Special Delivery

Smoke

Alek spent some time just listening to Lily chatter to him. About the things she liked and didn't like. Anything that seemed to come to her mind, really. He didn't care what they talked about, he just wanted to be with her. But then Lily looked nervously at the door her mother had gone through.

"I miss mama..."

She turned to him and looked into his eyes with such sadness, it broke his heart. It was a good idea for them to head back to the mansion anyway - he could protect her better there. He picked Lily up and stood from the chair, carrying her with him to the doorway of the lounge. But he realized that maybe it wasn't that good of an idea, because Ava was yelling.

Ava: "I will not let anyone EVER think that they can do this to me or my child again. I am the God damn Black Queen!”

Lily: “Mama?”

Alek leaned down to whisper into Lily's ear.

"And that's why she's a queen."

[then to Ava]

"She missed you."

Ava: “Hey sweetie. You ready to go?”

Lily: “You’re crying…”

He looked over Lily's head at Ava, his face expressing his apologies. He hoped.

Ava: “I am. I’m just so incredibly sad that I missed so much time with you…but I’m okay, I promise.”

He passed Lily to her mother, so she could give her a hug.

Lily: “Me too. It’s not fair..”

Ava: “I know, baby…But you’re here now, and I’m not going anywhere. Neither of us [Alek] are.”

His voice showed 100% conviction.

"Never."

Ava: “I’ll take her to Hellfire. I can meet you there.”

He nodded.

"My guards will go with you."

Alek gave Lily a kiss on her forehead.

"I'll see you at your new home, okay little cub?"

The he went out to the hallway by the elevator, to talk to his praetorian.

"Both of you will go with the Black King and Queen and their guest. Make sure nothing happens to them."

He put a hand on the guard's arm.

"Nothing. And I want the praetorians split into four shifts, two on, two off. One will stay on the White Queen, I want the other on shift with the child. She is to be protected at all costs."

Alek nodded to the guard and pulled out his phone, stepping into the elevator.

"Zizi. Kelly King's access to the Mansion is revoked immediately. Make sure all security staff know if she pokes her bitch head even an inch onto the property, I am to be notified immediately."

He paused.

"The Black Queen is to be notified as well. The former Black Queen is to be considered a threat, understood?"
 
Ava wanted to fight. She wanted to explode every pent up emotion she had since the moment she left Greece all the way until the moment Elena unlocked all her memories. And unfortunately, John was the easiest target. He was trying to be supportive and helpful, but Ava saw it as him placating her. She blew up on him, truly feeling like the reason this happened was because Stavros, Helena, and Kelly all saw her as an easy target.

John: "We BOTH know you are not weak. They targeted you because they knew you would pass your STRENGTH to your child."

"Please. If they could have bred every part of me out of Lily minus Persephone, they would have."

She hissed back with renewed anger. Logically she knew John was right. She wouldn't be the current Black Queen if John wasn't right. But to have just watched what happened to her like she were watching a horror movie in 4K, it made logic go out the window. She felt fucking weak and vulnerable and it pissed her off. So when John mentioned that she stay behind with Lily while he went to Hellfire to explain the situation, that was absolutely out of the question. Her voice became loud again as she declared that she was the fucking Black Queen and she was going to walk in there and show them exactly that. It was when she heard Lily's voice. Ava's rage quickly diminished as she turned from her daughter and Alek to compose herself, though she did hear Alek say something that took her aback. And that's why she's a queen. Her enhanced hearing catching on to what he whispered to Lily. It was a strange validation that she needed to hear from someone other than John - someone who once despised her and wouldn't sugar coat anything. But Ava didn't acknowledge what he said, instead going to Lily who saw that she had been crying. She hugged her daughter, explaining it was because she was upset they had been apart for so long. It seemed to be enough of an answer for Lily to accept.

“I’ll take her to Hellfire. I can meet you there.”

John: "I'll go check things out outside."

While holding Lily, Ava turned to see John already at the open elevator.

"John-"

She watched as the elevator doors closed, her eyes shutting for a moment as well.

Alek: "My guards will go with you."

Ava turned back to look at Alek and gave him a small nod. She wouldn't fight him on extra protection, not when Kelly was still out there. He leaned in and gave Lily a kiss on the forehead.

Alek: "I'll see you at your new home, okay little cub?"

Lily: "Okay..."

Lily's tone was unsure, and Ava could tell she was having anxiety about Alek leaving. Ava began to rub her back as she gave Alek a look of gratitude. Walking to the elevator, the two red praetorians stepped aside, allowing Ava to step inside first before following suit. Lily rested her head on Ava's shoulder as she continued to rub her back reassuringly.

"Daddy will be right behind us. He's not going anywhere, okay?"

Lily gently nodded. Soon, the elevator doors opened and that praetorians stepped out, one holding his hand out in a 'wait' motion until he got the okay that it was safe to come out. Stepping out into the city, Ava saw John waiting by the black SUV with the back door open for them. Approaching the car, Ava paused at the door to look into John's eyes. He felt like a stranger in that moment...Holding onto the door, Ava kept Lily in her arms as she dipped down and slid into the car. It had only been a few minutes since being up at Smoke, but Lily was already passed out, the jet lag hitting her hard. Once John got in and shut the door, both praetorians entered the front of the SUV and immediately put up the privacy divider for them.

Ava looked out the window, watching as the car pulled out onto the street and began to make the fifteen minute journey back to Hellfire. It was silent, deafeningly so. Finally, Ava turned from looking at the window, her eyes finding John's hand that rested on his lap. She stared at it for a few seconds, the ring she had given him as a coronation gift a blinding reminder as to why she made him her king. It was then that Ava slipped her hand into his, her grip tightening.

"We go in there unified."

She finally lifted her eyes to meet his.

"I don't need you as John right now. I need you as my King."
 
NYC — The Blonde

Adriana chose dare, because maybe she had a little something to prove, being the new girl. Plus, she was the only one left to recover the reputation of her family name, and it would not be said that the Nefarias were a timid lot. Erika was feeling impish, and dared Adriana to makeout with someone from each of the other courts. As far as dares went, it was one of the more enjoyable ones. She could have been stuck wearing underwear on her head, her own or someone else’s. Still, she found herself mildly disappointed that Erika had neglected to include the White Court in this little exercise. She hid that disappointment well, behind the guise of ‘selecting’ her kissing partners, as if they had not just been discussed at length.

Calder clearly did not think he’d be chosen. Poor guy, he was new to the court of AJ and Jack, two hunks of the highest order. And yet, neither of those guys really made Adriana swoon, and she may have just gotten released from Blackwell’s but she wasn’t crazy enough to step on the land mines of Heidi or the Red Queen. Calder, though, was unattached. Not to mention the fact that he had a certain humility about him which Adriana liked because it almost guaranteed he wouldn’t turn out to be just another arrogant douche.

He stepped up and said he was ready, and Adriana gave a small smile with a nod. She set her drink down on the table and tucked the mint between her cheek and her molar. In another iteration of nice guys finish last, so swooped Ben. His hand slipped around Adriana’s waist and he declared himself to be first. Adriana’s surprise was evident, in the little noise she made when he grabbed her, and the rise of her eyebrows as she turned to look up at him.

“Mm, aggressive. I must admit I didn’t expect you to be so excited about it.”

She purred with a smile. He was tall and felt solid, strong. The gruffness of his voice in her ear had sent a tremor down her spine as she locked eyes with him. It struck her oddly that his eyes were the same color as Erika’s. After the initial shock she relaxed into his arms, her hands sliding up his chest slowly. Her eyes dropped from his gaze to his lips. Her hands took fistfuls of his shirt as she pulled herself into him, going up on her tiptoes as she brought their mouths together. Her tongue met his, and for a few moments that was all there was. Then she could hear the rumbling laugh of the Red Knight.

AJ: “Calder, stop looking at his moose, man.”

It was such an odd and nonsensical thing to say that Adriana broke the kiss and looked over at Savage. The man seemed quite content to be amused at his own joke, even when no one else was apparently in on it. Adriana eased herself out of Ben’s arms, tempering her smile. She cleared her throat, grabbing her glass off the table and taking a mouthful of cognac, grand marnier and lemon juice. She swished it around a bit before swallowing, then rolled her mint from one side of her jaw to the other as she beckoned Calder closer.

She looked him over, smiling at the cute way he’d smoothed his hair earlier. She rather preferred it mussed, so that was where her hands went, to either sides of his face, then up into his hair as she leaned in and kissed him. She made sure to take just a little extra time with him, since he’d been made to wait. By the end of it she was thinking he was quite the prospect as well, and given her Queen’s proclivity for the red court, perhaps she’d do well to cultivate something with him. She gave him a pleased smile as she pulled away. There was just a sliver of her mint left, which she crushed against the roof of her mouth with her tongue before chewing up the bits. She tucked her hair back behind her ears as she cast a glance around.

“Black court, Red court…. White court?”

She said, pivoting around to capture Erika suddenly. She didn’t wait for a reaction, instead starting to kiss a trail up Erika’s neck before nibbling on the princess’ ear a bit. Her hands traveled up Erika’s back, pulling her in, one hand grasping the nape of her neck, cold fingers finding a hot place. It made her think of all the other warmth she could seek out.

“Oh right, not part of the assignment. Forgive me…”

She said, releasing Erika almost as quickly as she’d taken her. She grabbed the last of her drink and threw it back. She glanced around the group, and seeing that no one had leapt forward to volunteer as the next tribute, she decided to pick a victim herself. She considered Daniel Reed, but she could come back to him. Calder had piqued her interest more than expected.

“Let’s see… Calder, truth or dare?”
 
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Smoke

John tried to tell Ava that they had done this to her, not because she was the weakest, but because they knew her daughter would have her strength. But she didn't want to listen.

Ava: "Please. If they could have bred every part of me out of Lily minus Persephone, they would have."

He said nothing, because there was nothing to say. Ava was going to be "right" no matter what he said. He wished he'd been able to make Stavros pay for all the mind games he'd played with Ava that caused her to be this way. In some ways, she was her own worst enemy - her lack of confidence in herself was the only thing holding her back from everything she ever wanted.

Alek brought Lily inside, in possibly one of the worst bad timings in the history of bad timing. John wouldn't put it past him to have done it on purpose. He was already moving in on John's family. He'd only just met Lily, and now he was carrying her around, whispering to her?

Ava wanted to take Lily back to Hellfire. He had to get out of there - he couldn't watch Alek with Ava and Lily, talking about a them that didn't include him, any longer. So he said he would check outside. He wanted to make sure it was safe before Ava and Lily came outside.

When the elevator doors closed, his fists went to his forehead. He had to get control of himself. This wasn't Ava's fault, or Lily's, and he couldn't hold it against either of them. Down on the street, the coast was clear, so he opened the door. He wanted the girls in the car as quickly as possible. When Ava slipped inside, Lily in her arms, he climbed in after her and shut the door.

They didn't speak, and he turned and looked out the window, watching for trouble. He felt Ava's hand slip into his own, and he turned his head to look at her in surprise.

Ava: "We go in there unified."

"We are always unified, Ava. You know that."

Ava: "I don't need you as John right now. I need you as my King."

He pulled his hand away from hers and turned his head to look out the window again.

"I know how to do my job, Ava. But I can only be myself."
 
The Blonde

Calder stepped up when Adriana called, but Ben swooped in demanding to go first. How very typical of the black court. Calder just stood back, letting Adriana set the tone and pace.

Adriana: “Mm, aggressive. I must admit I didn’t expect you to be so excited about it.”

"Must be hard up."

Calder grinned over at Ben. Then he watched Adriana go in for the kill.

AJ: “Calder, stop looking at his moose, man.”

Calder turned to AJ, a confused look on his face.

"Huh?"

But then Adriana was motioning to him, and her hands were on his face then in his hair as her lips touched his. One of his hands circled around to the small of her back. He wasn't sure if it was his imagination, or if he felt some electricity at her touch. When she pulled away, she was smiling, which he thought must be a good sign.

And then she proceeded to kiss Erika, without actually having that as part of the dare. He guessed he wasn't the one she'd choose, then. He needed another drink.

Adriana: “Let’s see… Calder, truth or dare?”

Even though Adriana had gone first, it felt like he was going first.

"Shit...okay, well, dare I guess."
 
Hellfire Mansion - The White Parlour

Haleigh: "Right. Because all that shit you used to say about 'her body her rules' was just that, a pile of bullshit. Some feminist line you used to run to get the women to think you were real advanced in your thinking, so they'd want to fuck you. Because the TRUTH was that everybody could get a piece of your wife, so long as it wasn't the pieces you thought you OWNED. Like my heart. And when I could get pregnant, my womb. Isn't that right? It must be, because everything was kosher until you thought I might be catching feelings for Alek. And you really couldn't handle me giving him a child. How could I ever have loved a man as selfish as you?"

"Well you didn't start loving me until I had given my heart to somebody else, Haleigh. Never looked my way a second time, never gave into any of my advances. Until I ignored you. Until somebody else had me this close..."

He gestured with his index finger and his thumb to indicate just how very close.

"This close to me loving somebody else. To being with somebody else.

Pausing for a moment, his tone, while still cold, took on a bit more of a somber note.

"I never thought I owned your heart. I thought I had it. Because you had mine. I left Elena, I switched courts for you, I became King under a color that nobody wanted for me. I wanted you to consume me. I didn't care who had your body...because I had your heart. It wasn't about ownership. Of any part. When I realized that there was room in your heart for another man. That your love for him seemed so...natural...and honest...and that our children would be sharing a womb..I lost it. I'm not proud of it, Haleigh. But it's real. So now I didn't have your heart, and I couldn't even be your children's only father. I lost control..."

Cameron had loved Haleigh for a long time. He had never hid that. And she had never given in. She was happy with Zach, she seemed prime to rule the white court with him and be fine. And then Elena happened. The second she felt like they were in love, she turned her eye towards him. Gave him attention, convinced him that she loved him. And he let go of everything he had built thus far for her. He was prideful, but he wasn't some pig that always only cared about himself. He was selfish, but he had also protected his sister, protected his mother, made sure that when the dust settled, The King Family was safe and taken care of. And that was almost always something that didn't come to benefit him. It made people question him. His anger was getting a bit of the best of him, but also so was his emotion. This had been his wife...and part of him wanted to get her mad, to see if she did give a shit about him anymore. It was confusing. He made mention of Carolina being the best thing to happen to him.

Haleigh: “Yes, and I hope you realize the full gravity of the statement you just made, Cameron. If I hadn’t volunteered to become an incubator for your legacy, you and I would just still be fucking all over the place, laughing and living it up, with you none the wiser about your own daughter. Because that woman, the one who rejects your advances every time? She’d have kept Carolina from you FOREVER. You’d better not get on Sparrow’s bad side, or else you’ll never find that girl again. And from my recently corrected perception? She’d be fucking wise to do it, because your love is completely dependent on you getting your way, and you’re gonna break that little girl’s heart.”

"I've been on Elena's bad side for seven years, and she hasn't done anything but raise a daughter she gave birth to after I broke off an engagement with her to be with a woman who refused to look at me until someone else had him in her hands. She's not the bad guy in this. And whatever bad fucking choices I make as a father, they deserve whatever consequences come. But honestly, there is a narrative here not being looked at. All the bad things done to me in my life? All the horrible shit that would make one parent keep their kids from another? Well they were all done by my mother. Sound familiar? Giving birth doesn't by default make you a good mother. So the pendulum swings both ways...as it should. As much as I am going to be looked at until the end of time, being picked over with a fine tooth comb for every interaction I might ever have with my children, both present and future? Just know I will be doing the same to their mothers...because there's no way in hell I am going to have any of my kids turn out like we did."

Haleigh moved onto who he should blame and of course his mother came up. There, Haleigh had nobody to blame but herself. She knew who Kelly was and what she was capable of. If she had taken more than five minutes to make a decision, she might have weighed her options before giving Talisman access to her uterus. Which partly made Cameron believed she really did want to have his child. But it didn't matter now.

Haleigh: “Of course you do. Hell would freeze over before you admitted you might have helped fuck this all up for us. And Mommy can do no wrong in your eyes.”

Cameron rolled his eyes.

"Can we please not talk like we aren't just as selfish as each other? I get that you wanted to do this for me, that it was a gesture of love. But it was also a power play. One, you thought that would get Kelly out of our hair, and two? It would raise our status in the club. Give us an edge. We both talked about that after, remember? For every selfless reason you agreed to this, there was a reason that benefited you or our court..."

He leaned back in his chair.

"And that statement you just made is something you should understand the full gravity of. We did what we did, we had our rebellion. We took our courts and we took our crowns...and MY family? They survived. My sister, your midwife? She's alive. My mother? Alive. Yes, I am selfish as the day is long. But I protect my family. I have loyalty to my blood. Despite my personal feelings. It's not that...

[mockingly]

"Mommy can do no wrong in my eyes.."

"It's that she is my family. More than any of you, I have shown I know how to protect and lead a family. To sit at the head of it's table, and make it's choices. And when it comes to hell freezing over before admitting my part - I did. I can't make excuses for what I did. I did those things. They weren't right...but I haven't exactly heard anything resembling testimony from you either..."

He decided to just move forward with things and let her in on what he was thinking. He'd knew it would be inflammatory, but he also knew that with Haleigh, you had to let her get the anger out, and then you could talk to her, explain to her. So he did. She fixed him a Manhattan and grabbed herself a ginger beer.

Haleigh: "I wouldn't poison you, Stud. Too subtle."

"And you've already accused Ava of that, so kind of like been there, done that, eh?"

Haleigh: "So first of all, there is literally nothing you can say to persuade me to help you take over one of the courts. Unlike you, I actually respect the other regents as our equals, and I think every single one of them deserves to be where they are. Secondly, I don't give a FUCK what you want anymore. And third FUCK YOU for thinking you can roll in tonight, acting like the world's biggest dick, and then ask me to help you get what you want. No. Try Again. And you better check that fucking attitude before you ask your Queen for something.."

Cameron smirked.

"I'll preface this by saying that I was the world's biggest dick when you married me, so that one kind of feels like your fault. But don't worry, I am not looking to overthrow anyone. Despite your opinion, I have made relationships with the other reagents as well. I respect them. I love a lot of them. I want to create a new court."

He took a sip of his drink.

"Look...right now we have three courts. One queen is pregnant with two out of three king's children. Everything might be all diamonds and champagne now, but we both know that won't last. Adding a fourth court, and moving me there, while continuing the illusion that our only connection is our child, will give both of us agency and a level of protection we need. It gives each of us legacy children our own court. And moving forward, instead of needing just one other court's approval in important matters, you will need two. This way people will not assume that you hold all the power, because you are the mother of two thirds of the club's children. It also will send the message to the inner circles to the courts that they aren't now simply only ever going to be able to be a prince or princess at best. This is what caused our little rebellion. The feeling of not being able to move up, to lead. To get rewarded for the work that we put in. We can fantasize about the viability of raising all these children in Hellfire, but it's going to cause resentment, and eventually people will become bitter. Possibly angry. The Inner Circles didn't sign up for this, and many of them didn't grow up with us, so we are slowly but surely losing the kind of ties that once kept us protected..."

Taking another sip, he set his glass down on the table, staring into the glass for a moment.

"That...and I don't want to rule a court like Ashley and Alek do...[pausing] not that they aren't successful...for the moment. But I don't want to rule with somebody I used to be so close to, to have every conversation laced with words we don't say and things we don't do because despite not being together, we still have all of this...baggage. Ashley's happy with AJ...but she's not happy about her court. And you saw in the future we went to, how far her loyalty lies...she spent her life raising Alek's daughter....that's noble. But it's a sacrifice she shouldn't have to make..."

He sighed heavily.

"The future showed me that we need to give all these kids as much of a chance as we can..and to be honest, I am worried that the future we saw can still happen. Not because of us attacking each other violently. But because of a lot of little things. Little things that end up becoming big things. I want to split up the power, I want to balance it out, I want there to be peace...but I think we both know that us ruling together...it's not for the best. And it won't be for a long time. I know the other reagents will hate it...think it's just me whining to get something that I want. But it gives you the agency you want. Lets you rule your court by yourself...or with somebody else if that's what you want. And I know it's never been done..but if we want to be different..or end up different than our parents, we gotta be willing to try new things, to compose Hellfire in a way that is healthy and benefits us all...so I need your help."
 
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John immediately withdrew his hand, Ava's eyes flicking up to look at him. But that was when he turned away to look back out the window.

John: "I know how to do my job, Ava. But I can only be myself."

She stared at the back of his head for a moment, feeling the distance between them growing colder and colder.

"That's not what I meant, John."

Her tone was a bit somber as she looked away from him and back out her own window. She placed her hand on Lily's back, softly rubbing it as she slept.

"I can't have you looking at me the way you have been when we arrive...with this guilt and remorse in your eyes, like i'm a victim to the circumstances. Because if you do, they will too."

Ava knew John felt like he failed her. She knew that he was struggling with the entire revelation of everything. But that had to be put on the back burner when they arrived at Hellfire until Ava knew exactly where everyone stood in this situation. After everything that happened with Cameron and Haleigh, she didn't trust that this wouldn't cause another incident. Or even worse, that someone within the current Inner Circle was aware of what happened. Until she knew for certain, she was being extremely cautious with how she allowed people to see her reactions on the matter.

"And then when we're in our room, where there are no cameras and people watching my every move.....I need you...not my King."

Ava's voice wavered enough that she slowly inhaled a calming breath as she tempered the feelings that were starting to bubble up. She kept her eyes focused on the city, though she didn't pay attention to what was actually passing by outside. Everything was a blur, her mind still racing with everything that had happened at Smoke. She was now holding her little girl, on her way to Hellfire...something she never in her life thought would ever be possible. She had a chance to make everything right for her daughter. To raise her in the way she had wished she was raised. To make her feel loved without an conditions or stipulations. To show her she wasn't a pawn on this regimes chess board. As the car slowed, pulling up to the main driveway of the mansion, Ava gripped her daughter tightly. The club looked ominous as Ava stared at it from the car window.

The door opened for her, the red praetorians holding it as Ava slid out of the SUV with Lily still sleeping in her arms. She stared at the two massive doors that were the main entrance to the club as John rounded the car to be by her side. Ava looked to the praetorians.

"Thank you. You're dismissed."

Praetorians: "With all due respect Your Majesty, but the Red King ordered us to stay with the girl."

It made sense that Alek would do that, he likely had praetorians with Haleigh as well. So she nodded, making a note to speak to Amanda about working out a shift between the red praetorians and the black guard. The praetorians began to lead them to the double doors of the mansion, Ava looking at John with concern as they walked.

"We should put her to bed...I just don't know if I feel comfortable leaving her alone while we speak to the other regents. She's been terrified that i'm going to disappear again."

Ava hated that her father made Lily believe she was dead. To do that to a child was monstrous, and she knew that it would take some time for Lily to truly believe that she wasn't going anywhere. But for now, Ava wanted to make Lily feel as comfortable as possible without triggering any anxiety or fear. Finally they entered the main foyer of Hellfire - home. Ava began to make her way up the massive spiral staircase and to the black wing, arriving at her and John's chambers. She had Amanda working on gathering decor and furniture for Lily's bedroom, but it had yet to be put together, so for now she would stay with them in their room. Walking inside, Ava went straight for their bed and bent down, slowly placing Lily on top of it. Her little body sunk into the thick black down comforter, Ava smiling as she stirred in her sleep before finally settling peacefully. Grabbing the black faux fur throw that lined the bottom of the bed, she brought it across Lily, tucking her in. Onyx immediately jumped onto the bed, bee-lining it to Lily. He sniffed her inquisitively before curling around her little body protectively, resting his head next to hers. I guess I found a babysitter.

Ava stood staring at Lily for a moment before she lifted both her hands to her face, covering it. With a heavy sigh, she rubbed her face before raking her fingers back through her hair.

“I don’t even know how to do this..”
 
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Hellfire — The White Parlor

Haleigh listened impatiently as Cameron whined about something from several years ago, how she’d rebuffed his advances until he got close to loving someone else. She rolled her eyes at that. How long had he been nursing that complaint? All these years? Or just since he realized the consequences of his casual dismissal of Elena Estrada? It didn’t matter. It was his own fault if he was ignorant to Haleigh’s hesitations from before.

He’d had free reign of her mind for the entirety of their marriage. She’d never hid anything from him. If he didn’t know that after Malice had destroyed her relationship with Zach, that Haleigh was reluctant to expose Cameron to that kind of pain and emotional terrorism, then she wasn’t going to spell it out for him now. It was too late to explain all that now, it wouldn’t make a difference that she’d denied herself as long as she could stand it, until it looked like Elena was going to get everything Haleigh had ever wanted, the respect and approval of her mother, the love of her best friend, everything.

She took action then, and now she knew it had been the biggest mistake of her life. Not killing her mother — that part she’d gotten right. But she should’ve let Elena have Cameron. She knew that now, Elena deserved Cameron. Then there came all the ways he tried to avoid acknowledging the fact that he’d thought he owned his wife, even though everything he said just confirmed it, because he did admit that when he thought he’d have to share her heart he couldn’t handle it, and even more so when he realized he wasn’t going to be the only father to her children. He could’ve had all that, with Elena, if Haleigh had just let her win. She HAD been selfish, but she could admit it to herself, and learn from her mistakes.

Since all he’d managed to do was prove her point, she decided enough had been said on the subject. He could put whatever spin on it he needed in order to make it palatable, but they both knew the truth. He didn’t like the concept of ‘ownership’ because it was too close to how their parents had treated them, it was ugly and gross. But his reaction to recent events had revealed that somewhere in his psyche, it was important to him that Haleigh had belonged to him and not to anyone else. It was just too bad he hadn’t tried to make that clear before it was too late.

He tried to make her jealous with the discovery of Carolina, but Haleigh had accepted that already. She’d given the girl a unicorn, and undisturbed space in the White Wing. The more important takeaway was that Cameron had better be careful not to piss off Elena, or he’d never see the girl again. Of course Cameron was dismissive of that, saying that Elena was already upset with him. But Haleigh doubted he fully understood the difference between breaking the woman’s heart, and breaking that of her daughter’s. He went off on a tangent about being picked on and watched for his parenting. Haleigh rolled her eyes yet again.

“Don’t like the scrutiny? How about you stop implying you’re going to burn this whole world down when it looks like you won’t be at the total top of it all? You’re the one who gave ME nightmares to punish me for not taking you back, YOU’RE the one calling other people’s kids mongrels and saying you don’t give a fuck if they get hurt in the process of you getting your revenge. Say all the eloquent words you want, your behavior of late doesn’t instill a lot of confidence in your ability to be the adult in the room. Your sister may have hid the evidence of all your threats, and I may have covered for you, but don’t think for a SECOND that I forgot what you so easily said to me during your little temper tantrum. And don’t think Elena has forgotten how easily you threw her away when something prettier came along to raise your status even higher than she could. It’s gonna take you a long time to square up with that, if all you ever do is blame it on ME.”

She said, and then she tried to get him to understand that the person he ought to be mad at was himself, or maybe his mother. He had a whole lot of things to say about that, and as Haleigh shook her head to it all she realized it was a complete waste of time. He wasn’t listening to her. His mind was made up on it all, and she might as well just let him be totally mistaken. It was in Kelly King’s nature to fuck with people, and it was only a matter of time before she tried it again. Haleigh would straight murder her if she tried it with Logan, but she was done giving the courtesy of a warning to the wretched woman.

So she let Cameron do all his talking, and then he tried to talk himself right into somebody else’s court. Haleigh rejected that right away, firstly on principle, and secondly because she wasn’t going to help him when he being a dick to her. He retorted that he was the worlds biggest dick when she married him, so it was actually her fault.

“Oh yes, everything is MY fault. For fuck’s sake, you sound like my mother.”

She interjected, rolling her eyes as she took a sip of her ginger beer. He said he respected the other regents, which she doubted, but it wasn’t something she felt like debating with the man who could never be wrong. She listened to his whole spiel about making a new court, a fourth court. Clearly he’d been considering founding his own court for a while. He had a lot to say on the matter. She wanted to deny him just out of spite, but his reasoning was solid. As she thought about it, she overheard a bunch of chatter on the security channels. She checked the entrance cameras. Yes, the Black King and Queen had come home, and apparently with some little French girl they’d kidnapped. Well that was fine, Haleigh supposed. Ava wanted a child more than all the rest of them combined, so let her steal one. Haleigh looked back at Cameron, who’d finally finished his salesman’s pitch. She drained the last of her ginger beer, then rocked forward to set the bottle on the table and scoop up her packet of divorce papers.

“I’ll talk to the Queens, you talk to the Kings. If they all agree, then great. But if it’s not unanimous approval? Then we suck it the fuck up. We make it work, for the sake of our son, for my daughter and yours. We do BETTER than Alek and Ash, because our children deserve better.”
 
The Red King and White Queen's Suite

Alek had checked in with Ava when he arrived back at the mansion. Lily was asleep, so he suggested to Ava that maybe she could meet him for a snack the next afternoon. That would give her plenty of time to sleep in and get an idea of her surroundings.

Then he had returned to his room and now he was lying on the sofa, his suit jacket still on, waiting for Haleigh to return from her meeting with Cameron. He rubbed his eyes. It hadn't really been that long of a day, but it felt like a tremendously long one. So much had happened in such a short period, and he wasn't sure he had even processed it all.

The strangest thing to Alek was how entirely sure he was that he loved Lily. He had just met her, hardly spent any time at all with her, and yet - he felt such a swell of emotion when he thought of her. He wouldn't have thought it possible to love someone so completely so quickly. And that was the problem.

He turned his head and looked at the bottle of non-alcoholic champagne sitting in an ice bucket on the coffee table. He and Haleigh were meant to be celebrating her divorce. How was he going to tell the woman carrying his daughter that she wasn't actually his first child? That his first child was with her friend? He had no idea how Haleigh was going to react. He had no idea if it could hurt the babies. He didn't know what to do.

Except for the fact that he knew he had to be involved in Lily's life. And not just on weekends. And that was going to make it harder.

He groaned.

What a day.
 
Carolina's Room
Elena had returned to the mansion to find Carolina playing with her dolls and announcing loudly how her papi had gotten her all ready for bed, teeth brushed and everything.

Right.
Elena smelled fuckery but didn't bother to pick the truth from her daughter's brain. Let them have whatever conspiracy they had worked on together. At least they were building a bond. One she hoped was strong enough to not be broken by a new baby. Or a suddenly bachelor-ified papi.

Elena of course knew that Cameron and Haleigh were supposed to be finalizing their divorce tonight. On its face, it seemed like a boost for her and Carolina. But Elena knew things weren't that simple. In some ways, she was more sure of Cameron when he was married to Haleigh than now that he wasn't.

Elena opened the covers so that Carolina could slip inside, and she tucked the quilt around her. (It was now Finding Nemo rather than the frilly white one previously there.)

"How about we read your new Ariel book tonight?"

Carolina got a horrified look on her face.

Carolina: "Oh, no mami, not that one. Let's read this one instead!"

Elena looked at the book she was holding up. "Stop that Pickle". Carolina loved Ariel. She squinted at her daughter.

Oh, so now it was their story? What is with that man and mermaids?!

But Elena acquiesced and Carolina was yawning after only a few pages. When her eyes drooped and finally closed, Elena gave Carolina a kiss on her forehead and turned out the lamp next to her bed. She really was the best child in the world. All the more reason Elena could not lose her.

Exiting into her suite, she took a look at herself in the mirror in the entryway, and reapplied some lipstick from her purse. Exiting into the hallway, she locked the door behind her, and went to the White King's study to meet Cameron.
 
The Car

John sat next to Ava in the car, Lily in her lap. He knew she was having a rough time, and he didn't want to add to that. But she was taking things out on him, treating him like it was his first day at Hellfire. He had stood beside her (or maybe one step behind) almost her entire life. He knew what to do, and it rubbed him the wrong way that she didn't seem to like the person he was. Who he had always been.

Ava: "That's not what I meant, John. I can't have you looking at me the way you have been when we arrive...with this guilt and remorse in your eyes, like I'm a victim to the circumstances. Because if you do, they will too."

He turned a head to look at her.

"Ava, a really shite thing happened to you, by people we hated enough to overthrow. They're going to see you as the survivor that you are."

He turned back to the window.

"And if you think I'm going to go in there and treat you like you're about to break into a thousand pieces, then you don't know me very well at all. Or how well I know you."

Ava: "And then when we're in our room, where there are no cameras and people watching my every move...I need you...not my King."

His fingers traced patterns in the condensation on the window.

"But you see, Ava, unlike you, I don't have to try and be two different people."

They were quiet until they reached the mansion. As they got out of the car John eyed the red guards flanking Ava and Lily. He didn't like it one bit. They may be extra manpower but they were essentially spies for Alek. Ava seemed to acquiesce to their presence, but John made a note to discuss it with her when they were alone. They should be replaced by Black Guards as quickly as possibly.

Ava: "We should put her to bed...I just don't know if I feel comfortable leaving her alone while we speak to the other regents. She's been terrified that I'm going to disappear again."

"She exhausted, and needs to sleep. I would offer to stay, but it wouldn't look good if you were alone when you tell the other regents."

Not to mention that he would never let her do something like that alone.

"Maybe you should wait until tomorrow, when she's awake. When you can assure her you'll just be in another room. Or invite them all to our suite, Lily can stay in our room while we talk. Or maybe Elena would take her to play with Carolina. It would be good for her to make a friend here."

Lily was still asleep when they reached their rooms, and Ava laid her on their bed. Onyx jumped up on the bed and laid down next to the little girl. John was sure it felt comforting having someone beside her. However he wasn't so sure how comforting it would be to wake up next to a strange panther, but he supposed they'd cross that bridge when they came to it.

Ava: “I don’t even know how to do this..”

He went to her, because despite everything, he couldn't do anything else but go to her. He put out his arms to her.

"You do know. You've been doing it. And you've been doing great so far. We'll figure out the rest as we go."
 
Alek had dropped by to double check on Lily, asking to meet with her tomorrow after she got a good nights rest. Truthfully Ava was glad that Lily had fallen asleep, because if she had been awake she would have wanted Alek there. Ava needed a moment away from the Red King to collect her thoughts, the entire situation still a shitstorm to wade through. She had a daughter with Alek Hallbjörn, the reality sinking in even more the moment they stepped foot into Hellfire. John suggested allowing Lily to sleep and to speak to the other regents in the morning, that way Lily wouldn't potentially wake up alone in a foreign place, scared. Despite wanting to get it over with and tell the regents now, Ava's priority was her child now and knew John was right.

As Lily laid on the bed, Ava looked at her with such love, but equally fear. She had no preparation in becoming a mother. When having a baby, you have months and years of bonding, of getting to know the child and what they love, hate, fear, get anxious about...Ava didn't know a thing about her own daughter. How did Cameron do this...she thought to herself, her mind going to the one person who had quite literally been through this already. With a heavy sigh, Ava rubbed her face before brushing her hair back away from her face.

“I don’t even know how to do this..”

John: "You do know. You've been doing it. And you've been doing great so far. We'll figure out the rest as we go."

John's arms opened and Ava hesitated. He had said some things to her in the SUV that had taken her aback, the drive silent there after. But you see, Ava, unlike you, I don't have to try and be two different people. Perhaps she was more like her father than she cared to admit. Always planning, always calculating, and never truly being herself without the mask of the Black Queen on. John was right, he had always been himself, as her father's guard, as Kelly's Rook, as her own Rook, and now King. He never tried to be anybody but himself, yet Ava was in constant competition with her legacy and name. Always trying to be better than the weak woman Stavros saw her as. Ava knew what she had said to John hurt him, and while it was unintentional, he had every right to fire back. So as she stood silently looking at her King, she finally took a step forward and into his arms, despite knowing she didn't deserve his comfort after how she had been treating him. The moment his arms came around her, Ava coughed out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding, her breathing shaky as she tried to sooth her own anxiety. Her arms finally wrapped around John's body, hands clenching onto his black dress shirt tightly as if it would somehow keep the pain at bay.

"Every time I close my eyes I see them, talking about me like i'm an animal to breed. Taking her away from me..."

Ava's body tensed, bile rising in her throat. Her grip tightening on John's shirt as she steadied herself, breathing through the nausea.

"I never want to turn into him [Stavros]. I would give up everything...my throne, this club, my life, to make sure she knows no pain or suffering....I won't ever let her feel the way i'm feeling now."

Cameron started down a dark path of vengeance and madness after finding out that Haleigh was carrying Alek's child as well. He was acting as Kelly King's son. Was it only a matter of time before Ava started to become reminiscent of Stavros? Haleigh of Diana? Were they just playing a fools game to think they weren't their parents children? No. She wouldn't allow it. She wouldn't allow history to repeat itself.

"I'd rather die than hurt her like Stavros hurt me."
 
Hellfire Mansion - White Parlour to The White King's Study

Haleigh: "Don't like the scrutiny? How about you stop implying you're going to burn this whole world down when it looks like you won't be at the total top of it all? You're the one who gave ME nightmares to punish me for not taking you back, YOU'RE the one calling other people's kids mongrels and saying you don't give a fuck if they get hurt in the process of you getting your revenge. Say all the eloquent words you want, your behavior of late doesn't instill a lot of confidence in your ability to be the adult in the room. Your sister may have hid the evidence of all your threats, and I may have covered for you, but don't think for a SECOND that I forgot what you so easily said to me during your little temper tantrum. And don't think Elena has forgotten how easily you threw her away when something prettier came along to raise your status even higher than she could. It's gonna take you a long time to square up with that, if all you ever do is blame it on ME."

His eyes glossed over as she spoke, his mind a bit lost in thought. He had been angry before in his life, but never in that way. Haleigh had humiliated him. She hadn't intended on it, she didn't plan on it, but he had been humiliated. The whole legacy he was building for himself. To be the man who moved courts for his love, to be the first to produce an heir. It didn't matter to him in the moment the real life part of it, all he could do was think of his reputation. That the courts would look at him like he was a pussy of a king, who's queen..who's wife loved a man more than she loved him, and was willing to share that man's child in her womb. It enraged him. It was humiliation like he had never experienced in his life. And never would again. He had fucked up. And he had tried to explain his feelings about things, he HAD apologized. He knew he had become unhinged, but it also didn't change the fact that he still felt very raw and very bitter about how things had transpired, and that wasn't going to change over night. He had shown he could make peace, but that was all he could offer Haleigh. He hated that she loved Alek, and he hated that their daughter was sharing a womb with his son. And to be honest, he didn't really give a shit about Alek and Haleigh's child other than the fact that she would be related to his son. Maybe in time. But right now, all he felt was anger. He WAS mad at himself. But this was Hellfire.

Haleigh: "Oh yes, everything is MY fault. For fuck's sake, you sound like my mother."

He just wanted SOMETHING from her. Other than that he was the worst person ever. Other than that he was the most selfish man she'd ever known despite spending the better part of her marriage doing everything for her, making sure she was taken care of, mentally, spiritually, sexually. He let her be free, he lived for her. He gave up everything to be with her. Changed his entire status in the club for her, and he hadn't looked back. And when she couldn't be bothered to listen to his anger, and hear anything other than just pig headed foolishness, he lost it. The first time he had EVER questioned something she had done, and she wouldn't listen. She had never offered any kind of understanding about how he felt, simply made him feel like an asshole for feeling like he did. When he broke through that brick wall of rage, he DID want to scare her. He DID...want to hurt her. Because he wanted to see SOMETHING from her. And he got dangerously close to killing her. And that was something he was not proud of, that he hated. But he had done it. But Cameron had always known he had that in him. But so did all of them. It felt like suddenly everyone was pretending that they hadn't killed people erroneously, as if every single throat they slit hadn't been somebody's son or daughter. Someone's parent. That they somehow now had this morality that he didn't. And it was bullshit. It was imaginary and pretend. None of them were good people, and maybe it was time to start reminding them of that.

Haleigh: "I'll talk to the Queens, you talk to the Kings. If they all agree, then great. But it it's not unanimous approval? Then we suck it the fuck up. We make it work, for the sake of our son, for my daughter and yours. We do BETTER than Alek and Ash, because our children deserve better."

Cameron nodded as she began to make her way out of the room. Their kids did deserve better, but he wasn't sure either of them were actually capable of the task. Once she was gone from the room, he exhaled loudly and downed his drink, his mind alerting him to the arrival of John and Ava..and a child. This must have been something to do with what Elena had helped him with. He felt her presence too, arriving in his study and that feeling did bring him comfort. Comfort that also made him nauseous. He was actually relieved and excited to see her, but he felt his luck with women was out. He was sure he was going to piss her off tonight and that she would leave, and then he would be alone in Hellfire running a court with a woman he just...couldn't bring himself to like anymore.

The White King left The White Parlour and headed down the hall, his mind lost in thought. He didn't need unanimous decision. He needed a majority. Each reagent had a vote. They weren't going to get to decide this for him like they thought they were. They were going to use their own personal voices to make their own personal choices. Outside of his vote, he only needed three. He figured Alek was a no go, he wasn't sure if Haleigh would vote his way. That left John, Ava and Ashley. Again the odds didn't seem in his favor. He rounded the corner as he entered his study, a place completely hidden from the minds and cameras of Hellfire. The only place in the mansion he could speak as freely as he wanted. Elena sat on the edge of his desk, as Cameron made his way over to the bar court in the corner, a fire roaring in the fire place across from them, and poured himself a bit of cognac.

"Well...that went about as well as expected...I've really lost just about all the fucking charisma I ever had in the last few weeks. It's been...humbling to say the least.."

He gestured to her to see if she wanted a drink, ready to prepare at a moment's notice.

"All things considered..it feels...good to be..divorced..."

Cameron brought over Elena's drink of choice as he bridged the gap between them, handing her the crystal glass, taking a moment to notice her freshly applied lipstick before he centered his thoughts.

"Everything go okay with Ava? I see she's returned...with a child in tow. Seems like we are slowly but surely becoming a boarding school..."

[pausing]

"Which is fine by me, if they're anything like our daughter..."

The White King took a sip of his cognac as his gaze met Elena's. He didn't even want to speak for a moment. Because he had to tell her how he felt, they had to talk about things going forward, and despite things being strictly platonic between them, he was so happy for her and Carolina's company over the last few weeks. It felt good. Part of that felt selfish, but then he reminded himself that it wasn't selfish to want to be around your family. Elena was good company, he missed her stories, and her stoic elegance, and her quiet rage. But he felt like he couldn't say any of that. Because it would just be like some big 'I told you so' thrown in his face. He realized he'd been quite for more than a few moments and he exhaled deeply.

"I'm delaying speaking because...I feel like what I want to say..feels like I can't or shouldn't say it. And pretty much everything I've said to anyone over the last six weeks has been the wrong thing. So I want to be careful. I know all I can do is walk the walk with Carolina. And I know I can't really say anything about it anymore. I just have to do it. Have to show it..."

[he grabbed her free hand]

"I can't let you leave here without telling you how I feel, but I also know that...this isn't a conversation I deserve. So, I'll only have it with you if you want it. If you don't..well then, I'd just like to spend some time with the mother of my daughter before she leaves. Quality time. Alone time..."

He wasn't talking about sex persay, he meant it. They'd had no time alone since she arrived. He'd made a huge mistake, but she didn't hate him. She had hid Carolina, but she had every right to. If he she didn't want to talk about 'them', then he just wanted to leave Elena with some kind of memory of good times between them, of something that just belonged to them. Something outside of them as parents.
 
NYC - The Blond

Adriana: "Mm, aggressive. I must admit I didn't expect you to be so excited about it."

God she smelled good. And looking down at a woman who was about to kiss him was an image that never got old. He watched with wild eyes as her gaze left his face and lingered on his lips as her hands slid up his chest. She felt good too. Adriana pulled herself up to him as they brought their lips together, and he wasted no time in finding her tongue as he gripped the small of her delicate back in his giant hands, removing every centimeter of distance between their bodies. This had not been what he had envisioned tonight, but he was learning that the windows of joy in Hellfire opened fast and closed quickly. If there was something worth snatching you had to act fast. And he had no regrets. He closed his eyes as their lips danced across each others, and he took a soft nibble of her bottom lip in return to their reponse. In short, it was one hell of a kiss.

AJ: "Calder, stop looking at his moose, man."

Ben's nibble retreated as his warm breath exhaled against her mouth in the start of a fit of laughter as Adriana broke their spell and cocked a strange look at AJ. Ben laughed even harder as their gaze met once again and he winked, taking a long drink of his whiskey, before glancing at AJ, raising his glass in celebration.

"It was an impressive fucking moose, wasn't it?"

He had long forgotten the masculine turmoil that had been The Red Hunt, and he was grateful. That London Affair had been the start of a lot of problems at Hellfire. To be able to look back at parts of it with a bit of humor was good. Next it was Calder's turn, who Adriana met with as much passion as she had Ben. He felt no tinge of jealousy or blemish on his manhood. It was clear that Adriana was a performer, and right now she was center stage. You can't ask a showman not to put on a show. And then, it was suddenly Erika's turn. His eyes widened a bit as he watched a woman he had just shared a passionate kiss with now share one with his sister, but he figured in the grand scheme of things in Hellfire, this was one of the least egregious things he had seen growing up, so he didn't pay it much mind. That and Erika and Adriana sure as hell seemed to enjoy kissing each other a hell of a lot more than Adriana had enjoyed kissing either of the boys.

Adriana: "Oh right, not part of the assignment. Forgive me..."

Daniel: "You're excused, love. But don't let it happen again. I don't need to be reminded just how TRULY limited my options actually are here."

Adriana: "Let's see...Calder, truth or dare?"

Calder: "Shit...okay, well, dare I guess."

Now this was interesting. He could only imagine what kind of dare a girl like Adriana might come up with.
 
NYC - The Blond

The White Princess watched with abject amusement as Adriana made her choices on who to kiss, though she knew who the bishop's first choice was. That would be something she just might get if she made a good and proper show tonight, and from the looks of it. She would. Having someone like Adriana on the court was a good thing. She was brazen and ballsy, and she had a set of breasts just begging to be felt with both hands. Not only that, she had a last name that made people think twice before retaliating against her. And she bet that Adriana looked great holding a gun.

Adriana: "Alright, I've made my decision. Ben? Calder? If you're game, get up for me."

Erika smirked mischieviously as she gestured her hands at the boys, a little bit dissappointed. Had Erika been playing this game, not as The White Princess, she'd had chosen AJ and Heidi. Just to make Heidi tongue her lover's sister and to piss off Ashley a bit. Times how they were changing. Smartly, both of the men agreed. Calder stood up first. She knew virtually nothing about the man, but he had been instrumental in helping Elena get a hold of Cameron during the whole crystal cage debacle, so in that, she had a lot of gratitude. He didn't seem soft, persay, just new. But that's what tonight was about...getting to know each other in a different way.

Calder: "Ready when you are."

And then Ben, in a move of not characteristic bravado swooped in and demanded that he went first. At first, it bugged her, but then she was okay with it. Ben never said the first word. He never stood up for himself at all really. Maybe it was simply because his decisions weren't 'who gets to makeout with the hot blonde first'. It was good for him to assert himself. Somebody on the Black Court had to. Ava was a sulking little bitch, John was as loud as a whisper, Amanda seemed to actively avoid any kind of fun, and Daniel was a try hard. It would do well for their court to have somebody be more vocal.

Ben: "Me first."

Adriana: "Mm, aggressive. I must admit I didn't expect you to be so excited about it."

"Guess the snake doesn't bite as hard as I thought.."

She took a sip of her espresso martini as Adriana and Ben locked lips, and a bit of a tingle happened between her legs. Not so much for Ben, as much as for seeing Adriana in action. Erika had every reason to believe that The White Bishop was going to be a good kisser, but to see it so soon after she had shirked her advances a little bit was rough.

AJ: "Calder, stop looking at his moose, man."

She then moved on to Calder, and it started to make her jealous. But then, as if Adriana had anticipated her little flare of feelings, she felt Adriana's lips on her neck, to which she had a visceral, arousing response, and as The White Bishop nibbled on her ear, she became wet, and wanting Adriana's lips on places more sensitive. Erika allowed it...because fuck it felt good, and because like Adriana, Erika enjoyed spectacle. And then it was suddenly over, to which her desire turned to anger.

Adriana: "Oh right, not part of the assignment. Forgive me..."

"See me after class, Nefaria."

She winked as she thought of how Adriana herself tasted. She was hot and bothered, so she downed the rest of her martini, grabbed a blue pill from her clutch and popped it, promptly ordering another one. This was starting to get exciting.

Adriana: "Let's see...Calder, truth or dare?"

Calder: "Shit...okay, well, dare I guess."

"Let's make this one good. Or at least illegal!"
 
Hellfire — The White Parlor

Haleigh told him she’d talk to the Queens, and that he should discuss this new court idea with the Kings, and if they could get everybody on board, then it could be done. If not, then they were going to have to deal with their situation, and they’d need to figure out a way to do it better than Alek and Ash, because their kids deserved better. He nodded but seemed to be done talking to her. Of course, because he’d gotten what he wanted, her agreement. She didn’t have a whole lot of confidence that he’d actually take a loss with grace, though. If she couldn’t get everybody on board with this, they were likely in for another fit of rage from him, and she suspected the person he’d take it out on was her.

She left without any further discussion. It was clear to her that they were done talking with each other, and she’d much rather be around someone she actually liked than to stand here another moment with him. On the way back to her suite with Alek, she was multi-tasking on many channels. At the forefront of her thoughts were what kinds of approaches she could take with her sister Queens to get acceptance for Cameron’s new Court. Ashley stood to gain easily from such an arrangement, if they could convince Alek to give up Mother Helena’s Color. But what could they offer Ava in the deal? She let herself into the room to find Alek laying on the sofa. It brought a smile to her face, to see him again.

“Well, we didn’t try to kill each other this time, and we’re divorced now, so I guess that’s progress.”

She told him triumphantly, as she set the paperwork down. She lifted the bottle of ‘champagne’ out of its ice bucket, double checking the label. It was little more than carbonated apple juice, but safe for the babies was all that mattered.

“How did it go with Ava? I assume her little security issue had to do with that girl she and John brought in a few minutes ago? I checked Interpol, they aren’t wanted in connection with a kidnapping anywhere in Europe yet. If we’re lucky they stole an orphan, but whoever she is, it’ll be easy to cover up.”

She said, handing him a glass and realizing how exhausted he looked. She sat down on the coffee table in front of the sofa where he lay stretched out, her free hand reaching to rub his chest gently. He was laying in his suit jacket, something she couldn’t recall ever seeing him do before. It made her wonder if Ava had been particularly difficult for him to tolerate tonight.

“Aw, you okay babe? I know Ava can be demanding, but I promise, you won’t have work too hard to keep the heat off. I’ll help, it won’t even be a soft flex. Did she tell you the girl’s name and where she came from? I can wipe the local records clean and we can get this girl American papers, she’ll be Ava’s legal daughter by morning.”

It was actually kind of weird that Ava had called Alek about this and not Haleigh, but she wasn’t going to take it personally. Ava did things sometimes that were inexplicable in the moment but made perfect sense later. Haleigh had just learned to trust her and support her and be patient.
 
The Black King & Queen's Suite

John held his breath, not sure if Ava would let him hold her, let him comfort her. But then she came into his arms and he wrapped her up in them. He closed his eyes as her arms came around him, and he could smell the lovely scent of her hair.

"I'm sorry..."

He exhaled it, the tension leaving his body.

"For what I said. For what happened to you. That she's not my little girl. How could I not know..."

Ava: "Every time I close my eyes I see them, talking about me like I'm an animal to breed. Taking her away from me..."

"It was monstrous. All of it. The deserve a lot more than they got."

He felt Ava grip him tighter.

Ava: "I never want to turn into him [Stavros]. I would give up everything...my throne, this club, my life, to make sure she knows no pain or suffering....I won't ever let her feel the way I'm feeling now."

He pulled back a little so he could look at her.

"If we have to, we will."

Ava: "I'd rather die than hurt her like Stavros hurt me."

"You never could."

He lifted her chin so she had to look him in the eyes, so she had to see the conviction there.

"I promise you, I will never let anyone hurt her. Not even you."
 
The White King's Study

Elena sat perched on the edge of Cameron's desk, waiting for him to arrive. He was at this moment, finalizing his divorce from Haleigh. She felt more nervous than she should.

When he came into the room, he immediately went to the bar. She slipped off the edge of the desk.

Cameron: "Well...that went about as well as expected...I've really lost just about all the fucking charisma I ever had in the last few weeks. It's been...humbling to say the least.."

"I doubt that is true, amado."

He indicated asking her if she wanted a drink. She asked for a Boulevardier, and sat in one of the chairs.

Cameron: "All things considered...it feels...good to be...divorced..."

Elena chuckled at that.

"If it doesn't feel good you probably shouldn't be getting one."

Cameron came over to her and handed her a crystal glass. Their fingers brushed ever so slightly.

Cameron: "Everything go okay with Ava? I see she's returned...with a child in tow. Seems like we are slowly but surely becoming a boarding school...Which is fine by me, if they're anything like our daughter..."

"No one is like our daughter."

But the chastisement was gentle. Elena sighed, remembering what had transpired with Ava. It saddened her, on many levels. Ones that would not be worked out quickly. There was power without consequence. There was getting what you wanted. And there was hurting people for spite. Or for no reason at all.

"Everything went fine with Ava. There are some...issues. I told Ava that she had to tell you about it, or I would. And I will, Cameron. I promise. But not tonight. Please."

She knew how to block her thoughts from him, but hoped she wouldn't have to.

Cameron was silent for what felt like a long time. She watched him wrestle with his thoughts. She could see it written on his face. She crossed her legs at the knee and took a drink. The stack of gold Boucheron bracelets on her wrist jangled in the silence as she moved.

Cameron: "I'm delaying speaking because...I feel like what I want to say...feels like I can't or shouldn't say it. And pretty much everything I've said to anyone over the last six weeks has been the wrong thing. So I want to be careful. I know all I can do is walk the walk with Carolina. And I know I can't really say anything about it anymore. I just have to do it. Have to show it..."

She leaned forward.

"Carolina loves you..."

Cameron took her hand, which surprised her.

Cameron: "I can't let you leave here without telling you how I feel, but I also know that...this isn't a conversation I deserve. So, I'll only have it with you if you want it. If you don't...well then, I'd just like to spend some time with the mother of my daughter before she leaves. Quality time. Alone time..."

Elena watched him in silence for a moment. When she finally spoke it was softly.

"You cannot be afraid to speak, Cameron. You are the king. If you want something, you must be bold. Risk everything."
 
The Red King & White Queen's Suite

Haleigh: “Well, we didn’t try to kill each other this time, and we’re divorced now, so I guess that’s progress.”

Alek picked his head up and turned it to see Haleigh coming through the door. He lowered his head back down onto the pillow of the sofa.

"You could have tried to kill him a little bit."

Haleigh looked at the bottle of non-alcoholic champagne on the table. Alek gestured with his hand.

"So we could celebrate."

Haleigh: “How did it go with Ava? I assume her little security issue had to do with that girl she and John brought in a few minutes ago? I checked Interpol, they aren’t wanted in connection with a kidnapping anywhere in Europe yet. If we’re lucky they stole an orphan, but whoever she is, it’ll be easy to cover up.”

Oh god. Why had he thought that Haleigh wouldn't know anything yet? Of course she would know that Ava and John had brought Lily into the mansion. But maybe that was good, made it less of a surprise. Fuck, he didn't know.

He started with the easy stuff.

"There is a security issue. Involving Kelly. She may launch an attack on the Black Court. She'd not likely to target you, of course, but still, probably best to stay out of the Black Wing for the time being as a precaution."

Haleigh handed him a glass of the "champagne", sitting on the table in front of the sofa. She reached out and started to rub his chest, and he thought he might actually die.

Haleigh: “Aw, you okay babe? I know Ava can be demanding, but I promise, you won’t have work too hard to keep the heat off. I’ll help, it won’t even be a soft flex. Did she tell you the girl’s name and where she came from? I can wipe the local records clean and we can get this girl American papers, she’ll be Ava’s legal daughter by morning.”

Alek sat up and shifted over so Haleigh could sit beside him, then gestured to her that she should. He turned his body to face her, and rested a hand lightly on her stomach.

"You know that I love you Haleigh, and Rebekah, with all my heart. And nothing could ever change that. Nothing can change what we have."

Damn his mouth was dry. He took a sip of the champagne and set it on the coffee table.

"I need to tell you what happened tonight, but you have to try to stay calm, okay? For the babies."

He shifted in his seat.

"When I met Ava, she had also called Elena. Ava said there were memories that your mother had blocked in our minds. Hers, mine, maybe all of ours. Elena was able to unblock them, so we could remember. The queens and Stavros, they were all in on it. That girl,"

He pointed, as if she was in the room.

"she is Ava's daughter. I didn't believe it at first but I saw the memories from Ava's mind...they kept her drugged, and when she had the baby, Stavros took the child, and your mother blocked all Ava's memory of her."

He swallowed, searching Haleigh's face for signs of her reaction.

"Ava's daughter's name is Lily. And she's my daughter too."

He held up his hands.

"We didn't have an affair. Your mother manipulated my mind, and Ava's. She forced us to...she made us..."

He couldn't say it out loud.

"And then she made us forget everything."
 
Manhattan — The Blonde

Heidi was enjoying herself and the company of the rest of the inner circle. After a slow start, Daniel’s suggestion of a game, and Heidi’s nomination of Never Have I Ever, had them all smiling and laughing over various admissions. Even Jack was smiling, if you counted the occasional upward twitch at the corners of his mouth.

Then Erika and Adriana were coming back over to their group, and wanting to change the game. Why Erika couldn’t be happy joining the game they were all already enjoying was beyond Heidi. It was only a small annoyance, though. The bigger provocation was the first dare being handed out, for Adriana to kiss one of the Red Court and one of the Black Court. There was some small amount of relief that the White Court wasn’t included, but Heidi still cut a dirty look at Erika for the Red Court being stipulated in. Adriana would be an idiot to test the Red Queen, and Heidi just knew Erika would have liked to see Heidi have to watch Adriana kiss Jack.

Heidi gave Adriana the bitch-you-better-not look, and Adriana wisely selected the safe choice of Calder. Adriana, for being a girl just out of the mental institution, was less crazy than one would expect. She also picked Ben, which was a no brainer, given Daniel’s well-known preferences. The surprising thing was that after she was done kissing the men, Adriana whirled around and starting necking Erika. Heidi suddenly recalled a few times she’d been talking to Adriana over the past few weeks.

Damn, she’s been making passes at me…

Heidi realized with mild surprise as Adriana ‘apologized’ for going beyond the assignment. Erika looked sorely tempted, and then Daniel remarked that Adriana was excused, but just this once, because he didn’t like being reminded how limited his options were here.

Adriana: “Mr Reed, you really should come hang out with us in the White Lounge sometime. Heidi, don’t you think he’d like to meet Owen?”

“The bartender??”

Heidi asked before taking a sip of her drink.

“Hmm, I don’t know… he’s attractive enough, but his pedigree might not be up to Daniel’s standards.”

Heidi replied, and then it was time to start a new dare, with Calder as the victim.
 
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