Aife
The Succubus was up, showered and ready to go on a little errand. She took a seat on her bed, and put the finishing touches on her outfit.
She remembered Charlotte sleeping in her bed, but she was nowhere around. Good. She didn't need a tagalong.
She grabbed her keys, and held them gently to keep them from making noise. She quietly walked downstairs. She smiled when she reached the door. Charlotte was stretched across the threshold.
"Charlotte." Aife said quietly.
The young shifter immediately looked up.
"No. I will be right back. Stay here with the family. Especially your mother. Bo needs you more than I do." The Succubus said softly staring down at her granddaughter. "Don't roar either, you will wake everyone up."
Charlotte looked at Aife, and then at the door, then back at Aife.
"I will be fine. Nothing's going to happen to me. But your mother might freak thinking something has happened to you. Bye sweetie." Aife said. She knelt down and kissed the top of Charlotte's head, and picked her up to move her from the doorway.
Aife quietly walked out, and locked the door behind her. She pushed a button on her keychain, and started her car. Once she was inside, she stared back at the house. She allowed the tears to fall, before she cleaned herself up in the rearview mirror. For the longest time she thought Bo would hate her. She was sure Charlotte hated her. But they don't. She was wondering how long Charly was going to follow her. She'd never spent that much time with her. Not even when she literally dropped in on her at Tau's.
Perhaps the young shifter was picking up on some bad vibes. But there's nothing to fear. Tau doesn't have the balls, and Sadie certainly knows her place. They're all old foes but never got to a point where they were foolish enough to mess with the Blood King's daughter. If Aife so much as cut her finger, they'd all run for cover. Blood. It's what drives Aife. Blood relatives. Trick's gone so she really has a family she can trust, and one that can trust her. The only thing she can't help Bo with is carrying a shifter, and other DNA from the Una Mens powers that Lauren passed on to Bo as well.
Shaking her head free of tears, Aife finally started her car and pulled out of the driveway.
Bo
The brunette had showered and gone downstairs. She smiled seeing Dillon and Ethan racing each other around the house. She stopped when she saw Charlotte staring at the door.
She walked over and pulled it open. When the shifter didn't try to go outside, she walked over to check the security cameras. She saw nothing but Aife leaving.
"Charlotte? Come here." Bo said patting the cushion on the couch.
Charlotte turned to Bo and back to the door.
"She'll be back sweetie. Come sit with mama." Bo said softly. Charlotte obeyed Bo this time and jumped on the couch.
"I don't know what's wrong, but I promise your grandmother will be fine." Bo said as she kissed the top of Charlotte's head. She smiled when she saw faint lipstick on her head. Probably Aife's way of convincing her curious granddaughter to stay put.
"Good morning Bo and Charly! Lauren cooed as she walked towards them, while putting her hair in a tight ponytail.
"Good morning Lauren! Bo smiled. The doctor bent to kiss her and Charlotte.
"We need to get the boys and you know what." Lauren said quietly.
"Already on it doc " Kenzi laughed carrying a freshened up Dillon and Ethan in her arms.
"Thank you Kenzi." Lauren smiled.
"That only leaves .." Bo sighed. She laughed when Charlotte started glaring at her.
"I can't believe a clean freak mother like Lauren has a child that hates baths." Kenzi laughed as she played with the boys.
"Just for that, you can clean her up too". Lauren smiled.
"Okay. Aunt Kenzi will show you two rookies how it's done. Come to me Nakedra! Kenzi smiled.
The young shifter glared at her too. "Who's a rookie? Bo laughed.
"I'll get her cleaned up and back in time for breakfast." Kenzi motioned towards the kitchen.
Ethan and Dillon stretched out on a big rug, and settled in for a quick nap. Bo smiled looking at them. They're going to be good men when they grow up. Like Charlotte, they still preferred to stay in their shifter forms. Unworn clothes lined their closets. Pulling herself from her thoughts, Bo stood and walked over to freshen up to help Lauren cook.
"I think we should take a trip. With just us and Charlotte." Bo said quietly.
"We will someday. But how did this come up? Lauren asked.
"She just seems distant from us, and closer to mom. That hurts a bit." Bo replied. She handed Lauren a utensil and went back to tending to the meat.
"She knows we're her mother's Bo. But I do agree that she seems to be drifting further away from us." Lauren said rubbing Bo's back.
"I want to do it before my delivery. We don't know how many I'll have yet, because we both want to be surprised." Bo said taking a bite of food.
Lauren gently sighed. Perhaps they should've waited to conceive Ethan and Dillon, but that still doesn't mean they can't make time for all of their kids. Charlotte wouldn't likely want to leave her brothers behind. But Lauren can't deny the chill surrounding her, Bo and Charlotte.
"I just can't think of a way to go off somewhere with her, without bringing them too." Lauren sighed. Heavily this time.
"I don't want any of them to think that we are playing favorites. I just want to be close to her. I thought we were and then she thought I left her. I will never leave her. She's both of us. I love that. They all are." Bo took another bite of food and was ready to start plating the food.
"Well maybe we don't necessarily need to go anywhere, we can ask Kenzi and Aife for some time alone with them. Then we can spend time doing whatever they want to do." Lauren said plating the food she cooked.
"Maybe it's just me. I don't want to deny Mom her chance of bonding with them either. I just want us to be closer." Bo called for Kenzi and the boys.
Kenzi walked in with Charlotte wrapped in a large bath towel.
"Set her down and I'll put her food down." Bo smiled.
Charlotte gently shook her head, and glared up at Bo.
"If you'd stay in your human form, your baths would be a lot easier". Bo laughed.
Bo! Lauren screamed.
"What? She needs to know that." Bo laughed as Charlotte took her first bite of food.
Lauren smiled as she gave the boys their food. The women dug into their plates. Cleaned up, and opened the patio doors. Charlotte ran out. Her excitement inspired the boys too.
"Okay they're playing. Now what are the big kids going to play? Kenzi asked.
"Kenz. I can't." Bo said pointing at her stomach.
"Okay. Poker it is." Kenzi said pulling a deck of cards from her pocket.
"What are we going to play for? Lauren asked as they walked over to the table.
"If I win, I get to name your child or children". Kenzi smiled.
"No! Bo and Lauren said together.
"C'mon. I'm not rolling in dough like you are. Mama needs every penny." Kenzi said.
"Something wrong at the office? Bo asked worriedly.
"I didn't say that. I said I need every penny. I want all of it." Kenzi smiled again.
"Then maybe we should play checkers or something." Lauren suggested.
"Nope. Sorry doc. You seem like someone that would calculate every move, before the game starts." Kenzi said shaking her head.
"How about just putting on some music! Bo said.
"Music and beer? Gotcha! Kenzi smiled walking towards the kitchen.
"No heavy metal." Lauren said seriously.
"Not even a little? Kenzi asked.
"Charly doesn't like it." Bo smiled at Kenzi.
"I've got to babysit more often. A niece of mine that doesn't like heavy metal? I'm hurt dudettes." Kenzi handing Lauren a beer and Bo a glass of juice.
"Hey about Charlotte. Lauren and I were tossing around taking her on a trip. Could you handle the boys alone? Bo asked.
"Hale could probably help me. But I see what you mean. She looks at Lauren like a stranger, and at Bo like she wants to kick your ass, all the time." Kenzi said taking a seat.
"Ugh. I just don't know how we'll even make it out the door without Ethan and Dillon. She will fight, and probably bite." Bo sighed into her hands.
"Sneak out." Kenzi shrugged.
Bo and Lauren studied each other for a minute, and shook their heads no.
"Then I'll sneak out with the twins." Kenzi said looking back and forth between them.
"No. There has to be a better way. I don't want to trick my daughter. Our daughter." Bo said.
"Then I don't know another way. The boys are pretty big now and creeping up on being one year olds. You better decide pretty quickly on Nakedra, because I hear two year olds are a handful." Kenzi said gently.
"Her name is Charlotte, but I think you just like saying naked." Bo teased.
Lauren sat rubbing her chin. She was trying to come up with a way to take Charlotte away without her throwing a four alarm tantrum. They need this. Both of them. All three of them. Charlotte wasn't an angry baby. She's just trying to constantly be her brothers keeper, and not enjoying just being a baby. Even if she's their baby.
"We'll just have to sit her down and explain. Explain that we want to spend time alone with her. To build that trust back before it festers into something bigger. We won't be gone long, because we can't afford to damage our relationships with the boys too. It's my recommendation." Lauren said softly.
"It's the weekend. Go pack your bags. I'll go out and toss them a ball or something." Kenzi said as she stood.
Bo and Lauren nodded. A weekend is plenty of time to get away. If it were the middle of the week, it'd really be hard not to come back. But they're parents now. They have to be responsible. Kenzi, Hale and possibly Aife would all enjoy playing with the boys. They were sweet and happy with their little gang, so they won't be expecting to come home and find the house torn down.
Kenzi watched them until they disappeared, and went out to the kids. They were chasing each other as usual. Laughing and smiling. She grabbed a ball from the bin and threw it in between them. This trip is going to be so good for Bo. To bond with their first born, will remind her of how wonderful, and hands on she was when Charlotte was born. She held, fed, changed and rocked her so much, Kenzi rarely got a chance to hold her. She only seemed to relax when they found a shifter to teach Bo how often Charlotte needed to feed. Bo was serious about that too. Her face showed she was completely listening without assuming she could take a shortcut. Lauren was still in her coma. So it was all on Bo. Lauren's out of her coma now, so it's on both of them to try to be the mothers Charlotte can trust.
Aife and Tau
The Succubus slowly walked past the shifters outside of their designated meeting building. They snapped their teeth at her. But never did more than that. The woman's eyes were a crisp blue, and her skin was glowing.
"Tau." The Succubus said seriously.
"Aife. We need to talk." Tau said.
"The only thing that you need to tell me is that you found her." Aife said slowly.
"I did but…" Tau sighed.
"Present her. Now! Aife snapped.
"Still a bitch." Sadie laughed from behind Aife.
"And you're still a coward trying to sneak up on people. But it's of no matter, your ass will be mine if you tire me any further." Aife said with her back to the woman. To turn around would be like bowing to the woman. Screw that.
"The old lion here tells me that you sent for me. I know your daughter is expecting. I just don't know what you want. Besides death, if you tire me further." Sadie said.
"Tau grab that bitch with your teeth and bring her before me." Aife said staring straight ahead.
"She doesn't like you Aife. Her intentions are not good." Tau said.
"I don't give a damn if she likes me or not. She will do as I say, or die right now." Aife said. Never once did the Succubus break her stance.
"Let me guess. You want me to help...Isabeau is it? Sadie laughed.
"Now Tau." Aife seethed for the first time.
"The Blood King is dead. Nobody fears you Succubus." Sadie snickered.
"You should fear me. Better yet, you should fear this." Aife said holding a vial in her hand.
"It can't be. Not his cursed blood." Sadie said backing up, until her back hit the nearest wall.
"I heard your mother's not well. Poor thing had an unfortunate accident this morning. Not good when a shifter is in the middle of nowhere, with only two good legs. Her old body crawling inch by inch." Aife laughed as she tossed the vial in her hand.
"I'll tear you limb from limb! Sadie snapped.
"You will help my daughter learn how to carry a shifter baby. If you don't, your mother dies, the instant that I write in this blood. It contains Trick's blood, and hers. That's why it'll be quick, and painful." Aife laughed.
"I really hate you. But to save my mother, I'll help your Succubus." Sadie sighed.
"Very well. Now you will learn how to wash your ass because you're not going near her like this. In the meantime, your mother will be given water and food. You better teach Isabeau quick, your mother's wounds may become infected seeing they haven't been wrapped. Ready to be devoured by whatever beasts my men allow through." Aife laughed again.
"That gives me very little time." Sadie groaned.
"That's not my problem. The quicker you bathe and pass my inspection. The quicker you can help her. I'd say write some instructions down, but not even I could read your chicken scratch." Aife laughed.
"Are you done with me? Tau asked.
"No. You will make sure she bathes and doesn't try to escape while doing so. You have twenty minutes. Not nineteen. Not twenty-one. Twenty. Now go." Aife laughed tossing the vial around again.
Tau wanted to roar but didn't dare test the Succubus standing before them. If Trick's blood wasn't dangerous enough before, in Aife's hands it could be down right deadly. The woman was and is known in many circles as a lunatic. But nobody dared to say that to her face. If Trick couldn't control her, nobody would, or could. He cringed when Sadie stripped. He didn't want to see that. A Succubus could be beautiful, but a shifter Succubus could be a different story. Sadie is one of those different stories.
Bo and Lauren
The women stood looking at their bags. They counted everything and counted them again.
"Are you sure you're up for a trip? Lauren asked softly. She rubbed Bo's stomach and watched her eyes turn blue, gold, and back to brown.
"We'll be here longer if you start that up again." Bo blushed as she shook her head to calm herself.
"I'm serious Bo. Perhaps we're rushing into this." Lauren said quietly. The doctor stood up straight, and twitched her nose. She looked at Bo, and her eyes were constantly changing colors.
"Lauren? Bo called softly.
"Stay here." Lauren said gently pushing Bo down on their bed.
Bo screamed as she bent over. Lifting her head again, she roared.
"Kenzi! Get the kids in here! Now! Lauren screamed as she shifted. She stayed with Bo until Kenzi entered the room.
"Where's Charlotte?! Bo screamed.
Charlotte jumped on the bed with her eyes a solid gold. She gently laid across Bo's lap, then turned to Lauren. The shifter jumped once and was out of the room.
"What the Fae is going on?! Kenzi asked as she paced back and forth.
"Something or someone's coming." Bo said. Charlotte was still on her lap. She felt her purring and it almost tickled. That is if Bo wasn't so worried about Lauren.
"Shhhh...shhhhh it! Kenzi snapped. Ethan and Dillon were on their feet at Bo's feet.
Outside
Lauren stood in front of the house. She allowed her senses to zero in on everything surrounding their house. She hadn't seen anything on the security cameras and wanted to be outside if this was a sneak attack.
She backed up when she saw Aife's car coming with a car behind it. She roared and jumped on the second car before it reached the driveway.
"Lauren! It's ok! I went and got Isabeau some help! Aife screamed as she jumped out of her car.
"I don't need any help. But thanks Mom." Bo smiled from the yard. The Succubus body was glowing, and her eyes flashed blue and gold. Clearly her shifter dna and her Succubus had merged.
Lauren roared and jumped in front of Bo.
"Easy Doctor. I'm okay." Bo said as she reached down and rubbed Lauren's back.
"Well shit. Guessing I won't be needing this then." Aife laughed tossing her vial in her hand.
"Aife! I'm warning you! Sadie growled.
"Well I didn't warn you. If I drop this, your mother will still drop." Aife laughed.
"Who is she Mom? Bo asked with her hand still rubbing Lauren's back.
"A bitchy and old Succubus-lioness. I figured she could help you learn the ins and outs of your pregnancy. But I see I'm too late." Aife explained.
"Am I free to go now? Tau sighed angrily.
"Not yet. There's been a change of plans. You're going to train my grandsons while you're here. Sadie's going to stay for my amusement." Aife laughed.
Lauren and Bo looked at each other. "Are you talking about for the weekend? Bo asked.
"Do you need that long? Aife asked.
"Yes. The three of us." Lauren said.
"Aww Nana's going to miss my little bed buddy. But go. I got this." Aife said waving them back into the house.
"Lauren shifted and quickly dressed. Kenzi helped take their bags to the car. Charlotte stayed with Bo, step for step. The women did stop long enough to hold and kiss Ethan and Dillon. When the time came, they both teared up, but promised they wouldn't be gone long. After a few more kisses, they prepared to leave.
"Watch our boys Kenz." Bo said softly.
"Hale should be here in ten. Go have fun. Be mothers to your daughter." Kenzi said as Lauren strapped Charlotte in her car seat.
The women pulled out of the driveway, and Lauren sighed. "Bo that was dangerous. I'm going to check you, once we get to where we're going."
"It was Charlotte's idea." Bo smiled. She gently turned, reached, and high fived Charlotte.
The little shifter laughed and leaned back to watch the Lion King again. This time Bo and Lauren didn't mind because she had her headphones on.
TBC