Author's Note: So this is it, the last chapter. I hope you have enjoyed the story as much as I have had writing it. This maybe the end for this story, but the sequel is already in the works and it will be posted in a post all its own. Please send me any reviews or feedback, and I hope that you will continue to enjoy the sequel also. Thank you once again for reading. As always please enjoy this final chapter.
_xxx_
"So dear one, which do you prefer?" As Tia looked around the park that she had taken Lauren to feed. The day was bright and there were so many people walking and having a relaxing day. Children could be heard playing near a set of swings and slides, owners had their dogs out some playing frisbee with them others just walking. The day was perfect and Lauren had immediately relaxed when they had gotten a bench to sit on. She was still not sure what it was that Dragon's fed on, since her grandmother had still not spoken of it. At the sound of the older Dragon's voice, she turned to look at her.
"Excuse me? I don't understand." Thinking that she was being asked to pick one of the humans here in the park to feed on. She did not want to starve herself, but she had taken an oath to do no harm. "I don't want to hurt anyone."
"Oh you misunderstood, I was saying which do you prefer chocolate or vanilla." As she had held out two ice cream cones one of each flavor. Tia had a small smile on her face at the look of the blonde doctor. Ok so maybe people were right about Dragon humor, but the look on her granddaughter's face was priceless at the moment.
"Oh, chocolate then I guess." Lauren was surprised, but taken the mentioned treat. "I don't understand. I thought you were going to explain how we feed?"
"But you already are feeding, this is just to past the time with." As Tia sat on the bench besides the doctor and took a lick of her own ice cream. She watched as the confusion flitted across the doctor's face, but had started to enjoy her own cone. "How do you feel?"
Lauren stopped and took stock of how she did feel. Sure she was still a little nervous about the attack from this morning. Trying to think of a way to "soften" her chi was going to be something that she would have to work on. If just Aife had mentioned her chi, she might have taken it as an isolated incident with a succubus who was hungry. But with Roger who she knew was almost always full when he came to see her that was something else. Plus finding out that she was not human was something else that she was still processing, but the more she thought about it she was glad that she had been human for so long. In a way that made her what she had become a dedicated doctor that had a love for science and research which had helped everyone she had ever met. And it made her closer to Bo who had also been brought up in the human world, they could relate in a way that other Fae would not be able to. But she realized that Tia was not asking about that but on her hunger, which she realized was gone. "I am not hungry anymore, I don't understand. What did I feed on?"
Tia chuckled at seeing the look that her son was famous for when he was thinking on things. Lauren was exactly like him, she could not deny that even if she didn't see his features in her granddaughter's face. "What do you think you fed on?" Tia wanted to see if the doctor could figure it out on her own, before she told her. She could tell that like Marcus she would accept it more if she came up with the answers herself, although she would tell her if she truly wanted it.
"I am not sure, I didn't do anything. At least I don't think I did, except for eat ice cream and really that is just not possible to feed on." As Lauren started to think off all the things she had done while she was in the park. When they first had gotten here they merely walked around for a bit before Tia had seen the ice cream vendor and went to get them a treat. Lauren had just watched as everybody was going about their business, but she had not done anything towards them. She was at a lost at this puzzle. She had done nothing that had interacted with anyone, she had merely sat down and enjoyed the sun on her skin bringing warmth that was lacking in the coolness of her lab. When they had left the lab her hunger was not overwhelming but felt like someone who needed a light dinner to appease their appetite. They had walked to the park that was a few blocks away from the compound and had just talked about Lauren's life while she asked about Dragons in general. And then it suddenly came to her, that as they had walked her hunger had lessened and lessened until it was gone by the time they had even gotten to the park itself. But what had happened between her lab and the park. What had changed that would have affected her so much, there were no people they had passed on the way. And she had doubted that she was feeding on another Dragon that would be its own set of wrongness that she did not want to think about. Why could she not figure this out, why did going from her lab to the park appease her hunger what had changed. And then the proverbial lightbulb came on. "We feed from the sun, don't we?" Lauren stated more than asked, she was certain of it.
"I knew you would be able to figure it out, dear one. But yes we feed from solar energy, so even at night you would still be able to feed if you wanted. It would be a little slower, but you get the picture." Tia smiled at her granddaughter, she knew that she would be able to figure it out. "You have to remember we were here before human or Fae existed. In our realm, which I hope you will come to one day if to just visit, the solar energies we feed on are consistent day or night. I would love to be able to show you how to use your power but except for the Calming Techniques every Dragon has its own powers. They are as random as the shape of snowflakes, and until yours appear, I can not help yet. And since your mother was a Sister of Life, then I am not even sure what you are capable of, dear one." Tia smiled as she had grabbed Lauren's hand in her own in comfort and warmth. "But I will help you in any way you can. I can find others with your same gift that would be able to show you how to use it better."
"Really? Dragons don't have a set power set so to speak? That is extra-ordinary I think to be so alike but different. Are there books or tomes that I could read or look at to learn more?" As Lauren's face lit up with the possibility of being able to learn more of her own heritage as well as to learn about an Ancient race that had predated humans and Fae alike. She would have so much to learn she was afraid she would not have the time in her life to learn it all. She grew a little sad to think that to be given so much that she would not have time to learn all she could.
Tia saw the look of curiosity come over the doctor's face at the possibility of learning about Dragons and where she came from and it brought a wide smile to her own face. It had been so long since she had a young one to share things with. Of course she had more children now, her first four all being killed by Fae by the betrayal of the Old Blood King and Marcus had been killed almost three and half centuries ago, he had been the last of her first set of children. But she and Thomas had three more after things had settled down, but even that had been a few thousand years ago. Her children had given her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren but most of them where far older now and had their own lives to live, their own paths to follow. But here was her youngest, and new to the world and there was an energy about that she could describe. But as quickly as the look of wonderment came over Lauren, she saw the sudden sadness also. "What is it dear one."
"I was just thinking that I will not have enough time to learn everything I want to. I don't have the long life that Fae have, it will be over shorter than I would like and even being with Bo was going to be hard. I know I am going to hurt her as I get older and she remains the same, I don't want to tie her down." As Lauren put her head in her hands and rested her elbows on her knees. "Does it make me a bad person to want her for as long as I live knowing that I will leave her so early in her life?"
"I am not really sure what you are meaning, Childe. We Dragons have very long lives, we live longer than Fae. Nothing natural can kill us, Childe. Death is something that the Dragons did not know of until we came to this realm and met the Fae. Death has no place in our realm, there are Dragons in our realm that remember the time that this realm was formed. No Childe, you are a Dragon and your life will be far longer than Fae." Tia assured her granddaughter. "But I will tell you in this realm, you can be killed just like any other thing is this fragile world. It will be tough to do that mind you, but after the Blood King's treachery we have been weakened and vulnerable in this realm. It is why most Dragons came home, some stayed for reasons of their own but most left. There are a few things that are particularly nasty to us, one is dragonsbane metal. It is old and mystical and can kill us as if we were human. There is not much of it left here in this realm, but even if one piece were left it is too much in my opinion. But do not worry about that, you are young and have many people who you can trust. Now let's get you back to your girl, I need to head back and check on Thomas anyway." Placing a small kiss on the blonde's forehead, "But don't think you have seen the last of me, you are my youngest grandchild and the youngest off all my family so that makes you more special." As they both stood to leave, Tia was engulfed in a warm embrace that held her in place. Lauren just held her for a moment enjoying having family that showed emotions for once. She never realized she had wanted that as she grew up, her adopted parents loved her she knew but they rarely showed emotions except towards her.
"Thank you, for everything." The blonde whispered, some of her fears being alleviated. At least now she would have more time with Bo than she thought. Everything else she would handle as it came, but for now she wanted to be with her girl. She felt a wind blow her hair and when she opened her eyes she found she was inside one of the rooms in the Dal Riatta used for storing barrels. Looking at her grandmother who had a smirk on her face. "Wow, I really want to know that trick. I would probably never be late for work." Giving her grandmother a knowing smile at the possibilities of what she had learned about Dragons already.
"Now go have fun, dear one. I shall see you later, and know that I love you." Tia smiled at her granddaughter and with a turn she was gone.
Lauren made her way out of the storage room to the bar proper when she saw her girlfriend sitting at the bar with Kenzi and Gaia listening to some story that Trick was telling them. She smiled at seeing her small family and started to make her way towards them. She knew Bo felt her coming up behind her before she even reached her, but she didn't turn towards the blonde yet. Lauren merely smiled and wrapped her arms around her girlfriend and gave a small embrace while placing a kiss on the back of Bo's neck. "Hey I missed you."
Turning on the stool that she was sitting and using her legs to pull the doctor closer and holding her in place, Bo reached up and pulled the blonde's face to hers to give her passionate kiss that conveyed all the love she had for the doctor. "Missed you too, babe. Everything alright?" Bo had been worried when Lauren had gone off to feed, she did know how the gentle doctor would take to having to feed off someone. She had wanted to go with her to help calm her, but she knew that she would be a distraction to her girlfriend who was probably already nervous.
"Everything is fine, just missed you. I learned a lot, that I am still processing. And now I have a lot of tests to run on myself plus all the research I am already getting results from my mother's blood sample. It is so fascinating..." As Bo smiled watching as the doctor was going into that science geek speak that she loved to listen to so much. The look that came over the blonde's face bringing a wide smile to her face, Lauren's aura was at about a high 6 maybe a 7 but it was all good. Bo just pulled her towards her lips again and gave her another kiss to stop her from going into all the details that she was sure to come. And seeing the look of peace and love on the doctor's face as she spoke. "Yeah everything is good now."
"Well then pull up a stool, which I have reserved for you." Indicating the mentioned item that had been pulled closer to the succubus than it was originally placed. "I had to fight off several Ogres and a Harpy just to keep it safe." Giving her an exaggerated smile and mock fighting with her hands.
"Well then in that case, how could I refuse such a valiant effort." Lauren laughed at the playfulness of her girlfriend as she sat down on the stool that had been fought gallantly for. "I will check you later for injuries personally to make sure you didn't strain or pull something." She dropped her voice to a low whisper meant only for the succubus' ear. And seeing the blue dart across her girl's eyes brought a smirk to her face. She could get use to having the brunette with her for a long time and placed her arm thru the succubus' and intertwined her fingers with Bo's. "Later though, I am thirsty now." Seeing Trick offer her a glass of wine which she prefered to drink, now she just wanted to sit with friends and love ones and do nothing. Tomorrow she would think about the Ash's offer, the research of her heritage, and what to do about her powerful chi. As she raised her glass towards Bo, "to being free and new beginnings"
"Here here, and I will add to being in love and finding home," Bo added to the toast.
"To life and all that it brings you," Gaia added.
"To vodka and hot men," Kenzi smiled and took a huge drink of her favorite liquor as everyone else rolled their eyes and took a drink. "So hotpants what you eat?" As she started to take another drink.
"Human hearts." Lauren stated with all the seriousness of a doctor. As she watched Kenzi spew out the drink she had just taking and started coughing to clear her lungs of the alcohol that had probably gone into them at the sudden gasp while drinking. Seeing the knowing smile on Gaia who decided to keep her secret, she turned to Bo who had a similar shocked face and gave the succubus a wink with a smile. Maybe she did have that Dragon humor her relatives kept mentioning. Taking a small drink from her glass as the young goth looked at her horrified and shocked. "Tastier than I had imagined." Turning to an equally amused smirk on Trick's face to get a refill. And hearing Bo whisper for her ears only.
"You are so bad, but I still love you." Smiling towards the blonde as she heard Gaia gently slapping Kenzi's back to help her get her airways cleared. Life was good now and everything could wait for later to deal with. Giving the blonde's hand that was intertwined in hers a kiss and a squeeze.
The End