-Six months Later-

"maybe we should keep it, Lauren, we may have another kid one day." Bo stood, hands on her hips, staring at the worn down playscape in the backyard. It was a sunny Sunday afternoon and the both of us finally agreed to tackle taking the thing down. "this thing has become a death trap, its so unstable." I handed her a lug wrench, I sighed as I looked down at my Radiohead shirt and a pair of my old jeans, "one day I will actually get to wear that shirt again."

Bo grinned, "i stole it from noodle, it was in her laundry when I brought it upstairs." she shrugged as she leaned to bend over to get to work on loosening the rusted bolts, "besides it fits me better."

I took a moment to enjoy the view as Bo bent down to unbolt the bottom of the slide. We both turned to the sound of squealing tires in the driveway. Sera hopped out of the mustang, slamming the door behind her. I could see she was angry, a residual purple haze in her eyes as she took hurried strides into the backyard and yelled as she pushed on the playscape. Her immense strength was too much for the old, rickety structure. It collapsed onto itself as she yelled again, "i hate boys!"

Bo and I stood motionless as the dust settled, tools in our hands, saying nothing as Sera ran into the house. Bo set the lug wrench in her hands down, "well that takes care of that." looking at me, "want to come with me and find out why our daughter hates boys and playscapes?"

I pointed in the direction of the house, "lead the way mom."

Sera was in her closet, grabbing handfuls of clothes and dropping them down on the bed. She looked at us quickly, "Mr. Simon has said I am good for graduation. I have more than enough credits. I am using my birthday gift and I am going to Australia for a little while."

Bo sat on the bed, trying to fix the pile of clothes Sera had dumped down. "honey, what happened?"

Sera was still in her hurried state, "Andy broke up with me." Another angry handful of clothes hit the bag. I moved to Sera, placing a hand on her shoulder to try and stop her movements and calm her down. "is this why you are home early from the camping trip?"

Sera nodded, facing the inside of her closet, she hung her head down. "yes."

Bo glanced at me, I nodded, she was the better suited out of the two of us to provide relationship advice and support. "Noodle, why did Andy break up with you?"

Sera looked over her shoulder, "because of me, because of my powers." she turned back to the closet, pulling jeans down. She turned to the bed, throwing the jeans down, "i know you wont get mad at me, because it is our nature to want things of a carnal nature." she looked at Bo and I, "the camping trip was fine, fun, great. Until last night. Andy and I started moving forward in our relationship, the make out sessions were no longer cutting it and I felt my need to feed overcome me."

Sera paused, waiting for our reaction, I was holding mine in. I understood what Sera was telling us, but the mother in me was on the verge of losing her proverbial mind. Bo held out her hand, waggling for Sera to come sit next to her, "i know exactly what you felt."

Sera frowned and sat down on the bed, "i stopped us, I couldn't go through with it. I felt too strong of a need to feed, I had to stop because I was afraid to hurt him." she leaned against Bo, "the next morning, while I was with the girls getting breakfast together, I could hear Andy and the guys talking about what they all did last night. They started to make fun of Andy when he told them the truth, that we didn't go very far." sera folded her arms tight against her chest, "i could hear everything they were saying and thinking. I got mad, I tried to stop them from making fun of Andy. Then one of them said something to me, about you mom and something about what they used to say about you before you met mum, after that I cant remember what happened, it made me very angry." Sera looked at me, "i lost a little control and bounced the one bully around, he's fine. His ego is bruised."

Bo held her daughter close, "oh sera, I am sorry."

"i embarrassed him and he wouldn't talk to me as we drove home. Then when I dropped him off, he broke up with me. Saying that he couldn't deal with the reputation of our family anymore and that he was dating the celibate succubus." Sera bit the inside of her cheek, trying to fight back the emotions. "I really liked him."

I sat down next to her on the bed, smiling as I saw Tamsins helmet sitting in the bottom of Sera's one bag, partially covered by t-shirt's and sweaters. I reached around the two girls I loved, pulling Bo and her into a hug, "i know you did." I wanted to tell my daughter how proud I was of her for keeping her sense about her and standing up for her family.

Bo smiled lightly, "it is his loss, noodle. Some boys don't know what they have until its gone."

Sera leaned forward, "I appreciate that mom, I do. But he is right, I do have a reputation in school, I am the nerd, the prude, the holy grail of fae from the two unaligned fae moms, and so much more. I scared all of my friends so bad when they saw my powers, the new ones I have been trying to hide." she ran her hands through her red hair, "i want a fresh start, I want to travel and disappear and no one know who I am. I want to experience a life free of stupid teenage boys and my stupid high school friends."

I looked at bo, my heart breaking at what my daughter was going through. Sera had always carried so much on her shoulders, from birth, all because of who her family was. I pulled some of the hair that fell forward, back, "I don't see a problem with you traveling for a little while. You are clear for graduation and you will be going to college at the end of the year, I think it might be time that you do experience something other than this small town and the fae compound."

Sera looked at me, "i thought you would be the hard sell mum, but you are really okay with me going to Australia?"

"if your mom is okay with it." I nodded at Bo, who smiled and grabbed Sera's hand, "i am okay with it, I know that you are more than capable of handling yourself, and as long as you stay in Finnegan's apartment's and check in with us frequently." she raised an eyebrow, "what if Kenzi went with you for a little bit?"

Sera smiled, "i was going to ask her when she got home." she laid back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, "i promise I will stay at gramps places and I will definitely check in, I do actually like you two a lot, unlike most teenagers and their parents." Sera closed her eyes, "i want to see the ocean from Australia and see a koala bear, and swim."

After calming Sera down more and actually forming a travel plan together, bo and I left her to pack properly. We had agreed she would leave in a couple of days, Kenzi in tow. She would spend a month in Australia then travel across Ireland as she wanted to research the Lewis family roots to understand her powers better.

Bo and I sat outside on the front porch, it was a quiet evening and we smiled as our neighbors walked by, waving at us as they walked dogs or children. Bo sighed, "when I was her age, I was only worried about my prom dress and if my date would want to match his tux to my dress, I cant believe Andy broke up with her. I thought he was a decent kid."

I leaned forward as I sat on the porch step, "he was, but his male ego was bruised by the taunting and if most cases, that is not something most men can overcome." I nudged Bo, "i am secretly happy that she could not go all the way."

Bo giggled, "is it bad of me to say the same? I mean I know that we are most definitely not the poster kids for abstinence, but, ugh, she is my baby girl." Bo pulled me close to her, "i know that one day, and one day soon..."

I cut her off, "lets just leave it at that." I kissed the top of her head, "i think spending some time away from school, studies and dare I say us, may do her some good. She has never really gotten the chance to live." Bo nodded silently, as she was about to say something, a sensible sedan pulled into the driveway.

Tamsin got out of the drivers side and waved at us, she looked different. She walked over to us, pushing herself in between as she sat. "hey captain and the succubus, I hope I am not interrupting anything."

I shook my head, "nope, we were just sitting out here." I glanced at the captain, "the kid had her first break up today."

Tamsin raised an eyebrow, "do I have to punch a little nerdy boy in the face?"

Bo laughed, "no, no you don't. Andy broke up with Sera over her standing up for the family and not wanting to..." bo stumbled, "you know."

Tamsin stared at us, "i am going to have to punch a little nerdy boy in the face."

"trust us, it wont be necessary. He will be forever embarrassed and that is more than enough for all of us." I leaned back on the porch, "so commander, you come for the leftover muffins from mom, I hid them in the freezer before a small Russian eating machine got to them."

Tamsin smiled, "sorta. I came over here to talk to you guys, because I need advice." it was Bo's turn to raise and eyebrow, "wait, you are coming to me as well as Lauren for advice?"

"yea, I know right?" Tamsin took a deep breath and dug into her pocket, pulling her hand out. Something was clutched into the palm, "You know that Anya finally left the hospital the other day, and things have been great." she let out a breath, "she proposed to me this morning." Tamsin opened her palm, a simple white gold band with a diamond and two small emeralds, cradling the diamond, glinted in the sun.

Bo gently grabbed Tamsins palm, "are you serious?"

"i am. It seems she loves me and after our close call with the cloudsmen, she doesn't want to wait." Tamsin handed the ring to Bo so she could get a closer look. I could feel Tamsin was doubting so much about the proposal. I nudged her, "you said yes, I take it."

"i guess? I mean, the old me would have said hell no and left it at that. But this new me, I sort of said yes. I see her point, I do like her a lot and we are good together." Tamsin sighed, "i came over here to ask you guys, your thoughts. Anya still has problems with me leaving on short notice and not coming back right away or telling her where I am." Tamsin stood up, pacing on the sidewalk, "then I think about you two, and how stupidly happy you are and have been. I want that."

I took the ring from Bo, taking my look at it. It was a beautiful ring and I could feel how much Anya loved Tamsin and that it intensified in the days after the attack. Bo moved over closer to me, "Lauren and I are stupidly happy after almost two decades, but that's because we love each other more than the air we need to breath."

Tamsin blew out a chuckle, "yea I know, you remind all of us every time you two are in the same room. Not that I am being a negative Nancy about it, but I just am not sure its there with Anya and I." Tamsin groaned, "i don't know."

I stood up and handed Tamsin the ring, "is she your Sophia, in this life?" Tamsin winced, "captain, there was only one of her." I could feel the flashes of still lingering heartbreak from over ninety years ago. I looked back at bo, smiling, "and I thought there was only one Cate, until her." bo blushed and looked down as I turned back to Tamsin, "I am not going to tell you what to do, I know you are happy and have been. Its just a matter of how happy you are."

Tamsin held the ring in her fingers, sliding it on her right ring finger, "I don't know captain, maybe I should say yes..."

"you are engaged?"

All three of us turned to look at Sera standing in the doorway, wearing one of her rare pink tank tops, making her hair almost glow as she stepped out onto the porch. Her eyes drawn to the ring on tamsins finger. Tamsin half smiled, "hey kiddo, how are you doing?"

sera tried to smile, I knew she could read Tamsins thoughts and knew the Valkyrie knew about the breakup, "I am okay. I came out here to ask mom if I could borrow her sword case." She looked at Bo, "can I?"

Bo stood up, "sure, I think its in the basement with the rest of the knives." bo dusted her pants off, "tamsin, I am happy for you, and anything I can do to help, you know where to find us." she smiled and walked back into the house, Sera was still standing and staring, "are you engaged to Anya now?"

Tamsin was not paying attention to Sera, I could feel Tamsin slowly giving into the idea of being married, but I knew it would not be with Anya. When Tamsin looked at the ring, her thoughts were only of Sophia. The ring on Tamsins finger was similar to the one she had give Sophia, the Valkyrie was flooded with memories, distracted and silent.

Before Tamsin replied, Sera folded her arms and smiled tightly, "well, congrats old lady, I hope you guys are happy." I looked at my daughter and saw something in her eyes, but I could not place it. She looked at me, and dropped her head as she turned and walked back into the house, yelling at her mom to also let her borrow the boot knife set. For a quick moment, I could feel a quick pang of sadness from my daughter but I had no idea where it was coming from, maybe it was because she had just broken up with her first love and was seeing the full circle of what being in love meant.

Tamsin sighed hard, looking at the ring. Her thoughts still revolving around Sophia, "captain, I think I am saying yes because I never really got too all those years ago." she looked at me and slid the ring off, "i know you found your heart again in Bo, but I have to find the one to hold my heart like Sophia once did." she dropped the ring back into her pocket. "i would wait a thousand more years to have that love again." she punched me lightly in the shoulder, "beers in the garage?"

I smiled and punched her back, "of course, and you can tell me how you met Sophia, I think its owed to me." Tamsin laughed, "i actually met her in the same way I met you, in an office as she interviewed with me to be attached to our unit. I was an ass to her too." I wrapped an arm around Tamsin, "lets drink to her honor, the one woman to tame you." we walked into the garage, neither of us noticing that Sera was watching from her bedroom window, tears in her eyes.

Bo and I were asleep, Bo was hogging the bed and laying on me as she snored. Both of us were startled awake when Kenzi burst into the room and jumped on the bed, finally dropping to her knees. "wake up! The kid left! She has run away from home without me!"

Bo sat up first and pushed a skull pajama'd Kenzi gently back off the bed, "Stop yelling and calm down." I could see Bo's eyes glowing blue. Kenzi scrambled back up on to the edge of the bed as I sat up, "what are you talking about, Kenzi?"

Kenzi held out a piece of paper, "she left this note on the kitchen table, the mustang is gone and her bags." Bo snatched the paper out of her hand, reading it quickly she tossed it to me and rolled out of bed, grabbing her jeans. Kenzi ran out of the room yelling, "i am coming with you Bo Bo! Let me put some pants on first."

I read the note, "Mom, mum. I love you both, very much and I will check in as soon as I get to where I am going. I changed my plans a little bit and will stay at the fae apartments. But I need to be alone, my heart hurts more than I thought it would after everything. After I figure stuff out, I will send for AK.

I love you both very much. Sera."

I set the note down, swinging my legs out to sit on the edge of the bed. "Bo, we have to wait until she calls."

bo was scrambling as she grabbed a shirt, "oh hell no, I am going to find her and kick her ass for leaving without telling us." I reached out and grabbed Bo by the arm as she raced by, "Bo, she will cloud our thoughts, hide and make it pretty much impossible for us to find her." I looked at her, her jaw clenched as the reality sank in. Sera was too powerful for us to track her down, and also powerful enough that no one would stand a chance if they wanted to message her.

"what about Finnegan? He can trace flights and apartments." Bo was searching for reasons. I pulled her closer, "i want to chase her down and kick her ass as much as you, but she is a smart girl and we both know, when she wants to be left alone, she will do everything in her power to make it happen."

"Lauren, I cant sit by and wait as my daughter goes rogue. We made a deal, this isn't the deal." bo flopped down on the bed. "can you break through to her?"

"i can only hope she can hear me and want to respond." I closed my eyes and tried to pick up my daughter, all I received was her softly telling me she was okay and would call as soon as landed. I looked at Bo, "maybe we should go punch that nerdy little boy in the face."

bo tried to smile, but instead wrapped her arms around me. "our kid ran away from home, can you believe it."

"i can, but I don't want too."

Sera did call later that day to check in with us, she would not tell us right away where she was, even as Bo tried to bargain and threatened her daughter with lifetime grounding and taking the car away. Sera made promises to check in once a day or so and continue staying at light fae apartments. I tried to use the good cop angle and coax out where Sera was so I could at least send Kenzi to her, but Sera was gentle with me and gave me a quick glimpse of where she was. It was sunny, cool and full of life, and I felt how heart broken she was, "mum, let me have a few days. Please."

Sera didn't come home for five years.

next chapter will be another age jump, Sera will be different as she becomes a young woman and life moves with her. the drama will pick up and I am also working on changing pov for a few chapters in the near future. but we will see, somethings will happen that of course bring stormy days to the family.