Nephriel

The Ties that Bind

Seb watched as Anna stood guard as Serena got in and watched his soon-to-be wife struggle with the ghosts he couldn't help with. As she slid into the back seat he kissed her brow, "You did great... I'll get us out of here."

However, when he looked up Anna was cursing... Gunner was gone and of the few strigoi left behind, Abigail wasn't one of them.

Seb pulled up to her and rolled down the window, "Anna get in... He isn't here and there are too many Strigoi."

He watched her aura fluctuate and raised his voice, "Get in the damn car Ross, NOW! We aren't leaving without you."

That seemed to snap her out of it and she got into the vehicle. Seb slid to the back with Serena and Anna took over driving. As she tore out of the parking lot, leaving the Strigoi behind, she shook her head.

"They weren't attacking, after Gunner was gone they just... they stood there like they were waiting..."

She gritted her teeth, Abigail had obviously expected Anna to go after Gunner and Vlad knew she wanted to but her training won out... the lives of the two others in her care won out. She parked, slid out of the vehicle, and slammed the door shut behind her. Seb watched her go and let out a tense breath before kissing Serena again, "We'll let the Queen know what happened... They won't send anyone after Gunner but the group of Strigoi was large enough... maybe it'll get the attention of the Elites. Anna is in no shape to talk to them... How are you feeling?"

~*~

Anna had screwed up, she'd been too busy over protecting Serena to pay attention to Gunner and Abigail... The Strigoi back at the Strip had made it clear what Abigail planned to do to him and Anna felt ill. She couldn't kill Gunner but there was no doubt in her mind that he'd be too strong as a Strigoi for Sebastian to even get close enough to him to bring him back... She swallowed the bile rising in her throat and headed to her room. There was no way in hell she was leaving him out there though, she'd left him once already and she wasn't doing it again.

She knew this probably wouldn't end well, she wasn't Rose Hathaway and some speculated that Gunner was just as good, if not better than Guardian Belikov. In the end she'd probably end up dead herself or a Strigoi but she had to do SOMETHING. Anna strapped two stakes to each hip and pulled on her jacket before exiting her room again. She had no idea where Abigail might have taken Gunner and sunrise was still hours away... giving her plenty of time to get far away from here. Anna would follow whatever lead she had, she couldn't just leave Gunner out there...

As she was walking down the stairs of the dorm and rounding the corner she almost ran face first into Jace. The moroi frowned, "I hate being right... Premonitions in dreams suck by the way."

Anna rolled her eyes, "Move."

Jace caught her arm until she yanked it away and drew her stake threateningly, he held his hands up and sighed. "Calm down Ross... I'm here to help. You can't just go off on your own half cocked, it won't do Guardian Robot a damn bit of good... Not to mention you'll get yourself killed."

Anna gritted her teeth, "I can't just leave him."

Jace shook his head, "You're not, you're making a plan... a coherent one and then you're going after him. Give yourself time to think Ross."

"And in that time Gunner could be a Strigoi in the making, I can't-"

Jace caught her by the shoulders and kissed her deeply, Anna yanked away and slapped him hard. "What the fuck?!"

He smiled crookedly, "You were hysterical, I helped."

She punched him, hard, but put the stake away and watched him cup his now bloody nose with a grimace. "Dammit, I think you hit harder than Marks..."

She shoved a hand through her hair, "You were looking for me... you said something about your dream?"

He shook the blood off his hand and she took off her jacket and offered it to him. He cleaned himself up with it and then answered, "Yeah... a blonde lady, lots of fighting, Marks as a strigoi, you dead, fun stuff really."

She glared, "Get to the point."

"The point is if you'd taken off just now, you'd be dead. I saved your life, you're welcome... As for Marks... I saw something... Caves."

She frowned, "In your dream you saw caves?"

"And a town, a shabby one... all burned up. It wasn't a pretty picture."

Anna shook her head, "You're coming with me and we're going to the Queen... Now."

The Ties that Bind

Anna's heart-rate accelerated, it was his mother out there? She bit her lip, the woman was a powerful stigoi... powerful enough to have torn her way through Guardian ranks trying to get to Gunner once before. However, despite her desire to worry for him her Guardian training took the lead. This is what she'd trained for, these are the decisions she had to make. One of them would have to be a distraction and since it was Gunner that Abigail wanted, Gunner was the best suited for the job. That left her with only one choice, protect their friends. Gunner was a Guardian, so was she... They knew the costs when they signed up.... So, despite her fears she nodded at Serena. She was about to tell her she needed to stay in the rear, that Anna needed to be ahead to see the danger coming but the Dhampir girl took off before she had a chance.

Both she and Seb cursed and pelted after her. Anna yanked Seb behind her and ducked under a Strigoi arm to shove a stake into it's chest before shoving her ahead of him again. Serena was safe, obviously the Strigoi had been a little late on their arrival and Serena was fast for a Dhampir anyway. As they reached the car Anna shoved Sebastian inside and staked another Strigoi coming up behind her. "Serena! Behind you!"

Anna practically leapt over the hood of the car and the two Dhampir women faced off with the Strigoi male in front of them. "Serena, get in the car... Get Seb out of here. I'm not leaving Gunner alone but I'm not leaving you two in danger either... Get out of here and if you don't hear from us in an hour send help."

The Strigoi sneered as it paced back and forth in front of them, "How sweet, worried about your boyfriend? Don't he's going to be one of us soon, more powerful than you'll ever be."

Seb, never one to be pushed around, opened the door. "We have to go Serena, Gunner can't hold them off forever and Anna can't be focusing on us all at once."

The strigoi, finally choosing a target, lunged for the pregnant Dhampir. Anna shouted and leaped between them but the strigoi had been ready for that. He caught her arms and hurled her aside like a doll, Anna was back on her feet in an instant.

She leaped on the Strigoi's back, locking her arms under it's arms and around behind it's head, effectively subduing him. "Kill him and get out of here!"

The Ties that Bind

Anna smiled at her friend, it was good to have someone who believed in her the way Serena did. She knew Gunner had faith in her but his faith made her feel worried that it was misplaced... scared she wouldn't live up to his hopes for her. Serena had pointed out the obvious flaw, Anna was still having a hard time seeing herself as someone of value. Maybe if she could just-

Serena's face changed, the color faded from her skin... She looked...

Anna was already scanning the street outside the window when Gunner and Seb came over. She didn't see anything but that didn't mean nothing was there. The sun had gone down just enough that Strigoi would be fine travelling about and it was shadowed just enough to give them dark places to hide. She slid her hand to the stake at her hip as she stood, still scanning the shadows until she saw a slight movement... and again.

"There's at least two... I don't know if they know we're here but I don't think we should take the chance."

She touched the bluetooth in her ear and frowned when there was no answer. "The other two guards aren't picking up... The car is just outside. What do you want to do Serena, Gunner? We can go for the car past those two or we can stand our ground here... There's a backdoor but it leads to a darker ally. I don't know if there might be more, but if the other two aren't answering it's likely."

~*~

Seb noticed the change in Serena's aura as Gunner's abrupt stance caused him to glance that way. He stood and frowned, a quicksilver jolt of fear and anger zipping through him for a moment before he put a muzzle on it and reminded himself his friends were trained for this... that he wasn't completely helpless anymore either. He moved to Serena's side and took her hand, rubbing it with his thumb as he waited for Gunner and Anna to decide what to do. When Anna asked Serena's opinion he frowned, his friend had better not be even thinking about letting Serena fight.

The Ties that Bind

Seb laughed a little, "Well, I'm not going to lie and say it's been easy... There've been several times where it just would have been easier to drink myself to oblivion than let Serena take any of my darkness on but she doesn't give me a choice either way... I love her for it but I just wish she didn't have to share the crazy with me. Besides, if she'd going to take it anyway there's no reason to drink... especially not with a kid on the way..." He shoved a hand through his hair, "Honestly, I've dumped every bottle I can find down the sink except for the red wine because a glass is good for Serena's nerves on occasion but it's hard to have it there and not down it when I start to tip..."

He shook his head, "Serena helps, more than she'll ever know... I don't get the way I used to nearly as much anymore and it's not just her sharing the darkness... It's just having her around seems to keep me level."

He sighed when Gunner told him about Anna and he shook his head again, "That's tough... All I can tell you for sure is that when I look at Anna's aura lately she seems more steady, a little too peaceful for Anna if you want the truth. When she's around you though... she both lights up and dims down all at once. It's like she's torn... I think she'll figure things out though. She's smart... As for you, you're hard headed as hell. There is absolutely no hope for you," Seb teased.

"Honestly though, I can see you still love her but you're just as conflicted as she is. You two might have gotten the big stuff off your chests but it's going to take some more work for either of you to figure out where you're going."

~*~

Anna listened to her friend and grabbed her hand to give it a gentle squeeze, "Gunner or I could always Guard Seb. It was always the plan before everything else, maybe this was meant to be? Gunner and I split, you have a baby... Now, there's no conflict if one of us takes a Ward."

She sighed and felt the weight of Gunner's glance even though she'd looked over at him too late to catch the look, she shifted in her seat and pushed her hair behind her ear.

"I don't know... I love Gunner but... after everything that happened I don't think it will ever be the same. We're friends now and part of me thinks that that's all we'll ever be." She let out a breath, "We were always great as friends, when we tried the relationship... everything kind of fell apart."

She smiled sadly, "I miss him but... I don't like the idea that I'd hold him back and I don't think he's ever going to REALLY forgive me for leaving... I know I haven't."

She swallowed the lump in her throat, "Ugh... Now you've got me started on the water works," she laughed shakily.

"I don't know..." She glanced at Serena, "He was... my first, tmi maybe but..." She shrugged, "And he's still my only. I'm pretty sure he thinks I slept with Rae but I never did... I couldn't. The whole time I was with Rae I was mourning after Gunner and now that we've fixed things he basically said he doesn't want to be with me until I'm me again... I just don't think I'm ever going to be the way I was, so... Like I said... maybe this was supposed to happen? He can go on with the Elites and I can stick around here and pester you."

The Ties that Bind

Anna shook her head, "It's not that, I just know you can't move around a lot without getting sick lately." She sat back in her seat, and eyed her friend. She knew that it must be hard for Serena, having everyone take Guardianship over. Anna knew what it was like to feel useless and that was the last thing she wanted her friend to feel so she took a bite of her food and considered how to approach the topic.

"So, I know that you must be feeling kind of overwhelmed... I mean, you go from being a kick ass guardian to having to set back and be taken care of. It's important though that you know WHY everyone is making you take that step back. You have to think... if we have a run in with strigoi or even if you're just training, it takes one hit and that would be horrible for you and Seb. I don't think he could take it. We know you're tough, we know if it comes to it you could take care of yourself just fine, but unless it comes to it you should leave the physical part of Guarding to us... Though it wouldn't hurt for you to keep your eyes peeled and those handy shadow-kissed abilities sharpened. You can warn us before anything comes and that's a huge advantage... Even if you might mistake it for morning sickness on occasion."

She took a sip of her coffee, "If you wanted you could join me for practices against compulsion... It would make you feel more like a Guardian and it's not something other Guardians have trained at since aside from Strigoi, Spirit users are about the only ones who can do it. I know you could use the time out."

~*~

Seb smiled somewhat at Gunner and went for the more difficult question, "And how are things with you and Anna? I've noticed your back to being friends..."

The Ties that Bind

Though Gunner's face didn't register the emotional change, his eyes did. They went from their usual crystal blue to stormy in the span of a heartbeat. It occurred to Anna belatedly why he'd be so emotionally charged being at the courts and why leaving them might set his nerves on edge. She suddenly regretted offering the outing but Serena was so excited she didn't have the heart to say no after getting her hopes up like that. She'd just have to break it to Serena that the boys would HAVE to stay close. She chuckled a bit despite her worry when she saw Serena huff and strip off the coat she'd just tried to put on.

"It's probably best they stay close, all things considered. The courts have been having trouble with strigoi so we'll just force the boys along on the shopping trip with us, buy ice cream and nail polish and do the whole girly thing with romantic mushy movies we can cry to..."

Seb groaned but smiled, "Who am I to deny the girls their fun I suppose..." Noticing Gunner's shift in aura and being slightly more intuitive than Anna at times he had already known Gunner's mom could be an issue. However, Gunner had come a long way and Anna's extreme approach to training lately had given her a unique edge. He was sure that so long as they stuck together and all of them kept their eyes peeled it would be alright. "Anna is right though, we should stick close..."

~*~

Once they'd reached the strip Anna smiled and helped Serena out of the vehicle, beating Seb to it. They'd brought two extra guards, both which Gunner knew through passing when he was at the courts, and let them know they wanted distance but safety. Honestly, as soon as they were out of the vehicle the two all but disappeared. Anna led Serena up and down the strip, popping in and out of clothing stores. She helped Serena pick out maternity clothes and let the other Dhampir girl pick out one or two things for Anna within her budget. As promised, she stopped and picked up two mushy sad movies so that Serena could vent some of those pent up out of control emotions, and a funny one to lighten the mood. Then, they stopped at a little diner because Anna's stomach was growling something fierce and she was sure Serena was starved.

Anna refused to allow the boys to set with she and Serena, instead the two got their own table and when the waitress came over Anna ordered a coffee and pancakes despite the fact that it wasn't anywhere near morning. "This is nice," she smiled. "So, truth time... How are you feeling? I haven't run you ragged have I?"

~*~

At their own table Seb and Gunner were waiting for their own waitress. "It's good she's getting out... I know you're worried, but with the extra eyes and both you and Anna close by I think we'll be alright till full dark." They'd gone out a few hours before sunset and Seb was the only one who had to wear shades... so honestly it was best this way. They still had about an hour before the sun went down. "How are you? I mean... obviously it isn't easy knowing your mother is out there but... How are you holding up?"

The Ties that Bind

Anna grinned, "No big deal Serena, you know what it's like to be a Guardian. We're supposed to only be sleeping when we have to so it isn't really expected that we need the luxuries... You, on the other hand, are pregnant and shadow-kissed. You're special, just enjoy it while you can."

She glanced at Gun and shrugged, "Well, Serena... You and I did have a date for a girl's day if I recall and you did say you needed new clothes. I say we head to one of the strips and do our shopping there and grab something to eat while we're out." Anna was completely against the mall anymore, understandably, after what they'd all been through. The place might as well be cursed because they sure as hell weren't going there.

The strip was closer, would allow Serena some time outside, and the shops were close enough together to keep the pregnant lady from getting too worn out. Plus, Gunner and Seb could play far Guard and friend and chat about whatever they chatted about.

Seb shrugged, "I'm in the mood for air already... the courts aren't exactly my favorite place to be."

The Ties that Bind

Anna stuck her tongue out at Serena as soon as the Guardian's turned away, proving that she wasn't all ice, but she had to give off the impression she meant business for the same reason that Gunner was a robot around Guardians he didn't know... Guardians were loyal to the families they served and at court... Well, politics was a blood sport... Everyone secretly poking each other with stick pins under the table and smiling in each other's faces as they do it. Plus, there were royal Moroi men used to getting what they wanted and though not all of them were the same many of them assumed that female Dhampirs were open for... business. Anna, most certainly, was not. She just... didn't like court and so her guards were up.

When they reached the room she smiled as Gunner, as thorough as always, looked over the room... perhaps checking for bugs which was smart since she wouldn't put it past the Lazars. As Serena sank into her seat and pried off her shoes Anna looked at her sympathetically, it couldn't be easy trying to keep up appearances... Hopefully, soon, she wouldn't have to.

"I know... I bet this was the Queen's doing too. I doubt she wanted the Lazars trying to split you and Seb up or trying to claim Serena was enough to Guard as she is. This is kind of perfect..."

There were three bedrooms(one large with a king bed, dresser, walk in closet, flat screen tv and the other two only big enough for a bed, a nightstand, and small closet) two bathrooms (one attached to the master bed with a garden tub, toilet, dual sink, and separate shower and the other to the living area that only had a toilet, sink, and small shower), a kitchen area with a mini fridge, sink, counter with stools instead of a table, coffee pot, and microwave, and a small living area with a couch, two chairs, a flat screen tv, and a stereo system.

Anna laughed a little, "I get the master bed," she teased before she vanished into one of the small rooms to unpack her few things. When she came back out she sighed.... "I'm hungry."

The Ties that Bind

Sebastian smiled at her softly, he knew she was worried and so was he but he was going to keep his parents in line about this. If they thought he'd rebelled in the past they'd seen NOTHING yet because he would do anything he had to do to keep Serena in his life, and that included walking away from being heir. Kenzie would make a good princess and he'd never wanted the title to begin with but he'd thought that finally caving in to the whole 'prince' thing and giving Serena the credit would maybe ease them off his relationship... No such luck.

He kept a tight hold on his worries, for her, and instead focused on his determination and his love for her... She needed that right now, not his fears and he knew she could feel what he felt. It was fair, he supposed, since he could SEE her emotions. "It will be fine, I'm going to make it fine... and Kenzie adores you." He smiled again at her mention of the queen, "Unfortunately, it would be inappropriate for her to get involved in family affairs such as these. She can voice how much she likes you, how much she approves of you being my Guardian, how she is looking forward to seeing the baby... but she can't publicly back us... Not with things still so shaky with the new laws and the trouble she's having with the more... old fashioned Moroi royalty." He'd usually kept all the politics to himself but he didn't want Serena getting her hopes up only to see them come crashing down when the queen didn't publicly acknowledge their relationship beyond the professional one.

"Still, we'll have her silently cheering us on... and that's more support than most have. We also have Anna and Gunner, and you have me. I won't let anyone get between us Serena. Besides... The whole point of the trip is to get the title thing over and done with and the Queen is the one doing that so... Maybe we have more support from her than we think." He flipped his hand at the words 'title thing' dismissing the whole ceremony. "I wish I could just sign some papers and have it done with..."

~*~

Anna was driving, as much as she trusted Gunner with her life on the field she didn't trust him at all behind the wheel. It wasn't that he was a bad driver just... hyper vigilant? He drove like an old person and it drove her crazy... It made him happier to be able to keep look out instead of having to watch other cars and it made her happy not to want to shove him into the back seat and take over. She could hear Seb and Serena talking quietly in the back seat and smiled somewhat. She was happy for them, happy that Seb was being made the official prince, and happy that they were happy. Still, she understood Serena and Seb's worry about Seb's parents... they were prudes.

She pulled into the gate of the courtyard and two Guardians started towards the car to greet them but Anna was having none of it. She wasn't letting any Guardian she didn't know near Serena, especially since Seb's father was here. She hopped out after putting it in park, car still running, and opened Serena's door and helped her out... pointedly keeping her body between the pregnant Dhampir and the other Guardians. Eyebrows were raised but nothing was said except a polite greeting.

"Welcome Mr. Lazar, Guardian Abatangelo. We were sent by the Queen to escort you inside, show you to your rooms. Anna relaxed a little, the Queen would never send anyone she knew was openly against Dhampir/Moroi relations."

The Guardians looked her over, noticed Gunner and nodded in greeting to them as well. "Guardian Ross, Guardian Marks... Welcome. We were told you'd be acting as Guardians to Mr. Lazar in Guardian Abatangelo's sted... We took measures to make sure your rooms were all connected."

Anna finally smiled somewhat, some of her fears put at ease. She'd been worried Seb's parents would try and pull something with putting Serena in a separate room or by having Anna and Gunner placed with the other courtly Guards. She supposed that maybe she'd been a little overly worried but it was her job to worry...

"You can show us the way," Anna nodded.

The Ties that Bind

Anna eeped as Gunner picked her up and normally she would argue but when she'd walked back to the gym from Seb's room she'd almost passed out a few times on the way and had had to set down. So, instead of arguing she sheepishly wrapped her arms around Gunner's neck and let him haul her through the Academy. She was so tired she almost fell asleep on the way there so she barely noticed any of the people they passed anyway and she was in too good of a mood to care what they thought of she and Gunner. The one or two people who looked too long, she wiggled her fingers at in hello and they averted their eyes pretty quickly. Anna couldn't help but feel a little smug when they did.

When he finally got her to the room and set her down she laughed a little and punched his arm in a way that made her sway on her feet, "Haha... Actually, I was hoping you'd hang out for a movie... like old times." She held up her hands, "Just as friends, I remember what you said and you were right... I've gotta fix me first. I just... miss you."

She sank onto her bed to set down and when her hand brushed something she glanced down and her pale face quickly washed with pink before she shoved Gunner's t-shirt under her pillow... but she was positive he'd already seen it so the reaction was belated. She coughed, "Err... it's comfy?"

She smiled sheepishly, "But really... I might fall asleep five minutes through but you used to toss pillows on the floor and sleep." She realized now that maybe it hadn't been such a good idea to ask. She shook her head, "Um, but you don't have to STAY.... I just mean..." She huffed, "What movie do you want to watch? Y'know... if you stay?"