It's early when I wake up, and before my eyes even open I know I'm alone. Not just in bed either, the apartment is empty. Again. Nothing was ever just simple. It was never easy. Cain had been gone yesterday morning after my little confession, a note on the pillow that he had something to and would be back later.

Too bad I had no idea when later was going to be.

"Okay, Blueberry. Let me get through this morning and then you can let me feel as shit as you want. Promise. I won't even curse you for doing this to me." I pat my stomach as it rumbles, hungrily. "Good, glad you agreed."

I go through the motions of getting ready, testing our agreement later by sitting down with a banana, and then some yoghurt. Everything stays where it should, and when I'm nearly positive that's how it's going to stay, I find the Van Helsing boys and Sam already in the gym warming up.

"Here she is!" Drew takes a bow. "Your highness."

I try not to groan. Since our last chat where I filled him in on some of what had happened while I was away, he wouldn't drop the Queen business. It was like I'd found a Kara replacement and it only made me miss her more. I couldn't face Raya after telling her everything went great with five thumbs up emojis. It was four too many and that thumb had definitely been turned upside down.

"Yeah, bow down pheasant." I nod, raising an eyebrow at the others who only shake their heads while trying to hide their smiles. "I actually thought I was on time, you're all here early?"

"Zane cancelled. Didn't you get his message last night?" Nigel came over and gave me a hug. "Good too see you though, Ellie."

I smile, but look over at the micromanager of the family. "I must have missed that. Did he say why?"

"No." Tom answers super helpfully.

"We're still going to do some training. Wanna show us what you've got anyway?" Drew raises his fists, punching the air with a few grunts of effort to go with it.

Not a chance.

"I was only coming here on a supervisory level. I've done some pretty intense workouts lately so I'm on a rest day." I lie.

The only workout I'd been doing lately was heaving into the toilet, but they didn't need to know that. Despite just waking up, I already felt tired so this change to my schedule was very welcome.

"Psh. Since when does Miss Bunting turn down a chance to kick Tom's ass?" Drew taunted.

Never, except for today and maybe the next few times too. Sorry Drew, Blueberry on board. "I'll take a rain check. He looks like he's already had a bad day, so I'll give him a break. Oh nope. That's just his face."

"Fuck this." Tom heads off down the other end of the room, Sam dutifully following after throwing me an apologetic look.

"What?" I ask Nigel who rolls his eyes.

"Nothing!"

"You're not staying then?" Drew asks as his brothers get to it.

"I'm honestly exhausted after this week. Promise to take it easy on me?" I grab some gloves.

"Yeah, of course. You don't look great. How hard have you been working it?"

"Oh you know me. All or nothing, right?"

We go onto the mats, and start to warm up.

"How's Penny and Colton? That was a great wedding." He takes the first shot, and I duck it easily. The next few go the same way. "You don't have to do this."

"It was nice, wasn't it and they're good. Sickening, but good."

I make a few jabs that he blocks easily and as I get one hit in, he starts to pay a little more attention.

"You're way slower than usual."

"Legs are sore. That's all. Don't take it easy on me Van Helsing, I'll tell Zane and you know he'll kick your ass later for it or I'll just do it now and prove to you lot who has the better family name."

"I've missed you Bunting. No one else tells such sweet lies."

"Aw, flattery will get you nowhere." I hit him in the ribs, harder than I had planned which only sparked the competition I had wanted to avoid.

"Ow. What about my pretty face then?" He blew me a kiss, making me laugh.

"Tempting, though pretty faces often get me into trouble."

"You get yourself into enough trouble, Bunting. You don't need any help with that."

"Is my face that pretty?" I duck, and block, suddenly remembering this was a bad idea as he nearly got in a hit a little too low.

Drew had been practicing, he was never this good or maybe I was really that bad.

"You know it is." He retorted with a grunt, as I got him in the gut. He left himself open and I'd be stupid not to take the shot. "Why are you holding back?"

"You'd be crying in the corner by now if I wasn't."

"She's got a point!" Nigel calls out.

"Thanks for the support asshole!"

We keep going until we're both sweaty and getting over holding our punches. I don't know what he's sensing, but apart from the odd competitive shot, we're playing nice thankfully. It felt good to do something, and my breakfast had stayed put. All I wanted was to make it a decent match, only now the risk was too high.

"I think that's enough." Drew put a hand out, and I knocked it with one of mine. He motioned the table where their bags were and following him, he handed me a bottle of water. "Sure you're okay? I'm not even bleeding, or have anything that's going to hurt later."

"I'm great. Just, sore and tired from other workouts, plus you did a terrible job of pissing me off." The lie comes easily, and I sip the water cautiously. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it. If they think I had a chance of winning today and didn't take it, I won't live it down."

"Wont say a word." I get my phone and check for Zane's' message. Cancelling tomorrow. Reschedule soon. "I see he's getting better at communicating. You really have no idea what's up with him?"

"Nope."

"Has he been okay. Since the accident?" My stomach sinks.

Mum said he had recovered. Ailin told me he'd been fine. I hadn't spent as much time with him as I would have liked to know if they were lying or if he was. I mean, he should be fine. Cain sucked a bunch of my power out to put into him but maybe it hadn't been enough afterall.

"Yes. I saw him last week, he was like a machine. I'm sure he just found someone else to torture." Drew wiped his forehead with a towel, watching me. "You don't seem convinced."

"I don't know. I might just surprise him." I shrug.

"Try the Council office in-" He stopped himself. "Nevermind. I forget about your talents. You'll find him."

"I'll catch you later. Are you going to Colton's birthday thing?"

"See you there, your highness."

"Jerk."

I take a breath, close my eyes and think of Zane, right as my phone beeps which stops me in my tracks. Drew leaves me alone, going over to Nigel and I'm surprised to see Eric's name pop up.

"My place when you can." I read. "Guess Zane just got saved by the Mage."

The bar is in its usual morning state. Quiet, empty. A whole variety of bad smells no one could ever explain. Eric is sitting at the bar on his laptop. He turns before I even take a step, guilt and relief all over his face as he smiles. It didn't quite reach his eyes and considering the greetings I'd get from him since he got his powers back, this was very underwhelming.

"What's wrong?"

My mind instantly starts to race. Was it Kara? Had he heard something I hadn't yet? Meghan? Was he okay?

"Nothing. Much." He forces a smile again, yet he keeps his voice low.

"Cut the crap, what is it?" I went to stand next to him, when I noticed something different here. No, I felt it. "Cain's here?"

Eric nodded. "He kind of, well, first of all. Congratulations."

"For what?" I play dumb.

"Right. It's a secret isn't it." He tapped the end of his nose. "I was surprised about your. Condition. We both were."

I tried to swallow, my throat tightening as my mouth went dry. "Both?"

"Zane."

"That fucking asshole." I mumble. "Zane's here?"

"They were already drunk when they turned up." Eric defended. "In the name of responsible service of alcohol, I wouldn't have served them if ah, well-"

He stopped.

"When did they get here, and what did they do?" I sighed, sitting down beside him.

"About four or five yesterday afternoon. I made sure they had something to eat." He closed his laptop. "They went up to the VIP which I figured was likely the best place for them. No one was in tonight, they're all out on some job or something. Kara is due back any day and I think Meghans avoiding her, but that's a story for another day. They stole a smaller barrel of mead and two bottles of tequila."

"Oh no."

"Yeah." He frowned. "They're um, asleep or possibly in a coma now. I made sure Zane hadn't died overnight when I got up and well you got here faster than I was expecting."

"I was supposed to be seeing Zane and the Van Helsings for some training, but I never got his message so ended up still going anyway."

"Should you be doing that in your condition?"

"Stop or I will show you what I still can and can't do in my condition." I roll my eyes before glancing up to where the Terrible Two slept. "I can't even get mad. I would have done the same."

Eric dropped his arm over my shoulders and pulled me against him.

"Knowing you, probably worse. I remember your first night on mead and something tells me your boyfriend hasn't had our brew before either." I groan and hide my face in his shoulder. "How are you doing though?"

"Um, well. I'm starting to get used to the idea, kind of. I think. I ah, had a head start."

"He mentioned that."

"Great." I nod covering my face again. "I thought he took it too well. How is he though? On a scale of one to going to disappear into another realm and pretend I don't exist?"

Eric squeezed my shoulders. "Probably at like, not feeling ready for this at all but too in love with you to bail. With a little time, I'm sure it'll work out. It's been a big year for you two."

"And that wins understatement of the year. Well done." I stare at the fully stocked shelves in front of us. "This is a real shit time to not be able to drink."

"I'm not going to even answer that."

"Kara's coming back?" I ask as he gets up.

"Yeah, should be by the weekend. Coffee?"

"Yes, it's the only addiction I have these days that I can indulge in. Make it a double, Eric." I slap my hand on the bar as he goes to the coffee machine. "Can we make it Irish? That makes it just coffee right, like adding sugar?"

"No. You should also limit your caffeine. I knew a lady that had a kid a couple years ago. She had to start drinking tea."

"Shut up and make the coffee. You're not ruining this for me!" He makes it in silence and passes mine over. I barely take a sip when Zane appears, falling down the stairs. "You should go help him. I have a condition, remember?"

"Whatever. You go help him." Eric huffs.

Zane gets up, squinting as he staggers over to us. I don't think I had ever seen him hungover before, or possibly still drunk. His eyes are red, and he spends a few minutes rolling his tongue around in his mouth before looking at us.

"Morning." I greet them a little too enthusiastically. "Coffee?"

"Kid? What why you do here?" His voice is hoarse, and he rubs his face a few times before giving up and practically collapsing against the bar. How he didn't fall off the barstool I'll never know.

"Coffee. You?"

"Aspirin. Water." He croaks. "Bucket!"

He turns to go except I already see what's about to happen and hand him over a bucket before Eric can even process the thought. The sound of him heaving sets me off, and I need to look away or move away. Far, far away.

Oh that's the missing smell for the bar.

"I got this." Eric offers, guiding Zane down towards his room.

"Thank you!" I call.

I finish my coffee as Eric returns. He lets out a long breath as he goes for his cup, and drinks nearly all of it in one go.

"He is really going to be feeling this for a while. I cleaned him up a bit, let him crash in my bed because apparently that's all its good for these days."

"Thank you. You're a good friend."

"I know. What are you going to do with you know who?"

"I'll take him home, but if he starts heaving, you might be getting him back." I smile. "Thanks, Eric. Really."

"Anytime. You know where I am if you need me."

I head up the stairs. The cushions are on the floor from the sofa, empty glasses and bottles litter the table. I can see where Zane had been lying on the floor, a blanket in a heap amongst the cushions, plus I can smell his cologne over the spilt mead. Cain is passed out face down on the sofa and before going over, the space is cleaned like new. An arm hangs over the side, his hand touching the floor, as he snores deeply. I roll him over, wondering if that would wake him, but he's dead to the world.

"I hope this helped." I whisper, reaching out to touch him.

A second later we're at the apartment, and he rolls back onto his stomach in the bed so he's spread out like a starfish. He snorts, coughs and then continues snoring as if nothing had happened. Even passed out, he doesn't have that peaceful look about him that I had gotten used to seeing. It's like he knows his body is preparing for the hangover of the century or that those few weeks of peace are now over.

I kiss his cheek and go into the lounge room to spend the day watching reality tv in an effort to not think about anything other than who is next to be voted off the island and why Khloe is the most under-rated of the Kardashians. After eating my weight in popcorn, Blueberry apparently gave me a free pass for the rest of the day as if he knew it was time to give me a break.

"The tribe has spoken. Flame out." With that over, I started to do some more channel surfing, stopping at the movie channel as Thor filled the screen. "Hello, Thor."

I watch it mindlessly, and despite how attractive Chris Hemsworth is, fall asleep at some point as I wake up with the TV off and a blanket over me. Sitting up, I can hear the shower on so wander towards the bathroom as it shuts off and Cain comes out. He goes for the towel, turning his back to me as I stand in the doorway.

"How you feeling?"

"Not my best." His voice is as hoarse as Zane's, and as he turns, I notice the purple bruise forming on his cheekbone.

"That looks like it hurts." I gently touch it, making him wince.

He turns to the mirror and inspects it, yet the bruise vanishes. His eyes are bloodshot, tired and with his shirt off I see other cuts and injuries.

"Give me a second." Cain guides me out of the bathroom, and closes the door.

I go and sit at the end of the bed, and when he comes out he's back to normal, or something like it. All the marks have gone, his eyes are clear and that sense of pending death that only a hangover can provide is no longer surrounding him like a bad smell.

"That's better." He sighs, yet his voice is still croaky.

"Want to talk about any of that?"

"No." He shrugs, walking past and towards the kitchen.

"Seriously?" I groan, following after him. "So that's all I get after you disappear and I find you at my friends bar unconscious, looking like you just twenty rounds with Thor?"

He raises an eyebrow at that as a burger appears. Taking the plate, he grabs a water from the fridge and sits on the sofa to eat.

"Not Thor. Zane. You really do watch too much TV."

"What? Zane did that!" He only shrugs. "Okay, well. I get what you're-"

Cain stops chewing.

"No, you don't get anything." His words are cold, and I feel the urge to scream growing.

"Try me." I challenge.

He carries on as if I wasn't there, turning on the TV again and leaving some movie with a lot of guns and shit to roar through the apartment. I turn the volume off, he turns it back on, and I can feel the argument coming. How naïve of me to think we had skipped this part.

"I'm going to check on Zane." I decide, changing into real clothes instead of the comfy gear I had on.

If I'm not here, we can't risk making things worse until he's in a better mood to talk. Just because he fixed his hangover doesn't mean his head is in the right space yet. Having dealt with a lot of them, I knew the process and it would take at least another burger plus another few drinks before everything balanced back out.

I grab my phone from the coffee table, quickly sending Eric a warning I was coming back. Cain sits back in the chair, silently watching my every move in such a way I can feel my body responding by instinct. A slight tingle starts at the back of my neck. It's purely predatory, dangerous and I focus on each breath rather than allowing myself to gear up for a fight. I rarely ran, today would be an exception.

"Sleep it off. I'll be back later." I glance his way as I hit lock.

I wish I hadn't looked.

I should have stayed in the bedroom.

The uncertainty and mistrust in his gaze hurt and the last time I'd seen this look on his face he nearly killed me. Today though, unlike any other time I found myself in this position or at least something like it, that sense of self-preservation he always claimed I was missing started to kick in.

Do not engage.

"I really am a fool when it comes to you." He answered gravely. "I thought about things last night."

Do not engage.

"I bet that was a wise decision considering the state you were in." I retort. "Please share with the rest of the room, what pearl of wisdom you came up with. Was it before or after Zane apparently beat the shit out of you?"

The atmosphere was intense, and while I was willing to let some things slide, I drew a line of how far this would be allowed to go. I had to take the hook didn't I. There was going to be no one leaving just yet.

"He wanted to test himself. I kept it a fair fight, no powers." Cain growled as if none of that was my business. "Then we had beers. One thing led to another-"

"You wanted him to hurt you." My resolve to flee completely disappeared and I sat down beside him. "Why?"

He dismisses my question with a small wave of his hand. Don't engage? Too fucking late.

"I don't get to do this. Good things do not happen to me without there being a catch. Never."

"Things are different now. We came back here with a clean slate. To start again, together. This-" I say slowly, but he jumps up angrily, his hands balled into fists as he turns to look down at me.

"Isn't real. It doesn't get to be real. How the fuck do you suppose we actually do this?" He shouts.

Wind howls against the side of the building as the afternoon sun seems to disappear. Outside it's' getting darker by the second and looking out towards the windows, a storm is coming. Too bad it's already here.

"Day by day." I say softly, knowing it wouldn't matter what I said right now anyway.

"It won't work. We are already destined to fail, and this just the final fucking nail in that coffin."

"Well with that attitude." I mumble. "You're scared, and I am too. I get it. If you just-"

"You should fucking be! I keep trying to tell you this, us, is a bad idea. That kid, he doesn't need to know me. What stories will we tell him of how we met? Of the life we had before he was born? That his sire is The Fallen One, the Dark King, the demon his mother had to slay yet didn't because of her own weakness."

"Weakness?" Now I was getting mad.

He only shakes his head, pinching the bridge of his nose; his oldest tell of when he's at his limits with me.

"Whatever. Hate to sound like I'm living in the fucking Notebook, but If there ever was a chance to start over, doing it now, with this baby, with me, is it." I swallow the lump in my throat, closing my eyes to make sure the tears stay away. "I've seen it, I've felt the future we can have. It's possible to tick all the boxes, Cain. I know it is."

This time when I look at him, something has changed in his face. He softens slightly, takes a breath and ever so slowly his hands uncurl.

"You're wrong." He says finally. "Portia is right. I will end up bringing you into the darkness. You don't escape what I've done so easily. I will ruin you both, if not directly then by one of my enemies."

Portia? "You've seen her?"

"No, just, everything she's ever said-"

"Was to keep us apart!" I shout, standing to face off against him.

"If you stay, I will destroy you. I don't doubt it, not for a second. The wars, the battles, the death. I am behind every pain and misery of your damn life. There is still good in you, Medusa saw it too and even she knows that won't last. Not while we're together." He stands taller, his eyes darker.

"You can't take the blame for everything I've ever done, believe it or not, I do make my own decisions. Any time I could have said no, I could have already walked away. I regret nothing and fuck whatever else thinks." I shut my mouth, taking my own great advice before passing it on to him. "Stop, now. Before you say something you can't take back."

"It's a little late for that, isn't it?" He looks down at the ground, no not quite that far. He looks at my stomach and instinctively my hand goes there.

I got you, Blueberry.

That line I was worried he would cross, I'm racing towards it instead.

"You know what your problem is? You don't have a single fucking thought that is your own. You listen to her lies, you hear the rumours and what those who don't matter have to say and you believe them. You want to believe them, because its the easy option. Just like Eris and her fucking powers working on you. Cain, you are not that person."

"What makes you so sure?" It sounds like a threat, not a question.

"Because I know you. They don't get to see behind the walls and reputation, not like I do." I argue. "Stop trying to push me away!"

"I keep you away from the real me! I wouldn't have to push you because if I showed it to you, you'd run."

"Right. What else you got? If you're so bad, show me. Stop being a coward and show me what apparently I am missing here. Get those chains out again, take my powers. See if I scare as easily as you do." I hold my arms out, and wait. "It worked out so well for you last time didn't it?"

"Elise." He warns, and I drop my hands.

"You know nothing you do will scare me away. Cain, we've been here already. Want to go over it all again? Start oh, I don't know, a few hundred years ago when I was trapped back in time or fast forward to when you originally sold me out to The Fates?" I sigh, forcing myself to calm down as a familiar feeling of having to prove myself came over me. "I get it. I literally spent three weeks where you are now, minus the boozy pity party because, well obviously I can't. At first I thought it was a curse, a test. Bad luck. Only it's nothing like that at all. It's a blessing. This baby is ours. All ours, and no one can change that."

"I can't do it. I'm sorry. I can't. You'll both be better off without me." He decides, he takes a step back and I grab his wrist.

"No. We need you. I need you." I take his hand, still holding his wrist. "I know you're scared, I am too. But we can do this. Together. Forget everything else, just focus on you, and me and Blueberry."

"Blueberry?"

"It just came to me and well, he's as big- nevermind. Cain, it's going to be okay."

"I wish I could believe you. It's a mistake." His voice breaks slightly, and instead of me holding him, it's now my hand that's nearly being crushed by his.

"After Apollo, I promised myself that I wouldn't let anyone make me feel like I wasn't enough. That next time, I'd be with someone who would only ever see me as an equal. A partner. Someone that trusts me and my decisions without question. I want someone to pick me up when I fall and fuck up and not judge me for it, and tell me I was wrong. I want someone who will stand at my side. Tell me it's okay and to try again."

Cain says nothing, not that I give him much choice in the matter as I don't stop. I can't.

"Since getting these powers, I constantly hide who I am from my family and friends. They saw the darkness and the power in me and it scared them. They forgive, they say they accept it, but they don't forget. The fact is, no matter how hard we all try to pretend, I am not like them anymore. All I wanted was to find someone to love me without fear in their eyes. I want someone I don't have to pretend with or hold back from, and I thought the person that gave me all of this, was you."

I wipe away my eyes, while he just stands there. It's so quiet now, lightning flashes outside but there's no thunder that follows. No wind. I can hear him swallow. Shaking my head I let him go. I'm still going to go check on Zane and if this wasn't what I thought then now was a good time to work that out.

I got you, Blueberry.

"Elise, I'm not what you two need. I'm not perfect and-"

"I don't want you perfect. I never expected you to be either." I run my hand through my hair, and cross the room. "I, we, only need you. Just as you are."

"Elise!" Thunder drowns out his voice and I don't look back.

"I'm going to check on Zane." I grab my phone, not able to look at him at all now.

Cain is instantly in front me, and the look on his face breaks my heart. His hand comes to tilt my chin up, and hot lips burn against my own as he makes his claim. It's desperate and demanding, and I can feel him reaching deep inside. It's not normal. I thought Apollo affected me; this is something else. Maybe he was as dangerous as he claimed.

"I love you, so fucking much." He says it like a promise. "I am sorry. Elise, please, believe me. I'm sorry."

Nose to nose.

Forehead to forehead.

His fingers pressed into my arms as he kept me there. Cain's eyes were closed, and I could see, feel his tears on my cheeks. Maybe there were mine.

"I don't know how to do any of this." He whispers. "I'm not who you think I am. You're right. I am a coward."

"No Cain, no." I hold his face in my hands, forcing him to look at me. "You wanted to know how this works? There is someone coming who will love us unconditionally, without any idea who we have been before he arrived, what we've done, the powers we have, the names they called us. To him, we will be the world, and he will trust his instincts and put all his faith in us to love him, protect him. For him, we will only be Mummy and Daddy. That is how this works."

This kiss is sweet and salty. As sad as it is, there's still a moment of bliss. The wind is back, it howls outside like a battle cry as the rain hits the windows. The building trembles. It could fall down and we'd never notice, it may already be happening and breaking for air, I felt the heat in my cheeks travel down to consume me. I wrapped my arms around Cain's neck, his face hidden within my hair as his breath hit the curve of my shoulder. Skin against skin, I manage to break contact and the confusion that greets me a second later, hits at my resolve to stop.

Cain was not Apollo.

This was different. It wasn't a petty fight, silenced with a kiss and ended with an orgasm. Yet old habits haunted the back of mind, and as I so clearly stated earlier, there were things I promised myself I would let happen again. I didn't want to repeat my mistakes, especially not now.

Cain was not Apollo.

"What's wrong?" He asks softly, almost as if he knows he isn't going to like the answer.

"I still want to check on Zane."

"Okay. I'll come with you?" I nod, and he's back; gentle touches, carefully placed kisses, hands that are everywhere I need them to be.

And that's as far as it goes. It doesn't turn into anything more than an extended cuddle, yet it feels like more. There's no disappointment in not taking things further, if anything I feel closer, more connected than ever.

Of course it's now that Blueberry decides to end our deal and as the first wave of nausea hits for the day I make a rush for the ginger pills. Cain stops me again, grabbing my hand.

"Let me try something." He half-smiles as his fingers link with mine.

The tingles start, I feel them race up my arm, into my chest and down my throat. This time it's a wave of relief as the feeling disappears.

"How's that?"

"Better. Good." I wait. Nothing happened. "If this works, you've just made yourself irreplaceable."

"That was my plan." Cain hesitates. "About, earlier, I'm-"

"I know, and I am too."

The storm has passed, at least the one inside. Outside it only gets worse and as we get ready to go back to the bar, I stop by the window. His shadow looms behind my reflection in the glass, as I'm wrapped up by his arms. The feelings are instant; safe, warm. Back in sync, we survived.

The rain took away our visibility, removing the street below and buildings around us. A new urge to stay put, to hide away and let only this moment exist fought for control in the back of my mind. The daylight disappeared, lightning continued to dance across the darkened sky. More thunder. The windows rattled not adding to my theory this was one, big, bad omen.

"It's getting worse out there. They mentioned it was going to be bad on the news yesterday." Cain muses, his chin resting on my shoulder as I leant my head against his. "The storm should pass by morning."

Too bad I had a feeling that the storm hadn't even started yet.

__________________

And.... whoomp, there it is! 

Here we all were thinking everything was going so well, and Cain's like - hold my beer.

Alls well that ends well, though right? Nice to see the Van Helsing boys again too (but not Tom) as they haven't had much time in the last couple of stories x