Tamsin was silent, the muscles in her jaw flicking as she continued to clench it. A moment passed before she moved, pulling on her uniform jacket. "Captain, don't ask me questions I cannot answer."

her tone hit me weird, I blurted my words, surprising me in hardness of my tone, " that's bullshit and you know it, commander." I slid off the kitchen counter, trying to get the Valkyrie to look at me, "i know about Sera's crush on you when she was younger, Bo has known for years and let it be a crush that would go away. Then Sera thought you married Anya, but never knew the truth for years, the look on her face when I told her what happened, it was something. Then that healing kiss, there was more to it, wasn't there? You two, there is something there. I cant read her mind, I can only read yours, and it is radiating bullshit." I took a breath to calm myself down before I started yelling, "what happened in that security room?"

Tamsins eyes met mine, "Lauren. Please, just let it go. The kid and I bicker, because we aren't the best of friends. That's it." Tamsin focused on buttoning up her jacket.

I grabbed her hand, stopping her from continuing, "tamsin, do you have feelings for Sera?" it came out in a overly motherly tone, one that made Tamsin look at me intensely, because it was rare that I was this blunt and forward. I knew I had to be, because of the Valkyries expert deflecting of the questions I asked her.

Tamsins jaw clenched again, "i don't know what I feel, I barely have a handle on basic emotions in the last few months." she sighed, "yes, something did happen in the security room. She kissed me, and I didn't stop her because...Oh fuck. I cant. Listen, she is your daughter and I cant...fuck." Tamsin pushed past me and snatched up her truck keys and walked out of the crash pad, half yelling over her shoulder, "maybe you should talk to your own kid." She slammed the door to the crash pad. I could feel that she was conflicted with whatever emotions and feelings that were raging through her about Sera, the biggest was her loyalty to me and my family. Loyalty above love was a motto she once uttered to me right before she ended her lifecycle and once she apparently would hold strong too.

Silence was always my favorite. It was rare for my mind and environment to be on the same page when it came to calm and serenity. Barricaded in my old room at the compound, I was in pure silence. The thick walls kept out even the minimal outside noise of the family section. It was what I needed and because of the welcomed silence, I had not ventured out in days since I was in the dungeon.

Every time I did leave the room for food or air, I heard everyone's thoughts on Jase, the ongoing investigation and so much more that cut me deeply. After I had left the security room, after Tamsin left me, I went directly to my room and sat in the shower, crying for an hour. It didn't help that I had been bolder than ever, and kissed the Valkyrie, and we both visibly liked it.

All I knew was that I was beyond confused, my heart was shattered and I leaned on Tamsin, the one constant light in the often self created storm that followed me. There were many daydream moments where a kiss between her and I all I could think about, in recent years as I moved closer to starting a new life, a new marriage and a new family, it became more of a matter of finding closure in faint feelings of a fleeting crush. But in that moment, before my lips met hers, her eyes told me so much more. Tamsin had always been gentle, protective and kind too me, even after I knew how she had been before this new lifecycle. My parents had told me the stories of how she was brash, uncaring and fought with my mom, more than once.

I set down the book I had been trying to read, but only holding it as I stared off, lost in my thoughts. My biggest problem was I had no real idea what love really was. All of my relationships had come and gone as failures, and it felt because of what I was. Andy broke up with me because I was stronger than he was, my college boyfriend left as soon as he figure out that I was from royalty, Addie because of Jase and then Jase. I was constantly searching for what my parents had, a pure unconditional love where it matter nothing of what they were, just who they were.

Closing the book, I stood and walked to the bookshelf where I had set her helmet on. It was brought to me at my request after the apartment was searched for evidence. It always brought a strange sense of calm to me. I ran my fingers over the ridges and dents that were so full of stories, stories I wanted to hear. I dropped my hand from the crest of the helmet and sighed, I knew I was falling into something for the Valkyrie, but was deathly afraid too no matter what it was.

I couldn't read her thoughts, I could only read her actions and those were so blurred right now. One minutes she was kind and gentle, the next brash and rough with me. I tried breaking it all down and analyzing it, but always came to the same thought of how much I wanted to kiss her again.

I smiled as my mom knocked on the door, she was still very old fashioned, in a sense, and often forgot that I could feel her clearer than anyone else. I moved to sit on the antique chair after telling her to come in. My mom, always smiling when she was around me, was dressed in her usual black tank top, black jeans and black boots, "hey noodle."

my moms smile was my favorite thing about her, I took after my mum in smarts and logic, but in my heart and smile was all Ysabeau Lewis. "mom, can I ask how my noodle nickname came to be?"

"on the day you were born, you were all wrinkly and immediately reminded me of one of those curly noodles? It stuck and I know you hate it."

I shook my head as she sat across from me, "I have gotten over it and adjusted to the fact it will never go away." I smiled and winked at her, folding my legs underneath me in the chair. I was still in baggy scrub pants and an old university sweatshirt. "so mom, ask what you came here to ask."

She rolled her eyes, "i hate when you do that." I shrugged, "blame the suckbusses bond."

She laughed, "i know." leaning closer to me, "how are you? Whens the last time you fed? And I don't mean eating grams cooking"

my mood dipped, "i am still trying to sort that out in my head, as for a proper succubus meal, not since the night before Jase went rogue. I have been using mums injections again." I jammed my hands in my sweatshirt pocket, "how did you know you were in love with mum?"

"oh, noodle, you have heard that story a million and a half times." she put a warm hand on my knee, "i knew the instant I saw her, awkward and hiding her eyes from me. A few days later, I knew there was no way could look back. She was the one. It was her gentle way, the overwhelming need to take care of me, and she never once saw me as anything as Bo the girl, not Bo the fae." my mom smiled, her eyes sparkling as she spoke of her wife, "she never gives up on me, even when I forced her too." she closed her eyes and I could see clearly all of her memories of her and my mum. "i just knew, there is no science behind it. I just knew it, still know it." she looked at me, her soft brown eyes still sparkling, "are you asking me because of Tamsin?"

I pulled my eyes from hers and stared at the floor, "I don't know what I feel for her, mom. I know you hoped my crush would go away as I aged and...met him." I squeezed my eyes shut, knowing they were starting to glow purple. I was still holding a tremendous amount of anger back.

"are you...in love with her?" my moms voice was quiet. I stood up and walked to the window, "if I knew what love is." I looked out into the massive back grounds , spotting the tiny tree house gramps and I had built. I felt my mom come up behind me, a comforting hand on my back, "sera, we love you, Kenzi, grams, gramps."

"i know what family love is mom, but real love. The love you and mum have." I pushed down my hands in my pocket, "everyone I love..." leaning against my mom, "to say I love you, one must be able to say the I. That has never happened to me and have it been real, lasting." I walked away from my mom and the window, the helmet glinted at me as I walked past it. "she has been the only one outside of you guys that was real, is real." I met my moms eyes, her arms were folded and I could see the pain she felt for me, "She's the only person that can settle the monster in me, but is that love or understanding?"

An awkward silence fell over the room. My mom walked over to me and held me in a hug, "i think you already know the answer, noodle." I hugged her back, and felt her struggle with what I just told her, "do you know if she feels the same?" my mom glanced down at me, "her aura? That's how I caught on to your crush."

I let out a sigh, "it glows, evenly. But like her thoughts, it does nothing when I am around or anyone else." I ran a hand through my hair, quickly confessing, "it did blaze when I kissed her."

"uh, what did you say noodle?" I turned to see my moms eyebrow raised, trying to hold back the surprise of what I just told her.

"i kissed her mom."

"oh boy." My mom went pale and quiet.

Tamsin charged into the basement as Bo and I were watching television, she walked to the liquor cabinet and grabbed a giant bottle of whiskey, pouring herself a huge glass. Choking down half of it in a few hurried sips, she slammed the glass down and looked at us. "your pops and my boss had a meeting, it seems good old Odin has some interest in keeping the kid alive, or your dad is a good negotiator." she yanked off her uniform jacket and threw it angrily on the chair next to us.

Bo and I looked at each other, we had just been sharing details of our separate conversations with the Tamsin and Sera. Bo was more upset than I was when Sera spilled the beans about kissing Tamsin in the security room. Bo cleared her throat, "and?"

Tamsin drank the rest of the glass, pouring another, "Odin has rerouted my life, assigned me to the special detail of shadowing the kid." she looked hard at me, "I cannot disobey him, nice move, captain."

I untangled myself from Bo, "i had nothing to do with this, I waited to talk to Bo before we went to Finnegan." I walked to Tamsin, "I can talk to him, I told him to wait until we..."

Tamsin let out a boozy breath, "there is more trouble coming for the kid, the threat is increasing. Odin has heard the whispers turn into facts, I can even feeling something is coming." she kept her hard stare on me, "this isn't going to work out as well as you think."

Bo stood up, "what is that supposed to mean, Tamsin?"

"settle down, succubus. I will shadow her and protect her as I would anyone else, maybe better, because she is your daughter." she yanked the whiskey bottle closer, "excuse me, but I intend to get as drunk as I possibly can before the big family meeting in the morning." Tamsin snatched a folded note and handed it to me, "I met the courier at the door, I will see you bright and early at the compound." she dragged the bottle off the counter after reaching and grabbing another one, "don't expect me to be sober." Tamsin mumbled as she ran up the stairs, leaving her jacket and the two of us speechless.

Bo and I sat in Finnegan's private office, Tamsin was barely awake, slouched in a chair. Bo looked past me, "at least she showered and changed."

I sighed, My mother was on her way with Sera and I was silently preparing for the storm to descend on us. Bo and I had talked about what Tamsin and Sera told us, it was evident that both women were struggling with their unknown, undefined feelings for each other. Sera was more open about it, where as Tamsin was falling into a full blown emotional shut down. The phrase "loyalty over love." running over and over in her thoughts. I wanted to comfort her, but I didn't know how since Bo and I were still unknown in our own feelings of our daughter and the Valkyrie.

Finnegan walked into the room, smiling at us and then frowning at Tamsin. I reached over and shook the Valkyrie awake. She groaned and sat up, throwing a cock eyed salute at Finnegan. He just shook his head and sat behind his desk. "Elizabeth and Sera will be down shortly." he leaned back into his chair, "quickly though, before they arrive. The intention behind this is to provide a extra vigilance in ensuring that Sera is not exposed to the likes of another Jase. There is a threat, an apparent threat directed at her." Finnegan straightened his tie, "this has nothing to do with fae politics or the future of the light fae, it has to do with my granddaughter and keeping her safe." he looked at Tamsin gently.

Before Tamsin could say anything, Elizabeth and Sera walked in. Sera was in her sweatshirt and scrub pants, she looked tired and worn. She looked around, as she sat, "um, is this an intervention? I mean I will put real clothes on and leave the room if that's what you all want."

Bo tried to hide her smile as Finnegan started, "this is not an intervention, you are more than welcome to taking all the time you choose too." he took a deep breath, "upon further investigation of the evidence and the interview with the incubus, we have realized that there is still a threat upon your safety, Sera."

Sera shrugged, "i know, grams was telling me about it on the way down. I am sure I can handle whatever comes for me." her gaze was steely and I could see determination on her face.

"I know you are very powerful, they also know how very powerful you are and will continue to match or exceed what you can handle." he looked at his granddaughter, "all of us have agreed that it might be a good idea if Tamsin shadows you until we have a better grip on who is after you."

Sera laughed, nervously, "a bodyguard? You are giving me the old lady as a bodyguard." she leaned forward, looking at Tamsin who was quiet and staring at the floor, "she is barely sober." Sera was keeping up a facade, trying not to show to her grandparents what her mom and I already knew.

Tamsin rolled her head, "look kid, this wasn't my idea." she met Sera's eyes and quickly looked away.

I could feel the tension rising in the room, Tamsin was trying to keep emotions in check in front of everyone, Sera was beginning to get agitated that we thought she was weak and incapable.

"oh I bet, it appears a lot of things aren't your idea. You just go with it when it happens." Tamsins tone had hit a nerve with Sera.

I knew it was a dig at the kiss they shared in the security room, Bo had filled me in on how Tamsin pushed our daughter off after she kissed Sera back. Tamsin's jaw clenched as she kept a firm tone, "i will be sure to keep it professional."

Sera laughed, trying to hide how deep Tamsins words bit, "I don't need a shadow, a bodyguard, whatever it is that you think I need." she stood up suddenly, "i have proven time and time again, I can take care of myself and sometimes the rest of you." she looked at her grandfather, "i love you gramps, but you don't need to do this."

he met her eyes, "Odin has reassigned Tamsin, there is no way around this until the threat has been eliminated."

I looked at my daughter, "he is right, Tamsin is right, this wasn't her idea. It was your mom and i's, your grams and gramps wanting to do this." I looked at the Valkyrie who was visibly beyond miserable, boring a hole into the desk with her stare. "because all of us in the room could not bear to lose you if we could prevent it. Tamsin was the one who picked up on Jase, she can see things clearer than we can when it comes to you." I turned to look at my daughter, "i lost you once." I paused, feeling emotion rise to point that if I continued, I knew I would cry.

I felt Bo's hand grab mine, squeezing it. Sera calmed down a little, her love for Bo and I exceeded any of her personal feelings. "fine." she looked at Tamsin, "you need to sober up."

Finnegan interrupted, "Tamsin will be only shadowing you, I do prefer that you continue to stay at the compound until things have been remedied with the threat." he nodded to the Valkyrie, "i have set up quarters for you next door to Sera. You do not need to be with her every minute of the day, just if she leaves the compound be close to her."

Sera looked down at Tamsin, still staring at the desk, "i hope you like hospitals, I go back to work next week and I am certainly not delaying my residency for some evil mystical force that is apparently dead set on making my life even more miserable." she looked at Finnegan, "are we done?" I was surprised at the tone in her voice directed at her grandfather, he took it in stride, "yes, you may leave."

sera nodded and walked out of the office. Bo let out the breath that felt like she had been holding it the entire time, "that went well."

Tamsin stood up suddenly, "am I free to go?" she raised an eyebrow at Finnegan, "I need to sleep off this hangover before I start my shift."

he nodded, Tamsin walked out of the office, throwing me another hard look that said we would be talking later.

My mother who had been silent the entire time, "what is going on between those two? They fight like an old married couple."

I could hear her in the room next door, pacing, irritating me. I was trying to settle down from the meeting with my parents and grandparents. I certainly did not need a bodyguard, or a shadow as they kept emphasizing. I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the wall. I had poured my heart out to my mom about the Valkyrie, and what I thought I felt. Then her distant, cavalier, snarky attitude in gramps office, pissed me off, mixed with her silence and inability to actually look at me. I had been mean to the Valkyrie, my parents knew about the kiss, but I did not want my grandparents to know. It also didn't help her behavior egged my irritation on.

I had focused on her aura in the office, trying to pick up on a change in her aura. It had remained even and not once flickered in my presence. Maybe the kiss meant nothing to her, nothing what it meant to me. Now I was stuck with a boozed up old woman who was suppose to be my backup. I pulled up my hood and held my head in my hands, I was only doing this because of the look on my mums face. She knew I was strong, but she had made mistakes and lost me. I could see the fear in her memories of all the times my life was in danger.

I heard a clang of a glass bottle hit the floor, followed by a gruff voice swearing. I sighed and walked to her door, knocking on it. Tamsin yanked the door open, "what." she met my eyes, I could see the hangover was turning into an epic headache.

I looked behind her and saw the clear glass bottle laying on its side on the floor, "nice, really working on it I see."

Tamsin looked over her shoulder, moving away from the door, "i told your mum I would sober up." she held up the glass bottle, "its water, its all they had in the kitchen. Appears your grandparents prefer glass over plastic." she took a huge chug from the bottle, setting it down on her bed.

I folded my arms, "i think we need to talk."

Tamsin walked to her bag, pulling out handfuls of clothes out and shoving them into drawers, "kid, I just want to unpack and pass out, sleep my last hangover for awhile off and get on with this, arrangement." she waved her hand around, full of shirts, before she jammed them into a drawer.

I stepped to her, feeling guilty for my behavior in gramps office, "I didn't mean to be rude to you, I..um..." I jammed my hands into my pockets, it was a strange characteristic I had picked up from my mum after years of watching her do the same, "tamsin, the kiss."

Tamsin threw her handful of shirts in the drawer, she turned to look at me, "it was a kiss, yes." her cool blue eyes, were soft and doing a poor job of hiding her true feelings.

I stepped closer to her, my heart beginning to pick up pace as I was inches from her and I could feel her body heat mixing with mine, I was almost certain I could hear her heart beat quicken as I moved closer. Still her aura, remained even, "i feel like I should apologize for it, but I don't I think I want too." I was being bold, but it was the only way I could get anything out the woman in front of me.

Tamsin tightened her jaw, "Sera, I understand, emotions were high and I should apologize for not stopping you sooner." she looked at me hard. "i didn't mean to lead you on."

I paused my steps, her words came out with intent. I bit my lip, trying not to show how hard they hit me. I didn't know what to say. Tamsin folded her arms, "i will protect you beyond the best of my ability, I have a job to do and I made promises to your family to do so." she took a slow breath, "that's all we need to talk about." she turned from me and picked up her bag, walking into the bathroom and closing the door behind her.

What I didn't see behind the door as I left before my tears fell, was Tamsin in the bathroom, clutching onto the sink. Trying to calm her pounding heart, and trying not to rip the bathroom sink off the wall for the bullshit lies she just laid out.

TBC! I am tired and want to sleep...so I will write tomorrow... :)