Author's Notes: YOU KNOW YOU'RE ADDICTED TO THE INTERNET WHEN IT GOES OUT AND YOU WRITE LIKE FUCK TO BE POSTED AS SOON AS IT COMES UP! Yeah that's what happened. I have this new chapter, a new chapter of Taro, and I started to work on Intrigue which should be up tonight if I get the rest of it done now that the net is back up. If I hadn't been sick as crap this morning I would've gone to the gym when it went out but fuck it. I stayed home and wrote. I didn't think my tummy would handle running on the treadmill at all. As always I appreciate feedback. So far you guys have been really good about this one getting reviewed. It's appreciated. I may post up a one shot or two again to be read in between this one and "Pet" who knows? I've got a few ideas running in my head so we'll see what happens now that the net is up again. As always please let me know what you think? It's always appreciated and I enjoy being able to sit down and read them. Even if it's just a sentence it makes a huge difference. That being said onward to the story!

Chapter 3:

Jocelyn turned and reached up with her other hand. She pushed the mask up revealing her lovely oval face to Livia's eyes.

"What would you have me do precious?" She asked taking a step closer. She never tried to dislodge her wrist from Livia's hold.

Livia stared at her and then looked down. "Did you come here looking for me?" She couldn't help but ask.

Jocelyn shook her head, "No. I didn't think you'd be here. I'm rather shocked to see you standing in front of me to be honest. It's been three years." Jocelyn smiled but it didn't quite reach her vivid green eyes.

Livia kept her head down before she shook her head, "No it hasn't been. I saw you, about a year ago in central park. You were walking and talking on your phone and there was a girl behind you that well she I mean she…"

"She looked like you?" Jocelyn offered softly.

Livia looked up and nodded.

"She's a sweet girl. Her name is Emma Leigh. She still lives at the manor."

"Was she your pet?"

Jocelyn took a breath and nodded, "Yes she was but it didn't work out. She chose instead to take Mitsuru's place and to my knowledge she and Tristan are enjoying each other's company."

"Mitsuru once told me you don't like that to take place but you allow it."

"I don't disagree with the needs of the body as long as they are handled in a proper manner." Jocelyn shrugged, "As far as you went…well I didn't want you sharing a bed with anyone but me. Call me selfish if you will but that's what I hoped to happen."

Jocelyn moved past Livia carefully dislodging her wrist and going to the balcony. She stood overlooking the garden with her back to her former pet.

Livia turned back to face her back and stepped closer to her. "I didn't mind it; sharing your bed. In fact I enjoyed myself immensely."

"As did I little one," Jocelyn said with a small half smile.

"Why then did you give me up so easily? I waited for you for over a month. I cried every night; I didn't want anything but to go back to the manor to be with you."

"I did what I thought was the best thing for you at the time. I knew they would never let you return home with me. I also knew you weren't alone based on what I surmised from the Detectives and what I heard from Tristan. He snuck a call to me when he could to let me know what was happening. I knew Mitsuru was with you. That's why I came to New York and not Boston. I let them arrest me knowing you would demand to see me and I was right that's exactly what you did. When I heard the way they spoke of you, I knew I had to let you go. If I didn't they would've never let us be. I chose to give you up to a more settled life and I don't regret that decision seeing you now."

Livia frowned listening to the explanation and shook her head, "The only thing I wanted for months after you let me go was to wake up in your bed far away from the whole thing. It was a nightmare. I only wanted to be with you and I didn't understand why they made such a huge deal out of it. I belonged to you no one else. And I would've happily returned to you if I thought that avenue was open to me at the time."

"At the time? Your blonde Mistress, what was her name? She was quite pretty I remember that."

"Alex." Livia supplied.

Jocelyn smiled, "Yes that's right Alex. She didn't give you that option?"

"She did what she could to help me get by. I owe her everything for what she did for me."

"Even your heart?"

Livia opened her mouth to respond but then shut her mouth. She sighed. "I do love her."

"I have no doubt about it. She's a very lucky woman to have you precious. You deserved someone who would love you the way you deserved."

"And you couldn't?"

"I wouldn't." Jocelyn corrected her softly. "I wouldn't let myself get that attached to you. Only after you were gone and I was alone in that house that I realized every wall I put up to keep you out you broke right through. You'd done what no other pet I've ever had did, you got in. And that's why I knew I'd made the right decision for your well-being. I couldn't be what you needed me to be. I accepted it even though for those first few months all I wanted to do was drive to New York and put you in the car with me and go back to the manor. It wasn't going to happen. She'd fight me on it and so would they. They were doing what they thought was best for you and I was doing what I selfishly wanted for myself. They were right, I wasn't."

Livia sighed looking out on the garden. "I thought they were monsters, all of them. Especially Elliot. He was the one that ended my happiness at least in my eyes that's how I viewed him. I was so angry and scared and hurt. All I had was Mitsuru, and if I hadn't had her I wouldn't be standing here today I know. Even Alex couldn't get to me because I wasn't ready to let her. Not then."

Jocelyn sighed, "You'd been through so much Livia. What you needed was a stable environment with someone who loved you. She could give you that. I couldn't. It's as simple as that truthfully. Even if I long to turn back the hands of time so you were mine again."

Livia frowned looking at Jocelyn but the woman never turned her eyes back to her. "I'd best get out of here before your Mistress comes looking for you. Have a good evening Livia."

Livia lunged a second too late trying to catch Jocelyn once more but it was too late the woman had already darted back inside with her mask back in place fading into the crowd.

"Livia?" Alex's concerned voice reached her ears. She sat up and then slid to her feet. She'd carefully placed herself in the corner of the balcony just like she'd used to when she was first brought to New York. She pushed the purple gown down as Alex came towards her slipping her arms around her. "What happened sweetheart? Mitsuru was practically hysterical; Alice had to take her home after she told me you were out here." She didn't mention that Mitsuru had barely been able to get out Jocelyn's name before she went flying out towards the balcony. By the time she'd gotten there, Jocelyn was no longer there but Livia was clearly distressed.

"I want to go home." Livia whimpered softly.

"Okay, we'll go home sweetie. Right now." Alex promised leading her from the balcony and through the hall without another word to anyone. She carefully helped Livia put her coat on and allowed the trembling brunette to do the same before she slipped an arm around her and led her outside and to a waiting taxi to take them home.

Livia got up late that night and walked into the living room. Alex was either asleep or allowed her to think she was and she didn't mind that. She wanted some time on her own to think. Alex hadn't said a word about Jocelyn even after they got home but she knew Mitsuru had told her about the blonde's presence.

She sighed as she curled up on the couch. Even though Mitsuru had been terrified to see Jocelyn and as much as Livia tried to fight it she'd still felt a shock of pleasure at seeing the beautiful woman she'd once called Mistress. She still had trouble even to this day referring to Jocelyn by her name. She always used other pronouns to speak of her, never her name or her former title.

She was so confused; she didn't understand why even now Jocelyn had this effect on her. She loved Alex, she was deeply in love with Alex. Alex was her heart, her future but Jocelyn was her past, her savior. Why did those things have to create such a rift within her? Jocelyn had made no indication beyond the tattoo of wanting her to return now. Before yes but not now. And truthfully she did love Alex and she couldn't break her heart like that but a part of her did want to go to Jocelyn. It wanted to curl up in her arms and just enjoy the comfort and warmth she'd find there.

"Livia?" Livia looked up Alex was standing the hallway entrance just watching her with her beautiful worried blue eyes. "Are you having trouble sleeping?" She asked as she moved towards the couch.

"I…I guess I'm just wired from the party." Livia lied with a shrug. It was the first time she'd ever not told the truth about her thoughts or feelings to Alex.

Alex frowned knowing it was a lie but not wanting to call Livia out on it and cause her to withdraw into herself even further. "Of course," she sat down gently sliding a hand out. She ran it up the length of Livia's back and then back down in a soothing motion knowing it always helped Livia sleep after a nightmare.

Livia smiled and leaned forward resting her head on Alex's chest and closing her eyes. She listened to her heartbeat as Alex's hand slid up and down her back. For now the voices in her head were quiet. For now she could just enjoy Alex's touch and warmth and try to forget that a part of her longed for the warmth of another hauntingly beautiful blonde.

Author's Notes: Dun dun dun! Okay so not exactly ideal but hey I'm building on it.