Officially Us

Her eyes fluttered open, a soft smile spreading across her lips as she sees he's still in the bed next to her. It was the first time in a while that he actually was resting during the day. Her finger gently pushing a strand of hair out of his face.

She was relieved to see him resting, days of worrying about him had begun to take its toll on her. She relaxed, still wrapped in his arms as she gently stroked his cheek. Their relationship had been such a surprise to her. She'd been frightened of all Vampires when they first met... a fact that hadn't changed much with the exception of Roman.

His invitation to Mississippi had been a surprise to her, but it was her agreement to go that was the bigger surprise. Something in her was curious... she couldn't help herself. Watching his face as he looked down on a sleeping Lily touched her. After a lifetime of hearing the horrors of Vampires, she was shocked to see one to show such love and admiration over something as innocent and sweet as a sleeping child.

She knew there was something about him when she saw him playing with Lily the following evening. She couldn't help but smile at the memory and the dozens of memories of watching him with Abel. He was a good father, regardless of his own insecurities about being one. She found herself entranced by that look of happiness that crossed his face when he was playing with Abel. Each time she saw it... she fell for him more and more.

Closing her eyes briefly, the memory of their conversation the day before replaying through her head. He loved her... the smile on her face softening as his voice echoed once more through her head. "I love you, Kayley" Her voice soft as she admitted what she had been trying to deny to herself. "I love you, too, Roman." The words still foreign to her, but yet something about them feeling right. She did love him, regardless of the dark and evil things she knew he was capable of.

He had said they were official. Chuckling softly, she still wasn't sure of what all that entailed. But it was cute watching him, with his far away hazy look... the one he always got when she unmasked around him. She'd be lying if she didn't admit that she enjoyed the fact she was intoxicating to him. Kissing his cool lips softly as she snuggles close. Her eyes closing once more and she breathes in deeply as she begins to drift off to sleep. The coolness of his skin sending a tingle down her spine as she succumbs to the darkness.

Lost in Thought

She smiled sweetly as she handed the bag of books to the customer. Bidding them a good day as they exited the store, she couldn't help but sigh. Her normally sweet smile falling into a frown, worry lining her face. The baby was soundly asleep in his playpen and as her eyes fell on him she smiled softly. She loved having Abel in her life. Roman, too, for that matter. Being with them filled her with a sense of purpose, while beforehand she seemed to just be floundering.


Of course she had been happy with her life before. It had taken time, but she had grown accustomed to the human realm. She enjoyed her little shop in dowtown Shreveport. She knew she didn't have to work... everything she could possibly want was at her will. But it was the companionship she had craved. After a life of solitude, she wanted to be immersed with others and it was only by chance she had found the little book shop as she had strolled along the Red River, last March. She had always loved books and learning and it didn't take her but a moment to be eagerly walking along the shelved walls and browsing the selections.

It was only when Mabel, the shop's previous owner, had mentioned everything was marked down because she was retiring, that Kayley realized this was exactly the kind of thing she wanted in her new life. As with most people who met Kayley, Mabel was instantly enthralled by her sweet smile and demeanor. She was more than happy to sell Kayley the little shop. She hadn't wanted to close her business, but she was older and the time had come for her to let go. 

Niall, on the other hand, worried that running such a store would be too much exposure for her. She was still young and he had feared she may be too careless with her magic and expose herself, thus ultimately the existence of the Fae. That was of course in the beginning. It didn't take him long to realize her life in Fae had left its impact on her. She was still playful, especially when she was near or in water, but the harsh realities of discrimination over her lineage had caused her to mature quickly.

The shop had become Kayley's lifeline. She enjoyed reading aloud to the children, their interested faces lighting up as her soft, sweetly tuned voice flowed throughout the shop. Kayley enjoyed being surrounded by children, though she had never once considered the possibility of being a mother herself. She never imagined it was in the cards for her. She could never understand why it surprised Roman so much that she wasn't use to men being interested in her. She just chalked it up to the difference in their worlds.

Sighing as she gazed out the huge store front windows, the sight of the river water flowing past just across the street left an ache in her heart. She missed the Fae realm. The warmth and beauty that filled it, the prestine oceans of clear crystal blue waters... The human realm had taken a lot of getting use to. Things were somehow simpler in the Fae realm. Being from a race of creatures that were inately magical, there was no need for technological advances. Homes were simple and the closest representation of how her world truly looked, could only be found in the pictures from the human fairy tale books. Deep green grassy lands, under bright blue skies, fields of wild flowers, calm beautiful oceans.... she longed to return to her home.

The human realm wasn't without it's own beauty. She discovered one just needed to look closer to see it. In a way, it was this need to look below the surface of things, that led her to enjoy her new life. She saw it most in the eyes of the children she saw daily... in Abel... in Roman... in Nia... At the thought of her sister, Kayley couldn't help but feel sad. Nia had always been more childlike than Kayley... most of it was due to her full Fae status. With the abilitiy to live for centuries... the need to grow up and mature was less important in the Fae realm. She, herself, was still considered a child by Fae standards. But to see Nia, forever trapped in that child-like innocence... nearly broke Kayley's heart. She still wasn't sure what had happened the day her family had been attacked... and with Nia's clear inability to recall any of her life in Faerie... Kayley may never know what transpired.

Her gaze reluctantly left the flowing waters whose call to her was intoxicating. Her magic had begun weakening and the signs were becoming apparent. She knew it was of her own doing... Her constant care of Abel and her desire to be near Roman had kept her from spending the much needed time in the water... she was going to have to do better at maintaining her once daily ritual or else... Shaking her head, she didn't want to consider the possibility if her wards began to fail her. It was those wards that left her home as a safe haven for her and her family. No one could venture near the house during the day, therefore leaving Roman safe when he was utterly powerless and at night, he could leave with the reassurance that they were safe.

She knew he worried about that, she could feel it. But in the same sense, she worried about him as well. She couldn't explain it. He was fully capable for taking care of himself, and yet she would do all in her power to protect him. At first she attributed this to her very character. She came from a line of Fae who were known for their abilities of protection. In fact, it was that very lineage that enabled her to ward the house... a very rare trait, especially for a Half-Fae. But after their conversation two weeks earlier, she realized it was more than that. She hadn't meant to fall for him... in fact, she had done all in her power to prevent it. The scars that Kieran had left on her very soul were too new. But somehow, she felt drawn to him.

And now he was broken...

She hated seeing him so lost... so distraught. Torn between whatever spell those wretched witches had placed on him and his guilt over their attack on Eric and the bar, he was now constantly in a state of disarray. Scowling, she couldn't help but wish humans had never discovered how to weild magic. Her distaste for witches, an age old hatred that was as old as time, past from Fae to Fae, filled her with anger to her very core. Luckily, their magic had very little effect on the Fae. But now it was being used against someone she cared for and she was unsure how to stop it. She was sure the Vampires would rally to seek revenge and while she treasured life and hated the thought of death being brought to another creature... she couldn't help be look forward to seeing that revenge played out in full.

Unable to concentrate and not wanting the children to see her so distracted, she informed Gwen that she and Abel were heading home early. Once at home, she placed the sleeping baby in his crib and crawled into bed next to Roman. Watching him for a few moments as he rested, she gently maneuvered the hair from his face and kissed his cool lips. Yes... she hadn't meant to fall for him... but somehow, she had. Laying her head on his chest and closing her eyes, she smiled softly as his arms tighten around her. Her last thought before being dragged under into the world of dreams was of how much she wouldn't want to be anywhere else...

Haunted...

Her skin had begun to crawl and her face had paled as the words left Niall's lips.

Kieran has been inquiring about you

Kayley had feared this possibility. Roman didn't know, but she was always looking over her shoulder. She'd masked her fear from him, the best she could and the moments when he was able to pick up on it, she'd curse the bond she had felt compelled to agree to. She hated feeling that regret over the bond. Of course Roman couldn't glamour her, so the fault fell on her shoulders.

She'd questioned herself the weeks following about what had driven her to agree. She knew she had feelings for Roman, but something was always holding them back... her fear. She didn't fear Roman. She was very well aware of what he was and what he could do... to her... to their son. Yet, something inside never once questioned her trust... her faith in him. She could see herself falling for him, as if watching from an outsider's point of view and yet... she hadn't. She wouldn't allow herself to. For the monster that haunted her dreams, her memories... was still out there and now he was looking for her.

Kieran hadn't always been the source of Kayley's nightmares. There had once been a time when he was a source of sweet, happy dreams and later on, some of her fantasies. She was surprised by how much her memories of him failed to reveal the signs of his true nature. The day she first met him, she never would have guessed, the charming, handsome man in front of her was truly a monster. Her heart pounded in her chest as she recalled their time together... the good... the bad... the awful. Kieran had left his mark on Kayley and it was more than the tiny scar along her flattened tummy.

As much as she hated to admit it, it was Kieran's memory that held Roman forever at an arm's length from her. Never truly allowing him to fully entry... into her head... into her heart. For this, she hated Kieran most. She had felt a pull to Roman from the day they met. Perhaps it was mere curiousity, but something in her didn't believe that. They were slowly beginning to learn more about one another and finding exactly how they fit together. She was happy with their life and now a dark shadow was slowly creeping over it.

She hated that she wasn't able to hide her fear from Roman. She hadn't meant for him to find her in the shower like that. Her hope had been that she would have found her place of peace before he rose for the evening. It pained her to hide the truth from him, to see him worry about being the cause of her distress. So much so, she couldn't even lie. But as soon as his arms were around her, she immediately began to feel at ease. He seemed to have that affect on her. Of course the bond helped intensify the affects his presence.

She feared that Kieran would always be the cause for the distance between them. Why she couldn't just be truthful... well she was never sure why she never told him the truth of her past. Maybe the wounds were too fresh and divulging into that cest pool would do nothing but keep it from healing. No... that wasn't it. As much as she hated it, she feared that if Roman knew the truth... if he had known what Kieran had done... well, he would never see the Kayley he knew again. Something in their relationship would change and she feared he'd eventually leave.

Now, the monster was back. Somewhere... he was out there... looking for her and in her dreams, he made a nightly appearance. Taunting her, tormenting her... sleep was becoming harder to achieve and peaceful sleep... impossible. She worked harder to maintain the wards around the house. It was all she had to protect them. But the process was draining and she knew if she wasn't careful, they would fail her.

She heard Roman entering the room. She kept still, her breathing even. She felt a surge of relief as he slipped into the bed, just his nearness helping ease her fear. His arms wrapping around her protectively, causing her to finally relax and soon sleep overtakes her...

What It All Means...

She stirred in her sleep, her arm touching the empty spot next to her. Squinting at the clock, she realized he probably wouldn't be home for a few hours. She closes her eyes again and sighs after a few minutes when she realizes she can't fall back to sleep. Sliding out of the bed, she heads first to the door of the nursery to check on the baby. Finding him still asleep, she allows her fingers to lightly brush his small cheek. He truly was a wonderful baby and she loved him as if he were hers.

Frowning she pulled her fingers away, as if touching him burned. The adoption had been finalized last week. He was legally (for the most part) her son. Something about the whole situation still sat wrong with her. Easing into the rocking chair next to his crib, she leans against the back before slowly rocking back and forth. Her mind drifting until she is completely lost in her thoughts.

She'd only known Roman for what, six, seven weeks now. Somehow, they'd fallen into an easy routine. Her days were spent mainly at the store or outside spending time with Abel. A smile crossing her lips as she recalls his excited laugh at seeing the ducks in the pond behind the house. Her evenings were generally filled with curling up with a book and reading to Abel. Frowning, she realized exactly how rarely she actually saw Roman. The fact that she knew so little about him didn't sit well with her.

Her gaze falling on Abel, she couldn't help wondering if he was the only reason she and Roman were even... well in a sense, together. Shaking her head slightly, she knew that wasn't true. She liked Roman. Cared for him, even. She'd enjoy their time together in Mississippi. She was surprised actually. She never would have thought she would wind up liking him the night they first met, let alone in this situation.

She wasn't naive. In fact, she liked to pride herself on being a realist. People always assumed her cheerful and sweet nature meant she couldn't possibly see the bad side of things. Heck, she wasn't even feigning ignorance. Things weren't perfect in the house... with Roman... Abel... her. She knew this and she was sure Roman knew as well. As if the fact they barely knew each other and saw each other wasn't enough, there were still other lingering... doubts.

Roman had been honest and upfront with Kayley about the loss of his ex and their child. But it always bothered her when she began to wonder if he was, even unconsciously, using her and Abel to replace them. As much as it would hurt to find out that's all she was to him, Kayley was a grown woman. She could handle that truth. It would hurt her, but she could walk away and move on from something like that. But Abel...she didn't even want to finish that train of thought. Abel was defenseless, innocent. A reality such as that could scar him for life. Closing her eyes, her stomach clenched as she imagined the possibility of him being so hurt badly...

It was her greatest fear about the entire situation. Could Roman ever just be truly happy with Abel? With her? They never actually discussed much more about his ex. He never brought it up and she was always curious exactly how much her death still clung to him. She hated doubting Roman. But what could she honestly do? Pry into a subject he may not want to discuss?

Things were different for humans... for Vampires as well, in the aspect of death. Fae moved on to the Summerland. They were even able to show themselves to the oldest remaining family member once they had met their end. Kayley recalled seeing her father after he was killed. It was hard for her to recall all the details of the event. In the end, Kayley was left only with the assurance that he would watch over them from the Summerland...

Of course the other main lingering doubt in Kayley's mind was for her own safety. Roman had promised he would never hurt her, but she still remained masked during almost every time she was in his presence. Of course, he could have drained her already, while she slept... or when she allowed him to feed from her. A shiver runs down her spine as she recalls the experience...

She really liked Roman... maybe even more than like... she cared for him. Waking to find his face nuzzled into her hair and his arms wrapped protectively around her, always put a smile on her face. She enjoyed teasing him about his "bicycle" and the way he laughed in their sillier moments. She could spend hours watching him with Abel. The way his eyes lit up and how they both seemed to always enjoy their time together. She tried to hang back in those moments and just observe. As often as she saw him, his time with Abel was even less.

She felt her concerns were legitimate. While she knew he was a wonderful father to Abel, he was still a Vampire and she worried that somehow Abel may be harmed for that fact. The idea of him bonding and possibly turning Abel in the future didn't sit well with Kayley. She felt protective over Abel and Roman. It was in her blood and she didn't want things to turn out badly if Roman somehow managed to force Abel's hand in making those kinds of decisions. They weren't neccessary measures, at least not in her eyes. Abel would grow up thinking of Roman as his father and he would love him regardless.

She didn't dare mention it to Roman, but at times when her doubts got the best of her, she silently regretted bonding with him. She hated herself in those moments... despised the fact that she was being petty... at least in her eyes. But in the end, she never wanted to see Abel have those moments. The doubts, the regets... he should be allowed to know he is cared for and given the opportunity to relish in the life he has been given.

Leaning her head back against the rocker, she closed her eyes. The late hour and the slow rocking motion pushing away the doubts... all her thoughts... lulling her once again into sleep...

 

              *snickers* I can't help it. Abel is just too cute!

*giggles* Okay so I have a little too much free-time.

*laughs* This is awful I know! But Roman doesn't pick on me for being a Comedian for nothing!