Chapter Seventeen

It had been a couple days and Bo was loving being a mother.

Lauren and Charlotte stayed at the clinic for a day before they went home as a new family. While they were there, Bo made the decision to keep the birth quiet. The last thing she wanted to deal with was any Elder arriving to "wish them well". She wanted a few days to not think about the Fae or Elders.

Once they arrived home, Bo realized how tired Lauren still was and offered to take care of their little baby while her wife rested. Little did she know that Lauren had already thought of all they would need to do once they got home with Charlotte and almost immediately started listing off tasks. It only took her an hour to come up with a schedule to keep Charlotte on.

Even with Lauren's OCD ways, and Bo loved her for them, Bo knew she would be spending a lot of time with her daughter. Once she had her in her arms, she knew that nothing else in the world mattered to her as much as her and Lauren. Their little family was perfect in Bo's eyes.

She walked into the bedroom with Charlotte in her arms, noticing that Lauren was not only awake but reading something on her tablet. "This doesn't look like resting to me. Does it to you, peanut?"

"Peanut?" Lauren commented, looking up from whatever she was reading to Bo with a raised eyebrow. "That's what you're calling her?"

Bo smiled, looking down at the sleeping baby in her arms, before turning her attention to Lauren. "I've been testing a few out. Seeing what works."

Lauren smiled but Bo could tell she was tired. "Are you going to put her down to sleep this time?"

"Yes." Bo narrowed her eyes playfully before walking over to the bassinette and gently placed Charlotte there, making sure she was placing her just right. "See, I can let go."

Her wife motioned her to come over to the bed and Bo smiled, moving swiftly to get on the bed and sliding in beside Lauren. As soon as she was able, she leaned in and gently kissed Lauren's cheek, loving the closeness. It also reminded her that it had been some time since she had been intimate with her wife.

"What are you doing that's more important than resting?"

Lauren smiled, leaning against her as she showed her the screen. "I'm still in charge at the clinic so I've been going over some administrative tasks. Staffing levels, schedules, payroll, that kind of thing."

"No one expects you to do that right now," Bo said. "You said yourself that you should be resting when Charlotte does right now."

"I know," Lauren agreed, "but I want to stay on top of everything. People will start to notice that I'm not there and it'll get worse when I'm not making the decisions either."

"You will make it work." Bo placed an arm around her and pulled her into her body. "But right now, you need to get some sleep because according to your schedule, Charlotte will be awake in two hours to eat."

"You think the schedule is silly, don't you?"

"I think babies have their own schedule," Bo said. "At least, they did when I used to babysit. Always crying when I figured they should be sleeping or sleeping when I thought they should need a bottle. I'm not sure your schedule is going to be accurate, babe."

"Better than a teenage babysitter," Lauren said playfully then let out a quiet sigh. "You know, you've been with us constantly . . . when is the last time you fed?"

Bo knew that question would come up soon. Lauren had always been observant and it didn't take a genius to see that she hadn't left her wife's side since she went into labor. "It's been awhile, but don't worry about me. I'm in control of it."

"Bo . . ."

"Lauren, it's okay, I promise," Bo insisted. "If I need to feed, I will go out and feed. But I'm not leaving the two of you alone right now either. You and Charlotte are my top priority."

"And your health is ours," Lauren said. "I want to make sure that you're not risking yourself for us. You're no good to us if you're not one hundred percent."

Bo knew she was right, but she really hadn't felt the need to feed since Lauren had gone into labor. She knew she had better control over her feeding since she had matured and even more so since she defeated her father, but this felt different. It was almost as though her body knew that she was needed with her wife and baby and that feeding wasn't as high of a priority.

"I have a strange theory if you want to hear it," Bo said quietly.

Lauren let out a quiet chuckle. "I thought you wanted me to rest while Charlotte does. If you float an intriguing theory my way, you know I'll want to research."

"Maybe think of it as a bedtime story then." Bo placed a kiss on the top of Lauren's head. "What if my Succubus isn't telling me to feed because it knows that I need to be here with you and Charlotte. Maybe it's waiting for you to recover from giving birth."

There was a minute of silence and Bo closed her eyes, letting her body relax. She knew Lauren was thinking about what she said, but she also knew that Lauren didn't like it when she separated the fact she was a Succubus from the rest of herself. Her wife stood by her thought that the Fae part of her was just her. She didn't need to separate the parts out.

"That is an interesting theory."

Bo kept her eyes closed as she kept Lauren close to her. "Do you agree with it?"

"I'm not sure," Lauren said quietly. "I suppose it's possible since you were the one who got me pregnant in the first place. You could be feeling an instinct to protect your offspring and will not feel the urge to feed until you feel it's safe to do so."

"Something to research, right?"

Lauren nodded and Bo felt her body relax further against her. She knew she hadn't slept much and needed the nap they were about to take. "Maybe later we can look into it."

"I hate to admit it, but you do have a cute kid."

Lauren offered a smile as she held Charlotte. "I'm taking that as a compliment so thank you, Vex."

Bo watched Vex observe Lauren and their daughter as they sat in their living room. Outside of the visits at the clinic, no one had really paid them a visit yet. Dyson had said he wanted to give them time to enjoy the first few days in peace and Mark had followed suit. That's why it had been a been a surprise to have Vex on their doorstep in the morning.

"Vex, I know you didn't come here for a chat or to check in on the baby," Bo said. "What's going on?"

"I'll have you know I come from a long time of traditions," Vex said, scoffing a Bo. "Mesmers have always honored the birth of a close family friend."

"You hate traditions."

"Not all of them," Vex claimed and focused on Lauren and Charlotte, "but I do want to know what you have planned."

Bo and Lauren looked at each other before Bo spoke up. "Right now, nothing."

"Nothing? You can't be serious."

"Vex, I'm sure that people know I've given birth and there are Elders plotting something, but no one's come after us yet or come here. We're kind of hiding in plain sight as a couple who wanted to start a family outside of the city. It'll be hard for the Elders to really try anything without being noticed and we know that's the last thing they want."

"You should have a protection spell up at the very least," Vex said, leaning forward in his seat. "They won't wait long for you to hold up your end of the deal either."

"Testing Charlotte? That's not going to happen anytime soon." Bo glanced at her sleeping daughter. "She's too young."

"Besides, I need to come up with a conclusive test anyway," Lauren said. "We've never tested humans with one Fae parent and one human. Fae genetics have always dictated that the child will be human. There's no need to test when that is the established rule. They're going to have to give me time to come up with something that will detect Fae markers that are usually dormant until puberty."

"They're not going to believe that," Vex said. "You might have some of the Elders on your side and honestly, many of the Fae as well, but there are powerful ones who still want you gone for destroying their way of life. You have to protect against that."

"And we will," Bo said. "Is it too much to just want to spend some time with my wife and daughter without having to deal with all of this Fae shit?"

Vex looked at her for a moment before taking his cellphone out and quickly typing out a text. "Well, then you're going to need my gift more than anything anyone else will give you."

They exchanged looks again before Bo moved away from Lauren on the couch and towards the Mesmer. "Vex, what are you doing?"

"Getting you some functional protection," he said, still looking at his phone. "I know you're content to hide out in suburbia, but that doesn't mean the Fae won't come here and make a scene if they're desperate enough. So I'm having someone come here to protect the house."

"It's not gonna get weird, is it?" Bo asked. "We have neighbors, you know."

"Don't get all judgmental," Vex commented, sending off another text. "Jaz will make sure that you're protected from all things mystical. You're welcome."

Bo sat silently and watched as Vex sent a couple more texts, mumbling that the woman didn't know who she was dealing with when it came to haggling. She definitely had her reservations about having spells cast around her baby, but she trusted Vex wouldn't send someone who would harm them. She really was more concerned that the neighbors would think they practice strange rituals. With having a robed servant of an Elder show up not long ago, she didn't need more instances.

"Lauren, are you okay with this?"

She shrugged. "It can't hurt. If Vex trusts her, I think we're safe. Besides, I think Trick set the clubhouse up with a protection spell when you were on the train."

"I can't believe Kenzi was okay with that."

Lauren looked at her sympathetically. "It was necessary at the time."

"See, your bestie used one so it's all on the up and up," Vex said. "Jaz agreed to meet me out here in two days to go through all the necessary precautions."

Vex stood up and walked to the couch, looking down at the sleeping baby. Bo watched him with interest, wondering how Mesmers normally honored a birth. She knew he was proud to be the type of Fae that he was, but he had a habit of only talking about Fae traditions sarcastically.

He placed a hand on Charlotte's head and whispered out a few words that Bo didn't comprehend. She looked at Lauren, but she was only looking at Vex and smiling. "What did you say, Vex?"

"It's my family's blessing," he explained, looking at Bo with a sad smile on his face. "It's been so long since I've heard or said it. Whenever someone close to our family would have a baby, my father would pay them a visit and offer our blessing on the child. It's for prosperity and luck."

"Thank you, Vex."

Lauren smiled as she looked from Charlotte to him. "It's an honor, Vex."

He nodded and Bo thought he might be thinking about his family. She knew from previous conversations that no matter how Vex tried to play up that he wanted the years of solitude he had, he missed his family. He had also been frightened at how they were hunted and she knew there was a good chance he was remembering that as well.

"Well, I need to get back to civilization," he said, a smug smile back on his face. "It is quite the trek to come out here."

"That's just how we like it."

"I'll let Dyson know it's safe to visit," he said as he walked out the front door, closing it behind him.

Bo turned her head to look at her wife. "What did he mean by that? I thought Dyson was just letting us adjust to Charlotte being home. You know, getting her on your strict schedule."

"Shifters are very protective of their young during the first few weeks after birth," Lauren explained. "They often don't allow visitors so the baby fully bond with its mother. It's been their practice for a millennia."

"But neither of us are shifters and Charlotte won't be either."

Lauren shrugged. "That tradition is all he knows and Mark grew up with that, too. That's probably why neither of them have shown up since we've come home with Charlotte."

Bo moved close to Lauren on the couch and put her arm around her. She looked down at their daughter and thought about Vex passing on his family blessing to her. "I don't have anything to give her."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm the granddaughter of the Blood King, one of the most powerful Fae, and I don't have a family blessing to pass to her," Bo explained. "I don't know any Fae traditions that my family practiced that I can teach her."

"That's not true," Lauren said, smiling. "You can tell Charlotte all about Trick and the type of person he was and how he helped so many by keeping a waystation and a place of sanctuary. You can tell her about all your adventures . . . but some of those adventures you might have to save until she's a little older."

Bo let out a chuckle. "I guess you're right. Besides, there are some parts about the Blood King that I'll skip over." She sighed. "I wish she could have met him."

"I know, honey."

Charlotte took the opportunity to let out a cry, opening her eyes to look up at her mommies. "Well, I think that's our cue that some needs a diaper change."

Bo shook her head, smiling at her wife and watched her take Charlotte upstairs, talking to her quietly as she did.

There was movement in their bedroom and Bo immediately opened her eyes. Lauren was resting against her so she knew it wasn't her wife moving against and that meant only one thing to her: someone had broken into their house.

Bo jumped up of bed quickly and raced to the bassinette where Charlotte was sleeping. She could see what looked a shadow by her daughter and she panicked. "Get away from there and I will end you!" Then the figure turned to her and she gasped. "What is this?"

"Hello, my granddaughter."

"Trick?"

The man smiled and looked back at Charlotte. "She's beautiful, Bo."

Bo felt her eyes tear up as she looked at her grandfather. "How is this possible? How are you here right now?"

Trick continued to smile. "I have some privileges in Valhalla. When I found out about Charlotte, I wanted to see her for myself. You've been busy."

"My life is never boring," Bo responded, feeling her body relax now that she didn't feel the threat she had just a few moments ago. "I know you probably don't approve of me marrying a human, especially since there are rules against it."

He put his hand up to stop any further explanation. "So much has happened that have proven our rules needed to change. You just happen to be the one to push for it the hardest and see it through." He looked at her with a smile that warmed Bo's heart. "Just like I knew you would."

"Lauren's been amazing, Trick," Bo said, glancing back at her wife, who was still sleeping in bed. "When I see her holding Charlotte, my heart just stops for a second."

"That'll happen with all of your children."

Bo's eyes went wide. "All?"

He winked. "We can see bits and pieces up there."

Bo felt a combination of being overwhelmed and overjoyed that there were more children in hers and Lauren's future, but there was more that she was concerned about. "Are . . . are we happy?"

Trick sat down at the edge of the bed and patted the spot next to him, directing Bo to sit down. He waited for her to sit before speaking. "Your relationship will have its ups and downs, just like every relationship. Just remember to be patient and honest. The two of you normally tried to protect each other by hiding things and that's no way to go through life. If something's wrong, tell her."

"I really do want to protect them."

"And you will, Bo." Trick padded her knee. "There are events ahead where you will need to protect them and everyone you care about. Change is not easy with the Fae and some will always resist until they are overruled and overpowered."

Doubt filled Bo's mind at the thought of how challenging that could be. "Am I strong enough for that?"

"Of course, you are," Trick said, "and you've passed that strength on to your daughter. She will grow to be strong and powerful, just like her mothers."

"Is . . . is she Fae?"

"Charlotte's potential will be revealed in time," Trick replied. "She will be the perfect combination of you and Lauren."

Bo took that to mean that some of her powers was passed on to her daughter. "That's means she will be a target. How can she be safe and have a normal life if she's targeted by the Fae?"

"You will fight for her and you will win," Trick said simply. "Lauren is a big part of that so you have to trust her."

The statement confused Bo more than anything else her dead grandfather had told her. Of course, she trusted Lauren. "What do you mean? I trust Lauren completely."

"Lauren is an important part to the future of the Fae and in your life. That means she needs to be around for a long time." Tricked padded her knee again. "I know that Lauren experimenting on herself scares you, but she's going to make a great discovery soon. She needs your support so she can finally be with you for the long term."

Bo grinned at what she was hearing. "Does that mean Lauren will be able to turn herself Fae? Just like she tried before?" Then she remembered the last time and frowned. "I nearly lost her last time."

"Trust in her and her brain. She'll know what she's doing and won't be fooled by your father this time."

This was all good to hear, but she was afraid that an experiment would go wrong and she would be without her wife. "But what if something goes wrong? I can't lose her, Trick."

"Trust her, Bo," Trick insisted. "You have a family now and Lauren will not do anything that will harm that, but if she says she's made a breakthrough, follow her lead."

Bo let out a breath. "Okay."

"Good, now tell me all about this little one. I'll have to leave shortly."

"I wish you didn't have to go," Bo said as she frowned. "I need you to help me with all this. I don't know enough."

"You will do fine and I'm looking out for you just in case." Trick stood up and walked over to the bassinette again. "I'll stop in every once and a while."

Bo stood as well, joining Trick to look at Charlotte as she told him more about his great-granddaughter.

Bo's eyes popped open and she jolted out of bed, knocking away Lauren's arm that was lying across her stomach. She instantly raced to Charlotte's bassinette, seeing that her daughter was sleeping contently.

"Bo?"

Looking around the room, Bo scanned everything to see if there was anything out of place before her eyes rested Lauren. She moved to sit up slightly, seeming to will her eyes to open. "What happened?"

"Trick was here," Bo said, still looking around as if her grandfather would suddenly appear again.

"Honey, come back to bed, please. The only people in the house are in this room and I'm sure all of us are tired." Lauren motioned for Bo to get back in bed as she rested her head back on a pillow.

She closed her eyes and tried to calm her racing heart. Bo had just been talking with Trick about how smart she thought Charlotte would be when she opened her eyes. She could have sworn he had been in the room.

"Trick was here, Lauren," Bo insisted as she got back into bed, moving so she could rest against her wife. "He wanted to visit Charlotte and know about her. He said she's going to be powerful."

"It was just a dream," Lauren said quietly. Bo turned her head to look at her and saw her eyes were closed. "You've been missing him lately."

"No, I think it was more than that," Bo said. "He warned me that I'm going to need to protect my family, that we have trouble ahead. He said that I needed to trust you, let you continue your work on turning Fae. He believes you're going to be successful."

Lauren finally opened her eyes and met Bo's. "He said you needed to trust me?"

Bo nodded. "Yes, and that we'll have more kids." She grinned. "He said he's in Valhalla and that he'll stop in from time to time." She looked at Lauren eying her. "You don't believe me, do you?"

"Anything's possible with the Fae," Lauren said. "I'm glad he got to see Charlotte and that you had some time with him. We need to sleep though."

Bo smiled and nodded, allowing Lauren to get settled in her arms again. "I guess Charlotte's going to be up soon, huh?"

She felt Lauren nodded against her and thought she was asleep until she heard her quietly mumble, "More kids, huh?"

"We'll talk later."

A/N: it's been way too long for this one. I wanted a longer chapter but wanted to get something out. Let me know what you think on here or Twitter, wherever! More action to come. Until next time! Twitter: hayley128 :)