… Actually, she's the only one who can help us kill Jack" that was when she had to explain to them the whole story about the Oracle being fake and also the vision. And that Jack was behind it the entire time.

"So all this time; it's been your Dad, who's trying to kill your daughter?" Mark had to say it, getting the confirmation from Bo with a nod. "But why? She's just a little baby. What does he want with her?" He didn't get it. It was kind of sick.

Amara was happy to answer that question for them. "What my brother always wants…" She said. "… Power. By faking the Oracle's Vision; it ensured every Fae in the world would do the job he couldn't; kill that innocent little girl. So that when she dies, he can claim her soul and steal her powers"

Trick was disgusted. "Just when you thought he couldn't sink any lower…" He shook his head. "… He does this to his only daughter. So what's the plan now that you're back?" He looked at Bo.

"Amara and I are gonna deal with the Elder's first…" Bo replied. "… It won't be long before word of Charlie's return spreads. We need to shut them down, fast"

Amara nodded, "To that end; I suggest we get going. Time is precious. And taking them by surprise will be a great advantage for us…" She could sense that Trick was worried for Bo's safety. Clearly the Elder's struck fear into his heart. "… Fear not; Bo and her Family are now under my protection"

Dyson stepped forward with his arms folded. "And how do we know you're not just gonna betray her like the rest of your family?" He wasn't buying it.

She smirked at him, taking his posture in. She sensed many things when looking at him. One confusing thing being; he was in love with Bo. But Bo was with Lauren. But he was loyal. She didn't sense any maliciousness coming from him. "After what they've done to me; I don't consider my siblings part of my family anymore. But Bo; she is…" She turned to her niece. "… And I am here; at her request"

"Dyson?" Bo called to him. "We can trust her…" She told him. "… She wouldn't be here if I didn't. Do me a favour? Stay here with Lauren and Charlie. You and Tamsin can take point while we're gone" he nodded as she tapped his arm.

"You got it" he was ready for the task.

Bo looked at Amara, gesturing to the door. "Let's go, shall we?" She waited for her Aunt to follow her outside.

Upstairs

Lauren was just putting the rest of Charlie's clothes away while her daughter sat on hers and Bo's bed playing with her toys. She turned around, hearing her adorably gurgling. "I can't believe you're here with me right now…" She sat on the bed with her, watching her chew on a rubber toy. "… We've got a whole year to make up for" she pinched her chubby cheek playfully.

"I wouldn't let her chew things if I were you…" Tamsin sat on the opposite side of the bed, letting Charlie grab her hand. "… Learned that the hard way when she swallowed that marble" she let out a laugh.

"Marble?!" Lauren exclaimed. "You let her swallow a marble?!" She couldn't believe this.

Tamsin wanted to kick herself. She wasn't supposed to say that. "Like I've told you before; I didn't let her. She just finds things and puts them in her mouth. Besides, it gently passed through her system and turned up in her diaper the day later. It's all good" she waved a hand.

Lauren wanted to be mad, but she couldn't really be that way when Tamsin and Kenzi had done so much for them. Kids did things like this. It was a part of their development. But from now one she was keeping her daughter away from anything small enough to swallow. "Marbles are now and forever; banned from this house"

"If you say so…" Tamsin wasn't going to argue with her. "… So uh; what're you gonna do for her room? Because I was just in there, and it looks pretty bare" all that was in there was a dusty crib and a rocking chair.

But Lauren had that covered. "We packed most of her stuff up; not knowing when she'd be coming back. It's all in yours and Kenzi's old room. I'll just give the room a once over and put the stuff back" she couldn't wait to do that.

"No need…" Tamsin told her. "… You spend time with the Princess; I'll do the leg work" she kissed Charlie's cheek, then ran off to her old room to grab the stuff. Lauren shouldn't be anywhere else right now. She could handle the grunt work.

Lauren picked Charlie up and sat her down on her own lap. "You are a very lucky girl; you know that?" Her daughter looked up at her with a giggle. "Yeah, you are. Everyone would die to keep you safe. Because we all love you, so much" she bent her head, kissing Charlie's.

"Wow!" Dyson took that moment to walk into the room with a smile. He was only now getting a good look at her. "She's beautiful…" He sat beside them, "… May I?"

"Sure" Lauren handed Charlie over to him.

Dyson held her, watching her grab his beard with a laugh. "She's so big…" He laughed. The last time he saw her in person; she was so tiny. "… I bet you're happy to have her back" he looked at Lauren who was still smiling.

She nodded, "Happy, doesn't even qualify. I didn't think I'd ever get out of that depressive black hole I found myself in. But here she is…" She put a hand on her daughter tiny back. "… I finally feel like I can breathe again" she didn't want to cry again.

But it was hard when she was overcome with such emotion.

And he understood that completely. "I bet…" He sat with them a little longer, until Charlie passed out in his arms. She looked so peaceful when she was sleeping. He and Lauren began talking about Amara and her presence here. "… You think she's trustworthy?"

"I dunno what she is yet…" Lauren spoke quietly, so not to wake her baby. "… But she hates Jack. And anyone who hates him, is an ally to us. Plus, she seems noble. I can tell she used to be a simple woman; but her family hurt her in a way none of us can imagine. Now she wants revenge" she thought it was well deserved.

"I get that…" Dyson said. "… But what if she's more concerned with getting that revenge; than keeping her promise to protect Charlie? Sometimes vengeance is more important to people" he knew that from experience.

Lauren sighed, "I guess we're just gonna have to wait and see" she couldn't do much more than that. But she hoped that Dyson's theory was wrong. Because if Amara did end up turning on them; then that was it.

They'd officially run out of options.

Neutral Ground

Bo knew that the Higher Elders of both side got together every other day on neutral ground to discuss their sides and what they needed to improve on. That was where they needed to be. Amara was a pain in the ass on the ride over.

Having been trapped in a tomb for a thousand years; she'd never seen a car. Or been in one. So every noise made her jump, and every turn Bo made on the road made her uneasy. She needed to get used to this world if she was going to be a part of it.

When they arrived; Bo went to her trunk to grab a weapon. But Amara told her she didn't need one. So Bo just took her word for it and led her inside the building. Entering the room where the Elders were meeting; she immediately saw their scowls when they laid eyes on her.

"It's thick with tension in here…" She smirked. "… Let me guess? You're plotting something?" She walked around them, "Maybe, something to do with me?" She heard them all grumble under their breaths. "What? Suddenly now you're all silent? You all had plenty to say when my daughter died" she wasn't going to out Charlie yet.

One of them spoke up; "That thing; was going to be the destruction of us all! We did the world a favour" they stood by their actions.

When Bo went to lunge at him; Amara held her back. "Come now my darling niece…" She tapped her shoulder. "… Do not let them goad you. Clearly; they're all easy targets for your Father. And I can see why…" She walked around them, "… Brainless; all of you"

"Who are you to talk to us like that?!" One of the Elders turned to her, she'd never seen this woman before. Although, she did look familiar a little.

Amara stood still, turning her head to one who spoke to her. "I'm Amara…" It took a while for the Elder to realise who she was talking to. But when she did, she had a look of pure terror on her face. It was hilarious. "… And I was outraged; to learn that all of you, had hindered my niece and her family"

"We received information foretelling her child's future…" Another Elder said. "… She'd be the end of our race. We couldn't let that happen!"

Laughing, Amara pinched the bridge of her nose. "You are all fools…" She looked at them again. "… There was no vision. The Oracle you heard this information from; was nothing more than a rouse created by my brother; Hades. And like fools; you all believed it"

"Whatever it was; it makes no difference…" They said. "… The child is gone. What's it matter to you now?"

Bo got the signal from Amara to reveal their long hidden secret. "Actually; she's not gone…" She watched them all widen their eyes in shock. "… My daughter's alive. I kept her hidden for an entire year, to shield her from all of you disgusting cockroaches"

"You honestly believe we'd allow that thing to live? You've just painted an even bigger target on her ba-" One male Elder was cut off when Amara snapped her fingers and rendered him into ash.

That was the first time Bo actually saw her Aunt's power. And it was impressive. It did explain now why she told her not to bring a weapon. Who needed a flimsy sword when you could do that? She watched Amara stand beside the pile of dust; tutting.

"Do you really think we'd come all this way, just to tell you of her daughter's return?" Amara was so angry at them. All this for Hades. An innocent child was being threatened all because he wanted power. "No…" She shook her head, pointing to the steaming remains. "… Take this, as a warning of what I'll do to anyone who attempts to harm that child. She is now under my protection!"

She walked around them again. "I am the oldest God to ever walk this earth; so you tell me…" She stood next to Bo again. "… Is the word of a fake Oracle; really worth losing your lives? Because I promise you; that will happen if anyone dares to cross my family again" that was a threat.

"What are your terms?" The Head Elder spoke for them all. They couldn't defy this woman. She was more powerful than any of them put together. To go against her would be suicide.

Amara looked at Bo, this was her area. So she stood back while her niece did the talking.

"You're gonna call off your hitmen…" Bo listed her demands. "… No more stalking; no more watching my house. And I want a law created; one that ensures my daughter's safety. Look; I'm not saying she'll grow up to be an Angel. But she's not a threat to you; she's one of us"

The Elders all nodded, "Consider it done…" He said. "… From this point on; your daughter is a welcome resident of this community. And you have our blood oaths that no further attempts will be made on her life. Not from us, at least. But you must understand that others may be hard of hearing" he just wanted to warn them.

"I understand…" Bo nodded. "… And I hope you understand that I will take them out if they try" that was her warning.

He nodded back. "Understood"

Amara smiled, her job was done. Although, she knew they were right about other people not wanting to listen to this new rule. And they would find out the hard way when they tried to attack. She and Bo left without another word, Jack was their main problem now.

Clubhouse – Later

Bo and Amara returned to the house, finding that Trick and Mark had left. But Dyson and Tamsin stayed behind like they promised. "Everything to okay with the Elders?" He asked.

"Oh yeah…" Bo nodded, finally feeling relieved. "… Everything went, great. Amara kept her promise, and scared the shit out of those dusty asshats. I also had them create a law, making sure no one would ever try and hurt Charlie again" it wasn't bad for a day's work.

Amara stepped forward; "Our only problem is the individuals who fail to heed my warning. But no matter; if they try…" She leaned against the back of the couch with a smirk. "… They will fall. No one harms my Family and lives. Speaking of Family; I must attend to an errand"

"What errand?" Bo asked.

"Like I said before; this is no place for a vulnerable infant to grow up…" Amara had to do something about these horrible surroundings. "… I stashed away most of my funds. Though I'm guessing the value of Drachma has diminished slightly over the years. What do you use now?" She asked her niece.

Bo was still getting used to the fact that Amara was ancient. "Uh, we use dollars…" She said. "… I think you'd need to get them valued. Trick could probably help you out with that; he's at his bar. Dyson could show you where it is" she turned to her ex.

Amara shook her head, "No need…" She'd adapted since meeting them. "… I'll find him myself once I'm done collecting my belongings. If an attack should occur while I'm gone; just call my name loudly. I'll hear you" she gave one last smile, then disappeared in a swirl of purple light.

"Whoa. That was kinda cool…" Bo chuckled, she didn't realise her Aunt had that power. She turned back to Dyson. "… Where's Lauren?" She asked.

"In the Nursery with Charlie; who by the way, is the most adorable baby I've ever had the privilege of knowing. It's weird, the last time I saw her she was so little. Now she's like a full grown baby. We helped set up all the furniture you guys packed away. Bout time I'd say" he remembered helping Bo take it all down.

That wasn't a day he wanted to relive.

Bo smiled, "Yeah met too. And thanks for that. You guys can go if you want. I don't think we have to be as vigilant anymore. But I'll be here, and Amara's only a…" She tried to come up with a name for the way her Aunt disappeared. "… Purple flash, away"

"Well uh, I guess we could head to the Dal for a welcome back drink" He looked at Tamsin.

Who was more than happy to accommodate. "Drinking sounds perfect! Let's roll!" She grabbed her jacket and walked out of the house with him.

Upstairs

Lauren had been sitting with Charlie while she slept. It was so surreal. She used to use this rocking chair without a baby in her arms. Now as she looked down, she saw her baby girl sleeping soundly while sucking on her pacifier.

Her crib was ready and waiting to be used, but Lauren just couldn't bring herself to let her go. She just wanted to hold her forever. Since becoming this new version of herself; her senses were sharp. And she sensed Bo walk into the room behind her. "How'd it go?" She asked in a whisper.

Bo stepped forward quietly, "It went very well…" She knelt beside them. Loving the scene, she was seeing right now. "… They were terrified of Amara. And rightful so; I've seen what she can do and we've got ourselves a powerful ally in her. How's our Princess?" She touched her daughter's hand.

"Her Highness is content…" Lauren smiled. "… I can't believe we finally have her back" she sighed happily. This was all she'd ever wanted.

"I promised didn't I?" Bo held her Girlfriend's hand. She never knew if she could follow through on that promise before. But now that she had; it gave her the confidence that they could finish this fight and defeat her Father. "I know you wanna stay with her; but maybe you should let her sleep in the crib"

Lauren just stared at her, "What am I supposed to do with myself while she's sleeping?" She wasn't used to being without her now. She'd been around her since they landed in Kenzi's house. And she didn't want to be far from her.

Bo smirked, "I've got a few ideas…" that was enough to coax Lauren into giving in. So she helped her stand from the chair without waking Charlie. Then placed her down into the crib. She was out like a light. "… See, all snugly. Ugh, she's so adorable" she couldn't get over it.

"Yes she is…" Lauren shushed Bo as they left the room, taking a baby monitor with them. And as they walked into their room, they knew where things were heading. "… It's been a while huh?" She was little nervous.

And that was reciprocated by Bo. "Sure has. But we can relax now; nothing has to be depressing anymore. We can go back to being us. Before all this" she reached a hand up, cupping her Girlfriend's cheek while her free hand rested on her back.

Lauren decided to cut to the chase and kissed her, and when she did; all the feelings of heat and passion came flooding back. As if nothing ever changed. She linked both arms around Bo's neck; pressing their bodies closer together. In the middle of it, she felt the need to feed. When she pulled back, her eyes were flashing blue. "May I?"

"Go for it babe" Bo was happy to oblige. As long as they got the feeding out of the way now, then it was safe to do it. But to do it while they were rolling around in bed; was asking for trouble. They had one baby; they didn't need another right now.

Leaning in, Lauren began pulling Bo's chi. She never imagined how it felt before becoming a Hybrid. Bo would explain it to her, but she could never feel it for herself. It was Euphoric. She felt Bo lift her up, and then push her into a nearby wall. Quietly so not to wake their sleeping baby.

This was everything Bo dreamt it would've been. The emotions and the feeling of satisfaction after so many months of abstaining. She honestly felt like she was going to explode with joy. She ripped open Lauren's shirt; the buttons popping off onto the floor.

Lauren found her feet on the floor, then went for Bo's tank top and pulled it off her. She continued to kiss her as she walked her backwards to the bed. With a gently push; Bo was thrown on the bed. Now looking up at her with a smirk.

As her Girlfriend began to strip off the rest of her clothes; Bo did the same with her own. "This's gonna be amazing" she was so excited. Clearly.

"I'll say…" Lauren hopped on her lap, kissing her again. They pushed up on the bed; climbing under the covers as they continued to kiss. "… I'm really glad we're being us, again" she smiled as she started to move her hand lower and lower until she heard Bo gasp.

And Bo was almost close to ruining everything in that second; but she couldn't. Because this was a rare occasion for them. "I hear you" she pulled her down with a hand on her face, crashing their lips together as they began to move slowly.

If she'd been told last week that this was going to end up happening; Bo would've laughed. Because she never saw a way out of the depressing tunnel they'd found themselves in. But now they were out and miles away from it.

Finally.

In the minutes after; they laid together quietly. "I know this's supposed to be a relaxing moment; but I've gotta ask…" Lauren began. "… What're we gonna do about your Dad? Just because the Elders are dealt with doesn't mean he won't find another way to get Charlie's soul" she was still worried.

Bo sighed, she had a point. "Whatever he tries; we'll be ready…" She said. "… I'm not losing her again. And neither are you…" Suddenly, they heard the baby monitor sounding off with Charlie's whimpering. "… Speak of the cutie" she chuckled, both of them getting up and grabbing their clothes.

Both of them entered the nursery; seeing Charlie standing up in her crib crying. They also heard the crackling of thunder outside. "Hey you…" Lauren was the first to lift her up. "… It's okay. We're right here" she shushed her, kissing her head.

And just like that; the thunder stopped.

They realised what the problem was; Kenzi told them she always slept in the bed with someone. She probably felt like she was alone. "No one's leaving you baby girl…" Bo stroked her hair as she rested her head on Lauren's shoulder. "… We'll never leave you again" she promised her.

They were done with that.

"Let's take her downstairs for a bit…" Lauren looked at Bo. "… We can watch some cartoons; in English, for a change" she laughed, remembering her daughter had been raised in Spain. If they'd left her any longer she might've been fluent in Spanish. Which wouldn't have been a bad thing.

Bo grabbed Yogi bear, and followed them downstairs.

Zee's Penthouse

In the time that she and Hera had returned home from Kenzi's home in Spain; Zee hadn't heard anything from Amara or from Bo. If they were coming up with a plan to take down Hades, then she needed to hear it. This was just as much her problem as it was theirs.

So she went back to what she did best; drinking.

Zee was on her balcony; polishing off what was the last of her gin. When she sensed someone appear behind her. "Nice of you to finally show up…" She turned around, seeing Amara standing before her with a smile. "… Sister"

"So this is the place you call home these days…" Amara stepped forward, with her hands behind her back as she looked at the balcony's view. "… Makes a change from the hot sands of Greece. Speaking of our homeland; I paid a visit to my old temple. Which is now located under the parking lot of something called; a grocery store"

Zee rolled her eyes, "Your point being?"

"When I tried to reclaim my belongings; I found the temple empty…" Amara knew this was her doing; she wasn't born yesterday. "… I would like to give you the benefit of the doubt Zeus; but we both know you don't deserve it. Where is my drachma?"

That word made Zee laugh, "No one uses drachma around here…" She kept laughing, finishing her glass of gin. "… Didn't our lovely niece give you the low down on how the world works these days?" She walked back into the penthouse; hearing Amara follow her inside.

"She told me these people use something called; Dollies, or Dollams. Something beginning with a D…" Amara was sick of this. "… So if I'm not to use drachma in this world then what should I be using? And where is my money?" She asked again.

Zee poured herself a glass of scotch, and one for her sister. Who, when she gave it to her; looked at it with a frown. "You'll like it; it's smoky…" She took a seat on one of her many couches. "… And regarding your funds from the old world; most of it changed over time. It's all in one place now; something the humans like to call, a bank account"

Amara sipped the drink in her hand, it was okay; not her favourite though. "And where do I find this, bank account place? I'm in need of funds immediately" she told her.

"Why?" Zee frowned. "You don't know this world. What could you possibly need the money for?" She didn't get it.

"My intention is not to spend it; it's to give it to Bo…" Amara immediately saw the look on Zee's face. "… She and her Family will make good use of it. So, hand it over. All of it" she placed the glass down on the counter.

Zee shook her head, "Hell no! You think I'm about to hand over my hard earned money to a temperamental Succubus and her stupid family? Being entombed must've really messed with your head!"

Amara stared at Zee, her eyes shining a dim purple. Suddenly, Zee began to choke on the air. Her hands went straight to her neck, clawing at her skin desperate to breathe. "Did I fail to mention what would happen if you disobeyed me, brother?" She stood beside her, "Let me remind you; you're the one who needs my help. And if you wish for me to spare your life; then you should do as I say" she let her go.

Coughing, Zee recovered. "Fine, I'll give you your share…" She told her. "… You can't expect me to hand it all over Amara. The funds we recovered from your temple are more than enough for you and Bo to split. Trust me"

"Trust you?" Amara laughed, "Not if you were last person on earth…" She was past trusting her; she knew better after their long lives together. "… I want those funds by day's end Zeus. If you fail to deliver; I will be back. And next time…" She stood close to her. "… I won't stop at choking you" she vanished in a flash of purple light.

Zee screamed in anger, throwing her glass against the far wall. Hearing the shattering of the glass didn't get her to calm down. She was Zeus; God of Thunder and lightning. She was feared by everyone. And now she was taking orders from someone else.

That wasn't how the story was supposed to go.


A/N: Oooh, Zee's throwing a tantrum. What's gonna happen next? Let me know what you thought! Much love xoxo