A/N: Next One!

Chapter 7: The Bargaining Chip

Dennis Household

With her kids finally feeling like themselves again, Bo thought it best to have a little one on one time with her Wife. Since their children were basically grown, now was the perfect time for them to steal some moments.

Though, Bo would be lying if she didn't say she missed having her children as babies. They were so cute at that age, and they listened to her too. A quality they'd grown out of now.

Ethan had stepped out to be with Kayla at the Dal, that place was covered head to toe in protective charms. Trick was always paranoid. And Shay was in the middle of a video call with Sasha. Who was still holding a grudge, since her Girlfriend lied to her.

She definitely took after Tamsin like that.

Valkyries were mean when they were mad.

Patrick was in his room, overdosing on candy and chips while losing himself in his stupid video games. And Bella—well, she was doing whatever it was that she did when she was alone in her room. Out of all their kids, she took her privacy very seriously.

Lauren was just folding her newly laundered clothes, and putting them away in her dresser when she felt Bo's arms encircle her waist. "Let me guess, you want some Wife time?" They'd always used that term in front of the kids since talking about that subject always grossed them out.

"Well, I wouldn't say no. Last night was certainly fun…" Bo kissed the back of her neck. "… And just to be clear, I always want Wife time with you. Decades pass and you're still the only girl on my mind" she whispered in her ear.

That was always a good way to get Lauren in the mood. "If you're trying to get into my pants by wooing me…" she spun around in her arms. "… It's working!" She captured her lips, linking both arms around Bo's neck.

They hadn't had any time together since they got back from their trip. The whole point of taking that trip was to do things for themselves for once. And they did; they took all the time they needed. But they could never get enough of each other.

Eternity wasn't even enough.

Bo moved her right hand under her Wife's left thigh, lifting it up as they continued to kiss passionately. And she was just about to get to the good part, slipping her left hand into the front of Lauren's jeans.

"AAHHH! MY EYES!"

Shay had managed to scar herself for life by interrupting them. Her Parents pulled apart, yelling at her for barging in. "I'm sorry…" she thought back to something her Mother once told her. "… Weren't you the one who said your door's always open?!" She covered her eyes.

That image was burned into her brain.

"Yes, but I always told you to knock first!" Lauren composed herself, she'd just started to get excited. That would've been good if Shay hadn't ruined it.

Bo was trying to calm down, her inner Succubus was right on the edge. "You can open your eyes now!" She told her. "Oh grow up! I've found you and Sasha in much worse positions!" She'd tried to black those nights out.

Shay dropped her hands, turning to her Mother. "Exactly. So, how about you educate yourselves about our knocking policy? Look, I didn't come here to argue—and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna need electric shock therapy after today, but I just came to tell you, that Bella and Patrick and fighting downstairs"

"What?!" Lauren widened her eyes. "Why didn't you start with that?!" She ran passed her daughter and down the stairs.

"Well, I was a little busy!" Shay replied. "You know, having seen you guys doing the deed! Honestly, they might've killed each other already" she started laughing.

Bo wasn't amused. "You think it's funny huh?" She really wasn't amused. "You won't be, when I'm done with you. Let's take a walk!" She grabbed Shay's arm tight, pulling her towards all the yelling that was happening downstairs.

Living Room

Just as Lauren jumped off the bottom step of the stairs, she saw Bella and Patrick screaming at each other. And Bella got so angry that she threw him across the room with her powers. "ENOUGH!" She stood between them. "Both of you!" She stopped Patrick from taking revenge. "What the hell's going on?!"

Both of them remained silent.

Until Bo entered the room, letting go of Shay. "Hey? You two?" She looked at them both. "Your Mother asked you a question. Answers, now!" She demanded an explanation.

"Go ahead Bella…" Patrick wasn't in the wrong here. "… Tell them!" And he wanted his Parents to back him up.

Lauren looked at her little girl, she could see Bella was getting upset about this. So she was going to try a softer approach. "Honey?" She approached her slowly. "Please, tell us what's going on"

"I have a Boyfriend!" Bella answered. "Are you happy now?!" She glanced at her brother.

So many thoughts ran through everyone's minds. For Lauren, it was shock that her little girl hadn't told her sooner. For Patrick, it was something much more sinister. Because he knew more about Bella's boyfriend.

For Shay and Bo, their thoughts were aligned. They were very overprotective. And wanted to find her boyfriend, and kill him.

"I'm sorry. You have a, what now?" Shay didn't know if she heard that properly.

Bo had trouble processing it. "Uh, okay…" she laughed nervously. "… No, you can't have a Boyfriend. You're still a baby!" Maybe not really, but to her she was. She was her youngest. "I haven't even had the talk with you yet" she'd been putting it off.

But Bella was one step ahead of her. "Charlie already told me everything" she didn't want to put her sister in the dog house, but she was going to tell the truth.

"Charlie?" Bo raised both her eyebrows. "Charlie had the—" she was seething right now. "She had no right to do that!" She turned around, breathing through it. "So have you uh-" she couldn't bring herself to say it. "Have you umm—" she really couldn't say it.

"Not that it's anyone's business, but no…" Bella replied. "… I haven't" she knew what her Mother was thinking. And she hadn't taken that step yet.

Bo placed a hand over her heart, "Oh thank god!" She felt it racing.

Patrick hadn't finished his point. "Isn't there something else you wanna reveal Bella?" He asked her, getting a glare. "Like maybe, how you met this mysterious Boyfriend we never knew about?" He made eyes at her. "If you don't tell them; I will"

Shay stepped forward, putting an arm around her sister's shoulders. "Tell us what, Bell?" She didn't want to argue with her, or pressure her. "Come on, you can tell us anything. We won't judge—" she glanced at Bo who was still scowling. "Well, she will. But, the rest of us won't. I promise"

Bella took a deep breath, "His name's Parker, and he's a Vampire…" she didn't know what was going to come of this. "… I didn't meet him in our normal social circle. He actually uh—" she had trouble finding the words. "He uh—"

"He works for Ronan!" Patrick finished for her.

Bo, Lauren, and Shay, gasped. How could she be dating someone who works for the very person who wants them all dead? Was Bella the reason they were able to get so much good intel on them?

"He what?" Bo asked, as calmly as she could right now. "Bella, I want you answer me honestly…" she took steps towards her. "… Did he promise you anything, in exchange for information about this Family?" She had to rule it out.

Bella frowned at her. "You think I'm stupid?" She didn't know any other way to take this. "I'd never do, or say anything that would put our Family at risk! I've been busting my ass, trying to find a way to fix everything. It might be hard for you guys to believe; but Parker actually likes me! He's never asked me anything about you. He's not like that!" She ran away; going to her room.

Lauren stared at Bo, she heard the way she said that. And Bella could've only taken it one way. That she wasn't good enough for anyone to like her, for her. "Nicely done Bo! Way to make her feel shitty about herself" she ran after Bella.

Shay and Bo stood there silently, not knowing what to say. But they were interrupted by a snickering coming from Patrick.

"Well, I guess it's true what they say…" he said. "… They always go for the weakest of the heard" he continued to laugh.

And that didn't sit well with them, so Shay looked at her Mother for approval to put him in his place. And with a small nod from her; she had it. So, Shay stomped as hard as she could on her little brother's foot. The next few seconds were filled with cries as he dropped to his ass, holding his injured foot.

"Watch your mouth, little brother!" Shay wasn't going to have him laugh at Bella's expense. She grabbed his shirt, pulling him up to stand. "When Mom calms Bella down, you are going to apologise to her. Are we clear?!" She shouted in his face.

Patrick hated being told off, but he knew he kind of deserved it. "Yes"

Bo was beating herself up too. She handled it all wrong. But she'd never laugh at her daughter's struggle. What Patrick did was wrong, and mean. And when he apologised to Bo, she shook her head. "I don't wanna hear it. Go to your room!" She waited for him to limp away.

"So, what'd we do about this?" Shay asked her.

Sighing; Bo shrugged. "I dunno Shay. I'd like to give this Parker guy, the benefit of the doubt. But when it comes to Ronan, I can't trust anyone. And there's also the fact that he's a Vampire. Their kind doesn't have the best track record when it comes to loyalty" she'd known a few in her day.

And they were all tools.

To be honest Shay didn't have the best run ins with them either. "I don't like it Mom…" she admitted. "… I mean, maybe he's a stand-up guy and really likes her. But, with our Family's luck? I don't know if I'd put faith in the former" they had the worst luck.

"We're not gonna do anything yet…" Bo said. "… First, we need Bella to calm down. If she gets mad; she might create a black hole somewhere. And second, we're not gonna tell Ethan about this!" She made that clear.

Shay nodded, she could do that. That was actually an important one. "Yeah, last thing we need is for big brother to hunt the poor blood sucker down before we know all the facts" Ethan was even more overprotective than her and Bo.

And he and Bella had that sibling bond.

Clinic

With the news of her siblings being revived, Charlie was okay to stay with her Grandfather for the night. She didn't want to leave his side until he was walking again. Which would be soon if he got more rest, but he was insistent on staying awake. "Come on Gramps! A little shut eye never hurt anyone"

Trick sat up in his bed, "I'm done sleeping, Charlie!" He loved that she cared about him, but he wasn't a day sleeper. He was always doing something. "I feel like I'm going crazy in here" he wanted to go back to his bar.

"I get that, but Mom said you've gotta rest…" Charlie plumped up his pillows. "… Now, I'm gonna head to the cafeteria to grab a coffee. Want me to get you anything?"

"Yes, I'll take a cup of coffee if you wouldn't mind. These people, refuse to give me one" he wasn't happy about that.

Charlie laughed, he was always so stubborn. "That's because they're under Mom's orders. Your heart almost gave out when we tried to bring the others back. So, heart problems equal no caffeine. Not until you're better" she wasn't going against her Mother's wishes.

Trick sighed, "Then what do you propose I drink? I cannot take another sip of this ice water!" He pushed the plastic pitcher away from him. "I'll be bleeding water before long! Just get me something with a taste!" He was going out his mind.

"You got it!" She promised, then left him to stew.

While waiting for his Granddaughter to return, Trick went through all the magazines he had near him. They were all so trashy. He couldn't stand the modern world, the old days had so much class. He decided to take Charlie's advice, and rest. So, he sat back and closed his eyes.

A few minutes into his relaxation, he heard footsteps approach him. "I hope you know me well enough to have gotten me some jello" he opened his eyes with a smile, thinking it would be Charlie he would see.

But it wasn't.

"Sadly, no…" Ronan smiled. "… But I do know Bo well enough to know that she cares about you. After all, you're her Grandfather. The man that took her under his wing. See, your Granddaughter has something of mine, so I'm taking something of hers. I'm hoping it'll motivate her" he had a plan to get his dagger back.

Trick wasn't scared though. "So, you're Ronan?" The young man nodded. "Surely, you know that taking me won't get you what you want. Bo may love me, but we've had this conversation before. She knows where I stand on the matter" he was prepared.

"Oh? And where do you stand?" He asked, humouring him.

Trying his best to sit up, Trick locked eyes with him. "If anyone ever uses me to blackmail her, she's under strict orders to let me go. So, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but, you won't be getting what you want by taking me" he smiled at him.

That was his and Bo's deal. She didn't like it, and outright refused at first. But in the end, she knew it was the only way.

Ronan laughed. "Who said anything about taking you?" He never once uttered those words. "Oh, Tricky! You didn't think you were actually that important, did you?" He tapped his arm, feeling sad for him. "Holding you hostage gives me no leverage. Sure, Bo loves you. But, does she love you more than her own daughter?" He snapped his fingers.

Suddenly, two men walked into the room. Holding an unconscious Charlie by her arms.

"NO!" Trick tried to get up, but Ronan held him down. The pain his body was experiencing was bad. "Take me! You can kill me, do whatever you want; just don't hurt her!" Anything but his Granddaughter.

Ronan smirked, "See, this's the problem with you people…" he said. "… You care too much. And as long as you do, you will always be weak! Tell Bo, I want my dagger back. If she doesn't hand it over, the next one to die will be Charlie. She may be a Hybrid, but unlike Ethan and Shay; she can't cheat death"

"Please, don't do this!" Trick begged.

"I hope you're not trying to appeal to my merciful side…" Ronan hated the use of the word. "… Because I don't have one. I want what's mine, make sure she gets the message" he sent a little shock through Trick's brain, just enough to put him to sleep.

After that, Ronan led his men out of the room and to the foyer. He'd killed everyone on his way in. He wasn't playing around anymore. And just to get the ball rolling quicker, he smashed the emergency panic button under the reception desk. That should make some noise.

If Bo wanted her daughter back, then she'd return what's his.

Dennis Household

Lauren had been trying for the better part of fifteen minutes to try and get into Bella's room. But like before, her daughter was using magic to keep her out. "Sweetie, come on! I just wanna talk! I'm not here to judge you. I just—" she stopped when she heard a loud alarm coming from her front pocket. She lifted her phone from her jeans and saw the flashing red sign. "Oh god!"

Sensing the fear, Bella opened her door. "What's wrong?"

"It's the Clinic, something's happened!" Lauren turned around and hightailed it down the stairs. Bo and Shay both asked her why she was so frantic. "Someone tripped the emergency alarm at the Clinic. No one does that unless it's bad" she slipped her boots on and grabbed her coat.

"How bad are we talking here?" Shay asked.

Lauren couldn't really give a specific answer, but only two words came to mind. "Armageddon bad"

Bo got her shoes and jacket too. "I'm coming with you! Shay?" She needed someone to stay here. "Do not leave this house. Protect your brother and sister, and most importantly; don't let that dagger out of your sight! For all we know, this could be a diversion set up by Ronan" she didn't like it.

"Don't worry Mom, I won't let him near it…" Shay promised. "… The only way he's gonna get it, is when I've driven it through his heart!" She wasn't letting him win.

Giving her a wink, Bo tapped her shoulder. "That's my girl. Call Ethan, tell him to meet us at the Clinic. We might need Hybrid back up" she wasn't ashamed to admit when she needed a helping hand.

Her kids were awesome.

She loved it.

Shay nodded, "I'm on it. Just go!" She watched them run out of the house, then shot off a text to her brother. She knew he'd check it. No call or text went unanswered in this family.

Clinic – Later

By the time Bo and Lauren arrived, the alarm was still blaring. They didn't have time to mourn the dead people around them. Lauren worked her way around the bodies, and went to the electrical panel behind the reception desk. She punched her code in, and swiped her access card. When the panel opened, she disabled the alarm.

"They're dead!" She couldn't believe it. "They're all dead!" what was she supposed to tell their families? "Why would he do this?" She didn't understand.

"Trick!" Bo realised, she had what Ronan wanted. Of course, he would take Trick as leverage. But she and Trick made a deal years ago, that if he was ever used to blackmail her, that she had to refuse. She didn't want to agree to it, but Trick made some very convincing arguments.

They both ran to the second floor, getting to Trick's room as fast as they could. They expected to find an empty bed; and a note from Ronan stating his demands. But instead, they found Trick out cold in bed. "Trick?" Bo shook him gently.

"Charlie!" He jolted awake. Laying his eyes on Bo and Lauren. "He came here. Ronan…" he said. "… He took her, I'm so sorry Bo!"

Lauren let out a devastating breath, "No! No, not again!" She covered her mouth with her hands. Not believing it to be true. "I can't believe this is happening!" She turned away, only to run into her son. "He took her; he took Charlie!" She fell into his arms.

Ethan hugged his Mother, feeling nothing but rage. But he knew he had to keep a cool head. Otherwise they were never going to get anything done. "It's okay…" he let her cry. "… He won't hurt her; he needs her"

Bo wanted to break, but she wasn't going to let herself. "Trick? Did he say anything to you?" She wanted to know everything.

"He said taking me wouldn't motivate you enough, that's why he's taken Charlie…" He replied. "… He said he wants the dagger back, and if he doesn't get it she'll die. I looked in his eyes Bo. There's nothing there, but darkness. He has a dead soul" only the evilest of people had that look.

"Yeah, and pretty soon his body's gonna catch up to it. I'm gonna find him and get Charlie back, and when I do…" Bo glanced at her broken Wife, still crying into their son's arms. Ronan had caused them so much pain, it had to end. "… I'm gonna destroy him"

It was on.

Ronan's Hideout

With his Penthouse compromised, Ronan couldn't go back there. Let alone, take Charlie there. Bo would come for her soon enough. Charlie was the easiest Hybrid to subdue, being that her abilities were in her blood. Yes, she was strong, and fast. But not as fast as her other siblings. So, as long as her hands were tied, she couldn't do anything.

Ronan brought her to his second hideout. He knew it wouldn't be long until Bo found a way to locate her. So, he hadn't made himself impossible to find. He kept Charlie bound and gagged in a chair while he got some things ready for his ritual. Once he had his dagger, he would proceed with his plans.

He was in the middle of going over the incantation he'd acquired from a Shaman, when he heard an annoying sound coming from behind him. "Will you please, shut up!" he slammed his hand down on the table, then spun around. Charlie was constantly making noises; her mouth was gagged so it was muffled. "Scream all you want Princess, no one's gonna hear you!"

She just kept annoying him. So, he removed the gag. No one could hear her anyway. "You really must be stupid if you think my Mom's gonna hand over that dagger. She knows I can take care of myself, she'll never give in to your demands"

"Actually, I think she will…" Ronan replied. "… See, she's got something important to me. And I've got you, and everyone knows how much a Mother loves her child. A sentiment I never got to experience, thanks to your Mother" he never got to spend much time with his Mother.

"You keep saying that, but was my Mom really to blame?" Charlie had been thinking about it the whole time. "All she did was make your Mom leave the city. She didn't kill her. Whatever happened after she got banished, wasn't my Mom's fault!"

Ronan kicked a table over in anger, "YES IT WAS!" he screamed at her. "My life? Everything that followed after my Mom was banished, was because of Bo's decision! Who made her worthy of calling the shots? Hmm? What makes her so special?!" he never got a clear answer.

Charlie didn't know if she could answer that, but she was going to try. "I dunno, I'm not really into labels. But I do know one thing…" she was going to enlighten him. "… My Mom, stands for justice. She's a protector, of everyone. Not just her family. She fights for the world, and she's won. Countless times. Your Mother was a threat, so she responded in kind"

"You really think that's gonna help?" he frowned at her. "I don't care about the world, or justice. These people can all drop dead for all I care! I want the Mother that was taken away from me! I want a chance to be loved! Like you, and your precious siblings" he mumbled the last part.

And that's when Charlie saw it, he wasn't some evil mastermind. Well, a little. But, largely he was just a boy who missed his Mother. And wanted her back. "I get it. You miss her. You want a chance to know her. Honestly, if I was in your shoes I'd do the same. I'd do anything to see my Mom again. But, Zee was bad for this world"

Ronan almost got sucked in then, but he wasn't going to let her get to him. "Screw this world…" he struck her with fist to her face, powered by his lightening for the extra strength. "… And screw you" he was glad to have silence.

A/N: Ooh! Poor Charlie. Give me your thoughts.