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NYC — The Blonde

Adriana was making small talk, the polite kind of chatter which really had no weight to it. Was Daniel enjoying America after his recent move here from London? It didn’t truly matter what his answer was. It was just something to start discussion while they waited for their drinks to be delivered. She’d taken one full sip of her sidecar when Erika came back out of the bathroom, thanking everyone for coming and getting jazzed about the song that came on.

The trouble was, nobody in this group wanted to dance, apparently. Adriana hadn’t pegged any of them for being shy, so she wondered if their hesitation had to do with the rumors of Erika being the crazy one. Ben asked for volunteers to jump on the grenade. Heidi just didn’t respond, other than to sip her poison of choice. AJ made some excuses and volunteered the other noob of the group, Calder, who literally looked like a deer in the headlights. Adriana almost chuckled, and then handed her drink to Ben, putting him in charge of protecting it. Big, handsome, brooding Ben. Erika assured her that he was one of the good ones. Adriana tossed an inquisitive glance his way, and then left to go dance.

She wasn’t intimidated by the ‘crazy’ label, in fact it made her curious. Having done a stint in Blackwell’s Asylum thanks to the machinations of Malice, she knew plenty of ‘crazies’. Whether or not she was one herself was a matter for intense debate. Regardless, she was willing to give Erika the benefit of the doubt, and treat her like a normal person until the crazy came out. The White Princess seemed pretty sane to Adriana, and the Queen seemed to trust her with the health of her unborn children, so that was saying something. They started to dance, and Erika offered condolences for Gia. Adriana gave her a sincere looked of commiseration.

”I’m sorry about your sweater.”

She replied, referring to the sweater that had surely been ruined by Gia’s untimely explosion. Adriana had thrown out everything she’d been wearing that night, because even if you could get the blood out of the white fibers, who wanted to wear the clothes that would undoubtedly remind them of getting coated with the remains of another person? Erika mentioned that maybe the got the better Nefaria, which made Adriana crack a smile, because that was probably true. And was she too heartbroken? Adriana shook her head.

”No. We were half-sisters by blood, but never true siblings in anyway that ever mattered. Gia cared more about being Diana’s lapdog than she ever did about being my sister.”

She replied, without getting into all the things that were hers by right, that Gia gleefully stole from her. All the things Gia had casually destroyed, lIke her family, and their father, and the Nefaria name. That was subject matter for another time, not while they were trying to enjoy themselves. They danced a bit, close. Adriana couldn’t help but glance back at their group, just to see if anyone was paying close attention. She covered it with a toss of her hair.

It occurred to her that Erika might have some excellent insight on matters of the court, and she was far more approachable than Heidi, their austere Knight. She waved off some random dude that started dancing towards them with a flick of her wrist. Then she leaned closer to Erika, partly because it was fun, and partly so they didn’t have to shout to be heard.

“Hey, so what do you really think about the Red King? Is he gonna be a problem? Does the Queen have like a blind spot when it comes to him?”
 
The Blond - NYC

Adriana: "I'm sorry about your sweater."

"Oh my god, thank you for saying that! That cashmere was so high quality I could have been buried in it and nobody said a fuckin' thing! Savages...all of them."

Adriana: "No. We were half sisters by blood, but never true siblings in anyway that ever mattered. Gia cared more about being Diana's lapdog than she ever did about being my sister."

"Now that's something I understand intimately."

The music began to get painfully predictable as Erika wiped a few beads of sweat from her face, wiping away the memories of her childhood that inevitably led her towards mania.

Adriana: "Hey, so what do you really think about the Red King? Is he gonna be a problem? Does the Queen have like a blind spot when it comes to him?"

It wasn't often anyone asked Erika for her opinion, which was their loss because she was actually pretty astute, even as high on cocaine as she was. Erika smirked at Adriana and grabbed her hand, leading her to an alcove with two seats as she gestured for the VIP waitress to refresh their drinks. She slumped into her seat and exhaled deeply, bouncing her head back and forth a bit to the music. They would be able to talk a bit more privately and be able to hear each other without shouting here. She watched across the room as the rest of the inner circle tried awkwardly to socialize. She shook her head as her champagne was delivered and she took a sip, her gaze meeting Adriana's for a minute before she spoke.

"Look, it's great you're asking these questions, but none of the old answers really apply here...we are in uncharted fucking territory right now."

And they really were. Despite this period of peace, Erika had the distinct feeling that things were going to turn to shit any moment. It was why she had gathered everyone here tonight. And she realized that when given opportunities like this, to be The White Princess, she should take them. Adriana was one of the few women in Hellfire who had come from a family with as much 'prestige' as hers. She understood loyalty and family like few others, and it made her know that if Adriana was under the white banner now, she could speak honestly.

"Historically, i've always been endlessly annoyed by Alek. It's like, yeah he's sexy..and rugged. I've fucked a lot of guys that looked and acted like him over the years. And he does seem to walk all the talk. But he's so cool sometimes it just makes me sick. It makes me not trust him. Because Helena doesn't choose guys like him to be in her court. Not without reason. So I always found myself looking for the reason...."

[leaning back she took another sip of her drink]

"I used to think it was his loyalty. Guy loves a good blood pact. But then he was part of the uprising, and murder of Helena. And then the shit that happened with him and Ashley...But then like they still run a court together? So in short...I can't figure him out..so all I can go off is vibes..."

She still remembered what he had told her a few weeks ago when they were looking for a way to deactivate the crystal cage. It had meant a lot to her. It had been a kindness she simply had never experienced from the men of Hellfire growing up. And how he was with Haleigh...how excited he was and protective. It was disarming. But she couldn't let herself fall for him the way Haleigh had. Somebody had to keep a clear head.

"He's gonna be a great dad...and I think that our Queen really loves him, and vice versa...but he's not our king. My brother is...and our job is to protect and guide The White Court, of which...Alek is not a part of...not yet anyway."

She had been focused largely on the health and safety of Haleigh's children, but she couldn't help but let her mind wander lately about what was going to happen AFTER they were born. What that could mean for the future of not just her children, but of Hellfire as a whole. Being White Princess, it meant a lot to her. It may have been a consolation prize, but she took it seriously. She wanted to do a good job.

"I don't know for sure, but I know big things are about to happen in The Inner Circle. Everyone is looking at these children, which means..we need to be looking at everything else."

The White Princess pointed to the Inner Circle across the room, gesturing Adriana to see that while everyone was cordial, the relationships between them were not what they needed to be. This was something that had been bothering Erika since she returned. It was different when she was growing up. It felt like they were siblings. There was a level of bullshit they all didn't have to wade through. It made things easier. It was different now. There wasn't necessarily built in connection like there used to be.

"There's so many things being ignored right now. What if Haleigh and Alek do fall in love and want to get married? What then? He's just going to be The Red King married to The White Queen?! And what about Elena? And Ashley and AJ? And what about The Black Court? All this mingling between red and white...we'd be stupid to forget about Black..."

She sat her glass down on the side table as she leaned back, closing her eyes for a second, letting a wave of chemically aided euphoria wash through her for a moment, before she turned her gaze back to Adriana, speaking emphatically.

"Look...Knights enforce...Rooks advise...and Bishops build ties..they're the ones who know things they shouldn't know and get the information to where it needs to be. We want a strong court...we need to know everything..."

Erika needed somebody on The White Court she could trust. Somebody who was ready to work, and it was clear - Adriana was a participator. That was a quality that was sorely overlooked.

"That's what tonight is about. While our Kings and Queens are in their feelings about babies and romantic possibilities, we have to protect our houses. We have to protect ourselves...against the very real possibility that they might fuck it all up."

She might have said the quiet part out loud there, but it was honest. They had their uprising. They took their crowns. But most of them had been very rich, entitled kids who had the emotional intelligence of a salamander. And Erika knew this, because she was one of them. They just held it together better than she did for longer than she was able to.

"Right now, The White Court's stock has never been higher. So while everybody is getting in line to suck our dick's over Haleigh's babies, we gotta use that to our advantage. Figure out who's being genuine, who's trying to build alliances, who's just doing it for show...and figure out who in our inner circle really wants to keep a balance of power, and who's court is looking to tilt that power away from us..."

Erika pinched the bridge of her nose with her fingers for a moment and sniffed her nose for a second, before laughing.

"Shit, that was a lot of information at once. Sorry, i've done a lot of blow tonight...makes me chatty. And kind of horny. Let me lighten the mood a bit. You get one night, nobody will ever know...out of everyone in The Inner Circle, who's brains are you fucking right out of their head?"

[pausing]

"And oh my god, how rude of me..do you want some cocaine?"
 
Hellfire Mansion - Kitchen

Elena: "Since when did you become a feminist, amado?"

He smirked.

"When I found out I had a daughter. Don't worry, I'm still a pig where it counts."

He inquired of her changing tastes.

Elena: "I'm smarter now. That's why I'm the mami."

God she was insufferable. It was even infuriating at times, but if he was being honest, it was turning him on. And the kicker was that she knew it was. She had effectively spent the last month edging him. Every advance, she'd spurned. Every dirty little thought he shared with her, she admonished. But he had something in his favor and that was time. Despite the thought of his daughter not being there when he woke up in the morning, it did mean that if Elena wanted to be anything more than just co-parent with Cameron, she was going to have to sing like a bird. If only she'd taken the code name of canary.

Elena: "Why don't we meet in your study, after I put Carolina to bed? We can have a drink."

"Mm..is that a date? It would be our first since you got here..."

He seemlessly shifted subjects as he turned the grill on, asking Carolina if she was excited for the third grade.

Carolina: "I'm seven, papi. I'm going to second grade."

The White King had never been more embarrassed.

"See that's why you gotta stay in school, kid. So you don't end up stupid like your papi!"

Carolina: "We get to read James y el Melocotón Gigante, this year, um-"

"James and The Giant Peach."

A few days of uncomfortable attempts at translation and Cameron had lifted Spanish from both Elena and Carolina's minds. He was now fluent.

Carolina: "What is it mami?"

[both Elena and Cameron at the same time] "James and the Giant Peach."

Carolina: "Yes! And there's the play for Las Posadas. I hope I get to be Maria this year."

He smirked, forming the patties onto the grill pan in front of them. His daughter was always so voracious to throw herself into things. She was a dreamer. He loved that about her, but he had no clue what she was talking about.

Elena: "You are probably still too little for Maria, mija, perhaps a cute little sheep?"

"Bite your tongue, mami. I think she'd be a perfect Maria."

Elena: "It's the Nativity play at school."

"Interesting."

Cameron had been raised with gods and goddesses, not Jesus. And he suddenly never realized that he might have an opinion about the religion with which his daughter was raised.

Carolina: "Or maybe a unicorn!"

"That would be pretty cool."

Carolina: "And then there's Children's Day, when mami and I go give out presents to children who don't have any. Can you imagine, papi, having no presents for Dia del Nino?"

"Not even, Lina! That's such a good thing you do!"

Elena: 'That's a lot about holidays, senorita. How about how we are going to do all our homework before we go out and ride Sheldon this year? Hmm..."

Carolina: "By then it will be dark...and I have my new unicorn to ride too...they need their exercise..."

"And little girls need to take care of their responsibilities before they get to have fun. Sorry, kiddo, I gotta agree with mami on that one.

Elena: "So dramatic."

"But so cute."

Cameron finished cooking the burgers as he flopped them all to a tray as Carolina instinctively finished her part of the job, getting the buns and toppings ready as Elena finished the salad in front of her.

"Mija, get us some bowls and some plates. I think we might be ready to break bread."

Elena: "Your friends are going to be so happy to see you after al this time. And abuelo. We should call him after dinner."

Cameron could only laughed. Elena's father was not a fan of Cameron. Not that he could blame him. If anyone did to Carolina what he had done to Elena he would kill that man. So completely. So quickly. And as Carolina grabbed her little step stool and got them plates, moving into the dining hall and setting the table like the perfect little girl that she was, he felt a tinge of regret and remorse in his stomach. He didn't want her to leave. He didn't want Elena to leave either. He had the resources and abilities to be by both of their sides as frequent or as often as he wanted. But it was still sad. It was still something he didn't want.

A few moments later, they had gathered all the plates together. Cameron made a plate for Carolina as he made himself a cheeseburger, emphatically and sarcastically forgoing french fries and loading his plate with salad. Soon they were sat at the table. It had been custom for them to say grace. Normally, Elena or Carolina took the lead, but tonight Cameron did. The three of them held hands at the table, as Cameron closed his eyes and spoke the prayer of which he had become very familiar.

"Dios es grande. Dios es bueno. Y por eso todos los dias, le agradecemos por nuestra comida. Su Mano nos alienta todos los dias. Senor, danos hoy nuestro pan de cada dia....Amen."

Carolina & Elena: "Amen."

Cameron slowly began to dig into his food.

"So..Lina, before you do have to go back home...you're about to be a big sister. You'll have a little brother any day now. Are you excited?"
 
The Blond - NYC

Calder: "Amen to that. If I have to put one more of those little plastic things into an electrical outlet I'm going to slit my wrists."

Daniel laughed. Calder was cute, if not painfully straight seeming. He, AJ and Jack seemed like fish out of water, which made him worry a bit, but Daniel had grown up in all boys boarding schools. He knew how to get things moving when he needed to. And there were worse people to talk to than a handsome well named Blonde.

"And the sharp corners. Honestly, all i've seen since I've been back from Tokyo is potential hazards for a toddler to kill themselves on. Who decided to build a mansion so much sharp marble?!"

Calder: "Do you think we'll really have to babysit?"

He wouldn't put it past this court, especially considering that a few weeks ago, half their rulers had nearly died because they couldn't contain their anger. He was suddenly very grateful to be a part of the only sane and stable court at Hellfire. The Black Court.

"Hey that's not on my court. But I can't imagine any of them will trust us with those kids. Have you seen the amount of tech your king has brought into this place in the last few weeks? It's not the babies we're gonna have to worry about...it's the nanny cams."

[leaning in as he sipped his martini]

"I'll be surprised if we can shite in this place without The Red King knowing about it."

Daniel leaned back and gave a bit of a cheeky smirk.

"Which...for The Black Court...is a bit unsettling. We had nothing to do with this, and yet, here we are...ready to change diapers and prepare Tiffany rattles for their arrival..."

The Black Bishop rose from his seat and raised his glass in a celebratory and conspiratory type of motion, towards the group.

"But, tonight is supposed to be about bonding with each other. Can't let Erika and Adriana have all the fun now can we? So we're not dancers, what are we? What sounds fun? Spin the bottle? Truth or dare? Erika was right...things are about to get decidedly real. And since it doesn't seem as if anyone is planning on throwing me a 'Welcome to America' party, it appears I might have to take matters into my own hands. What sounds good to you lot?"
 
The Blond - NYC

Adriana: "Ben, you seem nice, but if you roofie me you'll be at the bottom of the Hudson River wearing concrete shoes long before you get to take advantage of me, so keep an eye on that drink, if you're not gonna dance. Come on Erika, we don't need the boys to have a little fun on the dance floor."

Erika: "Oh don't worry about Benji. He may be rock hard but he's soft as a lamb. There's been some supreme assholes in Hellfire, but he can be trusted. But you, my dear, just said the magick words...dance."

He'd like to say he wasn't as used to being socially castrated like that, but he was. He had half a mind to tell Adriana that her first mistake was thinking that he was a nice guy. He'd never roofie anyone, but he also wasn't some timid pussy that minded women's drinks like the keeper of a lighthouse. But this was Erika's event...his sister. And he didn't want to ruin it. So he did what he always did in Hellfire for the moment, he kept his mouth shut and looked amused at their words.

Thankfully, Daniel didn't let the energy drop in the room. Ben was amused by Daniel thus far. He kept things interesting, and he was always willing to fall on his own sword in order to position The Black Court where it needed to be. He was a useful ally.

Daniel: "Well...you're court is about to get a bit bigger, Heidi..that's a lot of pressure. I hope you're taking care of yourself. Or letting someone else help take care of you.."

Ben laughed under his breath as he took a sip of his aged scotch. Heidi and Jack were getting very close over the last few weeks. To the point of which the entire inner circle was noticing. This was funny because if there were two people in the inner circle that liked to keep their personal business private, it was Heidi and Jack. Still, Ben was intrigued. Heidi had always been a champion for Cameron, and Jack seemed to really respect both Alek and Ashley. Ben wondered how this might all fit in.

Daniel: "Honestly, I'll be a bit relieved once Haleigh gives birth. Hellfire has been walking on eggshells lately. I'm ready for the shells to crack."

Ben was too, though he'd never say it. Haleigh was pregnant with both Alek and Cameron's baby. This was unprecedented and absolutely insane. Though he never got the spotlight, Ben was raised along side the current rulers of Hellfire. Outside of his sister, Erika, he knew them better than anybody. There was no scenario in his head where Cameron didn't attempt to outright kill Alek, and where Haleigh didn't avenge the death of her lover. But that was a problem for the future. Daniel and Calder waxed poetic about their future as Ben caught himself unable to break his gaze from Erika and Adriana across the room. With Erika, it was that he was her brother, and he wanted so badly to tell her. With Adriana, he found himself a bit ashamed of the way he was looking at her. While he was still down bad for Amanda, he couldn't help but to notice how beautiful Adriana was. She had come into Hellfire like a bullet. She was severe, and cerebral, and also fun. It was rare, and the antithesis to Ben's normal brooding state. And she had sent him a few signals. The new Black Rook didn't want to mix business with pleasure, but he also wanted to badly. If Amanda wouldn't give him what he want, he had no choice but to look towards those that didn't care of his title and where we sat on The Inner Circle.

Daniel: "But, tonight is supposed to be about bonding with each other. Can't let Erika and Adriana have all the fun now can we? So we're not dancers, what are we? What sounds fun? Spin the bottle? Truth or dare? Erika was right...things are about to get decidedly real. And since it doesn't seem as if anyone is planning on throwing me a 'Welcome to America' party, it appears I might have to take matters into my own hands. What sounds good to you?"

Daniel was a good bishop, and Ben knew he was going to have to back his play. The Black Court didn't have a baby on the way, they were going to have to seek their power out in different ways. Ben downed the rest of his scotch and slammed his glass down on the table in between all of them.

"I'm down for whatever, Danny boy. Though I'm a bit pissed you forgot that we got you cupcakes on your first day. I'll get over it. But I agree...let's get into some trouble. I've kissed a whole lot worse than the lot of you all, so what do we got to lose?"
 
Tokyo - Shibuya District

Vivica: "I wish I could say the same, Mr. Quartermaine..."

"Mr. Quartermaine was my father. Please, call me daddy."

He'd been known by a lot of names in his life. Alan Jason Quartermaine. When he was a kid, he went by 'AJ'..and when his parents died and Helena sunk her hooks into him, he went by Jace. Now, he went by Jax. He had come to hate the idea of being a child born into a legacy family. He didn't want to be the descendant of some powerful man anymore. He just wanted to be himself. So Jax was a way for him to do that. But this hot piece of ass didn't need to know that.

Vivica: "But I find men who can't pay their debts to be a bit of a buzzkill."

"Good thing I always pay my bills, babe. I only played Bambi to fuck with the guy at one of your tables. He kept upping the ante..so I followed. And when he won? Well that was just bullshit, so I had to let him know."

Jax inquired as to whether Vivica was the president of this little rouse, or just a hired actor. And he was fucking with her as much as he could. Partly, because he was genuinely curious as to who she was. And secondarily, he kinda wanted to fuck her. She was hot and he never turned down a prospect that looked as good as her.

Vivica: "I have no intention in getting you off, Jason. In fact, if it weren't for your sister, I'd have served you up like sashimi the minute my men took you down. You're a bargainning chip. Nothing more. You'd do well to remember that..."

He laughed (and also for a short time had gone by Jason). There had been a lot of people in the last few years that tried to get to his sister through him, and all of them were dead. Whoever this bombshell of a woman was, he wasn't worried.

"And you'd do well to remember that Al would sooner kill me than let me be something to be lorded over her. We're close but we aren't that close, sweetheart."

That was partially a lie. For awhile now, Alexis had been his frequent savior. Whenever he got too drunk, or got a little too big for his britches, Alexis had saved him. And it was for good reason. They hadn't been particularly close growing up, but after he murdered Adam Chandler and got sent to [air quote] "boarding school" which was really some kind of psychotic concentration camp for mutant boys, they had built a connection. Jax was the only official heir of his family, so he got all the money. Helena knew that and made sure she had power of attorney. When she died, he got the keys to the kingdom, and like usual, Alexis was left with nothing. Both of them made a pact to look after each other, and while she had often kept up her end of the bargain FAR MORE than he ever had, the two were close.

Vivica moved towards them, her suprisingly heavy nails grazing up and down his hairy chest before plunging into his abdomen with an ease and pain that surprised even him. He groaned loudly.

Vivica: "Because I've taken down far richer, more handsome men than you with far less effort."

[grunting against the pain]

"Go...on...please...."

Vivica: "Your sister has been making a lot of noise in Tokyo lately. The yakuza are worried...which is no small feat. I just wanted to see if her brother shared more than just a last name. And to see if things go south with your little siss...how easy it might be to eliminate you."

Jax tried to smile against the pain. In fact, it was starting to feel kind of...good.

"My sister is a fucking god. And whatever ropes you think you have her against...she'll kill you against them. You think your sharp little dainty nails inside of me is some kind of move? It's not. You're right..we do share more than a last name. The Quartermaines are like cockroaches, bitch. No matter what you do to us, we'll survive...and when she finds out your trying to use her brother? To get an audience? Oh she'll kill you in front of me. Might as well make the best of the time you have left, hot stuff..."

He puckered his lips together, attempting to pull her into a kiss despite the chains that held him away from her.
 
Hellfire Mansion — The Red King’s and White Queen's Suite

Haleigh enjoyed a brief few seconds of post orgasmic bliss with Alek. He was nuzzled into her neck, which renewed her arousal, but then there was the Braxton Higgs contraction, which made her tense. He seemed to sense it, asking her if everything was okay. It passed before she could even mention it, and then their daughter was kicking, and she forgot the mild discomforts of pregnancy, for the joy and amazement of the children. It was worth it too, for the endearing way that Alek spoke of ‘his little girl’, and kissed Haleigh’s belly where he’d felt Rebekah move. She smiled warmly when he observed that Rebekah clearly took after him.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

She replied honestly. She was about to lean in and kiss him, but then his phone rang. He suggested it was Calder. Trying to deflect from all the time he’d been spending with stupid cute Zizi? Haleigh didn’t raise the issue. It wasn’t the security sweetheart anyway, it was Ava. Haleigh put on some music for the kids, and Alek reminded her, no ABBA.

“I promise, not even ‘Dancing Queen’.”

She solemnly swore. She then asked him to tell Ava she said hi, and welcome back, and she remarked that Ava was going to freak about the size of her belly. Ava and John had been gone just three weeks, it would undoubtedly be a surprise to find out Haleigh was just days from giving birth. Alek gave her that look of his, the one that always drove her wild, and observed that Ava would be jealous of the improved size of Haleigh’s boobs. Haleigh mirrored his grin, and nodded in agreement.

”They ARE glorious, aren’t they?”

She asked, looking down at herself. She looked back up at him, mischief in her eyes as she cupped her breasts with both hands, massaging gently, her thumbs caressing her nipples slowly. She watched his expression, and it became slightly more palatable, the fact that he was going to answer the call of another woman (and another Queen) while they were in bed together.

“Oh go on, answer her, before this whole room becomes a tornado of winds.”

Haleigh said, ceasing her provocation. The tone of his voice when he said Ava’s name, and the knowledge that the feeling was mutual from Ava’s point of view, was also reassuring. Most of the time, the communications that came through the network were known to Haleigh. It wasn’t that she intended to eavesdrop, though it was an undeniable tactical advantage for her. It was simply that Ava might as well have been standing in their bedroom and having this conversation in front of Haleigh.

However, knowing Ava was a private person, and trusting that Alek would tell her if it was important, Haleigh made an attempt to tune them out. She manifested a pair of Bose headphone, and connected to the same playlist the children were listening to. It was one of her favorites, though perhaps lately it hit a little differently, better even than before. She cranked it up loud, so that Ava’s telephonic voice was drowned out. She began to sing along to the song that was thundering in her head.

“I never opened myself this way… Life is ours, we live it our way…All these words, I don't just say…And nothing else matters…”

She eased herself out of bed, and over to the dresser. She pulled out a pair of yoga pants, the outer seams of which were threaded with thin aluminum wire. This made it a simple task for Haleigh to bunch them with her mind, and pull them on without the help of another person or having to contort herself around her belly.

“Trust I seek and I find in you… Every day for us something new… Open mind for a different view…And nothing else matters…”

Her socks now had small metal tabs on the hems, for the same practical purpose. She’d gotten creative when necessary, as she didn’t like feeling incapable of dressing herself. She slipped on a pair of white leather booties, and then pulled a soft cable-knit sweater over her head. It was another secret perk of pregnancy, that she had the perfect excuse to dress in comfortable clothes.

”Never cared for what they say… Never cared for games they play… Never cared for what they do… Never cared for what they know…And I know, yeah, yeah!”

Haleigh spun around to face Alek now, manifesting an electric guitar with a body shaped like an axe so she could pull off the big riff. It wasn’t plugged into an amp, so the effect was somewhat muted, certainly not as loud as it was in her head. But she grinned at him playfully, her strumming hand making the shape of little devil horns, which she held up afterwards, her head nodding to the rhythm as the song faded out. He was getting dressed himself, his expression somewhat serious. She wanted to remind him that they could still have fun, certainly she still intended to, even with the children. Maybe even especially with them. It was important to protect them, and adorable how intensely focused he was on making sure everything was perfectly safe for their arrival. But there was a small concern that this might consume them, and she didn’t want to lose the things about him that she loved. She didn’t want to change herself, and lose his interest.

“She’s not in trouble is she?”

She asked, tossing the guitar on their bed, reaching up to smooth his hair back and stroke his beard. She didn’t think anything was really wrong, or Ava would’ve called more than only Alek. He had the grim face he wore when he’d had to leave her side for some security thing.

“Well don’t worry about me. Ash won’t let anything happen to me in your absence, and neither will the praetorians.”

She said, her hands slowly trailing down his chest.

“Maybe by the time you get back, I’ll be legally divorced.”

She said slyly. Then her hands dropped to her own hair, and she raked her fingers through the strands, separating it into three sections. Her hair had grown as quickly and aggressively as her rack during her pregnancy, it was elbow length now. She braided it over her left shoulder with deft, practiced hands. From the top of his dresser, she grabbed a red silk ribbon to tie off the end of the braid. She may be the White Queen, but she was carrying the Red Princess, and she felt it important to represent that. As Alek left, Haleigh went over to the door in the den that adjoined with Ashley’s and AJ‘s suite. All the Regent’s suites were like this, Queen adjoining King. It was super convenient, for couples, and still useful, even for romantically-separated pairs. A King and Queen needed to be able to work together closely.

”Ash? This is me knocking politely before I just mentally unlock the deadbolt and barge in.“

She announced, and then unlocked the deadbolt and barged in. She knew AJ had gone out with the others, so it wasn’t like she’d be interrupting anything important, and she’d been making an effort recently to develop stronger relationships with the women who would raise her children if they became orphans. That was still a possibility.

“Have you eaten yet? I’m starving and I wanna cheat on the healthy nutritional rabbit food plan Erika is trying to keep me on. What do you say I get door dash to bring us some Mcdonalds??”
 
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NYC - The Blond

Heidi remained sitting in the booth with all the men, as Erika and Adriana went to dance. Daniel noted that with the babies soon to be born, there were big changes afoot, and that it was rather high stakes for the White Court. Heidi felt like he didn’t know that half of it, but she wasn’t about to admit in front of everyone her concerns that her court was coming apart at the seams. She hadn’t even told Jack that yet. So she shrugged it off, as Daniel suggested that he hoped she was taking care of herself, or letting someone take care of her. He looked over at Jack, who‘s expression was as austere as usual, but Heidi thought she saw a gleam in his eye.

Jack: “Her needs are routinely satisfied, but it’s thoughtful of you to be so genuinely concerned.”

He said in his customary gruff tone, though he sounded casual. Daniel commented that he’d be glad to stop walking on eggshells, and Calder agreed wholeheartedly. Heidi giggled at his emotive sarcasm, while AJ looked aghast.

AJ: “You performed that task yourself? I just paid a pawn a hundred dollars to install them all in our suite, along with the little cabinet and drawer catches, and furniture securing straps, and non-slip pads under the rugs, and, and, and…”

Heidi raised an eyebrow at his candid frustration over all the measures that were being insisted upon. Calder asked if they were really going to have to babysit. Heidi didn’t mind that idea so much. She secretly enjoyed whatever rare occasion she got to spend time with Carolina. Daniel lamented the nanny cams, and joked that they wouldn’t be able to go to the bathroom without the Red King knowing about it soon. Heidi scoffed humorously at that.

”Well I’m afraid you won’t find most of us bothered about that, on account of how comfortable we’ve all long since gotten with the fact that The White Queen hears anything done or said within range of a cellphone, or any other smart device with a microphone and a Wi-Fi connection. If you ever see someone silently insisting you put all your electronics in the microwave, it’s not the American government alphabet agencies we’re worried about.”

She said over the rim of her cocktail, and there was more than one of the others hear that gave a nod in agreement. Daniel wanted to have a little fun, to play some kind of game, and Ben said he was down for anything. Heidi sat up excitedly.

”Ooh, let’s play ‘Never have I ever.’ It’ll be a great way to get everyone acquainted.”

AJ: “I don’t know what that is.”

No, of course he didn’t. Heidi shook her head at him good-naturedly.

”It’s a very simple drinking game, you’ll catch on quickly. The rules are simple. We take turns making a statement of something never done. Anyone who’s done the thing mentioned then takes a drink, while those who haven’t, abstain. For example: Never have I ever played this particular game.”

She paused to make sure he was following.

“Now, I’ve actually played this game with Jack, so we both drink, along with anyone else here who has. But you haven’t played, so you don’t. And then it’s Jack’s turn.”

She explained, and she and Jack drank. There was a pause while Ben, Daniel and Calder complied, and AJ nodded, seeming to understand.

Jack: “Never have I ever wanted a crown.”

Ooh, good one, Heidi thought. While she was a loyal Knight, there was a small part of her that sometimes wondered what it would be like to be a Queen. To be so coveted, to be so worshipped. To stand next to Cameron, instead of one step behind him. To be his Queen, in particular. So she drank, and she wasn’t surprised to see AJ nod and drink deeply from his own glass. She understood that. They all knew how madly in love AJ was with the Red Queen. Then Heidi gestured that it was AJ’s turn. He gave it a moment’s thought, and then it was like a light bulb went off in his head.

AJ: “Never have I ever been to Mexico.”

He said triumphantly, and Heidi smiled. He seemed like he was having fun. She had been to Mexico recently, so she drank again. She was getting a little buzz. Jack drank to, which raised an eyebrow of hers. She hadn’t known that about him. She turned to the others with a smirk.

”Well Ben, Calder, Daniel, who’s going next? Don’t be shy.”
 
The Red King and White Queen's Suite

Ava was calling, which would have made him cringe, even if he didn't know the Black Court was digging in and keeping it to themselves. Haleigh was playing music for the babies, and he reminded her no Abba.

Haleigh: “I promise, not even ‘Dancing Queen’.”

He rolled his eyes.

"Especially not Dancing Queen."

He pressed the answer button.

Ava: "We have a security issue."

Well it was about damn time she said something.

Ava: "Can you meet me at Smoke in a half hour? It's too extensive to discuss over the phone."

He paused. Surely they weren't preparing some sort of takeover. There is no way they could have covered that up. But this felt like a trap. Getting him out of the mansion. To a Black Court stronghold. He glanced at Haleigh, listening to music with the babies. No, Ava wouldn't do that to her. He rubbed his beard, weighing his suspicions.

Ava: "Preferably alone. I'd rather get your security expertise before alerting the Inner Circle."

"You did the right thing coming to me. I'll be there. Also, Haleigh says hi."

He hung up, then immediately texted for two praetorians not currently guarding Haleigh to meet him at the car. Because he wasn't stupid.

Haleigh was getting dressed, and singing along, which made him chuckle.

"Now, Metallica I approve of."

Haleigh turned around, and suddenly was playing guitar in front of him, which made his chuckle turn into a full blown laugh as he started to get dressed himself. Ugh...why did Ava have to choose NOW to be forthright?

Haleigh: “She’s not in trouble is she?”

He shook his head.

"I don't think so. She wants to discuss some 'security issue'. It's probably nothing. But no harm checking it out."

As much as he wanted to spare her worry, he wasn't about to lie to her. He didn't mention his thoughts that this was an assassination attempt, however. And then Haleigh's hands were in his hair and beard, and he reached an arm around her to pull her to him.

Haleigh: “Well don’t worry about me. Ash won’t let anything happen to me in your absence, and neither will the praetorians.”

He looked into her face and smiled.

"I will always worry about you."

His hand slid from her back to her stomach, and he kissed her lips softly.

Haleigh: “Maybe by the time you get back, I’ll be legally divorced.”

With her hands touching his chest, it took everything he had to not tell Ava to figure it out on her own so he could stay here with Haleigh.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world. We'll celebrate. I'm sure I can think of something extra special for us to do."

He kissed her once more, then reluctantly pulled away.

"I'll be back as soon as I can."

He turned, and headed for the the main entrance to the mansion, where his car waited. Alek often drove himself, but for this, with his extra protection, he'd had them pull the black Maybach town car around. The driver opened the door and he got in, followed by the two guards.

"I want you two to stay outside, but keep your eyes and ears open."

Arriving at Smoke's location, Alek got out of the car. One guard stayed at street level, the other rode up in the elevator with him, but positioned himself outside the doors to the lounge. Alek entered alone to find Ava already there. His eyes scanned the room, and saw nothing unusual. Except one thing.

"Where's John?"
 
Hellfire Mansion - Kitchen

Cameron wanted to meet after he signed the papers with Haleigh, something that required stepping carefully. She suggested meeting in his study - better than in his suite.

Cameron: "Mm...is that a date? It would be our first since you got here..."

He could be so insufferable.

"I'm here so you can spend time with your daughter, Cameron...not to go to the drive-in."

Cameron talked with Carolina about the upcoming school year while they finished up the dinner preparations. They all sat down at the table, and Cameron surprisingly said the blessing.

"Amen."

Elena pointed her finger at Carolina.

"Napkin in your lap, please."

Carolina, a giant bit of hamburger already in her mouth, smiled and acquiesced. Elena gave her a warm smile in return.

Cameron: "So..Lina, before you do have to go back home...you're about to be a big sister. You'll have a little brother any day now. Are you excited?"

Carolina's eyes lit up, and she almost bounced right out of her chair.

"Yes, papi! Aunt Erika bought be a book about being a big sister, and I've been reading it every single day! I'll be so good, you'll see!"

Her daughter's desire to please almost broke Elena's heart.

"I can help when he's born. I can babysit. I'll change poopy diapers and everything!"

Elena put a hand on Carolina's arm.

"I'm sure you will be a big help, mija."

Elena sent another prayer to heaven that Cameron wasn't going to fuck this up.
 
The Blond - NYC
When Erika offered condolences for the ’loss’ of Gia, Adriana offered condolences for Erika’ sweater. She meant it, too. Erika thanked her sincerely, adding that the cashmere had been good enough to be buried in, while nobody else had even cared. Adriana shook her head incredulously at the obliviousness of the others.

”And it looked so awesome on you!”

Adriana replied as they danced. Erika observed that they’d gotten the better Nefaria, which made Adriana smile a bit, and then Erika asked if Adriana was heartbroken over Gia, but no. She said, quite frankly, that Gia had never even tried to be a true sister to her. Erika told her that she understood that intimately. Adriana gave her a look.

”Did we just become best friends?!”

She asked, leaning in a little closer to Erika, who wiped the slightest glisten of perspiration from her brow. It was getting a little warm in here. She glanced over to catch Ben watching them dance, and she smirked a bit at that. Adriana posed a question about the Red King, concerned their Queen might have a blind spot for him. Erika grabbed her hand and pulled her to a private booth as the music got stale.

Erika: "Look, it's great you're asking these questions, but none of the old answers really apply here...we are in uncharted fucking territory right now."

”Oh??”

She responded as a fresh sidecar arrived. She tucked her hair behind her ear, quite interested in what insight Erika had. She stirred her drink around with the spiral orange peel garnish. Erika went into detail about Alek’s appeal, that while annoying he was sexy and rugged. Adriana shrugged lazily with one shoulder.

”Meh.”

She interjected, unimpressed. He wasn’t her type as far as the male prospects went. She’d heard the scuttlebutt, that he must be well hung to keep the White Queen so pleased. Yet, size wasn’t everything, and the specific equipment wasn’t as important to Adriana as it was to most everyone else here. Erika went on to explain more about the man.

”Hmm, yes, sounds like one of those men a girl’s gotta beware of.”

Adriana agreed, and Erika offered a positive thing or two about him, like his potential to be a good father, and that there seemed to be genuine love between him and Haleigh. Adriana nodded to that as well, taking a sip of her cocktail. Even just in the last three weeks, she’d seen some of that herself, and she hadn’t exactly fallen hook line and sinker for it either. It was reassuring to hear Erika‘s blunt honesty about the issue. Then Erika made a really intriguing comment, something about Alek not being a part of the White Court YET. Both of Adriana’s eyebrows lifted, her eyes locked on Erika. She didn’t think for a second that Alek would step down from being King to instead become a Rook, not even for Haleigh Victory. She wasn’t even sure he’d change his color. He seemed more inclined to off his own Queen and convince Haleigh to take on crimson.

”But Cameron wouldn’t allow that, would he? I mean, he’s not just a King, he’s a KING. It might be one thing if we were talking about a trade for the Black Kingship…. But Cameron wouldn’t wear red, and really I don’t think he’d let anyone else have Heidi, though maybe I’m off base with that…”

Adriana said, considering the little dalliance Heidi had with Jack as an afterthought. Cameron did seem to dote on Heidi more than any other white court member, though. Adriana thought she picked up on some sexual tension there, in fact she was fairly certain it was smoldering. But was it from an old flame, or an upcoming one? She didn’t know that.

Erika: "I don't know for sure, but I know big things are about to happen in The Inner Circle. Everyone is looking at these children, which means..we need to be looking at everything else."

Adriana looked in the direction Erika gestured. It was the rest of the inner circle, looking as stilted as they were when she was sitting with them. Somebody said something, and there seemed to be little response except that people were looking around at the others and drinking. Then someone else spoke up, with a similar effect. There was minimal conversation happening, and only a nod here or there. Clearly the riveting discussion was over here. Erika was posing some questions of her own, and they were all good ones. She mentioned the intermingling with the Red Court, which was mostly Heidi’s doing. Erika pointed out that they’d be remiss to overlook the Black Court.


”Mm yes, they ARE all a bit reserved, but they seem like they’re up to something, don’t they?”

She agreed, and then Erika said that Knights enforced, Rooks advised, and Bishops built ties. Yes, that was true, and she’d been thinking recently about how to best fulfill her new role, to pull her weight on the court, so she appreciated Erika’s leadership here. She was obviously a solid Princess, with her head on straight. Adriana drank some more as she listened and considered all that Erika said about what needed to be done.

”Well, you can count me in. The advantage to being the new girl is that nobody has my number yet, and I haven’t burnt any bridges. Of course, I’ll have to overcome the Gia thing, but I can do that.”

She answered confidently. Erika suddenly realized that she was moving through the material at top speed, and blamed it on the blow, which made her chatty and horny. Adriana smirked at that.

”Oh my.”

She replied, and Erika lightened the mood by posing a less serious question, if she got a free pass on the inner circle, who she’d want to fuck senseless. Scandalous! Adriana drank deeply, not rushing into her answer.

”Hmm, well, in order of preference?”

She began, and then Erika exclaimed that she’d been so rude, and offered Adriana some cocaine.

”Why, yes, I’d love a little bump. Thank you.”

She considered her prospects. A free pass meant it didn’t matter if anyone was taken for this hypothetical, but even if that put the men in red on the table, Jack gave off that stern dad vibe, and AJ was a bit too wild. Calder was pretty good looking, she guessed, but she hadn’t really hit it off with him much, despite being around him while she was in the Red Wing to see her Queen. On the Black Court, Daniel was obviously not into girls. Amanda seemed interesting, and Adriana had heard she was a bibliophile. Potential, but that just made her more interested in picking Amanda’s brains for good book recommendations, and less interesting in fucking those brains out. Ben, though. Yes, Ben was attractive. And on her own court there was Heidi, who was more intimidating than anything else. and Erika. Adriana smiled slyly, having organized her thoughts and ranked them all in her mind.

”Well I’d start with you, out of everyone. No hard feelings though, if you aren’t into it. Ben’s got the right male energy, for the nights I’m in that kind of mood.”

She answered, and then drained the rest of her drink.

”But turnabout’s fair play, Princess. What about you? If you could have a no-consequences free night with anyone, who’d you go for? I heard a rumor you rolled with the former White Rook, that Italian Stallion Zachary Armani. Mad respect, if so! I was sad to see him go to Europe.”
 
The Red Queen's Suite

Haleigh: ”Ash? This is me knocking politely before I just mentally unlock the deadbolt and barge in.“

Ashley's head was in the refrigerator and she looked in the direction of the other room, the one that led into Alek's. She pushed the fridge's door shut with a swipe of her hips, a mountain lion cub in one hand and a package of raw meat from the butcher's in the other.

"In here!"

She set the cub down, who chirped in protest, then scraped some of the meat into a dish and set it down on the kitchen floor. Then she met Haleigh as she came out of the kitchen and into the sitting room.

Haleigh: “Have you eaten yet? I’m starving and I wanna cheat on the healthy nutritional rabbit food plan Erika is trying to keep me on. What do you say I get door dash to bring us some McDonalds??”

Ashley shook her head.

"I don't know why you think all those vegetables and things are healthy. I mean, just look at them. Look at how they taste. They couldn't possibly fill you up. How can that be healthy for you?"

Ashley moved further into the room.

"But I could eat a horse. Order some of everything they've got."

She smiled, then sidled over to the sofa, concealing the baby blanket under a couple throw pillows while Haleigh was preoccupied with ordering. Ashley sat down nonchalantly, and gestured for Haleigh to sit down also. Ash made a show of looking around Haleigh.

"Where's Alek? I didn't think he left your side anymore. Ever."
 
Hellfire Mansion - Dining Hall

Carolina: "Yes, papi! Aunt Erika bought me a book about being a big sister, and I've been reading it every single day! I'll be so good, you'll see! I can help when he's born. I can babysit. I'll change poopy diapers and everything."

He watched as Elena placed a hand on Carolina and calmed her down, which intrigued Cameron.

Elena: "I'm sure you will be a big help, mija."

"I'm gonna need all the help I can get, Lina. So I'm glad you've been reading your book."

"To be honest, I'm kind of nervous..I've never done this before. All these things, how to hold him, how to change a diaper...I should have learned how to do them with you...when you were a baby, and I didn't..."

Carolina: "Papi, don't be sad! You're gonna be a GREAT papi to baby Logan!"

From the mouths of babes. The last few weeks, and his total history as being a human man on Earth, had shown him that he really didn't know how to be a father. And he didn't even really remember his own. He had small memories, of Jonathon King. He remembered riding his shoulders through Central Park one day, and driving the boats all around the pond. He remembered one time, his father taking him to the movies, just the two of them. And he remembered being happy. Of feeling special. But then he disappeared. Adam and Christopher had been killed. But his dad, was just gone. With no explanation. And because his mother had been so obsessed with him, he didn't ever take the time to process it. Looking back, he always thought it strange. That all these Kings of Hellfire had died, leaving the Queens to rule. For decades the King's seats in Hellfire were empty. It was easier to rule a court as the sole vote. For a lot of his life, he felt his mother's adoration was to protect him from the fates that were handed to Christopher and Adam. All he felt now, was robbed of knowing what a father should be and look like.

He gestured for Carolina to come sit on his lap as she happily agreed. He knew Elena wouldn't be happy with any of this, but he was beginning to care a lot less about that. He knew there was distance between them. He knew that he had done her wrong. But he couldn't spend the rest of his life as a father placating her, of proving to her that he wouldn't fuck this up. Because she couldn't prove that to him either. If he was going to be a father, he was going to be one his way. Just like she was being a mother. And sometimes that meant that manners at the dinner table were less important than making a genuine connection with his daughter.

"You are too kind my love, but talk about a mistake. I mean, we are so happy now, but I have to be honest. I don't know what I'm doing sometimes. And that's okay, it's really important to try and do things you don't know how to do, because how else do you learn? But it doesn't make me worry any less..."

Cameron tucked a bit of hair behind her ear as he exhaled deeply, taking a sip of his wine with his free hand before setting the glass back down on the table.

Carolina: "I worry about things too, papi. So many times Mami has to stop me from thinking! I think so many things all the time! All at once!"

God she was so fucking sweet that sometimes he couldn't believe she had came from either of them. The Elena in front of him now was not the Elena he remembered, and he felt bad that it had been largely because of him. She was always elegant...refined. And in terms of telepaths, there was no other second to him than her (now that Malice was dead). But he was living through all of this, seeing the damage he had done to both of them. And he hated it. Still, Carolina didn't need to know all that...but maybe Elena did.

[to Elena] "We really don't deserve her, El. For fuck's sake..."

He squeezed her tight into a hug, smelling her hair with every single amount of scent that his nostrils could pick up from her. She always smelled so good. So perfect. A scent that made him know that there was nothing he wouldn't kill to protect her.

"I want to be a good papi, to you and to your little brother. Now you, I already know you are going to be such a great big sister. You are brave...and inquisitive, and smart and kind to people. He's going to love you, as much as mami and I love you. I am telling you this because I want you to know, that is papi can be scared or worried, or even angry or upset, that you can be too. And you can tell me about it..."

Their gaze met. Though their eyes were different colors, they were the same. The way she smoldered, or the way her pupils dilated to the umpteenth degree when she got excited. They were just like his. He could sense that she was a bit uncomfortable with what he was saying, but that was okay, because this was real life and sometimes it was uncomfortable, but it was also the most honest moment he had experienced with her, and he wanted to savor every single fucking moment.

"You don't have to be perfect. You just have to be yourself. All of yourself. Being with you this summer has been so magical. We've had so much fun! And we have a lot of fun in store in the future. But life isn't always fun. I mean, I'm sure some day you'll get grumpy when you come home from school and mami makes you do your homework when all you want to do is ride Sheldon. Or maybe you'll get sad. Because you miss me. I know I'm gonna be sad.."

He really was going to be. Mostly, because he just didn't know what was going to happen. This whole time he felt like he was being graded by Elena. And considering the fact that Elena had spent a chunk of her time here trying to break through a crystal cage that erected because Haleigh and him were milliseconds away from killing each other, it didn't bode well for him. She'd given him nothing but ice. Every time he tried, she participated, but she kept her heart from everything. He understood it, but there was a big part of him that was worried that once this summer was over, suddenly Carolina or she would be busy, that somehow visits just wouldn't work out. That she would take her daughter from Hellfire and he'd never see her again.

Cameron playfully bounced her up and down on his knee for a moment and tickled her sides as her laughter made him understand why he was alive, before kissing her forehead and staring at her yet again in those big brown beautiful eyes of hers.

"I don't want to ruin the mood, mija. And I'm sorry if I did...but..I think it's important to talk about. And if there's one thing I want you to know before you go back home, is that you can talk to your papi. About everything. About anything. Even if you want to talk about being mad at ME. I promise, no matter what...I'm always going to love you and think you are the most special girl that ever walked the Earth."

Leaning in, he kissed her cheek and plopped her back down into the chair next to him.

"Not only all that, you make one hell of a hamburger, kid."
 
NYC - The Blond

Adriana: "Why, yes, I'd love a little bump. Thank you."

Erika smirked. Thank God. This was Hellfire, not a finishing school. Though, if she was being honest, Erika had also done a lot of recreational drugs in finishing school. This only made her like Adriana more. She knew that nobody else outside of maybe Daniel would have accepted her offer. Because they needed to 'stay clear' or be alert. In reality, Erika had learned a hell of a lot more about people and the way things really were after a few lines than she ever had sitting around a party pretending to have fun while monitoring her alcohol intake. Unclasping her white platinum rosary necklace from her neck, the cross ending up to be a key, as she pressed it under Adriana's nose, pulling it back once The White Bishop inhaled, before screwing the clasp back on.

The White Princess inquired as to Adriana's sexual proclivities, because she was genuinely interested. She knew if there was one thing Princesses of Hellfire dealt in, it was tawdry gossip. And she appreciated Adriana taking some time to actually think about her answer. The bishop was winning points left and right. And as Adriana surveyed the crowd of inner circle members across the room from them, Erika found herself doing the same.

Adriana: 'Well, I'd start with you, out of everyone. No hard feelings though, if you aren't into it. Ben's got the right male energy, for the nights i'm in that kind of mood."

A mischevious grin crawled across her face. When it came to her own sexuality, Erika was pretty fluid. As a witch, she knew she was going to live for a very long time, so the idea of just being with one specific sex or gender for all eternity just didn't appeal to her. Mostly, her modus operandum, was that she was into people who were into her. She was neither, straight, gay, bi or pan, but rather, a classic narcissist.

"Well now, don't make promises you can't keep, babe. I don't just fuck, I devour. And I'm also an egomaniac, or so many licensed professionals have told me. Flattery will get you everywhere with me."

She laughed taking a sip of her drink. Ben was an interesting choice. He was definitely hot. But he'd always been a bit too down on himself for Erika to ever envision herself fucking him. Though she had fucked a lot uglier men with smaller muscles, so she could see the appeal.

Adriana: "But turnabout is fair play, Princess. What about you? If you could have a no-consequences free night with anyone, who'd you go for? I heard a rumor you rolled around with the former White Rook, that Italian Stallion Zachary Armani. Mad respect, if so! I was sad to see him to to go Europe."

Erika laughed.

"Well, I preface this with saying...we HATE Zach now. But damn if he didn't make me cum so hard I thought I was turning into Helen Keller. Blind, deaf, and somehow able to pilot a plane..."

"He was more of an assignment really. Haleigh and Cameron wanted me distracted, and you aren't wrong about the stallion part. That man has fucked many women to keep the white court happy, their Queen included. Unfortunately, he found the moody dark pussy of Brienne Shaw a bit too much to resist. And she may be a queen across the pond, but here in America, she's a fucking cunt and should always be treated like one...but we did make out at a Holiday Party back in the day in front of Archer, and I will give her props. She's a great kisser.."

"Now...as for all of Hellfire? This is something I've thought about at great detail. Heidi? Eh, she's hot, but like she takes her job too seriously. Also, I'm fairly sure she loves fucking my brother so that's just kind of weird..On the Black Court? Oh John all day everyday. He's so moody and intense and bottled up. I bet he fucks like a god. Ben? Pass. He's hot but he's also a bit too sad for me. Amanda? I've read her books...and if that's any indication, I think she'd be a tiger in the sack. But you'd have to get her pissed off first...Oh my god!"

Quickly Erika undid her necklace and took another key quickly, sniffing up her nose a bit.

"I heard she fucked AJ a few weeks ago. Caught the Red Knight in a broody moment of weakness. So who knows! She's a minx but she's also meticulous, which can be just not worth the trouble...Daniel? Well, who knows...I've always wanted to peg a guy, so maybe!"

[pausing]

"Which leaves the Red Court. I'd fuck Jack just to get at Heidi. I mean, he's hot. Like really hot. But a bit too much in his head. But part of me thinks he's a lowkey freak. He knows so much about biology, that's gotta translate in some way right? AJ...it's like...yeah, he's a bit old world, but he's also like a real wolf. And who doesn't want to be ravaged? Actually...if it's anybody on the Red Court, i'm going Ashley. That woman is fuckin' hot. Regal. Worldly. And she's more of a man than most of the men at Hellfire. She'd eat you out and then give you a cheeseburger..."

She downed the rest of her champagne. Erika was actually enjoying herself tonight. The last few weeks had been stressful. She'd been so focused on the babies, on making sure nobody tried to kill her brother, that she'd almost forgotten what it was like to just go out and have fun. And Erika liked fun.

"Well...I guess that's not everyone. Back to us."

Erika leaned in.

"If we're talking one night, just for fun, no need to think about it in the morning? Well...i've always been a bit partial to unstable blondes with ties to the mafia..you know...a girl able to spot top notch cashmere.."
 
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Alek: "You did the right thing coming to me. I'll be there. Also, Haleigh says hi."

And then he hung up. Ava lowered the phone from her ear, letting her arm hang by her side as she stared blankly at the window in front of her. This was it. There was no going back now. Everything was about to change even more so than it already had, but now she had to deal directly with the Red King. Ava had never cared for Alek, finding it odd that Helena latched so heavily onto an interloper as her 'heir' to the Red Throne. She always believed it was the irrational hatred for Alexis that made Helena so blind to Alek, but also the fact that he was a lap dog to her. Sure Ava and Alek had some reasonably pleasant interactions with each other in passing, but for the most part they stayed their separate ways. Alek always billing her as a spoiled bitch and Ava always seeing him as an egotistial man-whore. But now, she was about to tell this man that despised her that they had a child together. And then of course, there was Haleigh. He was already having a child with Haleigh, while Haleigh was bringing in not only one heir but two into Hellfire with Cameron's baby as well. How the hell was she going to explain all of this to her? To Ashley? To John. It didn't even make sense to Ava. That was when she lifted her phone back up, knowing she needed to contact Elena next. While she wasn't close to Elena, Ava felt more comfortable asking someone less involved to go digging into her head for lost memories. She had grown up with Cameron, and he was already so deeply involved in the situation with Alek and Haleigh. Plus, Elena was a woman, and right now Ava needed a woman to help her. Opening a text thread, it felt less strange than calling since they weren't very close.

>>It's Ava. I know you don't owe me a damn thing, but I could really use you help right now.
222 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019

Whether Elena would actually show was another story. If she didn't, then Ava would have to go to Cameron. Craning her neck back to stretch the tension from it, she finally made her way back through the small corridor to where John still held a sleeping Lily. Her eyes softened at the sight of her daughter, so peacefully sleeping and unaware of the dumpster fire she was being brought into. Gods she hoped Alek wouldn't break Lily's heart.

"I have a meeting in twenty minutes."

Finally looking at John, they had barely spoke since he left with Lily to Athen's while Ava confronted her father. She knew he was concerned, that he had questions. But she couldn't let him in, not when she didn't want to believe any of this herself. So she shut him out, the way the Cassadine's were known to do.

"Bring Lily to Smoke at 8. I should be done by then."

Leaning down, Ava gave her daughter a kiss on the temple, shutting her eyes to savor the last moment it would be just them. Her hand gently smoothed Lily's hair as Ava stood back up, her eyes leveling with John's. It was a silent thank you, knowing despite everything, he would protect her child no matter what. And then Ava was gone in a tornado of winds, reappearing at Smoke. The exclusive lounge was like a speakeasy, located on the rooftop of a business building right outside of Hell's Kitchen. Only elite clientele were invited to Smoke; the exclusivity being the primary draw of wanting access to the lounge, but the five star service, drinks, and menu being the reason why people stayed and came back. The lounge was closed until 9pm, and it was still early enough where the staff wasn't there to set up yet. Ava walked to the bar, leaning over the bar top and grabbing a bottle of Maccallan 18 from the well. Sitting down on the bar stools, she took one of the clean crystal rocks glasses that the staff had lined up from the night before and poured herself a double. Keeping the bottle next to her, she downed the drink without any effort, letting her head hang as she savored the burn in her throat.

Ding.

The elevator alerting Ava that Alek had arrived early. She didn't bother to look in his direction, instead focusing on the glass of cognac in her hand.

Alek: "Where's John?"

"Not here."

Ava tossed back another shot, finally looking at Alek.

"Drink?"

Grabbing another crystal rocks glass, she began to pour him a drink, not bothering to wait and see whether he accepted or declined. She slid it over to him.

"Trust me, you're going to need it."
 
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Hellfire Mansion - Dining Hall

Cameron was asking Carolina about being a big sister while they ate their cheeseburgers.

Cameron: "To be honest, I'm kind of nervous..I've never done this before. All these things, how to hold him, how to change a diaper...I should have learned how to do them with you...when you were a baby, and I didn't..."

Elena looked at him. Was this his play? Pit her daughter against her, for keeping her from her father? Is this the way he came for her daughter?

Carolina: "Papi, don't be sad! You're gonna be a GREAT papi to baby Logan!"

It was smart, Elena had to admit. Cameron could do no wrong in Carolina's eyes. Which is as it should be. Which is what she wanted her daughter to think about her father. Would he turn that against her though? Absolutely.

Cameron summoned Carolina to him, pulling her into his lap. And they talked about making mistakes, and having worries.

Cameron: "We really don't deserve her, El. For fuck's sake..."

"Not remotely. She is the best thing I've ever done."

Elena looked into his eyes, meaningfully.

"She's my entire world, Cameron."

He hugged Carolina to him.

Cameron: "You don't have to be perfect. You just have to be yourself. All of yourself. Being with you this summer has been so magical. We've had so much fun! And we have a lot of fun in store in the future. But life isn't always fun. I mean, I'm sure some day you'll get grumpy when you come home from school and mami makes you do your homework when all you want to do is ride Sheldon. Or maybe you'll get sad. Because you miss me. I know I'm gonna be sad."

Carolina: "I'm going to be so sad, papi."

She looked up into his eyes.

Carolina: "Can't you come live with us in Colima?"

"Carolina."

She said it so softly.

And Cameron tickled and kissed her, making her laugh.

Cameron: "I don't want to ruin the mood, mija. And I'm sorry if I did...but..I think it's important to talk about. And if there's one thing I want you to know before you go back home, is that you can talk to your papi. About everything. About anything. Even if you want to talk about being mad at ME. I promise, no matter what...I'm always going to love you and think you are the most special girl that ever walked the Earth. Not only all that, you make one hell of a hamburger, kid."

"Language, amado."

But she smiled.

"You'll see, mija, you'll talk to papi all the time. And visit."

Just then Elena's phone dinged. Usually she turned it off during their dinners, but she must have forgotten tonight. Still, she pulled it from her pocket and looked at it. It was a text. From Ava.

>>It's Ava. I know you don't owe me a damn thing, but I could really use you help right now.
222 W 51st St, New York, NY 10019

This was interesting. What in the world could Ava possibly need from her?

"It's Ava. She wants me to meet her."

"Probably wants to call me a homewrecker and tell me to leave the country."

Elena looked at Carolina.

"What do you think? Can you help papi clean up tonight while I go meet his friend?"

Carolina: "Sure!"

She looked to Cameron.

"Will you be okay for an hour?"

When he gave her the affirmative, she stood and kissed Carolina on the cheek.

"Be good."

She paused a moment, then kissed Cameron on his cheek as well, before walking out of the room. A car was pulled around for her and she was driven to the address that Ava had given her. When they arrived, the driver opened the door for her, and she got our onto the sidewalk. She looked up at the midtown building in front of her. Her eyes narrowed, still at a loss for what Ava could want. God help her if this was some sort of feeble trap.

Elena got into the elevator, and when she exited on the appointed floor, a classically appointed cocktail lounge was in front of her. There was a Gothic tint to it that intrigued her. She raised an eyebrow. It hadn't been what she'd expected. It was also quiet. The place was clearly closed. But she could feel Ava inside and...Alek. Curiouser and curiouser.

She pushed through the entrance, and strode towards the two regents. She picked up the untouched glass in front of Alek and downed it before sitting down without being asked.

"So, what's this all about?"
 
Smoke

He didn't bother with pleasantries before addressing the elephant in the room, asking where John was. Because Ava didn't go anywhere without John in her shadow.

Ava: "Not here."

Alek raised his eyebrows. That begged the question, where was he?

Ava was drinking, not that that was unusual. Necessarily.

Ava: "Drink?"

He shook his head and sat down across from her. She poured him a glass anyway, but he didn't reach for it.

Ava: "Trust me, you're going to need it."

Alek splayed his hands in front of him. He wanted to cut to the chase so he could get back to Haleigh.

"So, are you going to tell me why the Black Court is hunkering down, preparing for an attack?"

He nodded towards her drink and smirked.

"You and John have a fight?"

He was obviously joking, because John would rip out his own jugular before he raised a hand to Ava. Alek clucked his tongue.

"And a mysterious guest coming back with you from Paris?"

He leaned forward and looked her in the eyes.

"If you've brought a load of shit my way, I need to know about it, right now."
 
The Blond - NYC

The Black Bishop expressed how glad he would be when Haleigh finally had her babies, and Calder heartily agreed. This was a topic he could certainly commiserate on. Alek had been driving them all crazy with security preparations. He was obsessed.

Daniel: "And the sharp corners. Honestly, all I've seen since I've been back from Tokyo is potential hazards for a toddler to kill themselves on. Who decided to build a mansion so much sharp marble?!"

"Right?!"

AJ: “You performed that task yourself? I just paid a pawn a hundred dollars to install them all in our suite, along with the little cabinet and drawer catches, and furniture securing straps, and non-slip pads under the rugs, and, and, and…”

Calder stared at him blankly.

"Damn."

He should have thought of that.

Erika had suggested they would all be babysitting in the coming weeks, which scared him more than fighting an army of TO virus infected. He asked if that was really a possibility.

Daniel: "Hey that's not on my court. But I can't imagine any of them will trust us with those kids. Have you seen the amount of tech your king has brought into this place in the last few weeks? It's not the babies we're gonna have to worry about...it's the nanny cams."

Calder took a sip of his drink.

"It's certainly become a priority."

Daniel: "I'll be surprised if we can shite in this place without The Red King knowing about it."

Calder snorted.

"Trust me, he already does."

Calder leant towards him and whispered.

"By the way, try a little more fiber in your diet."

He grinned over at the empath.

Daniel: "Which...for The Black Court...is a bit unsettling. We had nothing to do with this, and yet, here we are...ready to change diapers and prepare Tiffany rattles for their arrival..."

"Hey, it wasn't exactly the job I thought I was getting into either...but we're all in this thing together, right?"

Daniel: "But, tonight is supposed to be about bonding with each other. Can't let Erika and Adriana have all the fun now can we? So we're not dancers, what are we? What sounds fun? Spin the bottle? Truth or dare? Erika was right...things are about to get decidedly real. And since it doesn't seem as if anyone is planning on throwing me a 'Welcome to America' party, it appears I might have to take matters into my own hands. What sounds good to you lot?"

Ben was game. Calder knew him even less than he knew Daniel, which was odd since Ben had been at the mansion longer.

Heidi: ”Ooh, let’s play ‘Never have I ever.’ It’ll be a great way to get everyone acquainted.”

AJ: “I don’t know what that is.”

Calder's eyes lit up.

"Ooh! It's fun! And everyone gets really drunk. It's great!"

He enthusiastically took a drink when Heidi said she'd never played.

Jack: “Never have I ever wanted a crown.”

Calder's glass did not move. No, thank you.

AJ: “Never have I ever been to Mexico.”

Calder took a drink and laughed.

"Talk about drunk."

He paused to see if anyone else was going to go, and when they didn't, he cleared his throat.

"Never have I ever...slept with two different people in two separate instances in 24 hours."
 
Alek didn’t take the drink she offered, opting to sit down across from Ava and study her like she was hiding something nefarious. He was partially right.

Alek: "So, are you going to tell me why the Black Court is hunkering down, preparing for an attack?"

Ava poured herself another glass, swirling the liquid for a moment to let it open up. It was no surprise to her that he had been keeping tabs on the Black Court. Whether he was expecting a child or not, Alek made it a point to know everything that was happening within Hellfire. It must have been killing him not to know what Ava had been preparing for. She had her ways of keeping secrets, she was a Cassadine after all.

Alek: "You and John have a fight?"

Now he was just trying to get under her skin to get a reaction from her. Ava lifted the glass to her lips, preparing to take a sip.

Alek: "And a mysterious guest coming back with you from Paris?"

That made Ava finally lift her midnight eyes up to meet with Alek’s, her look predatory in nature as she glared at him over the rim of the glass. She instinctively wanted to reach across the bar and tear his throat out, the way he was speaking about her daughter like she was some sort of weapon to be used against Hellfire, or likely in his mind, the Red Court. Ava downed the drink, putting the glass roughly on the bar top.

“You would be wise to watch your tone, Hallbjörn.”

Ava warned.

Alek: "If you've brought a load of shit my way, I need to know about it, right now."

This was getting no where. Ava didn’t want to do this, prolonging the inevitable. Avoiding his questions. But she brought him here, she opened Pandora’s Box, now it was time to finally unleash what was inside. Finally Ava sighed, lifting her hands up as a white flag, trying to diffuse the tension.

“Look, I didn’t call you here to fight. Or kill you.”

She said glancing over at the praetorians standing guard by the elevator before looking back at Alek.

“I don’t know how to say this without sounding absolutely certifiable but…six years ago Diana erased a chunk of both of our memories to protect a business deal made between Helena and Stavros.”

A wave anxiety coursed through her veins as the elevator dinged once again, this time Elena exiting. To be honest, Ava was surprised that she even showed up. Elena walked over and immediately grabbed the drink Ava had poured for Alek, downing it.

Elena: "So, what's this all about?"

“Thank you for coming.”

Ava gave her a sincere look before looking back at Alek to continue what she was saying.

“Helena wanted an heir to the Red Court and Stavros wanted another chance at raising a child that he didn’t see as a failure.”

Ava hesitated, her hands squeezing the empty glass for some kind of strange comfort.

“Alek, we have a daughter.”

Looking over at Elena.

“And I need your help unlocking our memories about what really happened.”
 
Hellfire — The Red Wing

Alek laughed at her whipping around and playing guitar, and she thought maybe she would melt. There was something about making him laugh that just warmed her through and through. Haleigh wondered how she’d survive it if Rebekah had his laugh. She suspected she’d just become a puddle of molten metal. She asked after Ava, and he reassured her that it was probably no big deal. She tried to tell him not to worry, but he insisted, while she was pulling him as close as she could, despite her baby bump being in between them. She told him she might be legally divorced by the time he got back, hoping it might hasten his errand, and he suggested they celebrate. She wasn’t so sure she wanted to celebrate such a monumental failure, but he always helped her feel better about things, so maybe it was the right approach.

He left and she invited herself into Ashley’s suite. She followed the sound of her sister Queen’s voice to find her in the kitchen, feeding the mountain lion cub. Haleigh asked if Ash had eaten yet, because she was starving and wanted to cheat on her pregnancy nutrition plan. She suggested McDonald’s, because she knew Ash wouldn’t turn that down, and nothing sounded better to her than a cheeseburger with a slice of apple pie subbed in for the lettuce and tomatoes. Ash asked her how the salad and veggies could be go for her, they didn’t even taste good, and just to look at them. Haleigh was shrugging in answer.

”I don’t know, something about essential minerals and nutrients? Look, I have to give Erika a victory somewhere, alright, I’m concerned if I fight her on the diet thing, she’ll curse my libido or my ability to climax or something absolutely crazy.”

Haleigh said, as she looked down at the cub. It was just an adorable little baby creature. Haleigh had a bad track record with cats ever since she accident hug-crushed that kitten Diana had given her as a child. It wasn’t that she didn’t like them, but she was reluctant to reach for it, even though she’d long since learned to control her strength. Ash had gone back out into the living room, saying she wanted one of everything and rearranging the throw pillows.

“Okay so, four of everything then, because I’m eating for three.”

She said, sending that order through digitally without any further delay. She hadn’t been exaggerating when she said she was starving. She was growing two human beings at light speed and the last three weeks she had been in a constant caloric deficit, despite eating salads by the pound every few hours. She was still waking up at 0300 from sheer hunger. Before she left the kitchen she opened the freezer and pulled out her secret stash pint of Blue Bell Rocky Road ice cream. She stacked Ashley’s pint on top of her and created two big spoons out of thin air as she followed Ash to the sofa.

”Appetizers?”

She asked rhetorically, lowering herself slowly to sit. She rested the ice cream on top of her belly, passing off a spoon and carton to Ash, who asked her where Alek was, commenting that she didn’t think he ever left Haleigh’s side anymore. Haleigh looked over at her.

”You’re fucking with me, right? He leaves all the time now for ‘security issues’.”

She replied grumpily, making air quotes with her hands.

”At least this time it’s just a consult with Ava, who just got back from Europe. Every fuckin day, he‘s off to have hushed little discussions with that girl in security control.”

Haleigh’s eyes narrowed as she stabbed her spoon into soft ice cream.

“I swear if I see them on a camera feed fucking somewhere, I’m gonna push her naked ass down the grand staircase in her fucking chair, and then probably impale her on a giant steel dick and set her up on a pedestal in the foyer.”

Haleigh looked up, and saw the way Ashley was looking at her.

”Fuck, I said that out loud, didn’t I? Ugh, I‘m not seriously gonna do that. Probably. I’m just hangry. Or hormonal, I don’t know.”

She said, but that wasn’t true. She had been thinking about things for weeks, and as much as she valued Alek’s opinion, this was more stuff she needed to talk to a woman about, and specifically she needed to talk to Ash. She sighed heavily.

”She’s not really an issue, just an easy target. Ash, I don’t know how you do it. The sheer fucking internal strength you must have, that I never even realized. I’ve been estranged from Cameron for three weeks, and it’s just… brutal. We pass each other in the hall and we don’t speak unless it’s court business. We’re gonna sign these papers and I just know it’s gonna make things worse. I can’t run a fucking court like this.”
 
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