Present

Trick's office.

"What are you doing to help my daughter?"

"Everything I can," Trick answered without looking up.

"That's not good enough, she still sits in a cell as we speak."

Now he raised his head, "You want me to go in there and bust her out? This whole thing is delicate. We must proceed with caution."

"You should have never brought those humans into our lives, you should have had them taken care of."

"Maybe if you knew how to control your daughter, she wouldn't be mixed up in all this. You always indulged her way too much."

"Just get her out of there. I don't care about the human; let the wolves have her, for all I care. But Ysabeau needs to come home."

"Like I said, I'm doing everything I can, on my end."

"You-"

"We're done here. I need to get back to work."

XXXX

Two years earlier.

Bo's mother was waiting for her when she walked downstairs. Her defenses immediately went up when she saw her. Bo knew that look; that look meant another discussion about something important she was supposed to do.

Aife started right in immediately.

"You're turning eighteen, soon. It's a crucial time in a young Fae's life, especially for a succubus. Soon you will be getting your powers, which means you'll need to choose a side. We should do the ceremony on your birthday."

Bo's mother had been pushing this ceremony thing for months. She just wouldn't let it go.

Bo rolled her eyes. "I told you, I'm not choosing a side, and I just want to hang out with my close friends on my birthday."

Her phone vibrated in her pocket. She checked it while her mother was busy going on and on about the importance of choosing a side, well choosing the Light.

She smiled.

Lauren: Are you giving me a ride to school today?

Bo: Think I'd forget?

Lauren: Ha! No. Nick just left.

Bo always took Lauren to school on the days Nick left early for work. It wasn't that they were sneaking around; she told herself, but they were in a complicated situation, and it was better to not flaunt their friendship too much.

Aife's eyebrows rose as she watched Bo with her phone. "Think it over, your grandfather is very incessant that we have this ceremony, and he's expecting you to choose the Light."

Bo sighed at this; she was at odds with grandfather about most things, she wanted to do things her way, and he always pushed her to conform to Fae traditions. And he refused to listen when she told him about remaining unaligned. "How many times do I have to say it, I'm not choosing a side. Really I'm getting tired of saying it."

Bo: I'll be there soon.

Lauren: :)

Bo: You're such a dork.

XXXX

Bo was headed to Lauren's to pick her up for school. Her heart began to speed up, as she got closer to her house.

Pull yourself together, repeatedly reprimanding herself, she's just your friend!

Bo couldn't even pinpoint when her feelings for Lauren had started to intensify. She thought, maybe it had been a slow build-up but if she was honest with herself these feelings were always there. She pulled into the driveway and saw the front door opening, Lauren, stepping out; her backpack slung over one shoulder.

Her stomach climbed into her throat as Lauren walked up grinning.

The morning sunlight dancing on Lauren's blonde hair made her look even more beautiful. Stop! She yelled at herself. She tried to brush aside those thoughts, but Lauren did make it difficult, especially when she would smile at her.

Bo grabbed the wheel tightly, willing her heart to slow its pace.

"Morning," Lauren said sliding into the seat. "Thanks for the ride."

Bo hated these new, perplexing feelings that seemed to overwhelm her whenever the blonde was around. Honestly just thinking about Lauren caused Bo's body to react. It was as though she was no longer in control of herself, when it came to Lauren.

Wanting to shake off these ridiculous butterflies and thoughts, she told Lauren about her mother's idea for a birthday party, not going into the details about the ceremony-just yet.

"I can't understand why you're so against having this party."

"I want something low key. My family can be over-the-top sometimes, and I just want to avoid it this year."

"Well, originally birthday parties were held to ward off evil spirits, that were believed to be attracted to a person on their birthday. So, family and friends would gather around them, to keep them safe."

Bo let out a short laugh, "Only evil spirits I need protecting from is my family, and what you, Kenzi and Dyson aren't enough to protect me?"

"Better safe than sorry."

Bo glared at Lauren. "Says the person who spent her birthday at a museum, alone."

Lauren laughed and turned to Bo. "Well, I am strange. Somebody's told me that more than once," she took a sip of her coffee, "Besides it's important to your family, maybe just think about it."

Bo let a long drawn out sigh. "They also expect me to choose a side on that day, well choose the Light, which I have told them about a thousand times, I'm not doing."

"Oh," Lauren paused, "I see. But you have to deal with that eventually, right? Maybe it's better to get over with, to publicly declare your intentions."

Lauren was right, she knew it. She had to deal with sooner or later. "If I agree to this you have to come."

It would be an enormous fight with her mother to allow Lauren to come to the ceremony, but Bo didn't care, to her it was a battle worth having.

"Of course, Bo. I wouldn't miss it," Lauren said, beaming at Bo.

Another rush pulsed through her at that smile. It irritated Bo that Lauren seemed oblivious to the reactions she was having around her. It would easier if she knew Lauren had the same feelings.

She tried to will herself to get under control around her, the last she thing she needed was for her succubus to come out.

Her succubus powers would be fully realized soon, and she worried about what that would mean for her friendship with Lauren, especially since the blonde seemed to affect her differently than anyone else.

She just hoped she could keep herself under control.

XXXX

"Are we going to the lake this weekend," Dyson was asking Bo. "It's probably the last nice weekend we'll get for a long time."

He kept his word and continued to ask Bo out and a few months ago, she had finally agreed. They went on group dates occasionally with Kenzi and her boyfriend, Nate, but Bo didn't want them an official couple.

She liked Dyson; they were great friends, and it always made perfect sense for them to be together. Dyson was Light Fae like her family, and Bo's grandfather had always pushed her and Dyson to be together. Trick had a way of wanting to decide everything for her, even her relationships like she couldn't decide for herself.

It angered Bo thinking about all the people trying to control her life.

But there was something missing between her and Dyson; her body didn't physically react to a look from him, his touches, just thinking about him, not like they did with Lauren. Bo sighed and closed her eyes tightly.

"Hmmm…maybe," she said distractedly. She opened her eyes and noticed Lauren at Nadia's locker down the hall. Bo tried to ignore the sudden twinge of jealousy watching the two together.

Are they a couple now? Bo wondered silently.

Lauren had really grown into her looks and Bo wasn't the only one to notice. Everyone but Lauren seemed to be aware. Gone were the thick black glasses, the oversized clothes, and big overstuffed book bag. All that was replaced with a confident young women with stunning features, flowing dark blonde hair, she dressed in firm fitting clothes now that hugged her body in all the right places. Girls and guys who had never paid Lauren any thought before had begun to take notice of the not-so-subtle changes that had taken place over the last year. Lauren ignored most of it; she didn't seem it even be conscious of the effect she had on others. But Bo caught it all, every glance, every comment. It drove her crazy. She didn't want to feel this way; Lauren was her friend, but any attention Lauren received from others was maddening.

She also had her admirers and was asked out all the time by different people, and it frustrated her that Lauren didn't seem notice. She never reacted to Dyson or anyone else who showed Bo attention. But Bo was a ball of jealous rage at everyone that looked at Lauren.

That's because you're just friends! She mentality scolded herself, why should Lauren care if people like me, why should I care if people like her?

She watched as Nadia placed her hand on Lauren's lower back as they walked; Nadia had a big, pleased grin on her face. Get a room, geez. Bo thought angrily, her stomach in tight knots.

She slammed her locker door a little harder than she meant to, several people turned around to look at her. Bo's cheeks were burning with shame at her reaction.

"Whoa, what's wrong?" Dyson asked with raised eyebrows.

Bo feigned a smile, "Nothing. Sorry, we'll leave on Friday." She lightly kissed his cheek before she walked away. She decided not to wait around to watch Nadia flirt with Lauren some more.

But as she walked away, she stole another glance. Nadia was laughing, too loudly, at something Lauren said, and her hand was still on her back. Bo rolled her eyes skyward and shook her head. Seriously, get a room.

Bo didn't understand what Lauren saw in Nadia, sure she was beautiful and human, but Bo found her to be a bore. She thought Lauren could do much better. Plus had Nadia ever heard of playing hard to get? That girl practically attacked Lauren, whenever they were together, drooling all over her.

XXXX

By the time her fourth class rolled around, Bo was trying to convince herself that what she was feeling for Lauren was only an illusion. That thoughts and feeling that plagued her subconscious were nothing but a trick of her succubus powers.

But why are these thoughts and feelings so specific to Lauren?

"Hey, Bo," Lauren said as she slipped into the chair beside Bo. "You look upset is something wrong?"

Her stomach somersaulted painfully at the sight of the blonde.

Lauren had recently got moved up a grade. They shared some classes, which for Bo was a double edge sword; she got see Lauren more, but it didn't make it easy for her avoid her when she felt frustrated, like today.

Bo gave a small forced chuckle, "Yea...I'm just thinking about that stupid party again."

Lauren's brow furrowed, "Oh, try not to worry so much about that."

Bo nodded.

After a moment, Lauren spoke again, "Nadia wants to take me to prom this year."

This sucks, Bo thought. "That's nice," is what she actually said. "What did you say?" trying not to sound petulant, even if she felt that way. She wanted to be able to hear Lauren talk about her life without having these feelings, but she couldn't. Deflated she glanced over at her friend.

Bo's rational mind knew she had no right to be jealous but…

Before Lauren could answer the bell rang, and class started.

Bo tried to concentrate on the lesson, but couldn't. Her thoughts stuck on how she was going to get over this thing she had for her friend…this crush…this obsession…this what?

She couldn't go to Aife about these feelings because Lauren is human, and her mother would flip out. But she didn't know how she could figure out if her succubus wanted Lauren or if she did. Honestly, both prospects terrified her. She needed to get over this before something happened that she would regret.

She allowed herself to steal glances at Lauren throughout the class. Lauren was meticulously lost in the lesson, taking notes well beyond the scope of what was needed. Bo smiled at this; Lauren was so cute when she got lost in learning.

Bo sighed. She did need to get this under control.

Bo decided to avoid Lauren for the rest of the day.

Kenzi walked up behind Bo, "Where have you been BoBo?"

Bo shrugged.

"Dyson's been looking for you. I think that boy wouldn't be able to function without you, he's like a little lost puppy."

"He'll survive," Bo answered more moodily than she'd intended.

Kenzi grabbed her by the arm and started moving her toward Dyson. "Come on, let's go."

"All right," Bo said letting herself be lead to where Dyson and her friends stood. She desperately needed a distraction.

XXXX

The tension was high in the McCorrigan house. Bo and her family were having dinner with Lauren's family tonight. Aife liked to check in on the Lewis' from time to time. It was a power move, to always remind them of their place.

But all the anxiety rushed out of her when she saw Lauren enter the house. She was so breathtakingly beautiful. She shook her head, trying to break free of those thoughts.

Aife was very businesslike when she was interacting with the Lewis siblings. She spoke to them just like she did the house staff. Cold. Direct.

They all sat awkwardly around the table eating. There were bursts of small talk here and there but mostly it was just tensely quiet.

Bo was bored. She sat next to Lauren and started bouncing her fist on her knee. It had taken Bo several times before Lauren realized she was challenging her to a game of thumb war. She played along while Trick began talking to Nick about the lab.

Bo glanced over at Nick, whose head was down like a child who was being punished, listening to Trick's oh so helpful advice. Bo thought he looked angry, his jaw clenched, but she shrugged it off deciding she probably looked the same whenever Trick lectured her.

Every time Bo would win, she would just barely smirk and Lauren would let a short breath, Lauren Lewis hated to lose. After a few times, Aife seemed to pick up on what was going on and gave Bo a stern look.

"Ysabeau, help me with the dessert." She ordered.

Bo gave Lauren's knee a small squeeze and got up.

"Keep your hands off our guests." Aife sneered at Bo when they reached the kitchen. "Take these." She shoved some plates into Bo's hands and pointed toward the kitchen door.

Bo's mood was off when she returned to the table. And they didn't continue their game.

Aife kept her eyes on Bo as if daring her to do something, but Bo ignored her and just ate her pie, without saying a word.

Trick and Nick excused themselves to talk over Fae business.

"So Lauren, what are your plans after high school?" Aife asked Lauren, but her eyes were still narrowed on Bo.

"Oh." Bo noticed that her face lit up. "I plan on becoming a doctor."

"Like your brother?"

Lauren smiled politely. "Not exactly. I'm more interested in patient care, not just research."

"Are there medical schools around here?"

"I'm not sure. My dream is to go to Yale and…"

"How would that work?"

Bo's body stiffened, and her palms began to sweat. She knew where this was headed. Her mother was going to remind Lauren of her place, to punish Bo.

"Sorry?"

"Do you think Trick or the other Light Fae leaders would allow you to move so far away?"

Bo felt how uncomfortable Lauren was becoming, but she didn't look at her, couldn't look at her. She just stared forward.

"I guess I haven't thought about that," Lauren answered honestly.

"It's fine, dear. I'm sure something could be worked out."

Hot anger flashed through Bo; she didn't like the sound of that. Everything with the Fae comes with a price.

Bo reached out, captured Lauren's hand in hers. She laced her fingers casually through hers and gave a tight reassuring squeeze.

XXXX

The lake house was crowded, they seemed to be coming and going in waves. The house belonged to Dyson's parents, Bo didn't recognize all of the people there, but she assumed there were a lot of friends of friends tagging along.

Bo walked out of the bathroom after changing into her swimsuit, which she wore under a black tank top and shorts. She happened to walk up just in time to hear Dyson telling a group of friends about how he had "rescued" Bo when she had gotten a flat tire weeks earlier.

"Hero? I wouldn't say that…but" Dyson said, puffing up his chest as he talked.

Bo rolled her eyes, turning to Kenzi "Can you believe this? He acts like I was a damsel or something."

Kenzi laughed, she always found Dyson's boosting enjoyable.

It annoyed Bo that Dyson was exaggerating the story; truly it was no big deal. "It was only a flat tire. I didn't know how to change one at the time."

Kenzi reached out and shoved Dyson. "Will you knock it off? You're embarrassing BoBo."

Dyson laughed smugly, "Sorry just letting everyone know that I take care of my girl." He wrapped his arm around Bo's shoulder.

She shrugged him off, "I'm not your girl." She said as she walked out of the house.

Dyson tried calling her back, but she was already gone, lost in her thoughts.

She stepped into the sun and sighed, she hated it when Dyson tried to act like they were a couple, sure they went out on group dates sometimes but it was nothing official.

She made her way through the crowd on the lawn looking for a free spot to lie in the sun. She wanted to relax. But of course not, Lauren and Nadia had spotted her and gestured for her to come over to them.

She sighed deeply; she was trying to avoid the pair.

Lauren scooted over when Bo walked over, making room for her on the beach towel. "Hey stranger, where have you been?" Lauren asked.

Bo sat down next to her friend, who looked like perfection personified in her bright white bikini, her body well toned and tan. Her stomach dropped at the sight; she swallowed hard, "Ha, I've been around." She paused turning to Nadia. "Hi, Nadia how are you." She hoped her voice sounded sweet and not annoyed like she felt.

"I'm great, just enjoying the view," Nadia answered, as she looked Lauren up and down, who was completely unaware of the ogling. Bo rolled her eyes internally.

"Yeah, the weather's great and the lake looks awesome." She said pretending that Nadia was referring to that and not her friend's half naked body.

Bo couldn't help it she just didn't like Nadia.

Lauren leaned back on her elbows, looking out at the lake. "Are you going out on the water today, Bo?"

Bo followed Lauren's gaze and saw a Wave Runner sitting at the dock. Bo loved riding them; it was exhilarating speeding through the water on one.

"Maybe later."

"Are you sure?" Lauren asked. "I was about to take a turn and Nadia said no."

Nadia looked back and forth between them, suddenly.

"Sure, I'll go with you." Nadia blurted out before Bo could say anything.

"Great," Lauren said, turning to Bo. "We'll be right back."

Nadia and Lauren left Bo sitting on the towel, looking disappointed, and walked up toward the dock.

Bo watched as Lauren slipped a life jacket on over her barely-there bikini. She tried looking around for a distraction from the pair but her attention was brought back to them when she heard Nadia's over-the-top cackle.

Nadia was practically dancing excitedly waiting for Lauren to climb onto the seat. Grinning widely, she grabbed Lauren tightly around the waist. And they were off.

Bo bit the inside of her cheek trying to ignore the sudden shot of bitterness as she watched Nadia wrapping her arms around Lauren.

"Wowza, Nadia's got her hands all over your girl, Bo. Why don't you do something?" Kenzi said, joining Bo on the towel.

"Whatever…she's not my girl."

"Riiiggggttt," Kenzi replied, the word dragged out skeptically.

"Really. I have no reason to care…since we're just friends."

Kenzi didn't appear to be clueless about her feelings, unlike Lauren, as she hoped she was.

Kenzi reached over and patted Bo's leg in a comforting gesture. "Ok. Babe. Ok."

Bo turned away, so she didn't have to see the two of them together. She slipped her sunglasses over her eyes and eased herself down on the towel, enjoying the warmth of the sun on her face.

Bo closed her eyes, listening to the sounds of music and people chatting around her until she could no longer fight the exhaustion. Soon she drifted away to sleep.

XXXX

Bo was pulled from the haze of sleep by loud shouting and commotion. She opened one eye and squinted to see what was happening. Dyson and few of his friends were wrestling on the lawn, a few feet away. As she watched, she felt something wet start tickling her arm. She brushed it off, but the small drops continued hitting her moving slowly up and down her arm.

She turned her head to see what it was. Lauren stood above her dripping wet and grinning, "Hey there," Lauren said. "I was starting to think you'd never wake up." She teased.

Bo sat up and watched as Lauren grabbed a towel and began drying off her wet body, Bo swallowed hard at the sight. "How long was I out?"

"Like a half an hour or so." Lauren took a seat next to Bo. "I wanted to see if you wanted to eat with me at the bonfire tonight?"

"What about your girlfriend?" Bo wanted to take that back as soon as she had said it. She was humiliated by how petty and jealous it sounded. "I just thought you'd be eating with Nadia or something." She added quickly trying to sound as casual as possible.

Lauren ignored Bo's comment. "She has to work, so she's driving home early. Plus I wanted to spend some time with you before we leave, I haven't seen much of you lately."

Bo felt guilty hearing that. She had been avoiding Lauren after the awkward dinner at her house. She was trying to figure out her feelings and being around Lauren seemed to cloud her mind too much, she wasn't able to think clearly enough to figure things out.

"Sorry, family stuff you know."

"It's fine really." Lauren smiled. "But I understand if you already were eating with Dyson something…"

"I think he'll be too busy showing off in front of all his guests to notice."

"Great," Lauren said, her face brightened. "I'm going to change then." She stood up, "See you soon." She said as she walked away.

XXXX

They sat alone, away from the group, overlooking the lake, under the stars. Bo mused about how cliché and romantic it all seemed. If only…

"Sorry about what happened at my house that night."

Bo tried to avoid that conversation, but she thought she should say something. They seemed to talk about everything except Lauren's family and her situation.

"Don't worry about it. It's not your fault."

Bo knew Lauren was trying to casually brush off the topic, but she decided to push a little.

"I think Trick will agree to let you go…really he has no reason not to."

Lauren stiffened and was silent.

"I mean-"

"Bo you don't know anything about what you're talking about, and it's really none of your business anyways."

"Lauren, I'm sorry…"

"Forget it, Bo." She said, turning away.

Bo sat quietly. She should not have tried pushing Lauren to talk about her situation.

Lauren slowly reached out and gripped Bo's hand. "God. I'm sorry. It's just…"

"I'm fine, Lauren. Don't worry."

"Really? You're fine? Because I'm not. I'm not fine at all." Lauren got up and ran her fingers through her hair. "You didn't do anything. I shouldn't have talked to you like that."

Bo picked fuzz off her jeans. Bo wished now, more than ever, that she could read Lauren's mind.

"I'm a jerk, Bo. You can say it." Lauren glanced down, ashamed, she nudged Bo with her foot.

"Well, you said it…not me." Bo joked.

Bo stood up so that she was facing Lauren and hugged her tightly. She whispered softly in her ear. "There's nothing you can't talk to me about. I'm here always."

"I know." She paused. "Maybe I'm just broken." She paused again and took a deep breath. "Sometimes I feel like I'm being pulled apart, that I'll just fade away."

Bo swallowed hard and listened, holding her tight.

"It terrifies me to think that my future is controlled by others." Lauren pulled away from Bo and looked her in the eyes. "That I might not get to live my dream of becoming a doctor."

"I won't let that happen, Lauren. I won't let my grandfather or the Fae stop you from living your dream."

As Bo said those words, she knew it was true, that she would never give up.

They looked at each other, an silent exchange passing between them.

Bo gave Lauren a half-smile, and she noticed Lauren staring at her lips.

It was now or never.

Bo brushed a stray hair off Lauren's face and laced their fingers together.

And then she kissed her. Gently. Delicately. It was quick, the barest of touches at first, but then it grew into something more, it was sweet but mixed with so much longing.