Author's note: Sorry for the lateness in updates. I am having to travel a bunch for work for the next month or so, so updates maybe a little longer in between than I did at the beginning. I hope you enjoy this one, I am wanting to start to wrap this up in a few chapters so I can begin the sequel (which I have already got planned out mostly. Hope you enjoy this update, and as usual please feel free to send feedback/reviews.
_xxxx_
It was mid-morning when Bo finally woke up from her restful sleep, still not fully awake she reached over to where Lauren laid but only found an empty space. Rubbing her eyes to get the sleep fully out of them she saw the clock by her bed and saw how late in the morning it actually was. Bo's smile got bigger as she remembered the events of last night and the taste of finally feeding fully on Lauren, she was completely full of chi still. The constant hunger she felt was gone, deciding to get up and see where everyone was she stepped into the bathroom to have a shower. Bo was remembering bits and pieces of some of the things that had been said, when she heard Kenzi knock on the bathroom door before opening and sticking her head into the room.
"Bo-bo, your girl wanted me to tell you she had to go to the compound this morning. She had some patients that needed to be looked at, and she didn't want to wake you." Kenzi related her conversation with Lauren this morning when she had come down Bo's room. "And that she would call you later, when she was free."
"Thanks, Kenz. Let me finish here and we will go get some breakfast, I am starving for some food right now." Bo answered, now knowing where her girlfriend had gone off to. Bo was aware that she had not asked Lauren what she planned on doing since she was now a free woman from the Light Fae. She did not want to pressure her into thinking of doing something she did not want to do already. As she heard Kenzi close the door and head back downstairs she dried off and got dressed. As she made her way downstairs she saw that Gaia was sitting on the couch with Kenzi.
"Hey you, how are doing this morning?" Bo asked the Ancient Fae. "Everything alright?"
"Yes, childe, I am alright. I just came by to see Lauren, but Kenzi here says she has gone into work." Gaia answered, a little disappointment in her voice at not seeing her daughter. "I guess I have just missed so much in my daughter's life that I was hoping to learn everything I can about her."
"Well you are free to join us for breakfast. And I can tell you what we know about her, although you have to promise not to go all ballistic at some of the stuff." Bo stated, clearly wanting to help the Ancient out she knew what it was like to not know your family.
"Yeah G, you should totally come with us. We will give you the down-low on all things Hotpants." Kenzi agreed about inviting Gaia.
"Well if you don't mind I would like that very much. There is so much I don't know about her that I feel I should know. She seems so distant with people, or with me I am not sure."
"Its not you, trust me. Hotpants is like that with everyone, well maybe except for Bo, but then again Bo and her are all about the bow chica wow wow."
"KENZI!" Bo spat out, actually blushing at her friends response. "I am sure Gaia does not want to know that particular thing." Turning to face the Ancient her cheeks still red from embarrassment. "You will have to excuse Kenzi, she suffers from 'foot in mouth' disease sometimes which usually ends in 'pain in the ass syndrome'. She is just lucky I love her like a little sister." Bo smiled at her best friend, who she would not want to change for anything.
Laughing at the two friends, Gaia could only smile at the two. "It is okay, although there are a few things I would prefer not knowing about my daughter."
As the three got up to leave, joking and having a pleasant conversation about trival things. Bo felt relaxed and was in a very good mood. She never realized until now just how happy the blonde doctor brought to her, and how much she loved her. Everything about her made her love her more and that she would do anything for her. There were things that still needed to be discussed, but for now it was all good. As she turned to lock the door, a very Lauren thing that Bo had picked up on, she had a sudden flashblack from the previous night. 'I own ...the ...building though...' Lauren had said in her sleep. Was she joking or did she actually own this building, but surely she didn't after all Bo had seen Lauren's apartment she had very little of her own.
"Yo Bo, whats the hold up. You get brain-fried from all that sucky-face last night?" Kenzi shouted to her bestie that was still standing at the door with a dumbfounded look on her. "Yo Bo-bo what wrong?"
"Nothing just something that Lauren said last night that I am not sure is possible." Bo answered as she moved towards the car.
"OMG did you get her knocked up?" Kenzi blurted out, and then remembering who else was here. "I mean, did she go all dragon form on your ass last nite?"
"Jesus, Kenzi where do you come up with this shit. No I did not get her pregant, I don't even know if that is possible. And no she did not go all dragon on me either. She mumbled something about owning the building, and I could not tell if she was joking or serious. I mean where would she even get that kind of money anyway, I don't think slavery pays well these days."
"Oh...you don't know. I thought you would know." Kenzi tried to answer, not sure how to say this.
"What?" Bo could clearly see that Kenzi wanted to say something and if it was about Lauren that every instinct she had went on full alert. "If you know something tell me, Kenzi."
Seeing Bo as she had stopped to get into the car, Kenzi looked away for a moment trying to figure out how to say this. But seeing that they would not be going anywhere until she said what was on her mind. "Well you see Bo, Laurenislikeamultmillionaire." Kenzi blurted it all out in one long unintelligible sentence.
"What the hell did you say? I did not understand a word of it." Bo replied looking at Kenzi with that look that meant business.
"I said Lauren is like a multi-millionaire because her adopted family is like super rich and she is the sole heir to her parents estate. So how about those pancakes." As Kenzi ducked into the car quickly, before Bo could say anything.
For her part, Bo was shocked. How the hell did she not know that her girlfriend was rich, hell why did Lauren never say anything to her about it. She needed to talk to Lauren about this keeping secrets thing that she was fond of doing. Bo would not get angry though, she didn't exactly tell all her secrets to Lauren yet. But wow, she was dating her landlord that was weird. And of course being a succubus, she immediately had thoughts of cheesy porn plots involving non-payments of a montary nature. Yes she may have some fun with this new information, as a wide smile appeared on her face as she got in the car. "Pancakes it is then."
_xx_
Lauren had entered the lab this morning at her usual time of 7 a.m., she had wanted to stay in bed with Bo, but she was a professional first and she had patients to see. As she got everything organized for her staff, she looked up to see a very short woman about five foot tall. The woman looked like she was in her early fifties with just a hint of grey in her hair. Lauren had never met this woman and she quickly looked at her schedule to make sure that she had not gotten a new patient but did not see anything listed. Lauren looked up and saw that the woman had taken two steps into the room, but had stopped and was just watching the doctor. Lauren knew that she should be worried that an unannounced fae was in her lab, but she did not panic she did not know what this woman was capable of.
"Are you Dr. Lauren Lewis?" the woman finally spoke a small smile appearing on her face. "I am sorry if startled you."
When she heard the woman speak, Lauren relaxed a little afterall if the woman was going to harm her then she was pretty sure she would not have apologized for startling her. Taking a few seconds to gather her focus, she looked at he woman and answered. "Yes I am Dr. Lewis. Are you feeling unwell?" As her professional mode came into place, she was a doctor after all.
"No, I am not feeling unwell. Just the opposite actually, I just wanted to find you. But I see you are busy and so we will see each other again Dr Lauren Lewis." And before the doctor could say or do anything the short woman had turned and left the room. Lauren quickly moved to the door to stop the woman, but saw no one in the corner except the Ogre guard that was always postioned there.
"Did you see where that woman went?" Lauren asked the guard.
"What woman? Was there another breech?" the Ogre instantly going alert. He had failed to stop the last intruders in the building that had resulted in the Ash's compound being bombed.
"Sorry, I must have just saw shadows, nervous being back after the exposion and stuff I guess." Clearly the Ogre had not seen anything, maybe she had only seen an illusion. She had felt nervous about coming today, with the reminders all around her of the recent trouble. "I am sorry I panicked, just nerves I guess."
"No worries, Doc. I will have a security team do a walk around though just in case." As she watched the Ogre speak into the small communication device that he had in the cuff of his suit.
Lauren walked back into her lab and saw her staff beginning to arrive. And all thoughts of the mysterious woman drifted to the back of her mind, as the doctor's day started with her first patient coming in. "Elder Alyss, good morning. How are you feeling this morning?" Lauren addressed the Light Fae Elder who was Hale's grandmother. "Lets take a look at the burn on your arm and get it fixed up."
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Trick was restocking his liquor cabinet when he heard one of the stools being scooted out behind him. Placing the last bottle in the cabinet he turned to see his daughter watching him, the look on her face was one of uncertainity.
"How are you feeling this morning, sunshine?" Trick started, using his nickname for her to try and start the morning in a friendly manner. "Is there anything you would like to drink or eat, that I can get for you?"
"No I am good, I just wanted to talk to you. Tell me about my daughter, please. I have so much to make up for but I don't know where to start." The look of defeat on her face, saddened Trick. He knew that she was not the only one to make things up to their children, and he wanted to do that himself with his own daughter. "Well let me tell you about her, but the best way to get to know her is just to listen to her. Even if you don't agree with some of the things she does, be there for her and just listen. It is a lesson that even I am having to learn myself."
"Thank you for watching out for her all these years. I know that you having been watching her for a long time now."
"It was the least I could do, and you never have to thank me for that. I want you to know that what I did to you, has weighed on me since that day. I should not have done what I did, and I can never make that up to you, my sunshine. If I could go back, I would try and would do something different."
"No, you did what you had to for all the Fae. I realized along time ago once my anger and hatred lessened that I had left you no choice in it. My way would have continued a war that was already destroying everything you had built. I was not helping you, trying to get the peace started. There was a lot of things that both me and you could have done differently, but that is in the past. I don't want to dwell on the past, I want to focus on the future and trying to get back my self and my family."
"I hope you will let me focus on that future with you. I too would like to get my family back as well. I have missed the feel of family around, and I look forward to getting that back now. Things are coming together, I think and it will be good to have family around to share and support anything that comes." Trick replied, he had been feeling that longing for his family back ever since Bo had arrived. He missed his daughter very much and was had a hole in heart from where he had to have sacrifice his own to save his people. But now he had her back and his granddaughter, and that pain had lessened.
"So tell me about this woman that has my daughter in a swirl. I saw her last night and I felt like I was being pulled to her by her chi. What kind of a Fae is that, I have never met anything like it and I have met almost all types of Fae." Aife asked, still not sure why the blonde doctor's chi had pulled so strongly to her. She would have to be careful around the doctor, especially if she was her daughter's claim.
"Now that is a complicated thing, and a long story. Let me get us some tea, and I will try and explain what I can about your daughter's girlfriend." Trick smiled, knowing that this was going to be a long story.
_xx_
The Ash had been reading reports all morning, and dealing with the Light Fae business as usual. He had already gotten information that Dr. Lewis had arrived in the lab at her usual time, and that brought a smile to his face. His friend was nothing if not a workaholoic, and he knew when he had told her to take a few days off she would ignore it and return to work. However this lead to the one business he was not sure how to proceed. If it was up to him, he would just set her free and hire her. But the Elders had decided that humans had to be under complete control if they were to work within the Light Fae compound and he had no choice in either having the doctor recommit herself to slavery or let her go with his Oath that no Light Fae would come to harm her. His only problem was that his Oath would only work if the doctor stayed within his county and the surrounding counties, which would leave her vulnerable to the Dark Fae. The Ash knew that the doctor had made enemies of several Dark Fae Elders, including the Morrigan herself and this left him in a quandry. He hoped his meeting with the Elders, he could persuade them to let the doctor be the exception to the slavery so he could just hire her.
"All the Elders have arrived, Ash." his personal assistant informed him from the doorway. This was going to be an intense negotion and he was not confident in its outcome. The Elders were stuck in the old ways, he had tried to slowly move the Fae into the modern world. But he had to pick his battles carefully, and this was one he did not know if he could win or not.
"Thank you, Henry." As the Ash, proceeded to the meeting room. Looking around at the assembled Elders, many he knew that shared his belief in moving forward but they were fewer in number. "Thank you all for coming to this meeting on such short notice. I am sure you are all aware that the servitude of Dr Lewis has come to its end. With the death of her patient Nadia, the contract that we had is no longer in effect. I have thought on this matter long and hard since the situation started. I believe that if we are to hire Dr Lewis, and let her keep her freedom that she would be more than willing to stay. I know many of you believe that humans under our employed need to be kept as slaves, but I believe this could be an exception that the Light Fae would benefit from greatly.
"Humans under our roof need to be controlled, if we allow one to be free they will all expect it. I agree Dr Lewis is a valuable asset to us, but to give her freedom would set a precedent that we can not allow." Elder Nash spoke immediately, he was one the Ash knew would oppose the proposition. He was not still stuck in the old ways of the Blood King before Trick claimed the title. His clan had been one of the most loyal to Trick's grandfather and his laws that he had created. Humans were food and servants to the Fae, and Elder Nash was stuck in that belief.
"I disagree, I believe that if we want to keep the service of Dr Lewis then we must give her freedom to ensure it. I know that it may set a precedence, but we have no other choice." Elder Alyss replied, she had talked to her grandson Hale about the doctor. She knew that Elders were sometimes distant with the younger Fae, and wanted his opinion on the doctor. What she had learned that the Doctor was well liked by many of the younger Fae who saw her work first hand in keeping them healthy. Hale had even told her that many Dark Fae respected the doctor and would probally make the doctor an offer if let go.
"Humans are not Fae, they serve us that is their place among us. Why are we even having this discussion, the law states that humans as not to know of the Fae. Doctor Lewis has no choice but to recommit herself to the Light Fae, and this time make sure it is for life or be dealt with according to the law which is death." Elder Nash argued his point, this belief that the Fae need to move forward was preposterous in its concept. The Fae existed by not allowing the humans to know of their world, and if that included getting rid of some humans then so be it. "The law is the law, to go against it would lead us into anarchy."
The Ash watched as another Elder stood to address the assembly, he had watched the faces of each of the Elders as both sides of the arguement was debated. Elder Alyss had surprised him actually, he had expected her to follow Nash's direction. But he had seen the looks of Elders he had figured would agree with him, and nodded in agreement with Nash's argument. This was not going to go well he feared. His only Ace he had was that no matter the outcome he had given his friend his Oath that nothing harmful would come to her. He decided that he should remind the assembly of this part, when he noticed a woman standing in the middle of the room. He had not seen her walk in or the doors even being opened for that matter. He saw that the other Elders had finally seen her as well and stood to flee fearing this was another attack.
"Sit down now." The woman who was only about five feet tall with slightly graying hair. The power in her voice was spoken in a tone that was neither loud or threatening. As she looked about the room at all those assembled, she watched as they as agroup sit down in their seats.
The Ash found himself sitting down in his chair before he even realized he was doing what this interloper had ordered. Regaining his voice, he stood and demanded, "Who are you and how did you get in here?"
"Who I am you need not worry about that now. How I got here is of no consequence." The woman spoke directly at the Ash, but every Elder in the room felt like she was addressing them personally. Elder Nash tried to stand again, but found that he could not. He tried to ignite his hands in flames, being an elemental gave him control over fire, but his hands merely got warm but no fire appeared. Alyss tried to send a whistle out to the woman but found she had no voice to use. Other Elders tried to use their gifts, but each of them failed with getting them to work.
As she watched the Elders all try to use their gifts, she waited for each of them to discover she had subdued each of them. When they all finally realized they were helpless against her she turned to look at all of them in turn. Her eyes staring at each of them in turn, never relenting in the staring contest she gave each of them in turn. And one by one the Elders looked away in defeat from this diminutive woman who held so much power.
The Ash saw the woman turn towards him and felt her gaze look towards him. He could sense her power in her eyes, and knew there was nothing he could do against this woman even if he could use his own gifts. The Elders were powerless, the door had been sealed magically as a security precaution but she had come thru the magically sealed barrier. He was about to die and he knew it, the Light Fae would delve into chaos and that was something he would not allow. Summoning all the willpower he had he stood up and addressed the woman, "What do you want?"
"I am here for Lauren Lewis." The woman stated matter of factly.