A/N: This chapter will dip a little into Lauren's back story from what happened when she left Taft Industries 5 months ago. It will let you know what she was doing and when her memory came back. Hope you enjoy!
5 MONTHS AGO
Lauren left the room leaving Isaac and Dyson after the procedure. She knew Dyson would sense the Fae DNA she put in Isaac and would no doubt take care of him. Now she had to worry about herself, she was Fae enemy number one. This would be her one chance to run and free herself from the whole fae world. Grabbing the biggest duffle bag she could find and started to fill it with all the things she would need. Throwing in a bunch of clothes, water, whatever food she could grab that didn't need to be refrigerated, as much money as she could find, and fae scents that she would be able to use to prevent them from being able to track her.
She was putting the last of the supplies in the bag when in her peripheral vision she noticed Bo. She ducked down and hid, this was more painful then she was anticipating. Her heart ached to run to Bo, to run back into her arms, she always felt so safe there, but she had to let her go. She was foolish enough to think Bo would choose her over Dyson, a human over her own kind. Besides Dyson could sustain her, something she could never do. Her cheeks were warm from the tears that were slowly running down them. She thought the hardest thing she had to do was tell her she wanted a break, but seeing her now and not going to her was heartbreaking. This is what you do when you love someone, you put their happiness first, and that was Dyson. She had to accept that fact. She lifted herself up slightly to see if Bo was still there. Her heart fell when she saw that she was no longer there realizing she wasn't even going to try to find her, in that moment she got the answer she needed. She took Dyson's DNA that was extracted and destroyed it. Walking towards the back exit and turned back one last time, putting her hand on the door, simply whispering, "Good luck Bo."
As soon as she walked outside feeling the cool air on her face and looked up to the sky realizing this was the first time in as long as she could remember that she was standing outside free. No one's slave, no one to check with, from this point on everything she did was going to be because she chose to. She wished she could just savor this moment a little more but she had to move quickly, they would be hunting her soon. Knowing she had to take advantage of this head start, she reached into her duffel bag and pulled out one of the fae scents and opened it letting it trail behind her as she ran covering up her scent. Disappearing into the woods as fast as her feet would allow, weaving through trees and using fae scents as spread out as she could so that they wouldn't run out to quickly. After about an hour and half of running, jogging and walking exhaustion was creeping up on her. Sitting down in between some big trees and plants she took out some protein bars and water. Pulling a sweatshirt over her head as it started to get later and cooler out, this was not going to be easy.
After a fifteen minute break she got back up and started walking at a fast pace, she needed to find cover for the night or she was going to freeze. "Come on Lauren, think, now is not the time for your brain to shut down," she said to herself as she looked around. Two hours passed on and the sun was setting, and Lauren still didn't have a place to hide for the night or even to take cover in. Things weren't looking good for her, and she didn't want to think of the animals that would be coming out at night. Feeling defeated she sat down and brought her knees up to her chest and leaned into them wrapping her arms around them she started crying. Thinking of how things went so bad so fast, just a few months ago everything seemed to turn out so well for her. The new Ash was Hale, her friend, Dyson accepted Bo as just a friend, Kenzi finally started to like her, and she got Bo. It wasn't the same old story of the guy getting the girl at the end, it was her, and Bo picked her, it felt so surreal. She remembered Bo looking at her with determination in her eyes, "It's time." She remembered being confused and just repeating the words back to her, "It's time?" Bo standing there not moving, being so serious, keeping her eyes locked on Lauren's, "For us." Lauren remembered feeling the surprise, shock that she wanted her, how can this amazing fae want me, it was her happiest moment all she could say was, "Really."
How quickly things changed, Tamsin came into the picture and Lauren knew not to trust her. Hale treated Lauren like another Ash would, as if he seemed to forget that they were friends. A complete shock coming from Hale he was one of the few Fae that never acted superior to humans. Bo got distracted with her Dawning and her fae world as Lauren took a backseat to everything. She remembered the look in Bo's eyes after she brought Dyson back to life, in that instant she knew Bo was still in love with him and Lauren was holding her back. She tried to deny it to herself but then Tamsin told Lauren about this kiss that Bo didn't even care to mention. She slapped her but she knew that it wasn't completely her fault; she was just as much to blame for being ignorant. Snapping out of her thoughts she heard a noise to her left that was coming towards her with caution. She quickly got up and slowly moved behind a tree, holding her breathe she didn't want to make a sound. She cautiously looked around the tree and saw two deer. Laughing to herself she slid down the tree, exhaustion was taking over and she knew she wouldn't be able to get much further tonight. She was emotionally drained and just needed to rest.
She spent the next 2 days going through the same thing, running, jogging, walking, throwing fae scents, stopping for food, water and resting. She changed her clothes and pulled her hair back it wasn't like she had a place to shower, all she could do was freshen up as much as possible. She heard people walking or was it fae, it definitely wasn't an animal, her breathe caught in her throat. In the distance she could make out two people walking towards her, all she could think was human or fae? She saw hunting gear and almost passed out with happiness, they were human. "Think Lauren, think..," saying to herself as she saw them approaching. She sat back against the tree, no time to hide. A little relief came over her at the thought of no more running. The two men saw Lauren and started approaching, "Ma'am, are you okay," one of the gentlemen asked as he started bending down by Lauren.
Lauren looked up at them with tears in her eyes. She knew she looked like a mess so might as well take advantage of this situation. "Miss you do not have to be afraid, are you alright?" The other guy asked her. One had short brown messy hair, with chocolate brown eyes, and a square jaw. The other had peach fuzz for hair, with the same eyes and a softer look. Both men wear wearing jeans and long sleeved flannel shirts, with riffles over their shoulders and back packs on. Lauren looked up, "Yes, I'm sorry, I am just so happy to see people I have been lost for days."
The younger one who was the first one to squat down next to her said, "How did you get lost in the woods?"
"I was running from some people that were trying to abduct me. I managed to get away but got lost. I must look like a mess I am sorry." Both men started looking around the woods as if they were waiting for someone to come out to try and grab her. The younger one touched her knee, "its okay you are safe now we won't let anyone hurt you. I am Mark and this handsome devil over here is my older brother Joe." Mark was the one with less hair.
"I'm Bo Jones, nice to meet you both." Mark helped Lauren to her feet and she fell into him. She didn't realize how much her feet were hurting or the aches in her legs. She looked at him apologetically, "Sorry, I have been running for days." Joe was still scanning the perimeter. He turned to his younger brother, "Let's get her out of here, take her for some food and a warm shower." He picked up Lauren's bag and Mark picked up Lauren. She tried to resist but he insisted and she was glad she didn't have to walk anymore. They carried her through the woods back up to Joe's pickup truck. They placed her in the backseat with her bag and started driving. She realized this might not be the smartest idea but after what she faced with the fae she wasn't too scared about two strange men. After about 20 minutes they pulled into a driveway next to a small ranch house. It had beige siding with a small front porch and a white door. Joe grabbed her bag and went inside while Mark went back to Lauren. "This is Joe's house, you fell asleep but he called his wife Carol to let her know we were coming with you. She fixed you up something to eat." Lauren took Mark's hand as she climbed out of the truck amazed at the kindness; she wasn't used to this anymore. "Thank you," was all she was able to mumble out.
The door opened and a little miniature Joe came running out, he ran right to Mark, "Uncle Mark, I heard you and dad saved a girl, you guys are heroes"
Mark smiled at his nephew and bent down to his height, "JJ this is Bo" JJ looked up at Lauren and stuck his hand out, "Please to meet you Bo." Lauren felt a pang of guilt for lying about her name but she had to. She bent down next to Mark, "Nice to meet you JJ, how old are you?" He looked at her and beamed with pride, "7" Lauren smiled at him, "Wow 7 huh, you are a big guy for 7." This made him smile from ear to ear. Mark started to stand up and tussled JJ's hair, "Let's get Bo in the house, think you can help me." He nodded at his uncle and grabbed Lauren's hand as he guided her towards his house.
The house was cute and simple, nothing fancy, and Lauren loved it. There was a small entrance way with a coat rack right behind the door. It opened to a hallway with pictures of the family hanging from the walls. To her left Carol came out of the kitchen smiling as she approached her. She had long light brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, soft brown eyes, and a wide gorgeous smile. She had no makeup but still looked cute. Lauren thought she was maybe a year or two younger than Joe. She estimated Joe to be in his mid to late 30's and Mark had to be around 30. "Hi Bo, it is Bo, Right?" Lauren nodded as Carol continued, "I put together some of last night's leftovers, some chicken and vegetables, I hope you aren't a vegetarian. You can shower first if you would like."
Lauren smiled at her, "Thank you so much all of you. You are all so kind. You didn't have to go through all this I do not want to be any trouble. If you want I can be taken to a hotel."
Carol cut her off, "No way, you are no trouble at all and we aren't going to let you go to some hotel. The people you are running from can find you in a hotel, but they won't find you here. Don't be silly, go eat or shower, whatever you like. I can wrap the food and keep it warm."
Carol showed her where the bathroom was, it was small and yellow. It had a sink with a medicine cabinet above it. White tiled floor, the toilet was to the right of the sink and the shower to the left. It had glass sliding doors; Carol knocked on the door and brought a washcloth and 2 fresh towels. The shower felt so good, warm water trickling down her was so soothing after 2 nights in the woods. Her feet had cuts and blisters but none were infected, thankfully. She leaned against the wall of the shower and just let go, crying over everything, the fae, Bo, these kind new people she had to lie to. Getting out of the shower Lauren wrapped a towel around her and wiped the steam from the mirror. She jumped back and almost fell over as she looked at her reflection seeing emerald green eyes staring back at her. "What the hell was that," she said to herself as she looked back into the mirror and saw her brown eyes looking back at her. She shook it off, it had to be from hunger, she hallucinated, that's all.
When she came out she was glad to be clean and in fresh clothes. She let her wet hair hang loose and sat down at the kitchen table. Carol sat across from her, "You are going to stay in our bedroom tonight, Joe and I will take Joe Junior's room, he will stay with his Uncle Mark in the living room."
Lauren looked up, "No, I couldn't possible do that. You have all went through enough trouble for me, I can't have you do any more."
Carol waved her hand, "Nonsense, I won't take no for an answer. Is there anyone you need to call?"
Lauren looked up at her, "No, it's just me." Mark pulled out the chair next to her, "Not anymore," he said smiling. She smiled back, "Do you live here as well?" He smiled at the question, "No, I have my own house, but I thought you would be more comfortable here with all of us then going home with some strange guy. I'm a good guy but you don't know that yet and after what you been through I wouldn't blame you for being suspicious." Lauren smiled at him, "I can tell you are a good guy."
She spent the next few days at Joe and Carol's house, and Mark stayed there as well. Each day she said she could go to a hotel but each day they told her to shut it. By the fifth day Lauren went to go stay by Mark's he had a little loft above his garage so she didn't have to stay in the house with him. The loft had a full size bed, soft beige carpeting, a full size dark brown sofa, and its own full bathroom. She had to share the kitchen with Mark down in the house but she didn't mind. Joe, Carol and JJ came by and she was having fun getting to know this family. They had movie nights, game nights, and nights they went out to eat together. She felt like she had a family but also felt guilty for lying and knowing that Mark was starting to like her, feelings she couldn't return. As long as he didn't try anything or mention it neither would she. She didn't see her eyes green again since that time almost a week ago. It was hard to believe it had been ten days since she left everything behind, and that night the dreams started. Lauren saw herself in her dream but she was different. She was strong and powerful. She was watching the Fae wars from a distance not getting on the battle field itself but still using incredible powers to move Fae around. She was a part of the war without ever being seen. She wasn't favoring a side just helping the side that needed it at the time. All of a sudden time changed and it was after the Fae war she was confronting a Dark Fae warrior that helped conspire the war, she was reading his thoughts. Leaning back she knew his fate rested in her hands. He exploded right there in front of her, she didn't feel he deserved mercy, after all he never showed any. Time was constantly changing in her dream but one thing remained the same, she was strong and extremely powerful. She choose when she wanted to get involved and when not to.
It was around 2 weeks since she escaped and that is when the blackouts started. She would be awake watching a movie or reading a book and would fade out. Memories would flood her mind similar to her dreams. She had no one to discuss this with as close as she came with this new family these dreams/blackouts couldn't be discussed with them. She spent time with Joe and Mark fixing up an old Mustang that Mark had so she would have her own vehicle to drive. She insisted on them letting her help fix it, if they were going to be generous enough to give her a car she was going to help fix it up.
It was almost a full month that she was free; things were changing for her but not in a good way. No matter how much she ate or rested she still felt weak, lacking energy, everything she did required so much effort, even getting out of bed. She didn't let anyone know. That night she went to sleep and drifted into a dream. She was trying to pull away from Nadia, watching the green chi pour into her as Nadia's eyes were rolling behind her head. When she finally broke free she barely had the strength to pull herself up to kneeling position. She couldn't even stand; she did a mental scan of her body and found it to be at about 7% this wasn't good. She saw the old Ash stand in front of her. She tried to use her telekinetic abilities but nothing moved at her will. She instead used her telepathic abilities which worked she read everything the Ash had in his head and she looked up at him. Rage in her green eyes, "You will never obtain my powers and I will recharge and kill you for this. You will suffer terribly at my hands." The ash ignored her and she knew what was coming she felt the Imp's fingers penetrate into the back of her head. The curse was being said and there was nothing she could do her energy was so low she couldn't use her telekinetic powers. As long as she was by fae the curse would stay in place. Lauren's eyes flew open. She threw the sheets off of her and ran into the bathroom. Looking in the mirror she saw it and there was no mistaken it, those emerald green eyes, she was a Seethe. She remembered everything and she had to get away from this family before she accidentally killed them.Walking back into the room, the clock read 3am, perfect Mark would be sleeping. She grabbed the bag she had when they found her a month ago and started putting things in it. She would not kill anyone in this family. She needed to get near fae, ironically she needed Bo. She needed a succubus and fast. The more she was remembering the stronger her fae needs were taking over. She called a cab, wrote a letter, put money next to it, and left.
She used all the remaining money she had for the cab and it got her back to Toronto but she was in dark fae territory. She was starting to drag her feet, the memories were hitting her like waves in the ocean beating down, and with each new memory she got weaker. Her last thought was wishing she was closer to Bo's, as she heard fae approaching her, she passed out. When she finally woke up she was in a building, she saw that she was outside of a door and sitting in a chair. Her head hung down she didn't have the energy to lift it. She heard a voice that was so familiar, it was Evony.
PRESENT
Lauren shot up in bed, grabbing the dark purple silk sheets that clung to her naked body. She looked over and saw the sheets half covering Shay's naked body. She smiled looking at her. Shay had on a goofy grin and looked up at Lauren, "I feeellll soooo gooodddd." Lauren shook her head, "Great, you over did it, told you we shouldn't have gone another 3 rounds." Shay just looked up at her that stupid grin plastered to her face. She knew she over did it with Shay last night and despite all they did last night her Seethe needs were still raging with desire, this wasn't good. Lauren got out of bed and went to take a shower, when she got out she threw on black tight pants with a hunter green top that stopped just above the belly button and was very low cut. She threw on black heeled boots and dressed Shay.
CRACK SHACK
Kenzi jumped onto Bo's bed. Bo laid on her back and slightly turned towards her. "Bo-bo is this about that prophecy stuff Trick told us last night? He was just letting you know that the odds are ever in your favor of getting back hot fae goddess. Not that you have to follow some stupid prophecy. Besides when do we follow rules, we break 'em more than we follow 'em. Heck we even got strict D-Man, and my boy toy to break rules. Trick broke rules for you when he used his blood to help you beat mommy dearest. Tamsin broke her very nature to help you. Vex went against the Morrigan, we are all rule breakers here."
Bo sat up, "No, I'm not worried about some prophecy in some old book. Besides Lauren wouldn't want to have a child with me, hell right now she doesn't even want me. I had to learn about the 4 succusluts that are sleeping with the woman I love and I still have no idea what to do. How can I blame her? I was a terrible girlfriend. I hate that saying you don't know what you have till it's gone. I left her behind, put her needs second, I kept that meaningless kiss from her, and didn't tell her how Dyson told me he loved me and I told him I love Lauren. LOVE!"
Kenzi felt bad for Bo she knew she has been beating herself up for the last 3 weeks since she has been back. She grabbed Bo's shoulders, "Hey listen Lauren fucked up when you first met her you forgave her. She fucked up again when she failed to mention the girlfriend she had that was in a coma, and again you got past it. This is no different, you aren't perfect, surprise. You fucked up, but you are smart enough to realize it. "
Bo shrugged, "This is different Kenz. She felt second in my life but she wasn't. I was overwhelmed with the Dawning and threw myself in work. I never meant to hurt her. The hurt I felt when I found out she first slept with me because she was ordered to do so was extremely painful. I would never want Lauren to feel that pain but that is exactly what I did. I felt like she reached in my chest and ripped my still beating heart out when she asked for a break. I didn't fight then because I wanted to prove to her I deserved her back. I just never got the chance."
"Lucky you, now you do. Get your lady love back and if you do have little babies, I'm totally god parent material."
"It's funny when we were at Hecuba prison, a prisoner had a baby, and Lauren said she wanted kids. She asked if I wanted them but I didn't answer. I had no idea all I knew was I wanted her but now I know. I want it all with her, the house, the kids, heck even a dog. Of course that came from Human Lauren, does Seethe Lauren want kids, and if she has them with Shay I'm throwing myself in front of a bus. I don't even know where she is, am I supposed to wait till she shows up at the Dal again?"
Kenzi got off the bed and slapped Bo's leg, "I know someone who might now where she is sister."
MORRIGAN'S COMPOUND
Evony was sitting in one of her white leather chairs when the door flew open and Bo walked in. "How do you always get in here?"
Bo had fire in her eyes, "Where do I find Lauren?"
It happened so fast Bo didn't even see it coming. She was standing in front of the Morrigan asking where Lauren was and then she was against the wall with someone's hand on her throat. She looked into Light Blue eyes piercing into hers and felt the chi being pulled from her. She heard Evony in the background, "Bo honey meet Kaya."