Chapter 15

Where Do We Draw The Line

Sariel and Elliott arrived in Zuzu City by one. Traffic had been light, which was a relief. They'd arrived at the Peachtree by one thirty.

Sariel expertly pulled to a stop and popped the kickstand down. As Elliott climbed off the back of Valentine, she killed the ignition and stood. Her legs were a bit jelly-like from the constant vibrations of the engine.

The weather in Zuzu was nicer than it had been in Pelican Town and Sariel found herself nearly sweating beneath her warm leather jacket. She tucked the motorcycle's key into her jeans pocket and marched towards the elevator in the Parking Garage.

The heavy steel doors slid open, revealing a luxuriously decorated interior. The soft peach and coral tones of the design were beautiful. Sariel quickly pressed the button for the first floor and sat back while the elevator carried them upwards.

The elevator softly chimed and the large doors slid open revealing the main lobby for the Peachtree. Sariel quickly darted her gaze around the expansive room as she searched for her mother. Pleased to not see her, Sariel threaded her fingers through Elliott's and lead the two down a hallway to one of the many staircases in the hotel.

She bounded up the steps two at a time and rather quickly made her way to the 6th floor. Sheer determination and perseverance were displayed on her face as she expertly navigated the corridors. As they reached room 618, Sariel smiled brightly when she heard the harmonious mixture of voices from inside the room.

She gently knocked on the door and waited patiently for it to open. She rolled her eyes at the hushed whispers on the other side of the door. The loud groan from Leon as Sariel could only assume Lilly smacked him made her giggle.

"Leon, aperire ianua. Est Rinn." Sariel called out softly.
(Leon, open the door. It's Rinn.)

"Quod sic mulier. Sicut momento." Leon replied warmly.
(Yes, ma'am. Just a moment.)

"Gratias tibi." Sariel countered.
(Thank you.)

The heavy wooden door swung open revealing Leon on the other side. His blonde hair had been styled out of his face and his eyes were bright blue. The Queen t-shirt he was wearing made Sariel smile.

"Good afternoon, Crane." Leon stated kindly.

"Good afternoon, Dragon." Sariel spoke gently.

"Leon, get your non-existent ass out of the way so I can say hi to Rinn!" Lilly called out softly.

"Yes, Gracie. Come on in, guys." Leon chuckled as he spoke.

Lilly vaulted off the bed she was sitting on and nearly tackled Sariel when she wrapped her arms around the smaller girl tightly. Her bright green eyes sparkled when she smiled. Sariel smiled brightly at her friend and gently unwound herself from Lilly's embrace.

"Tell us everything. Are you two okay?" Lilly asked rapidly.

"Lil, we're fine. Everything's fine, right Ellie?" Sariel asked quietly.

"No. Everything is far better than fine. Everything is excellent between us." Elliott answered.

Lilly's expression shifted and she lunged towards Elliott. Sariel quickly blocked her attempt and firmly planted her feet on the ground, effectively preventing Lilly from moving. Sariel grunted with the strained effort of keeping Lilly's weight in check.

"I promise I'm not gonna hurt him. How could you leave Rinn like that? You broke her heart!" Lilly roared.

"Lillyandra Grace Granger-Quinn, stop it." Sariel growled out loudly.

Lilly froze as her name rang out in the air. Her green gaze went wide and her body relaxed as she realized she'd hurt her friend. She took a few steps away from Sariel and stared at the couple.

"I will never forgive myself for assuming the worst in that single, finite moment in time. There are not enough words in my vocabulary to properly express the regret and agony I feel over how I handled that situation. All I can do is beg Sariel for forgiveness. That is her gift to give, not mine to demand." Elliott stated solemnly.

"Elliott Remington McCoy, you have nothing to apologize for. I'm sure I'd have reacted the same way if the situation was reversed. I love you, nothing will ever change that. People fight, mistakes are made, feelings are hurt. What matters is you accepted my apology and we've moved forward. Please don't beat yourself up over this. What happened after last night was well worth the pain." Sariel wrapped her arm around his waist as she spoke.

"Did you fuck my sister?" Leon yelled.

"So vulgar, but yes." Elliott admitted.

"Why?" Leon asked painfully.

"Because I asked him to, Leon." Sariel stated boldly.

"Buh?" Leon sputtered.

"He didn't take advantage of me, nor my emotional situation. I'm twenty-four for fuck's sake, I think I can make that decision on my own, too." Sariel huffed out.

"I'm going to ask one more question and then we're all dropping this conversation." Leon stated calmly.

"Feel free to ask either of us anything you want." Elliott spoke.

"Did you respect her and treat her with respect?" Leon asked directly.

"I did, and I always will." Elliott stated proudly.

"Are we done discussing my sex life? I'm starving and would like something to eat." Sariel stated.

"Yes, Rinn. Sorry, we're all so protective of you." Lilly stammered.

"Don't apologize for that. You guys are my family. I love you all so much." Sariel stated misty-eyed.

Audrey and Lilly wrapped her gently in their arms and hugged her. Leon and Chris slid around their sides and wrapped Sariel and Elliott in their powerful arms. The four friends quite happily hugged the daylights out of their friend and her lover.

"Too many people. Can't… breathe." Sariel choked out.

Chris let go and pulled Sariel free from the group hug. The towering brunette easily lifted Sariel's scant one hundred and ten-pound frame and sat her down beside him. He gently patted Sariel on her back and smiled at her.

"Thank you." Sariel panted.

"Let go of my boyfriend, guys." Sariel commanded softly.

Everyone obeyed and sheepishly smiled at each other. Elliott smoothed the fabric of his clothing and turned towards Sariel. His soft seafoam green eyes were darker than their usual bright color.

"Lunch would be wonderful. I have a meeting later I must attend, but after that are you ready to go home, my love?" Elliott asked warmly.

"I am. I'm very appreciative of Linus but I don't want to overwork him." Sariel answered.

"Shall we?" Elliott asked as he offered his hand to Sariel.

"We shall. Lilly and Audrey leave tonight for their honeymoon. Chris, are you flying back tonight?" Sariel asked.

"No. Uh… We've been meaning to talk to you about that." Chris stammered.

"We're moving." Leon stated.

"Oh. Where to?" Sariel asked dejectedly.

"Close-ish. It's a bit of a drive from here. Not too bad if you like mountains. We think Lia would love the beach there too." Chris answered.

"I'm pretty sure you're familiar with it." Leon stated matter-of-factly.

"Are you… saying what I think you're inferring, Leon?" Sariel asked.

"I am. My withdrawal from the military was granted. I'm a free man once again. We're relocating somewhere close to family." Leon answered.

"Had a lovely video conference with a woman named Robin. She drew up some house plans and we settled on a design we like. House should be ready in a few weeks." Chris stated.

"We're moving to Pelican Town. We've got enough savings that neither of us has to work if we don't want to, I've been offered a tenured position at the University here as a Linguistics teacher. They're willing to let me work remotely, so I don't have to travel unless I want to." Leon spoke gently.

"Wait, you're the couple the town's been buzzing about? I'm gonna punch Lewis in his face when I get back." Sariel glared as she made her statement.

"Lia, please don't. I very much enjoy having a girlfriend that isn't spending a prolonged period of time in jail for assaulting an elected official." Elliott chided.

"Rinn, what's wrong?" Chris inquired.

"The whole town has been buzzing with talk of the community's first gay couple is moving in." Sariel answered pitifully.

"Eh, let 'em talk. Hell, when Red and Lilly get back we can give 'em a hell of a hello." Leon laughed warmly.

"Ooh yeah. We can put on a show! Elliott, I might need your permission to kiss your girlfriend, though." Lilly cheerfully spoke.

"No. No one is kissing me unless it's Elliott." Sariel objected.

"Ah, my pride!" Leon exclaimed while clutching his chest.

"Oh, if Leon dies, that'll free me up to be able to kiss Rinn though." Chris triumphantly stated.

"Okay, only Elliott and Chris can kiss me." Sariel playfully teased.

"Traitorous bastard." Leon glowered at his husband as he spoke.

"You know you love me, Leon. You're the only man in my heart." Chris lovingly stated.

Chris pulled the blond to him and kissed him softly. He smiled when Leon stopped bristling at his touch and relaxed. He was fiercely proud of his husband and cherished every moment they shared.

"Okay, while that schmooze fest continues, I'm going downstairs to eat." Sariel called out.

She threaded her fingers with Elliott's and marched out the door. The pair quickly made their way to one of the expansive elevators and descended to the first floor. As the couple made their way towards The Grove, Evynne cornered them.

"Sariel, where do you think you're going?" Evynne asked sharply.

"Uh, that way. Towards food. Delicious, glorious food." Sariel answered.

"Where have you been?" Evynne stressed the question.

"My room, with Lilly, Audrey, Chris, Leon, and Elliott." Sariel admitted.

"You weren't there this morning when I stopped by to check on you. Nor were you in Elliott or Leon's rooms. But imagine my surprise when your father called me and said your motorcycle was missing and your dress was at our house." Evynne replied.

"Mom, come have lunch and I'll explain, please?" Sariel asked softly.

Evynne sighed and cast a critical gaze towards her daughter. She'd gone through hell and come out stronger, yet remarkable still the same. She was always bright, cheerful, bubbly and happy.

"Alright." Evynne answered.

She cautiously joined the couple and lead them into a private booth in The Grove. The three ordered drinks and their meals and Sariel fidgeted a bit in her seat. Evynne glanced between the two and could tell Elliott was doing his best to calm Sariel's nerves.

"After you warned me Lucian was at the wedding, I left to go to the bathroom. I should have taken an escort, I know. I didn't and Lucian was waiting for me. He was hiding in the east supply closet. When I walked past the door, he grabbed me and pulled me inside. He was already drunk, which is impressive on its own. He kissed me, forcefully, I might add. I could tell he wasn't going to stop there and I managed to throw the door open and we fell into the hallway.

"Elliott found me pressed against the wall with Lucian on top of me, kissing me as passionately as he could. I was trying to fight him off and I couldn't. When I finally managed to overpower him, Elliott had seen everything and stormed away from me. I tried to chase him down and explain, but he was wounded, and he left. He caught a late train back to the valley.

"I asked Leon to take me to the house, so I could follow the love of my life. I couldn't let things end between us that way, Mom. I'm in love with Elliott and if I've learned anything in my twenty-four years on this earth, love is worth fighting for. If you aren't willing to fight for love, you aren't worth loving.

"I took Valentine and raced as fast as I could back home, to fix things. I did fix them. No, we fixed them. I spent the night with Elliott, in every sense of the word. When we woke up this morning, we went to the farmhouse, got cleaned up and changed and drove here." Sariel lectured.

"Were you safe?" Evynne asked.

"Yes, ma'am. I've been on an IUD for a year now." Sariel answered.

"Baby, are you happy?" Evynne shifted her stance and softened towards her daughter as she asked her question.

"Completely. I never thought I'd find someone, Mom. Ellie is like like Dad, in a way. We both had to go through hell to find our partners, but once we found them-"

"They're worth fighting for completely." Evynne finished Sariel's statement.

"Evynne, I love your daughter very much. I regret how I handled last night, as I know it caused Sariel a great deal of pain. I am also sorry we had Lilly and Audrey deceive you. That was never my intentions, nor will that ever be my intention." Elliott affirmed.

"Elliott, don't worry about it. Lilly and Audrey are essentially two grown daughters I've inherited. Leon legally changed his name from Kennedy to Prince, my maiden name, after his parents disowned him. That's what I do. I inherit and adopt Sariel's friends as my own children. The same holds true for you, as it holds for them. If you're ever hurt, or lost, or need time to breathe, you are welcome at my house or the hotel. I would actually prefer you reach out and take that offer so that someone can keep track of you, and help you." Evynne spoke lovingly.

"Thank you, Evynne." Elliott replied politely.

"Wrenbird!" Peter called out.

The tall man, with hair the exact shade of Sariel's was walking towards them. His stormy blue eyes drew into the same piercing, raptor-like gaze Sariel bore when she was angry. The glasses on the bridge of his nose complimented him nicely.

"Hi, Daddy!" Sariel squealed as she jumped up from the table and hugged her father.

Peter wrapped his arms around Sariel gently and returned her hug. He cast a knowing gaze towards Evynne and the two held a silent conversation. He loosed Sariel from his grasp and turned towards Evynne. He kissed her on the forehead and threaded his fingers with hers as he sat next to her.

"Everything all squared away?" Peter asked calmly.

Evynne and Sariel nodded while Elliott shook his head. His long auburn braid slipped over his shoulder and he flicked his head, throwing it backward slightly. He found himself suddenly nervous and focused on Sariel.

"Now that you're here, Mr. Shade-"

"Please, you're practically family, call me Peter." Peter interrupted.

"Thank you. Now that you're here, Peter, I have a question I'd like to ask you and Evynne." Elliott stated boldly.

"How can we help, Elliott?" Peter replied.

"You see, I am finding myself at a crossroads. I know what I would like my future to entail. I've secured a deal with a publisher here in Zuzu for a series of Blue Tower books. The deal allows me to remain in Pelican Town and gives me a comfortable deadline to finish the books by. That said, if you were to take all of that away, I know that there's only one certainty I could not live without." Elliott said calmly.

"And that is?" Evynne asked.

"Your daughter. I am unconditionally in love with your daughter. I love Sariel with everything I am and everything I could hope to be. If everything in my life faded and disappeared tomorrow and I was left with the choice of choosing between what I have, or Sariel, I'd choose her, without hesitation. I humbly ask for your blessing to ask Sariel to marry me." Elliott replied.

Evynne looked towards Sariel who was softly crying. She stood from her chair and motioned for Sariel to follow her. As she passed Peter she whispered something to him so quiet, only he heard her.

As mother and daughter made their way from the restaurant, Evynne lead Sariel to her office. She unlocked the door and stepped out of the way. She sat in her spacious office chair and motioned for Sariel to shut the door behind her.

Sariel obliged and sat in one of the small blue chairs across from her mother's desk. She laughed when she heard the custom answer tone on Lilly's phone playing through the speakerphone. A minute ticked by before Lilly answered.

"Hello, Evynne!" Lilly exclaimed.

"Hello, Lilly. I trust everyone is with you still?" Evynne asked.

"Yes, ma'am. Let me put the phone on speaker, sec. Okay, good." Lilly answered.

"He asked." Evynne stated.

"And we're all still in agreement?" Chris asked.

The cacophony of yesses and hell yesses echoed in the office. Sariel looked confused as she glanced at the phone and her mother repeatedly. She smiled brightly when she saw the equally radiant smile on her mother's face.

"As are her father and I." Evynne stated.

"I'm lost… What are we agreeing on?" Sariel asked.

"We all agree that Elliott has our blessing to ask you to marry him." Leon answered.

"Bu… wha… huh?" Sariel stammered.

"Darling, your father and I have been talking with your friends for the last nine months. We all agree Elliott is a fine young man, and you deserve happiness with him. If he wants to ask for your hand in marriage, he has our blessing. All of our blessings. We unanimously decided." Evynne calmly stated.

"Ohmigod. Ohmigod. Ohmigod." Sariel huffed out.

"Shh, Rinn, take a deep breath. It's okay. Do you not want to marry him?" Chris asked concerned.

"Yes. No. Ohgod. Can't breathe." Sariel choked out.

"Baby, if you can say you can't breathe, you can breathe. Shhh, it's okay. Are you in Evynne's office?" Leon asked warmly.

"Yes, we are, Leon." Evynne answered.

The line went quiet for a few moments. Sariel rocked back and forth slightly as she pressed a hand to the tightness in her chest. Tears streamed down her porcelain cheeks.

A soft rapping on the door drew their attention. Leon entered and immediately descended on his surrogate sister. He pulled her from the chair onto the floor and wrapped his body protectively around her. He rocked her and stroked her back, hoping to calm her down.

"I'm so sorry, Rinn. We should have told you this differently. I think we all forgot about your panic attacks. You haven't had one since you started dating Elliott." Leon sadly admitted.

"Wa… ter." Sariel painfully forced the words out.

Evynne was by her side in an instant. She pressed a cold bottle of water to her daughter's hands and helped her take a sip of the liquid. She lovingly stroked her arms and hoped she could calm down.

"Scott, send someone to the restaurant. Get Elliott, tell him to come here. Rinn needs him. She's having a panic attack." Leon called out.

"I'll get him myself. Hold on Sariel." Chris replied.

Minutes painfully ticked by as Leon and Evynne sat quietly with Sariel. Leon could feel the tightness in her back as her body fought the situation. He cradled Rinn to him and softly sang to her.

Elliott and Chris charged into the office. Elliott dropped to his knees beside Sariel and gently reached out to her. She responded by reaching out for him and collapsing on his chest. He gently positioned himself on the floor and laid down, bringing Sariel with him. He cradled the back of her head with his right hand and felt Sariel grab his left hand.

"Darling, I love you. I'll be here for you when you're ready to let me in. What you're feeling is terrifying, but it isn't dangerous. Tell me what you need now." Elliott calmly and slowly spoke.

"You. I need you." Sariel whimpered.

"I'm here. You can get through this, love. Focus on my heartbeat." Elliott replied.

"Okay." Sariel weakly stated.

Elliott began to hum the notes to Greensleeves. He felt Sariel relax against him as he continued humming. As he finished one song, he'd immediately start another.

"I love you." Sariel stated.

"And I you, darling." Elliott re-affirmed.

Sariel rolled off Elliott and slowly crawled to her feet. She guzzled the bottle of water down and took a deep breath. She turned and helped Elliott stand and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you, Ellie." Sariel whispered.

"Would you like to talk about what happened?" Elliott asked.

"I… Lucian. I got scared and thought it was going to happen all over again. I know you'd never treat me badly, you promised that on our first date." Sariel painfully admitted.

"Darling, that's alright." Elliott soothed her as he spoke.

"Sorry, we overwhelmed you, Rinn." Chris stated sadly.

"It's okay. I'm okay. I'm so grateful I have all of you in my life. To answer your question, Chris, I do. Very much so." Sariel smiled.

Elliott took Sariel by the hand and lead her back to his room. The two collapsed on the spacious King size bed and cuddled with one another as the hours ticked by. Eventually, Sariel finally felt confident enough she could function.

She left Elliott to pack his luggage for the week they'd been visiting. She made her way to the room she had shared with Lilly and packed her own luggage. As she was packing someone knocked on the door.

"It's open, come in." Sariel called out.

"Hello, Lia." Lucian purred.