Lauren looked at the bed. Charlotte was still pacing back and forth as Bo lay passed out. Nothing was coming to the Doctor's head, and nobody was getting near Bo. Charlotte had taken command of the entire bed. Well the parts that her mother was not on top of. Even when Lauren walked near the bed, Charlotte roared at her.
On one hand, she is happy her daughter is so protective but on the other hand, Charlotte could be seen as being disobedient. Lauren cannot complain either way. Charlotte has known Bo longer than she has known the Doctor. Despite her fits with Bo, she does love the woman. Her gang of beasts were still outside. Circling the house. Nothing was about to get in there.
"Anything? Lauren turned to Aife.
"I've called a few shifters. None of them have ever fainted and been out this long". Aife frowned at Bo. She looked like shit.
Lauren put her finger in her mouth and started pacing again. She does not think this is a coma. Bo is just sleeping. This is not Nadia again. She had to keep telling herself that. Bo will wake up, she will come back to them. She turned to Aife. "Do you think you could? She gestured towards Charlotte.
Aife nodded and walked over to the bed. "Charlotte come to Nana". The young shifter showed her teeth and roared. "I tried". Aife shrugged.
"Bo needs to be bathed. I can't do that with Charlotte not allowing us near her". Lauren stopped walking.
Aife smiled, put a finger over her mouth and walked to the master bathroom. She returned seconds later. "This will do it". She walked over and poured a small cup of water all over Charlotte.
"Noooo! Not a bath! Charlotte screamed and jumped off the bed.
"There you go Doctor". Aife bowed and left the room. She closed the door behind her and stood guard, waiting for Lauren to give the all clear.
The house was quiet. The boys and Amani were sleeping. That is a huge relief right now. It took them six hours to get the kids to fall asleep. Charlotte was the only rebel that could stay awake. Aife smiled at the thought.
Lauren cried as she picked Bo up. The Succubus was still unresponsive. She carried her into the bathroom and placed her in the tub. She sat on a stool as she waited for the tub to fill. Even in that state, Bo looks stunning. She snapped out of her thoughts when the water was ready. She waited a few minutes and stood Bo up. She washed her from head to toe, then washed her hair. Once she was done, she dried her off and carried her back to bed. She put soft pajamas on the brunette and laid her back down.
She freshened up and opened the door again. Charlotte gritted her teeth as she ran in and jumped on the bed again. Back she went to walking around Bo.
"Nothing yet? Aife walked in.
"Nothing. I know she is not ill, ill. But this is not good". Lauren spoke softly.
The women jumped when Charlotte stood on two legs and pushed against Bo. "Wake up mama".
The young shifter stopped when she felt something. Charlotte, Lauren and Aife watched Bo's face. Her eyes changed first. They were deep, deep blue. Navy blue. Then the rest of her started to change.
"Come to mama, Charlotte". Lauren called out to their first born.
"Mama needs me". Charlotte huffed.
"She needs room, now come here". Lauren changed the tone in her voice.
Bo's eyes shot to Lauren. Low roars started filling the room. The house shook a bit but not too much to be threatening. Her clothes were ripped to shreds as she started to shift. Aife thought it looked painful. Charlotte thought it looked fun.
"Bo". Lauren stepped forward. Bo kept eye contact as she roared again. The women gasped when her color changed. Bo shifted and turned black. Her eyes were still blue as she jumped from the bed.
"Play time! Charlotte screamed as she ran out of the room. Bo followed her. Lauren held Aife back as all the shifters besides the doctor and baby Amani followed Charlotte out of the house and into the back yard.
Lauren slowly walked to the backdoors and looked out. Bo and the kids were running around and playing.
"Thought she might help". Aife emerged with Amani.
Lauren exhaled and turned back to the door.
"Look Amani, your mama's playing with your sister and brothers". Aife cooed as she held the baby up.
"I don't know about this. Bo did not say anything. After being out for hours, she just shifted and ran out of here". Lauren's voice was soft but shaky.
"Her Succubus probably kicked her shifters ass, and this is what we got". Aife laughed.
"Aife, language please". Lauren closed her eyes and opened them again.
"Sorry. But that is probably what happened. But you are being a Doctor, you need physical answers. Scientific answers". Aife kissed Amani on the cheek as she rocked her in her arms.
Lauren raised her eyebrows and dropped them. She had not thought of Bo's Succubus. Not even when her eyes turned blue. The old Succubus standing next to her did have a point. Bo's Succubus has always had a temper. She probably fought against her shifter and that is what made Bo pass out. But that does not explain Bo being an all-black shifter. She is beautiful like this though. Black with blue eyes. Lauren felt her own shifter stirring as she watched the woman.
She walked to the door and opened it. "It's lunch time".
Ethan and Dillon ran ahead of Bo and Charlotte. They raced in and shifted. Aife took the boys to freshen up. The mothers knew Charlotte was not going to leave Bo's side or sight for the time being.
"Charlotte, you need to be cleaned up". Lauren said softly.
"Nooo mama". Charlotte cried.
"Tears won't get you out of being bathed." Lauren gently picked her up. She kept her within sight of Bo, but far enough away to keep her from jumping into the Succubus arms. Once Lauren was done, she opened the door and allowed Charlotte to run out. She bathed her in her human form, so once she shifted she would not wet the carpets and floors as she ran off.
"Now. Are you going to shift back to human form, or do I need go and get the garden hose? Lauren turned back to the black shifter.
Bo walked over and nudged Lauren's hand with her head. The Doctor smiled as she rubbed Bo's head. "Bo".
The shifter lifted her head and shifted back to human form. She headed towards the bathroom, washed and put on some comfortable clothes.
Lauren waited on their bed for her.
"I know we need to talk". Bo wiped her head with a towel and tossed it into the dirty clothes bin.
"You scared me Bo. I just want to understand what happened. I need to understand what happened." Lauren held her hand out to the woman, and Bo squeezed it as she took it.
"I'm not quite sure. I thought they had it settled on coexisting. Then things got hot and heated and everything went black. Including my shifter apparently". Bo pulled Lauren to her. "I'm sorry".
"Don't be sorry. I just needed to understand. You were driving Charly up the walls too. I don't think that kid has slept since you passed out". Lauren looked towards the door.
Bo inhaled and released it as she squeezed Lauren before finally releasing her. "We have a good baby".
"We have a good family". Lauren tapped Bo's knee.
"Then let's go feed them". Bo stood and reached for Lauren's hand. They needed to show a united front in front of the kids. Charlotte was probably waiting at the door for them to emerge. Bo gently opened it and laughed. "We're coming sweetie".
Charlotte followed closely behind Bo. So much the Succubus almost tripped over her.
"Charlotte's mama is ok. We promise". Lauren spoke softly. Charlotte huffed and kept her pace.
"How's Kenz? Bo asked.
"I'm not sure. She should be here soon". Lauren answered.
Bo nodded and grabbed some veggies to chop. Lauren is the cook, and they are going to stick to that.
"Are you ok? Really ok? Aife asked softly.
"I think so. I am sorry that I scared all of you. But I wanted, no I needed to have Lauren's baby. My shifter came with that". Bo looked at her mother and turned back to chopping.
Once lunch was ready, they all sat down to eat. Kenzi had arrived and was going on and on with questions for Bo. Bo blushed at all of the attention and answered what she could. What she could not answer, Lauren chimed in. Kenzi dropped it once she ran out of questions but warned them she would be at it again, one she thought of something else.
Aife watched Bo. They all peeked at her when they had a chance to. She looked healthier. Her hair was thicker.
Charlotte jumped on Bo's lap and the Succubus laughed. "Warn me next time or say excuse me".
"Down Charlotte". Lauren eyed their daughter.
"She's just worried. Come sit with Aunt Kenzi, Nakedra". Kenzi cooed and opened her arms to the shifter.
Charlotte laughed and jumped to Kenzi. Once she stopped laughing, she turned back to Bo.
Bo set her fork down. "Look I'm sorry about all of that. If I could have prevented it, I would have. I am still not completely sure how or why it happened. But I am better now. I promise".
"Well one minute, you were a shifter of one color and then you were all black. That's enough to throw anyone off track". Aife sipped on her drink.
"Wait. What? Black? Kenzi nearly spit her food all over Charlotte and the shifter jumped from her lap.
"Bo's a black shifter now. When she shifts her entire body is black and her eyes turn navy blue". Lauren explained.
"Do you have a picture? Kenzi asked.
Aife pulled her phone out and passed it to Kenzi.
"Holy…
"Don't say it Kenz". Bo finished her food and pushed her plate to the side.
"Wow. Just wow! Kenzi's eyes were wide as she turned the phone in different directions. In her shifter form, Bo looked like something you would see in the deep woods in the dead of winter.
"She's beautiful isn't she? Lauren smiled into her next bite.
"Stunning". Kenzi jealously gave Aife's phone back to her. "Will you text me a copy of that? Aife nodded and went back to eating.
Bo suddenly stood and it rattled the Doctor.
"I'm fine babe. I'm going to get Amani". Bo replied as she smiled and left the table.
"Okay Doc. What the hell are we going to do about this? How is it possible that she is a different colored shifter? Kenzi leaned forward.
"I don't know. But I do know Bo has been through hell in back. First with my coma and then with Charlotte. If she says she is ok, she is ok. But know I will run some tests. If I can convince her to allow me to. I will not push, we are going at her speed. Besides the kids weren't afraid so it can't be all bad". Lauren smiled with pride. Charlotte does not fear anything, but she does love her mother. Her family.
"You're the Scientist here, aura's can only tell us so much". Aife patted Lauren's hand and released it.
"I promise, the minute she grants me tests, I will start right on them". Lauren smiled.
"Shoot don't wait for that Doc, yank some hair from her hairbrush". Kenzi suggested.
"I could do that, but I don't want to go behind Bo's back. This would be a nasty fight and cause unnecessary problems". Lauren shook her head.
"She's right Kenzi. Although that is a good idea, it is a bad thing to do to Bo. She's going to need us to be better than we have been before". Aife sat back in her chair and smiled when her daughter walked in with her second granddaughter.
Bo retook her seat and smiled at Amani. "Hello sweetie".
The women sat talking about everything and nothing at all. There was not much that they could say that would not start a huge argument. Lauren knew her spots by now. Now was not the time to bring her idea up to Bo. Not in front of everyone. Especially the kids. But the Doctor could not help but wrack her brain in amazement at what they saw from Bo earlier.
Bo felt a tight hold on her pinky finger. She looked down at Amani. "Mama's okay. I'm more worried about you".
"She's fine Bo. I ran a few tests while you were sleeping". Lauren immediately jumped in to help.
"Charly, Ethan and Dillon? Bo asked as she rocked their youngest.
"Bad asses like always". Aife laughed. She stopped when Bo and Lauren eyed her.
"Are you two up for babysitting? Lauren asked.
"Sure". Kenzi nodded. She thought of Hale as backup, but he was busy with a client.
"We won't be gone long. I just want to go on a run with Bo. Get her feet wet so to speak". Lauren drank the last of her coffee and set the cup in the sink. "I'll clean up when we return".
Bo kissed Amani before she handed her off to Kenzi. This will be good. She wanted to be as fast as the rest of her family. Now she gets a chance to run with probably the fastest among them. But it is some quality time with Lauren.
Lauren went around and kissed all of the kids too before she turned towards the door. Kenzi and Aife are always so helpful when it comes to last minute plans. But they need this. She wants to talk to Bo, and she cannot do that with all eyes and ears on them.
The mothers walked out to the porch. Once they convinced Charlotte to dismiss her small army from guard duty, Bo watched as Lauren shifted first. She watched her leave the yard before she shifted too. They were naked but that is nothing Bo would be embarrassed about. They had robes on until they got outside.
Lauren stood waiting for Bo to catch up to her, and she did. The Doctor allowed the new shifter to pick what direction that they would run in. She gestured for Bo to go first and Bo took off. She was smiling at how fast she could run now. Nobody would get the best of her with this anymore.
She would be able to shift and go like the rest of her family now. Well besides Amani.
When Bo stopped running, Lauren stopped too. They found an open space and took a rest.
"Bo". Lauren spoked.
"I know what this is Lauren. I know you far too well to not know. I am okay. At least I think I am". Bo answered.
"Okay then you should know that I want to run some tests. I don't think anything is wrong with you, but the Doctor in me outweighs any other part of me". Lauren stepped towards the woman.
"Of course, I will let you run your tests. But we both know I have never been your average Fae. Shifter or not". Bo shifted to her human form and Lauren followed her lead.
"It was a brilliant idea to put a backpack on your back. Now we have clothes and shoes". Bo smiled.
"I just wanted this time with you Bo. To talk about your shifter. To talk about you giving birth. It is a lot to deal with. We need to be strong for the kids. So, if there are any questions you have, now is the time to ask them". Lauren finished dressing. She pulled a blanket out of the bag and placed it on the ground.
"Once it became too much, my Succubus took the rest of the pain. Holy crap I did not think anything could be that painful. But it is worth it. All of this is worth it". Bo took a seat.
"I love you Bo. I know that hurt and I am sorry. But now you are truly a part of all of us. If you ever need anything, if you ever want to talk about any of it. If you ever have nightmares, just wake me and we will talk". Lauren patted the woman's leg.
"I love you too, and all of that went without saying. But thank you". Bo bent over and held Lauren.
"Now I did promise that we wouldn't be long. Don't make us start something that would make me a liar". Lauren laughed.
Bo pushed the Doctor down and kissed her before she pulled her back up. They put their clothes and the blanket back in the bag and put it on Bo's back this time as they raced for home.
Bo loved it. Her feet did not hurt, and she was fast. Probably faster than Lauren but she would never want to show the Doctor up. They are going to have such a great life. A better one. No more were they holding back anything. No more was Bo worried or doubting herself among her own family. Now it is better. Loving. Trusting.
Lauren watched Bo as they ran. She made sure to keep a lookout on everything. If Bo stumbled, if she looked tired, which was silly given all of the powers within her. Lauren had not forgotten that Bo inherited the Una Mens powers too. So, there will be so much more going on in the coming days and the blonde would be ready. Bo's thicker hair gave the woman all kinds of ideas. But none she could execute at the moment and certainly not with the kids in the house without their headsets on.
Lauren laughed as Bo ran and jumped on everything in sight. She even posed on some large rocks. The shifter in her is bringing out the kid in her and Lauren is going to enjoy every eye-opening moment.
TBC