After Dwight and his new family left, Duke, Nathan and Audrey sat down for the dinner Duke had prepared. Nathan and Audrey listened and laughed as Duke told them the story of seducing a older woman in South America to get the family recipe.

She had to admit, it was worth it. And Gods knew the woman in question had nothing to complain about. Duke had single-minded precision when it came to food and sex. The rest of the time, his ADD had ADD, but like any good hedonist, he took his luxuries seriously.

Audrey ate every bite, making semi-obscene noises as she chewed. "Did I mention that I love you? Because I do. And this- you may need to make this every week for awhile, because apparently the baby likes it to."

Duke snickered. "I'd have made it for you a year ago if I'd known I'd get this kind of reception. And I thought the way to a man's heart was through his stomach."

"Actually, it's between the fourth and fifth rib." Audrey countered, almost making Nathan choke. She grinned, running her bare toes up Nathan's leg under the table as she reached over to squeeze Duke's thigh.

"I'm glad you're feeling better. I wasn't sure how long the after-effects would last after Sasquatch."

Audrey pinched the leg she'd been stroking. "Be nice. I may be a little- weak- for a few days, but nothing I can't handle. And how worth it! Such a sweet, pretty girl. You wait though, when I find out who's manipulating the Guard like this... I'm not sure I want you to see me like that. I have a dark side, and while I keep it under control, I don't think I'll be able to show mercy. Not this time. People acting out because of their Troubles I understand. It's not their fault. Whoever's doing this is power-mad and evil. They're a stain to the symbol. They wear my mark while they rape and kill. It's personally offensive, like they're doing it in my name."

"Not your fault, Parker." Nathan insisted. "It's no reflection on you at all."

"But if it's a member of the Guard, someone wearing my symbol, people who swore to protect the Troubled... then they've made it personal."

She furrowed her brow, thinking. "But not just my symbol. There were four of us." Disparate pieces clicked together in her brain and she froze. "Oh dear gods. I do know someone who uses this symbol, someone sociopathic enough to be responsible for these crimes, and manipulative enough to convince someone to do the dirty work for him." Her eyes darted between Duke and Nathan, her face going pale. "It's not Vince, it's One. It has to be! He's the only one who zips around enough, the one who could identify the Troubles he wanted activated. I don't know if he's trying to build an army or just get all the interesting Troubles in one spot, but it makes sense!"

She wanted to get up and pace, to work out the angry, nervous tension in her muscles, but she was still fighting the effects of bringing Lizzy back. Instead, she stayed in her seat, practically vibrating with fury. "I bet I even know how he's doing it. Why the criminals are never caught. He's using Aetherlings. He's forcing Aether to do horrible, terrible things. How did I not see this before?"

Duke grabbed her hand. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Stop. If it is him, you had no way of even knowing until you made it out of the Barn. You didn't have your own memories, your old personality. You don't think like a scumbag, sweetheart."

"But I do, Duke! FBI, remember? Maybe it's just one aspect of my personality, but I have the knowledge and training!"

"Duke's right, Audrey. You didn't have the necessary information. The Guard is so secretive, you didn't even know about Dwight's daughter. I'm a cop too, I understand why you're upset, but you couldn't have known."

She sat back and sighed, rubbing her belly. "How dare he? He has no right! This wasn't even his sector! All these people have been hurt because of me, because of his insane obsession with me. What kills me is I don't know why he wants me. I have no idea, nobody does! He was the first success in the clinical trials, and while it's true I can do things he can't do, he was showing signs of obsession even before they realized I had abilities he didn't. He found out my name. We were never, never addressed by name, the only reason I even know his name is because he wrote me a note. On a corpse."

She scowled, remembering. "One of my first successful gifts. I'd cured a mental disability in a young man. One accelerated the brain growth, he died of cerebral hemorrhage. One carved, 'Mara, I'll be with you forever, love William' on the poor mans chest. Who does that? Argh!" Audrey growled, frustrated.

Nathan took her other hand, until the three of them were connected. "What he did isn't your fault. You know that. How many times have you given the same speech, Parker? You didn't force him to hurt anyone. If he hadn't fixated on you, he'd just use some other excuse for hurting people."

"Nate's right. If someone wants to hurt people, they'll find a reason. Any reason. It's the same as people who beat kids or their partners. It's not because the person deserves it."

Nathan went rigid, and Audrey felt his distress. "Nathan, stop. You know that's not what he meant."

"Oh shit, I'm sorry- she's right Nate, that's not what I meant. You and me, we fought each other. You didn't- I know you wouldn't."

"But I did." Nathan's voice was quiet and strained. I hit you so many times."

"Yeah, and I hit you back. It's not the same thing."

Nathan's head flopped back, staring at the ceiling. "It was wrong and I knew it was wrong. You don't hit people you love. And I do love you. Always have. That's why it was so wrong."

"Nate... we fought since we were kids. But you always left your bedroom window open in case I needed somewhere to go. I know you're pissed at yourself, but I'm pissed at myself. That the last thing you felt was me hitting you. For years it fucking haunted me, and I ran from port to port, just trying to get away from my own damn feelings. You think I don't feel the same as you? We hurt each other."

Audrey squeezed both their hands. "You also fixed each other. You're so caught up being mad at yourselves you've overlooking the good things. You're together- with me, because I'm greedy- and you're both better now. Don't let guilt overcome love. We've all done things we regret, things we're disgusted by. Look, I'll make you two a promise if you do the same for me. I'll try to stop blaming myself for what One has done if you two stop blaming yourself for your mistakes. Please. We're a family now, we need to get ourselves sorted out. We have to do it for the baby. Hell, we have to do it for ourselves. We can't love each other if we're consumed by our own guilt. We can't change the past, so let's change the future."

Duke looked at Nathan. "She's right. I'm not mad at you, I just want you to be happy. I love you."

Nathan sighed, nodding. "I'll try. I promise. I won't hurt you again, Duke. I'm sorry for hurting you before, and I love you, too."

Duke smiled devilishly. "I'll let you make it up to me. Anytime you feel guilty, I'll give you suggestions."

Nathan shook his head, but he chuckled. "I don't know how you make infuriating seem endearing, but you've got a gift for it."

"I've been practicing a long time, Nate. Besides, you're not so bad at it yourself."

Audrey snorted. "No, when Nathan s infuriating, he's just infuriating. You've both got your specialties. But I wouldn't change either of you for the world. Just stop with the guilt. Let love win, because when you two are together on something, you're absolutely magical."

The looks they both turned on her made her feel like her insides were melting. Hundreds of years, so many lives, and she'd never felt such a sense of belonging. That she could bring Nathan and Duke back together? That made her feel powerful, unstoppable.

Before she could get teary and hormonal, she said, "Let's take care of the dishes and find something more... productive to do."

"You sit, Audrey. You brought a girl back to life, let us handle the dishes." Duke kissed her cheek, standing to take her plate.

"You're spoiling me. But I'll take it. Thank you for dinner, it was wonderful."

"Anytime, beautiful. You know that."

She smiled, rubbing her bruised chest as she watched them clean up together, fascinated by the way they moved around each other when they weren't hiding their feelings. They knew each other so well, every movement synchronized, as though they were dancing together. They didn't even need to speak to know what the other needed, passing things back and forth, letting their fingers linger when they touched.

They were absolutely beautiful. The thought that she had been instrumental in bringing them back to each other, somehow managing to breach the chasm between them and complete the broken circuit, it made her feel special, something the Cause had tried so hard to keep any of the subjects from feeling. Illeana had been right, they were so much more than numbers, more than just tools. Illeana had brought Duke into the world, and Audrey- Mara- would take whatever trouble Illeana gave her for cradle-robbing her son.

Because Mara was sure that nobody else could ever treat Duke the way he deserved.

An hour later, they had moved to the bedroom, and her earlier nerves were back in spades. They helped her settle into the bed, since she was still a little wobbly on her feet, and they took turns undressing her, both shirtless; Nathan taking his time, dragging his fingers along her skin, lingering on her ribs and against her breasts as he pulled her shirt off. He was kneeling behind her, his breath causing goosebumps as he kissed her neck, pulling her hair out of the way. He ran his fingers up her spine as Duke kissed the inside of her thigh, pulling her panties off.

She shivered in delight, the feelings better than any of her old dreams or fantasies. The looks Nathan and Duke gave each other made her hotter, and Duke knew her this way already, knew the games and words that would wind her tighter, that would wind Nathan up too.

"Nate, I want you to feel something amazing. Hold her from behind- get used to the feel of her skin."

Duke winked at them both, then pulled her legs over his shoulders, hands on her hips as he licked her slowly, making her back arch, her breasts pressing into Nathan's hands.

Dear gods, she'd though she had felt overload with Duke in the Barn. With Nathan kissing her neck, rubbing her breasts as he watched Duke slowly licking her- she felt like she was burning, overloaded on sensation.

Nathan reached to turn her head to the side so his lips could catch hers, his tongue licked at her own as she gasped. His kisses were nothing like what she'd expected from the quiet, easygoing partner she'd grown to love. They were insistent and demanding, possessive and devoted. Once he had her where he could kiss her, his hands went back to her breasts, rolling her nipples between his fingers- fingers that had once felt only her, and yet, even whole and able to touch anyone, he still chose to be with her and Duke.

Duke pressed two fingers into her as he continued to swirl his tongue and she keened, long and low as she came apart, shuddering and spasming around Duke's fingers.

There were words exchanged in low voices, and suddenly she was flat on her back, Nathan crawling up between her legs. He rubbed her cheek with his own as he murmured, "Been waiting for this moment forever." His fingers were on her, and then he was pressing into her, and she couldn't breathe.

He gasped himself as she enveloped him, lost in reality better than their best fantasies and he moved slowly at first, learning what she felt like around him and beneath him. The kisses continued, long and deep. His hips rocked into her and she raised her pelvis to meet him. She felt the shift of weight on the bed, and Nathan groaned low in his chest, the sound rolling through her like thunder. His legs pushed hers farther apart, and she realized Duke was touching him, preparing him.

More shifting, sounds she could barely hear over her own panting and Nathan's hushed groans, and the pressure against her increased, Nathan dropping his head to her throat, sucking at her pulse as Duke entered him.

Pressure and counter-pressure, thrusts rocking her body as the three found the rhythm that suited them, Nathan driving harder and deeper into her. She'd wondered why they had waited, sometimes, but now she knew- they needed Duke, that third party that made them whole. That made them both better.

Too much- She climaxed again, squeezing around Nathan as Duke pushed him deeper, and his mouth returned to hers, breathing in her ragged cries. She had barely, barely come down from that when the men altered their rhythm, Nathan rubbing a spot inside her that she hadn't actually been sure existed, and she shouted, the clenching of her muscles and Duke's own ministrations pushing Nathan over the edge as he held his breath, groaning loudly as he filled her, and she knew the sound Duke was making- had made with her so often it was burned into her brain.

They rocked together a few more times, and she saw Duke press a sweet, loving kiss to the side of Nathan's neck as he pulled back, and Nathan kissed Audrey again as he pulled from her body.

Something had stolen her bones, and she lay limp and panting in the center of the bed as the men cleaned themselves up before joining her, one on each side. They lay on their sides facing her, hands twined together over her belly. She was lost for words, unable to form a coherent thought.

"You were right, Duke." Nathan said, a smile in his voice.

"Nate, I would never, never lie to you about something like that."

Audrey pulled in a deep breath, finally finding her voice. "Right about what?"

Nathan smirked, kissing her ear as he whispered, "He said you feel unbelievable after you come."

Her eyes went wide and a soft laugh escaped her. "Nathan! Wow, of all the things I never expected to hear you say... wow. That has to be near the top."

"But you do." Duke insisted. "I mean, you always feel amazing, but you two have been holding out so long- I wanted him to have the full experience."

She laughed louder. "You, I expect to say things like that, Duke. That was-"

"Hot? Amazing? Fucking transformative?" Duke suggested helpfully.

"I was going to say 'unbelievable', but all of those work, too."

Duke leaned up on his elbow to kiss her, a wicked grin on his handsome face. "You make the most unbelievably sexy faces when you come."

She blushed in the dim light, but she was grinning. "I never knew how hot it was watching two men before today."

Nathan looked like he would be purring if he was a cat. "Best night ever."

"Agreed" Audrey and Duke said together.

"At least until tomorrow." Duke added.

She gave him a look. "You have more tricks up your sleeve, Crocker?"

"Gorgeous, I have tricks you've never even thought of. Enough to get you off a different way every day of the month."

"I like the way you think." She managed to lift her head enough to kiss him, and turned to kiss Nathan as well. Then she got to watch Duke and Nathan kiss, and she smiled so widely it made her face ache. "I don't know how I got so lucky."

"Good karma and fantastic taste in men." Duke said seriously.

"I do have fantastic taste." Audrey agreed.

Duke flopped his hand dramatically on the bed. "Why did I promise not to go for the easy jokes?"

"Because you made enough of them throughout your early twenties." Nathan deadpanned, making them both laugh.

They cuddled up together, exhausted, and they were all asleep in minutes.

It was 4:00AM when Audrey's phone buzzed, and she grabbed it from next to her pillow, where she had put it just in case, before it could wake Nathan and Duke.

"Hello?" She tried not to sound as sleepy as she felt.

"Lexie, I mean Audrey, it's me, Jennifer." Gods, even at 4 in the morning she sounded hyper.

"Is everything okay? Is anyone hurt?"

"No, but you said to call you if I heard voices again. I just heard a man talking."

She was instantly alert. "What did you hear?"

"I don't know who he was talking to, but the man I heard was talking about finding you, about knowing the Barn is gone."

She felt very cold suddenly, whispering, "Was there anything else?"

"He said he was coming to Haven, and that he had to think of a present for you. He said he needed to 'get through Audrey Parker to find Mara' and he- he laughed, but there was no one else talking and then it stopped."

"Thank you for calling me Jennifer, this is really important. Just- be careful of strangers, and call me if you hear anything else. Are Lizzy and Dwight okay?"

"Yeah, yes, they're still sleeping."

"Okay. Get some rest, Jennifer. Thank you."

She hung up, laying her phone back next to her pillow and trying to get warm.

One was coming.