"I realize that my best friend has inadvertently become my kids best friend, is that weird?" Bo was putting the final touches on Sera's gift as I looked out the bedroom starting at the soon to be sixteen year old sitting with her aunt Kenzi on the roof of the garage, taking turns throwing the super bouncy rubber ball Sera made, at the driveway and catching it as it spiraled into the air and back. "i don't think its weird, Sera grounds Kenzi and Kenzi makes Sera embrace being a kid." I turned and smiled, "the maturity of our sixteen year old balances out the immaturity of our thirty seven year old."

Bo finished the gift, sticking a giant orange bow on the top. "all done!" Bo walked over to me, "i know we gave her the car, but the fun was taken out of that surprise." she looked at me, "Lauren, we have a sixteen year old daughter." she sighed hard, "where did the time go?"

I pulled her close, kissing her lightly, "i know, its hard to believe that we have been married for almost seventeen years."

Bo smiled, "wow, who knew I could stick with it for that long." Bo flopped onto the bed as we heard Kenzi and Sera whoop as the ball bounced off the roof and hit the house, Bo looked out the window, "those kids." she closed her eyes, "i do wish Sera would have let us spoil her with a giant sweet sixteen party. But we will have fun, Elizabeth is bringing a cake and Finnegan has volunteered to man the grill. Tamsin said she would stop by for a moment, Anya wont be released until tomorrow. Oh, Andy is coming over to join us." Bo was ticking off the small number of guests to the small family dinner that Sera would only allow.

I sat down next to my wife, "I never had one, for my sixteenth birthday I spent it with my mother at a surgery conference." I raised an eyebrow at her, "what about you?"

Bo smirked, "i had one, all of my friends came over and we played spin the bottle in my basement closet. That's when I first kissed a girl." Bo wiggled her eyebrows at me, "look at me now."

I playfully slapped her thigh, "you ever wonder what it would be like, if we had met in high school? Would you still find me attractive? With my giant plastic nerd glasses, my awkward hair and baggy clothes, dragging a seventy pound backpack through the halls trying to make my applied classes on time?"

Bo giggled, "i think no matter what, I would have had to made out with you at least one." Bo propped herself on her elbows, "would you have even talked to me? As I wore my farm girl dresses, low cut and yes, I was blessed with the girls at an early age." she glanced down at her chest, "would you have even said hello?"

I looked down, "i would have most definitely found a way to be your tutor, but I doubt I would have had the courage to even ask you your last name." I sighed and looked at Bo who was smiling wide, "Lauren, I would have found you no matter what."

Blushing, I laid back on the bed, letting bo roll over me, cuddling me, "i am glad to have eternity with you and you alone, Lauren."

I sighed hard and leaned to kiss bo when I heard the loud thwack of the super bouncy ball smash into the side of the house, followed by the loud giggles of the two outside. I groaned, "lets go get the kids ready for dinner before they break a window." Bo nodded as she was giggling as much as Kenzi and Sera, "you should have never taught her how to make her own bouncy balls, Lauren."

I rolled my eyes and pulled Bo up with me, grabbing the birthday gift and shooting a dirty look out the window, receiving even more giggles.

Sera loved the family birthday dinner, it was almost a normal family dinner. Finnegan wearing a silly barbeque apron as he made grilled salmon and steaks, my mother telling more stories of what it was like when I turned sixteen, Andy and Sera leaning against each other as teenagers in supposed love did, Kenzi bouncing around as she ate as much as she could and I sat back, Bo leaning on me and smiling.

My mother brought out the birthday cake and we all sang an awkward version of happy birthday that made Sera hide her face until Kenzi pulled her hands away, exposing a very red faced girl. She blew out the candles after Bo and Kenzi cheered her on to make a wish, I sat with Andy asking him about what college he was intending to go too. He was at least a year behind Sera in school, but he was in love and told met that he would follow Sera to whichever school she chose, looking to major in astrophysics. That diverted my motherly questioning and we began talking about meteors and the metallurgical properties they posses.

"geez mum, can you at least wait until I open the gifts before you start on the what are your intentions with my daughter speech?"

I laughed as Andy stammered, "i cant help it." Bo leaned over me, squinting at Andy, "neither can I, what exactly are your intentions with my noodle." throwing the now extremely nervous kid a half serious, half joking look.

Andy tried to say anything in his defense until Sera broke in, "you two need to stop bugging him! And stop calling me noodle!" she placed a quick kiss on his cheek, "they are just being my moms, you know how it is." Andy nodded as Kenzi ran into the room, dropping a stack of gifts on the table in front of her, "come on kiddo! Lets get at it! The moms agreed that you and Andy can take the car out, officially take the car out, after gifts." she pushed the stack to the girl, "so get to getting!"

Kenzi smiled wide as sera embarrassedly opened the gifts. Kenzi had gotten her fuzzy dice for the mustang and a personalized samurai sword, which Sera could not shake the smile off her face, "AK! This is awesome!" she pulled the sword out of its sheath and marveled at the weight.

"old ashy poo over there helped me find it and the engraving," kenzi reached over and tapped near the hilt, "is an old Russian blessing." Sera read it and smiled and Kenzi giggled, "of course I put my own spin on it." Sera stood up and hugged her aunt, "thanks AK!" she ran over to her grandfather, still wearing the apron, hugging him, "thanks gramps!" Finnegan smiled, "just be glad your mothers finally agreed that you could responsibly handle one of these now." Sera looked at Bo and I, rolling her eyes, "thank you moms."

Finnegan gently pushed Sera to open the rest. Sera received a brand new laptop from my mother and Finnegan, already set up with the fae research database as well as the same programs and files my mother used. My mother explained that Sera was equally as valuable to our work and that it would be better if she had her own access and could stop hacking into the system. Andy gave Sera one of those silver bracelets that came in the light blue box. She opened our gift last, Bo and I had given her a travel journal and a note inside telling her that the moment she graduated high school, she was free to travel the summer before she started college. Sera smiled, "are you sure? Mom? Mum?" I was the first to speak, "i think that you have proven yourself responsible enough to take care of yourself and as Kenzi is constant to remind us of, you need to live a little before you embark on whatever doctorate degree you chose."

Kenzi bounced as she ate cake, "this is the best part Kiddo! They have granted me permission to join you whenever you feel the need for your old AK to come along."

Sera smirked, "is she telling the truth?"

Bo laughed, "she is, your mum and I figure you are banned from most of the casinos in the world and you will have your license in a few weeks, what else could you get in trouble with?"

sera glanced at Kenzi, they shared a silent moment that I picked up on, "Kenzi, remember what I told you." Kenzi dropped her smile and pouted, "if I don't behave you will take the TV away and make me work in the kids ward of the hospital as pappy the happy dancing bear."

I didn't have to say anything, everyone around the table burst out laughing while Kenzi shoved more cake into her pouting face.

Bo and I helped my mother clean up the kitchen, watching as Sera, her boyfriend and Finnegan worked on the outside mess, Kenzi magically disappeared when she got a phone call from a certain siren. I pulled plates off the table, pausing as I felt Tamsin come inside the house.

"hey captain, sorry I missed the party." she walked to the island, smiling at Bo and my mother as they worked on filling up the dishwasher. Bo smiled, "no problem, there are leftovers in the fridge if you are hungry." Tamsin smiled, "thanks, I just ate dinner with Anya at the hospital." she eyed the last half of the cake sitting at the table, "but if that is momma Lewis's cake...i will definitely have some."

my mother said nothing as she immediately moved to serve up the Valkyrie, "how is Anya? I will be releasing her tomorrow?"

Tamsin eagerly took the plate, piled with cake, "she is antsy, but good. She is jealous that I was released early and sends happy birthday wishes to Sera." Tamsin stopped as she took a bite, "oh man momma Lewis, you sure beat the captain here on the baking." She looked around, "is Sera around? I wanted to say a quick happy birthday before I head back to the apartment."

I pushed more plates to Bo and my mother, "she is out back with Andy and Finnegan."

Tamsin peered out the window, "so that's the boyfriend?" she was staring at him, reading his thoughts as I would do everyday, it was the protective nature in us. I stood next to tamsin, looking out the window after setting the rest of the mess down, "yes, Andy. You could go meet him if you want? He is a bit of a nerd like me though." I winked at her.

"i will just say hi, join me captain?" she looked at me warily, I was still the buffer between my daughter and the Valkyrie. I looked back at Bo, she waved me on, "Elizabeth and I have this mess. Oh and Tamsins gift for sera is still in the garage, it was too heavy for Kenzi to bring in." Bo rolled her eyes as Tamsin giggled, shaking her head. "it is heavy and good thing she didn't drop it, or I am certain I would be receiving profane curses in Russian."

I led Tamsin out to the backyard, "sera, Tamsin is here to wish you a happy birthday."

Through a puff of hair to get her hair out of her face, Sera looked up from the chairs she was putting away, "okay." Andy looked at Tamsin and back at Sera, Finnegan walked up behind him, "Andy, would you like to come help the girls inside the house?" my father could feel the tension between the two and knew sera's temper. Andy nodded, it was hard to turn the ash down when he asked you to do something, even if it was to dry dishes with his girlfriends mom and grandmother.

After hearing the back door click shut, Tamsin set her plate down, folding her arms, "sorry I couldn't make it sooner, I was at the hospital a little longer than expected." she looked up at the evening sky that was falling into night, "it looks like you had a good birthday, kid. Happy birthday by the way."

Sera sighed hard, "thanks."

there was an awkward pause as I could feel Tamsin ask me for help and my daughter was staring at me to make the valkyrie go back in the house. Sera grabbed a few of the last bits of garbage, "mum, I am all done out here. Andy and I are going to go to the movies, if thats okay."

I sighed, "Go open your gift from Tamsin first, its in the garage." Sera frowned and stared at me until she walked past the two of us, her arms folded, mumbling, "fine."

Tamsin looked at me, I shrugged, "if I could tell you I would, Commander." I motioned for us to go to the garage, "At least you can see her open your gift, after you can have more cake and take some back for Anya."

We walked into the garage, the large box Tamsin gave me days ago sat on my desk. Tamsin walked to the box, picking it up she moved to Sera, "i know you and I are not the best of friends, but you are my best friends kid and I promised I would never miss one of your birthdays, even though I am sure you wished I did." she held out the box to Sera, "a girls sixteenth birthday is one of the most important birthdays one will ever have, it is when a girl becomes a woman and a warrior."

Sera stared at Tamsin trying not to roll her eyes or frown, she was surprised by the overall weight of the box and had to set it down on the arm of the chair. She looked at me and Tamsin, Tamsin moved to stand next to me, "open it kiddo."

Sera sighed, obviously only entertaining tamsin as she pulled off the lid. When she saw what was inside, her eyes widened and the petulant teenager look fell from her face, she looked at Tamsin, "is this?"

Tamsin nodded, "it is." she waved at Sera to take the item out. Sera reached in with both hands, lifting slowly.

The light from the dusk of evening settling in, caught the silver edges, in my daughters hands was a silver helmet with wings, a very battered and beaten helmet that still shone bright, even though it showed the battle scars of age. I looked at the Valkyrie, "tamsin, this is..."

she waved at me, "i know what it is. Its my helmet, the same one I received on my sixteenth birthday, the day I began my life as true Valkyrie." She stepped to Sera, pointing at one dent, "that is when I fell for the first time, I had no idea how to use my wings."

Sera glanced at Tamsin and back down at the helmet, "why are you giving it to me?" her voice was soft and measured, she was trying to hold back the snarkiness that was always at the brim when it came to the blonde woman standing in front of her.

"you may not be a Valkyrie in the true sense of the word, but you are something special. I have always shared a connection with your mother since the moment I first met her so many years ago, I thought then she was the strongest warrior I had ever met, until I met you." Tamsin smiled and put a hand on Sera's shoulder, "from the moment you were just a bundle of energy in the captains stomach up to this day, you have put up such a fight and continue to fight with me, and fight for me, like your mum and mom did." Tamsin gently took the helmet out of the shocked girls hands, rolling it over to look on the inside, where there was ancient Norse etched into the metal, Tamsin pointed at it, "a warrior is only as strong as their heart, and the ones who make it beat." She rolled the helmet back, "i etched that in myself after my very first trip to Valhalla, one I will always remember. And for a couple of centuries it kept me holding on to the good, then I lost my way."

tamsin handed the helmet back to Sera, "i once gave your mum my wings, and now I give you my helmet. Both symbols of honor and immense respect in my culture." Tamsin folded her arms and stepped back, "as much as you may dislike me, kiddo. You will always have my respect for what you have done." Tamsin suddenly reached out, placing two fingers over Sera's heart, "and the honor of what you hold here."

Sera was flushed, and stumbled as she spoke, "but, don't you need this? Your armour?" I could tell she was overwhelmed by the gift and Tamsin speaking the longest to her since she was five. Tamsin shrugged, "at this point, no. modern times call for modern things." she held up her palm where the faint ridges of her wings charm caught the ambient light, "I also lost the privilege to wear that helmet in your hands when I chose dark fae." Tamsin looked at me, her cool blue eyes softer than I had ever seen them, "once I have settled in a life of my choosing, I will have a new set made."

I said nothing, I suddenly felt like I was an outsider to a moment that was not necessarily mine to be party too. Sera was silent, only holding the helmet in her hands and staring at it, I could see the tears she was holding back. Tamsin sighed, "I thought it was appropriate for your sixteenth birthday, that and you already got a car."

Sera pulled the helmet close to her chest and turned to us, "when I become ash, I will give this back to you. I will not make any one choose a side or swear allegiance to anyone but themselves." she glanced at the helmet, "thank you Tam Tam."

the two stared at each other for a moment until Tamsin, nodded, "you are welcome Sera." she turned and moved to leave the garage, "you might not want to try it on, I think you have a bigger head than I do." Tamsin threw me a smirk as sera groaned and mumbled something. I followed Tamsin out of the garage, "you can never not have the last word can you?"

Tamsin laughed, "it would not be in my nature otherwise." she walked to her sensible sedan and hit the unlock, "anyways, I am off captain. No worries about the to go cake, I will come over tomorrow before I get Anya and steal some." she twirled the car keys in her hand as I asked, "how long have you had that helmet?"

"about three thousand years, I did get it on my sixteenth birthday. My parents had made bryn and I our first set of armour. Both of us were called up to begin serving Valhalla, that thing had seen many battles, carried many a soldier, warrior and lost soul to peace." Tamsin stared at the sky, "when I chose the dark fae, I had to renounce everything light fae, including the family armour. At the time I didn't care, I never wanted to touch the stuff again and as time wore on and things changed I sold most of it for money or booze, but the helmet I always kept. Tradition dictated that my armour was to be destroyed since the wearer was tainted, I couldn't do that. After what Sera did for me, it just felt right that she should have it."

I put my hand on Tamsins arm, "you constantly surprise me, commander." Tamsin laughed, "i surprise myself just as much." she opened the car door, "anyways, I need to get to the apartment and clean it before Anya comes home and freaks out that I have done nothing for the last week."

Just as I was about to say something I heard Sera come out of the garage, "Tamsin, wait."

"what's up kiddo?"

Sera walked over and grabbed the Valkyrie in a hug, shocking the blonde who looked at me. Sera whispered, "i don't dislike you." she pulled out of the hug just as quickly as she gave it, walking into the house, smiling as she walked into the living room where the rest of the family was sitting.

Tamsin said nothing, she just nodded at me and got in her sedan, driving off as I stood in the driveway. I walked back into the garage, picking up the ancient helmet, holding it in the light and looking over all of the scratches and dents it held. Knowing each one was a story that led to Tamsin eventually choosing the dark fae, it was definitely a symbol of life changes and growing up. I set the helmet back into the box, covering it up, I carried it back into the house and quickly up to Sera's room. As I came down, Andy and her were pulling on coats to go to the movies, I looked at my daughter, "i put it up in your room." she nodded and smiled, "thanks mum, we wont be out too long." Sera's eyes met mine and I saw that a portion of the tempest storm she held for Tamsin for so long, had cleared out a little bit.

I think I wrote this chapter just for me...I am still working on what happens next and just really wanted Tamsin to give Sera a piece of her armour, that will come into play down the road. TBC!