Screams shook the room. They felt like they were shaking the entire house. The gang watched and held their ears as Kenzi completed her shift. Hale stood closest to her in case she needed him but clearly, she didn't. The cheetah before them is beautiful. She's red, black and white. Lauren smiled as the others looked at Kenzi. She had done well but wasn't about to pat herself on the back either. A happy patient is all a doctor can ask for. That was something the Light Fae had done. Puffed their chests even when they were wrong and the doctor was right.
"Kenzi?". Bo spoke softly. The woman turned to Bo and nearly ran her over as she ran and jumped on her. Bo laughed as Kenzi let her stand again.
"These floors are a killer, Kenzi. Be careful". Lauren stood back to allow her to run down the hall and down the stairs. Out the doors she went. She was soon joined by Charlotte, Ethan and Dillon as they ran around the yard. The kids laughed and ran. If Kenzi ever wanted to be closer to them, this was her chance.
"Thank you, Lauren". Bo spoke softly as they all watched the events from the window.
"Kenzi was starting to feel left out and inadequate to us. This is good for her." Lauren smiled.
"She can run fast, right?". Bo asked.
"She can. But I won't know for sure yet until she needs to. Right now, let's just see how she adapts to her new body. Now that her first shift is over, it should get a lot easier when she shifts back and forth". Lauren answered as she poured something to drink.
For now, Bo was out of questions. She is content to just watch Kenzi play with her kids. Hale and Aife are the only non shifters in the group but that's fine with the two of them. Aife loves being a succubus. Hale loves being a siren.
Bo rubbed her hands together and remembered her rings. They are engaged. She smiled as she rubbed her hand over the rings. Lauren was busy and didn't notice Bo. But Bo noticed. She noticed how beautiful the blonde is. She noticed how warm the rings felt against her finger. She broke when the doors opened and Lauren had walked out to join the gang. She shifted and ran around with Kenzi.
Bo smiled when Lauren crouched down like she was about to run. She knows she's just trying to ease Kenzi into her new body and new life. Kenzi doesn't know how to talk with her shifter yet, so showing her what to do is going to help her in the long run. Bo stepped out onto the patio and watched them go. The yard is not big enough for a full blown race but big enough for Kenzi to get a good run in.
Hours later, everyone settled in for a late dinner. Kenzi had shifted back to her human form and was blasting away at Lauren with hundreds of questions. Bo listened to the answers in case she needed to know for Kenzi's sake. She smiled at the thought of Lauren and Kenzi being so close now. They were not at first. Kenzi would not go near the woman unless she absolutely had to. Lauren had no use for Kenzi unless the woman was sick. Now they are both healthy and talkative. Hale on the other hand looked a little lost. He was trying to keep up with the conversation but when it would get too much, he asked questions. Kenzi's appetite was heightened to the point she was making plans to buy groceries for the house.
Everyone readied for bed. Bo and Lauren climbed into bed and held each other as they talked about everything that was talked about at the dinner table. Bo wanted to make sure that Lauren could wind down and actually rest since she wasn't getting much sleep lately. "Just rest, babe. That's enough for the night". She cooed as she pulled the woman to her body.
Lauren smiled and closed her eyes. As soon as she did, they popped open again. Bo laughed but remained patient when Lauren kept thinking of what ifs.
"You need to rest so that we can start planning our wedding". Bo whispered against blonde locks. She felt Lauren tense up again and pulsed the woman. But that didn't stop the questions then either. She laughed once more and gave up. If Lauren is going to ramble then it's going to be like a bedtime story for Bo. But a low voiced Lauren is as sexy as anything they could do at the moment.
The next morning
Bo opened her eyes and she was warmed by Lauren's body against hers. The doctor was lightly snoring and the sound was adorable. The brunette gently climbed out of bed and put a robe on. She opened the door and walked out of the room and down the stairs. She smiled when she realized she wasn't alone. "Charly? Will you ever sleep in?".
Charlotte huffed and stretched out on the floor. "Come here, baby". Bo cooed and the shifter jumped on the couch. "You're almost four. It is time that you learn that you will be starting school soon. Mama and I haven't discussed it yet, but you are smart enough to catch on really quickly. Ethan and Dillon aren't that far behind you, so you won't always be going alone". The two sat in silence before they heard someone coming. "Hey, Kenzi. You okay?". Bo smiled.
"I'm grreeat!". Kenzi growled.
"Whoa. Easy with that". Bo laughed as she felt Charlotte roaring on the inside.
Kenzi plopped down on the couch beside Bo with her phone in her hand. "Man, Lauren did a really good job. Red, black and white look so good on me".
"Lauren doesn't do anything halfway. I'm sure she worked and worked and worked to make sure you don't look hideous". Bo looked at Kenzi's phone as she held it up showing pictures of her in her cheetah form.
"We have come so far, Bo. At one time we were only worried about our cases and the shack. Now we have tons of money, a family and a better place to live". Kenzi smiled.
"You can live here as long as you want but I know you and Hale. You guys will want a family and house like this of your own. You can afford it too". Bo smiled as she rubbed Charlotte's back.
"We will and we do. But we won't be too far away. There's plenty of empty space up and down this street. But, for now, I'm just going with it". Kenzi smiled as she turned back to her phone.
"No rush". Bo smiled as she let Charlotte go and she left them on the couch. Off the young shifter went back up the stairs and to her parents room. She jumped on the bed and settled in at Lauren's feet.
"Come on Kenz, let's wake the troops with breakfast". Bo stood and walked towards the kitchen.
"Ahh Bo, I'd rather wait for Lauren". Kenzi drank some juice and took a seat.
"You might want to try milk". Lauren joined them with Charlotte walking beside her.
"Did you wake mama, Charlotte?". Bo asked.
"She didn't." Lauren replied.
"I'll get Amani and the boys". Bo laughed and left the two.
"How are you feeling?". Lauren asked as she made her way around the kitchen.
"Starving but other than that, I'm fine". Kenzi smiled.
"You'll let me know if that changes right?". Lauren eyed the woman.
"I will. I will". Kenzi smiled and set her glass down. "Can I help?".
"Sure". Lauren pointed and directed Kenzi to do a few things while she did most of the work.
Bo returned with the kids and Hale. The adults helped to cook breakfast and set the table and they all sat down to a monstrous meal. Once everyone had their fill, they all helped to clean and went their separate ways. Bo, Lauren and the kids all piled into the living room while Hale and Kenzi decided to go for a long drive.
"So, I was telling Charlotte that she will be starting school soon". Bo smiled.
"Yep. It is time for that". Lauren rubbed the shifter's back.
"But your biggest test, my love, is to get you used to being in your human form". Bo looked at their oldest.
"Ick". Charlotte groaned.
Bo laughed and looked at Lauren. "That's your child".
"No, she's yours. Stubborn". Lauren laughed back.
"She lives in her shifter mode, that makes her more you than me". Bo smiled.
"You're a shifter now, too". Lauren stuck her tongue out at the woman.
"Ick". Bo laughed.
"But seriously, we need to get them ready. I'm going to make some calls soon to get a feel for some good schools. But other than that, you are first, Charlotte". Lauren sat back on the couch.
"She'll probably come home and teach them". Bo laughed as she pointed at the other three.
"She probably will". Lauren laughed. This is so good. They are talking about school. It's stirring the geek inside of Lauren. But she knows their children will do really well. "We are going to get a lot of calls from teachers". She laughed.
Bo fell over laughing and sat back up. She turned on some cartoons for the kids and pulled a drink from the coffee table.
"Now about our plans". Lauren turned serious.
"Oh yeah". Bo winked.
"So, I'm not thinking of a big wedding but I want a nice one". Lauren pulled a pad and pen from the table.
"I want the world to know that I'm marrying you". Bo moved to sit closer to the blonde.
Lauren smiled and went back to strategizing. "Do we want to marry at home? Marry somewhere else? Where?".
Bo bit her lip. There isn't really anywhere significant that they can marry that wouldn't take them back to their old lives. Namely somewhere that wouldn't be painful for Lauren. "I'd say the compound where we first met but no. I'd say your old loft but no. I'd say the club house but no. I'd say the Dal but no."
"We can fly somewhere and marry. Somewhere we've never been." Lauren perked up.
"That's not a bad idea. It would be good to get out of town for a minute. We can take the whole family. That way we can honeymoon at the same time". Bo ran every scenario through her head.
"But that means, Charlotte and the boys must shift and stay in human form. We can't draw attention to us". Lauren noted.
"It will be good for them to get used to it.". Bo made faces at Charlotte and laughed when she didn't like it.
"We'll need to call a little family meeting but not right now. Let's give Kenzi and Hale their private time". Lauren put the pad down and settled back on the couch.
Hale and Kenzi
"Ok Kenz, it is just us now. How are you really doing?". Hale asked as they walked hand in hand.
"I didn't lie, Hale. I'm doing well." Keniz nudged him.
"That's our family back there. They really are. I just want to make sure that you are okay. Lauren worked really hard to get you what you wanted. Now, we need to make sure that you stay healthy and learn all that you need to know. All that I need to know too". Hale smiled.
"I don't feel weird or anything that I didn't feel back there. I'm looking forward to learning as I go. Now I know what Lauren must have felt like when she first shifted. I know it wasn't her wish to be a shifter, but I really think that saved her life." Kenzi held her head down.
"Lauren has gone through hell. She really has. That's why I want to make sure that you're okay. For Lauren to fail or be wrong about anything would hurt her. She's been hurt enough. She doesn't deserve any more misery". Hale pulled Kenzi to sit on a bench.
"She doesn't. Hey, we can help with their wedding. That will make her happy". Kenzi perked up. She's so excited for them.
"They are going to need babysitters. We are always good for that". Hale laughed.
"We can do more than that. We can plan their trip. We can book hotel suites. We can pay for the entire thing". Kenzi poked Hale.
"We can do that too. But I'm sure we are still going to be asked to babysit". Hale laughed again. Thinking of the kids amuses him to no end. They are growing. They are learning. They are Bo and Lauren and a little bit of Aife. "Hey, Aife might want to pitch in too".
"You know it". Kenzi called for a cool drink.
Aife
The Succubus had been driving all morning and late into the afternoon. She was trying to find the perfect spot for the wedding. But that drab colony is dull. The Dal is out. It's pain stained. For everyone involved.
She wants her daughter to marry once and for it to be a legendary wedding. She smiled thinking of the Queen's jewels that Bo or Lauren can wear and she's already had them sent to be polished. She wants them to be beautiful. She wants them to be happy. She is also out looking for clothes for the kids to wear. She teared up thinking how adorable they will be dressed in dresses and little tux suits.
Later
Morning and afternoon had turned to early evening. The gang were all home and sitting at the table.
"So, we've decided to travel for our wedding since there really isn't a good spot to marry here. Some spots are especially painful to Lauren. Some spots are painful to me". Bo spoke up.
"Anywhere?". Kenzi looked at a map.
"Anywhere". Lauren and Bo spoke.
The gang went round and round on every destination that they could think of. They all jumped when Charlotte jumped on the table and stood in the middle. "Hawaii". She said and put her finger on the exact spot.
"Geez. This kid is going to be the death of all of us". Kenzi laughed.
"She's right! Hawaii would be wonderful. So many islands. So much to do". Aife slapped the table top.
Bo winced. "Bo?". Lauren asked.
"They are still babies. We are going to have to be extra cautious and watch them at all times". Bo spoke up.
"Nope. Mama has this. I will make calls and get an entire island reserved for us. Then I will hire protection. We got this". Aife stood and walked away on her phone.
"So, we're doing this?". Lauren asked.
"We're doing this". Bo cried into the woman's hands.
"Come on Bo, let's get you packed!". Kenzi pulled the woman out of the room.
"This is it, doc. You are going to be married very soon". Hale laughed.
"I know". Lauren smiled at Charlotte. Hale laughed and excused himself. That left Lauren and Charlotte at the table. The shifter sat in her mother's lap, facing. "It's okay mama. It will be okay". She put her hands on Lauren's cheek and let go. Lauren smiled as Charlotte jumped down and ran off. Likely to find her brothers. The blonde leaned on the table. She looked around the dining room and smiled. She had thought long and hard about proposing to Bo. Now she has and they will be married soon.
She chose this time while one of their children is small enough to hold at the altar. She wants Bo to be holding Amani when she speaks her vows to her. She hasn't written them down and won't because she wants the moment to be raw.
Charlotte walked over to Lauren with something in her mouth. "What's this baby?".
"The Queen's runner up dress". Aife walked in.
"What?". Lauren asked.
"Mother had ten dresses picked out to marry Trick. She settled on two. One she wore. This one was left behind. I would be honored if you would wear it". Aife bowed.
Lauren didn't know what to say. She stood and hugged the woman. "Shouldn't Bo wear this?". She pulled back.
"I have mine". Bo stepped in holding a garment bag over her shoulder.
The group all returned for dinner. The plans were set. In one day, they will travel to Hawaii. In two days, Lauren and Bo will be married.
The next day
Bo blew out a breath as they waited for their flight. Everyone else sat waiting to be boarded. She kept her hand in Charlotte's. She kept her eyes on her too. At any given moment she might try to break free and cause some kind of hell. But only if the family has been threatened. She sighed in relief that the flight went well. When they landed she was still holding Charlotte's hand. Charlotte sent a pulse into Bo's hand but it didn't make Bo turn her loose.
"Isabeau, it's okay. Let the baby go". Aife laughed.
"Charlotte running loose and free in Hawaii. This should be fun!". Bo laughed and ran after her. Long hair was swirling in the wind as Charlotte ran away from her mother.
TBC