Seeking Refuge

[Sage]

[sends Marta a list of suggestions] They aren't cheap.

I have things that need doing. You don't have to leave home. And they'll help you learn. I will pay cause I don't wanna do it.

He'll have moments like that. Strong, intense feelings will shine through the haze. He's not getting any better. It's not going to change. There are changes in his brain, we are still figuring it out.

[Emily Shale-Vanders]

Emily turned as soon as Hayden said he thought they had arrived. She saw Nox first, hand covered with blood. He seemed no different that he had this morning, stoic and…something she couldn’t put her finger on. But the blood. She saw the blood. Lucio’s blood she hoped. He had deserved no less than the death he he gotten.

Her mind shifted immediately as the other figure entered. Jared - her Jared. She ran to him and wrapped him in a tight embrace before giving him a quick kiss. ”You came back.”

”Always,” he smiled at her. It seemed like everytime she saw it she fell in love over again.

Emily turned to introduce Jared to Hayden, but he was talking to Nox. Nox’s hand was on his waist, touching the skin above his waist line. The hand traveled to Hayden’s face and there was a brief smile there. Emily smirked. So that’s how things were.

”Suddenly my first meeting with Nox hits a lot less deep,” she said with a chuckle.

”What?” Jared’s voice was confused.

Emily rolled her eyes.”Oh come on, you just saw it. I’m glad some supernatural force led us to each other - if not m - you would have walked right past me,” she laughed and he raised an eyebrow in confusion. She sighed ”I love you, you big dork.” She wrapped her arms around him again. And rested her head against his chest.

Hayden came up to them and told them they could stay as long as they liked. Emily would likely stay until Rachel woke up. He then offered his hand to Jared with an introduction. Emily let Jared go and he took Hayden’s hand.

[Jared Vanders]

There were kids everywhere, and one handed Nox a baby. Jared knew that Emily had met with Nox today to deal with some orphaned refugees. It seemed like the guy lived and breathed that. A dark haired girl with golden eyes looked at him as he passed. That was unique. But it didn't take long before Emily was there, glad he was back once again. Jared knew she worried when he was gone.

They spoke in hushed tones and Emily made fun of him a little bit. He hadn't really seen the exchange between Nox and Hayden. Times like this - when he came back to her and there was nothing to worry about - he just sort of got lost in her presence. He didn't mind it. He even liked it. So when she mentioned Nox he was pulled out of his thoughts and drawn to her.

Another man came and offered his hand. "Jared," he said, taking Hayden's hand. He turned briefly back to Emily. "How is she? And how are you?'

Jared had meant what he said to Nox. He was worried she would blame herself for this. "She's pretty rough. Sleeping right now. I'm doing alright. Not great, but alright."

It was all Jared needed to hear about it. Emily wasn't blaming herself at least. He turned back to Hayden. "Sorry to introduce and run, but I'm gonna go check on Rachel, then I'll be back up. Could use a bite if you're offering? he said with a smirk, pointing out the food. "Good to meet you, Hayden - I'll be back up soon. Please excuse me for now."

"I'll show you where to go. We need to talk about something anyways," Jared looked at her. Her face wasn't somber or anything so he didn't think it was anything bad. Emily took his hand and followed her down the stairs.

[Marta]

[gif of a sad cat] Okay.

She had hoped that Nox was getting better and that she had seen a sign that he was. But Sage knew better. She didn't resent him for telling her Nox wasn't getting better. She actually appreciated it, but it still hurt. She didn't like it when her friends were hurting. Especially if she couldn't do anything to fix it.

Emily and her man passed, heading downstairs. She let them walk by and kept her head down her wallet still in her hand.

Thanks for telling me. Let me know what I can do. I'll take care of it.

It was better for her to know now than to know later. She kept her wallet in her hands and twisted it around, leaning against the wall.

[Hayden]

Hayden shook the man's hand and he understood wanting to check on his sister-in-law. And he was also pretty sure they had just gotten the wrong impression about his and Nox's relationship. Not that they had one. At least not a traditional one. And they would likely never have more than that, Nox was hung up on Raffe and he wanted the family, the house, the white picket fence. And that was not something Hayden wanted. But they were friends and that was a relationship as it were. He watched them head downstairs, he wondered if Emily was also gonna tell her husband about the possibility of the child on the way. Nothing like trauma to set things into perspective.

Hayden could have slipped out and checked on Nox. But it was better if he just finished what he needed to do and came out to eat. Eating was important and while Nox was pedantic about his food, Hayden wasn't sure that Nox's new wiring accounted for his old scheduled self. Without the guilt and pain and feelings to guide him would he just go about life willy nilly. Or would he double down on the schedule even more. Nox was taking it well for what it was worth, Hayden seemed to be freaking out about it more than he was -- everyone seemed more concerned about Nox's lapse in emotional quota than he did.

They had a lot to talk about.

Liam was standing next to him helping Sera with plates as Hayden made plates for both the returned hunters. It was all very domestic like and he wasn't certain this was something he wanted to continue. "He's okay."

Hayden laughed. "Is it that transparent?"

Liam smiled. "Yeah. He told me he knows what he's doing."

"He does but he's not exactly himself either."

"He lives for Lily. and us, but mostly Lily." Liam smirked. He knew Nox's priorities. He knew that he wasn't even on that list -- barely friend. Doubted that he made the family cut. Though knowing Nox he'd been family that first week in London.

Liam leaned closer and whispered. "It's okay to like him." The kid grinned and took the kids with him to sit down at the table to eat. It was probably the quietest it would be for many more hours in the house, with just the clicking of silverware against plates and the soft conversation at the table.

[Sage]

[2 files sent] -- one encrypted, the other just a bunch of gibberish text

Encrypted the information for the job as homework. You'll have to work to figure it out.

[Nox]

His shower was fast, though he could have remained in the hot steaming water, he didn't. He had food and company and Lily was starting to get antsy, he could feel it as if they were connected but they weren't. It was just the sound of the bouncer and her squirming.

Hayden leaned over the counter with his elbows and he stared off into space. He was lost in thought but when Nox stepped into his peripherial he turned and stood looking at Nox. He smiled "Half expected you to come out here in your towel alone."

Nox grinned though he knew Hayden would notice the lack of emotion in it. "If it were just you I might have. But there is company here." Ara was pushing her chair back and rushing towards him putting her arms around his legs.

"You're back." Nox picked the kid up with his mechanical arm and she never even flinched. She didn't know the difference but he felt the weight in his fingers, the texture of her tiny jeans as he lifted her to his hip. She ticked Lily's chin and the baby giggled. Biologically sisters. Nox wondered which of the sisters were full sisters and which were half, not that it mattered, but it would be good to know whether Ava or Isabel or another baby mule who had passed into the darkness of her captivity had been the mother to the girls. But it didn't matter -- not really.

"Ara, let Nox eat."

"Okay." Ara kissed Nox on the cheek and she was squirming down the side of his body and climbing back into her chair to finish her food.

Nox sat down across from Hayden in front of a plate. "they went to check on Emily's sister?"

Hayden nodded. "They did. They'll be back up, Jared is hungry too." Hayden looked down towards the stairs to see if they were coming and then turned back to Nox leaning in conspiratorially. "You good. This is the second kill of a human in about as many days Nox."

Nox shrugged. "Andersen was hunting family and so was Pirozzi. I don't know how I'm gonna look Alex in the eyes knowing both her father and brother are dead and I know what happened to them."

"You see her often?"

"Not really. guess it doesn't really matter. I have to work tonight"

Hayden chuckled. He knew that. Everyone could look up Nox's schedule Sky had full access to his calendar. "I know."

"And you'll still stay? Knowing I won't be home till late?"

"Liam and I will take turns watching Lily, give Liv a break. I think you should hire Marta to help out too. She's looking for money. And she handles Lily best when the girls aren't around. Liv needs a different job than caring for the kids."

"Second Chances could use an Executive Assistant. We could teach her along the way. I'm sure Ana would love to have some help. I'll ask her."

Hayden walked around the counter and pressed a soft kiss to his lips which left them both a little wanting. "We have a lot to talk about."

Nox laughed. "You mean you have a lot to get off your chest and you want me to make it go away."

Hayden rolled his eyes. "Fine, yes I need to get it off my chest. We'll talk..." Hayden drew out the word and let the sentence kinda linger for a while while he stared into Nox's eyes. "among other things."

Nox nodded. "You know I meant I'd own you a favor right?"

Hayden chuckled and leaned in to whipsered in Nox's ear. "You aren't a whore, and neither am I. We don't swap sex for trade, just favors. The sex is just icing on the cake." His voice was low and triggered a deep level of desire and feelings in Nox. Hayden nipped at his neck and then went to sit on the couch with Liam. They whispered amongst each other and Nox was wishing he could draw on the power and eavesdrops he knew it was about him.

[Jared Vanders]

Jared followed Emily down the stairs into a dojo. That brought back memories. His martial arts training he kept up with though. They entered a bedroom where Rachel lay on a bed, fast asleep. "She hasn't moved at all. Emily said, kneeling down next to the bed and stroking Rachel's hair.

"Probably a good thing - means she's getting restful sleep," Jared said, kneeling on the other side.

Emily nodded. "I'm planning on staying here tonight with her."

Jared nodded in agreement. "It's going to be pretty rough. Like she's coming down from an addiction. We'll have to rewire her brain - she's going to fight to get to him, and maybe even run away. We will have to keep an eye on her."

Emily's eyes burned. "Fucker's dead?"

Jared raised an eyebrow. It was a word he'd never heard her say. "Very much so."

The anger in her eyes burned down as she stood up and came over to Jared. He wrapped his arms around her. "We'll do what we have to for her. We'll get her through this." She let go and looked him in the eyes. "There's more...something I need to tell you. I..." she smiled at him. "I might be pregnant. I don't know yet. I'm just late...going to find out this week."

Jared just stared at her disbelieving. He hadn't know what he had expected her to say, but it hadn't been that. "I might be a dad?"

Emily smiled, her hands going to her stomach. "It's still a maybe, and I'm not trying to get my hopes up just in case, but...I think so." Jared kissed her.

[Emily Shale-Vanders]

Emily didn't know for sure, but deep down she felt it. She was pregnant. The doctor was just the confirmation - a necessity to make that feeling solid. That meant she would have to take a little bit at a time. Rachel would take up quite a bit of it, but they would make things work. Rachel would get through this. It wouldn't be easy, but she would.

Jared kissed her and she released it. "You need to eat. Let's get you upstairs," she said, giving him a slight push towards the door. She looked at Rachel before she left, still sleeping soundly. She was glad that Dorian had called. Things could have gotten worse - much worse.

That reminded her to let Dorian know all was well. She pulled out her wallet. Thanks for calling, Dorian. We have her and she's safe. I caught from your message that things between you and Cruz haven't been great. I'm sorry about that. Just so you know, Rachel and Cruz broke up about a week ago. That's likely when this whole mess started. Thank you again - I owe you.

The pair headed upstairs and at the top of the stairs sitting was Marta, face buried in her hands. Jared had noticed it but it was Emily who quickened her pace and sat down next to the girl. "Marta, what's wrong?" Jared sat down next to Emily.

The girl raised her head and her golden eyes were bright in the low light. "I'm just worried," she said and then saw Jared.

"It's alright - this is Jared. My husband. He can look scary, but he's really a big dork."

Marta laughed. "Hi," she said.

"You like Batgirl, huh?" Jared said, pointing at her shirt. She nodded with a smile. "Which one do you prefer?

"Barbara Gordon will always be the best," Marta said.

"Definitely the most iconic, but it is a little sad that she had to put down the cowl when Joker injured her spinal cord," he said. Emily realized what Jared was doing. Connecting with her and distracting her from her worries. It helped that Jared was a big nerd.

"She still fought though. She had other skills. She became Oracle. She used what she had to help," Jared nodded. "Thanks, I feel a little better."

"If we can help, let us know, okay?" Marta nodded. "Have you eaten? Jared needs to eat still, but you can come with us if you want."

Marta nodded and stood up following them. Emily went over and gave Nox a hug. "Thank you for my sister," she said, giving him a kiss on the cheek and sitting down next to her husband.

[Marta]

Marta got Sage’s message. And looked at it. It didn’t make any sense yet and she wasn’t in the mood to figure it out now. Her worry about Nox escalated. Adults didn’t understand. Not unless they had been like her. They told her to be a kid, but it was hard to go back to being a kid after you grew up.

She knew what they meant. They wanted her to have a good time, figure things out, and mostly to not worry, but it was so hard. She didn’t grow up by choice. She’d had her childhood stolen from her. It was something she couldn’t get back. She tried not to worry - but she couldn’t help it. It didn’t help that her emotions were always being weird. She’d asked Elyse about it and Elyse had told her that she really was growing up now

Then Emily sat next to her. Her voice was kind and sweet. Her husband sat next to her and then started talking to her about Batgirl. It was nice to have a comic book conversation with someone who wasn’t just familiar with the movies. And it helped her forget to worry. She followed them upstairs and sat down on the other side of Jared and began to eat. Opening her wallet she began to look through the document that Wicked had sense. It was all a bunch of nonsense. Well - that was wrong. It appeared to be a bunch of nonsense. It was nonsense she had to figure out. That was the lesson. The lesson that would lead to her first job.