A/N Charlotte is one and mostly stays in her shifter form when she talks to them, with the exception of this chapter.
Bo stood up to stretch. She had been pouring over her half of the Una Mens log for the rest of the night. She really didn't know what she was reading, as most of it was in a language she couldn't understand. But she pressed on hoping something would finally make sense.
She walked over to the window and noticed the sun had risen. It looked like it was going to be a beautiful day out. She started a pot of coffee, so she could stay awake.
Ten minutes later she was back on the couch reading the log again. She smiled when she heard distinct paws running in her direction.
"Good morning Charly". Bo cooed.
Charlotte looked up at Bo for a moment, and ran towards the patio door.
"No". Bo said never taking her eyes off of the log.
Charlotte ran back over to the couch and roared at Bo's feet.
"I said no. You are not going outside yet. I am still reading this log". Bo said never moving her feet.
Charlotte jumped up on to the couch and roared in Bo's ear this time.
"Charlotte I have never spanked you. But I will. You know what no means. I am busy, and your mother, and brothers are sleeping. Do not wake them up". Bo said reading the book, and rubbing the shifters back.
Charlotte stretched out next to Bo, and huffed. She wanted to go out and play. Shaking her little head, she stood up again, and stared directly at Bo until the Succubus looked at her.
"That look only works on your mother. I said no, and I mean no". Bo said raising her voice a tad bit.
Charlotte placed her head on Bo's lap, and turned to look at the book she was reading. Bo rubbed her head as she went back to reading.
"Shifter". Charlotte said.
"I know you're a shifter sweetie". Bo smiled as she read on.
"Eagle shifter". Charlotte said this time.
"You can read this? Bo gasped.
Charlotte nodded and Bo pulled her up to sit in her lap.
"Can you shift for mama? Bo cooed. Charlotte nodded and shifted to her human form.
"Ewww Charlotte. You need a bath! Bo laughed.
Charlotte roared and used all of her strength to try and get away from Bo.
"Ok. Ok. Ok. You don't need to tattoo me with your paws. Mama or I can bathe you later". Bo smiled as she pulled a blanket around her daughter.
"Can you read anything else? Bo asked.
"Elephant shifter". Charlotte said as Bo turned to the next page. The spent the next few hours going through the log. Bo was amazed at how much Charlotte could read. She smiled and kissed her on her head.
"Good morning". Lauren cooed kissing the Succubus and shifter on their heads.
Bo jumped. She hadn't even heard Lauren walking over. "Good morning Lauren".
"Bo you have been at this all night. Hale never said we have to give it back. Why don't you try to get a little sleep". Lauren said picking the log up off of the coffee table.
"I just want to know what's going on with all of you. Your my family and I want to know". Bo cooed as she took one of Lauren's hands.
"Well have you even fed Charlotte yet? Lauren asked.
"Shit..I mean shoot. We got lost in this book, that I hadn't thought of it". Bo blushed in embarrassment.
"We? Lauren asked.
"Yeah. Charlotte can read this book apparently. The writing is all jumbled to me, but she can read it". Bo laughed bouncing Charlotte on her lap. When Charlotte frowned at her, she stopped.
Lauren stood stunned. She couldn't make out the language either. But if Charlotte could read it to them, she could make notes as they went along. The writing on the cover is legible, but the inside is where it all gets jumbled up.
"I made notes while we read". Bo said holding up a little notepad that set on the end table.
"You left off with M huh? Lauren asked looking over Bo's notes.
"Yes ma'am. That leaves you with N-Z". Bo said standing up.
"Charlotte and I can read it later. But for now, it's time for breakfast". Lauren said.
Bo nodded and watched Lauren put Charlotte down to play so that they could cook breakfast. Cereal was out because they would have it everywhere.
"She needs a you know what sometime today". Bo said as she used wiping motions.
"No bath mama". Charlotte groaned.
"What are we going to do with her? Bo laughed.
"I am going to fix them breakfast. You are going to bed. Now". Lauren said staring at the Succubus.
"Fine. Fine. But after we all eat". Bo smiled.
Ten minutes later. They sat down to bacon and eggs. Ethan and Dillon had run down when Bo called out to them. Their shifters came in handy since they didn't have to run and get them.
Charlotte had shifted and finished her food first. She walked over to Lauren. Bo laughed out loud.
"She wants to go outside, I told her no because the rest of you were still sleeping". Bo explained.
"Well you can get some sleep now, and I will take them out". Lauren said walking the kids dishes to the dishwasher and returned for their plates and cups.
"Lauren one thing I did want to point out. There are other shifter Faes in the log. We found Eagles and Elephants so far". Bo said walking over to Lauren.
"What? Lauren asked with her mind piqued, and her eyes widening.
"That's part of the reason I didn't want Charlotte going outside yet. Since they are shape shifters too. They can be and do anything that they want. What if they shift into something or someone we don't recognize? Bo asked seriously.
"We have to let them go out Bo. It's not right to keep them inside, especially when they are Lion shifters. We are creatures of nature. We just have to be careful with them and watch them until we learn a little more". Lauren replied bouncing Charlotte in her arms while she washed her face. Charlotte pushed Lauren's hand away with every swipe.
"But you'll watch them though right? Bo asked. Lauren smiled. Even as a Fae, Bo looked exhausted.
"Of course. You can get some rest. I will shift and play with them outside. We won't be too loud or you can wear ear plugs". Lauren replied looking around for Ethan and Dillon.
"Ethan. Dillon. Mama and Charlotte are going outside! Bo cooed as the boys ran in circles around them until Lauren opened the door.
Bo watched them walk out and cringed when Lauren shifted. That would never stop looking painful to the Succubus. But she had to get some rest. There was no telling when Aife would be home. Kenzi and Hale said they would be working for most of the day. So really it was just the five of them for now.
She took her eyes off of them, once she was convinced that nothing was going to happen. She had almost forgotten that Lauren is a Succubus too. If a threat comes up, she could handle it. But Bo wanted to be the family protector. Be the one that fights so that they could have a normal family, but those are pipe dreams, because nothing about them will ever be normal again. Normal was lost the minute she walked out of Taft's without Lauren. She showered and crawled into their bed with tears streaming down her face. She buried her head in Lauren's pillow and inhaled the scent until it put her to sleep.
Lauren watched the kids run around and play until lunch time. She fixed them a basic lunch and they all went back out when they were finished.
She wanted to read the log, but wasn't gong to do that until Bo was up. Ethan and Dillon had grown into a routine of playing with their sister whenever they were all awake. Charlotte was so gentle with them, that it made Lauren cry. But they were going to grow up and be lions. Fully capable of protecting themselves, so for now she was happy to see Charlotte flexing her strengths and gentleness with them.
For the next several hours, Bo was in and out of sleep. Nobody ever said a parent never sleeps, for long. She was worried about everything. Their lives. Friends and enemies they were going to make, and with Charlotte's attitude, she would have plenty of both before she turned 5.
She worried about Lauren. The guilt of this all being her fault still gnawed at the Succubus. She was happy Lauren was alive again, because for the brief moments she was dead, she had died too. Then Lauren came back, as a shifter. Not that she hadn't ever dated shifters before, but Lauren was one now. Her DNA totally changed. Lauren changed. But the Lauren Bo used to know came back, little by little.
Bo changed too. She fell in love with Lauren all over again. Her shifter capabilities seemed to enhance her genius. Lauren was busy working in her lab, while Bo and Kenzi worked their PI business. They had normal hours so they would have time for each other at night. Kenzi didn't mind because she liked to party at night. Then out of nowhere Lauren turned sick. She was pregnant and didn't know. Just like Bo didn't know what to do while Lauren lapsed into a coma and stayed that way through Charlotte's birth. Sleep what sleep? Bo had been woke since Lauren died and Charlotte was born. Then she wanted their son and Lauren gave them two.
Bo had everything she could ever want, and need downstairs, and she was upstairs pretending to be asleep. She had managed to sleep for two hours before she woke up, that was enough time. It was time to get back to them. To her life.
"Ok Charlotte. Time for your bath". Lauren laughed as the shifter fled up the stairs.
"Ahh haaa. Bath time is it? Bo laughed as she held on to Charlotte doing everything she could think of to get away from Bo.
"Run the water". Bo grimaced as Charlotte dug her paws into Bo's arm.
Charlotte stopped when she heard Bo's Succubus growl. The shifter knew she had probably pushed Bo too far, or that side of her mother was about to spank her.
"Ok. It is ready and her rubber toys are already in the tub". Lauren said as Bo carried Charlotte to the bathroom and placed her into the tub.
Lauren returned for Ethan and Dillon, but they were curled up and napping by the fireplace.
"Charlotte's playing with her toys in the tub. Come. I want to show you something". Bo said pulling Lauren into the living room.
"Bo. I have to get dinner started soon. I don't have time for a movie". Lauren said as Bo gently pushed her on to the couch.
"We will order in". Bo said sitting down next to Lauren. She turned the TV, and DVD player on.
"What's this? Lauren asked softly.
"Charlotte is nearly two years old and I had forgotten I had this done. It's me and her after she was born. I had every moment at the hospital taped. They said it violated privacy laws, but I convinced them that nobody else would see them but family". Bo cooed pulling Lauren in her arms.
"Bo". Lauren whispered.
"I know sweetie". Bo smiled kissing Lauren on the side of her head.
The Doctor watched as Bo walked around her room with Charlotte. The Succubus changed her with a few pointers at first. Fed her. Read to her. Talked to her. Walked outside on to the balcony with her. Threw her up into the air, and screamed when Charlotte threw up all over her, as she fell back into Bo's arms.
Bo rocked her to sleep in a rocking chair. Laughed as they played on the floor. Cried as she held her as she sat next to Lauren's bed. Talked to Lauren about how big Charlotte was getting. Smiled when Trick had brought in the crown crib he built specifically for their daughter.
But what got the Doctor the most was when Bo eased into her bed holding Charlotte. She was very careful with the IV's and other tubes. She snuggled close to Lauren, kissing her on her cheek and laid Charlotte's little hand on top of Lauren's. The Succubus and shifter soon fell asleep.
"How? Lauren whispered.
"I figured you must not have known that you were pregnant or even ill, so I wanted to record everything so that you would be prepared ahead of time, if it ever happened again. But I had started this long before the Doctors told me that you were pregnant. That's why there is a lot of footage of just me in your bed, or in the chair next to your bed". Bo explained.
"Bo..thank you". Lauren smiled as she kissed the Succubus deeply. The women moaned together, and were deep into the kiss before they heard a loud splash and thud.
"That's your daughter". They women said pulling back.
"I better go and get her out. But thank you Bo". Lauren smiled through tears.
"You're welcome babe. I'm only embarrassed I didn't remember it until now. I had forgotten that Kenzi had brought it back from the hospital". Bo smiled as she stood up to check on the boys. They had rolled over on to their backs, but were still asleep.
Lauren nodded and walked upstairs. She laughed when she entered the bathroom. Charlotte was trying to scale the shower walls, but couldn't dig her paws into the tiles.
"Charlotte stop. Lets get you dried off". Lauren laughed again. Charlotte protested again when Lauren blotted her hair with the towel.
"All done". Lauren said as Charlotte jumped down, and ran out of the bathroom.
Lauren turned around to clean up the bathroom. She assumed Charlotte was going to join her brothers.
"Two large veggies, and two large pepperoni's". Bo said into her cell phone.
Charlotte ran past Bo and straight over to her brothers.
"Well you smell better". Bo laughed.
Charlotte glared at Bo the whole time as she stretched out on to the floor next to Ethan.
"Don't go to sleep yet Charlotte. You can eat then nap". Bo laughed.
Charlotte gritted her teeth and huffed but still stretched out next to Ethan. She watched Bo's every move, until Lauren finally joined them.
"I ordered two veggies and two pepperoni's". Bo said as Lauren joined her on the couch. Bo found a cartoon on tv, while they waited on the pizza.
"Ready to read Charlotte? Lauren asked holding up the log.
Charlotte jumped up, and ran over to them.
"Panther". Charlotte and Lauren said together.
"Sh...". Bo gasped.
"How many did the Una Mens kill? Lauren asked closing the book.
"Go play Charly". Bo said after Lauren put her down.
"Not for bedtime stories, that's for sure". Bo said putting the log in a desk drawer and locking the drawer.
"No matter what we kill, we will always inherit powers. This is bigger than my brain can handle. Bigger than any Fae I ever studied. What are we going to do? Lauren asked.
"We are going to finish reading that book. Then finding a Fae to meet every description. But not tonight. Tonight we are going to eat, feed them. Let them play again before they go to bed. In other words we are going to be a family. A normal one". Bo said sinking down on to the couch next to Lauren.
"Doctor! Charlotte said as Lauren flipped through the channels.
"Please tell me, she's only saying that because she know's your one". Bo said.
"Did you find a Doctor in the book? Lauren asked.
"Other than a few geniuses no". Bo answered.
"Ok well. Maybe she just means them". Lauren said turning back to the cartoon, and putting the remote down.
"Yeah leave it there". Bo sighed and jumped when the doorbell rang. Charlotte raced over.
"Charlotte come here". Lauren said. For once the shifter obeyed and jumped into Lauren's arms, as Bo rounded the corner. Ethan and Dillon slept through all the commotion and only woke up when Bo woke them up to eat.
"The blanket is ready". Bo said as Lauren made their plates.
"Half veggie, half pepperoni". Lauren said as she set the plates down on the blanket in front of the couch.
Bo brought plates for the mothers and handed Lauren's to her.
Charlotte finished first and ran back across the room to grab the boys toys for them.
"Charlotte. They can play when they have finished eating". Lauren said as she stared at the retreating shifter. Charlotte huffed and watched the four from across the room.
Ethan finished next but waited for his brother. Bo laughed at how close the kids really were. They never rushed each other, and all wanted to play together.
Dillon jumped up and ran over to Charlotte. Leaving his paper plate on the blanket.
"I'll get it". Bo said waving Lauren off. The Succubus stood up and collected the plates and tossed them into the trash can. She took the blanket and threw it into the washing machine.
Lauren cleaned up the kitchen and put the leftover pizza away. She was busy washing her hands when Bo's phone rung.
"I got it'. Bo said picking up her phone.
"Isabeau I hope you and Lauren don't have plans for tomorrow". Aife laughed.
"Mom what have you done now? Bo sighed.
"We are going to have another party. At another location". Aife laughed again.
"What kind of party? Bo asked.
"Trick had the same book Hale brought to you. I have rounded up every Fae in that log. Once I thrall them to tell us everything they can do or know, we will have a handle on how to train the kids". Aife laughed again.
"What happened? Lauren asked worriedly seeing an almost panicked look on Bo's face.
"We should all go to bed. We are going to need plenty of rest for tomorrow". Bo answered.
"Bo? Lauren said walking over to her.
"You don't need to read the rest of that log yet. Mom has found one of every Fae in it". Bo answered as she held Lauren's hand.
"So tomorrow, we will see what we all really are besides Lion shifters". Lauren said rolling her tongue over her lips.
"We are about to make a lot of new...friends". Bo said looking at Lauren and then the kids. They were all jumping up and down happily. Bo and Lauren both almost teared up at the sight.
Trick had assembled the Una Mens. So his dirty hands were in the pure lives of their children.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Lauren". Bo whispered holding the shaking Doctor in her arms.
"Bed! Everybody go to bed! Lauren screamed and then pulled out of Bo's arms. Ethan and Dillon ran towards the stairs first. Charlotte followed them until they jumped into their cribs.
Bo set the alarms and bowed her head as she followed Lauren to their room. She heard running water and found the bathroom door locked. Lauren didn't want to be bothered or joined.
Bo quickly showered in another bathroom and hurried to get in bed before Lauren did. She made it and laid on her back waiting for Lauren to come to bed.
TBC.