tsubasa

The Ties that Bind

Serena smiled as he moved his arms around her, pulling her in close. She moved her head to the side as he kissed down her neck. She rested her hands atop his and glanced down at her stomach, visible now that she had changed into a tank top and pajama pants. She smiled softly, "I never thought I could find someone I could love... let alone marry and have children," She slipped her fingers between his, "You don't just make me want everything," She giggled a little, "You make me feel like I can have everything."

She moved her head a little to rest on his shoulder, her back against his chest, "Six and a half months... Twenty two weeks... It seems so long," She whined slightly, "I just hope the sickness subsides a little... I don't think I could handle another six months of that..."

There was a small knock at the door, causing Serena to look through their door to it. Not seeing Anna move to and get it, she was suddenly curious as to where the girl had gone. One good thing about feeling sick whenever Strigoi were around was that she knew when they weren't. She got out of the bed and walked over to the door and opened it, maybe Anna had somehow managed to lock herself out. However, the woman on the other side of the door made Serena sick in a whole different way. She looked Serena up and down with a look of disgust before scoffing, "Are you slacking on the job, Dhampir?"

Serena took a deep breath before forcing a smile and looking over her shoulder, "Sebastian... Your mother is here..."

The Ties that Bind

Serena's hand were shaking as Sebastian climbed back into the back of the car with her. She let him kiss her and felt as though she were a little more grounded to reality, to life. As Anna, bringing back her walls and pushing away the ghosts became easier and the sickness that overwhelmed her faded away. She looked up at him before she curled up against him, "Better... It's getting harder to push them away," She said quietly. Sebastian's darkness wasn't the only thing that threatened her sanity. It was one of the few reasons Serena enjoyed being at the school or Court, she didn't have to worry about the ghosts, the wards kept them out. She decided that they would have wards around their house, where ever it was that they decided to live, "I'm fine," She kissed him back, "The baby's fine."
~
When they got back to Court, Sebastian and Anna basically both rushed her back up to their room and Serena wasn't even going to complain. Whatever she had said to Anna about having plenty of energy, that was all zapped from her. She called the restaurant and asked them to send the bags of clothing to the Court when she realized she had forgotten all her things in the mayhem before she curled up on the bed. Sebastian joined her and the two watched a movie as Anna allowed them sometime to themselves. Serena didn't really want to leave Anna alone... Not after Gunner was taken... but lying in bed was such a pleasing offer.

She played a little with Sebastian's shirt, not paying much attention to the movie, "I love you, Sebastian," She told him. She almost always said that after a run in with Strigoi. She was always worried that she didn't say it to him enough. She didn't want one of these run ins to stop her from saying it... She looked up at him, "I was talking to Anna... I'm going to let someone take over as your guardian... Permanently. When the baby comes, I want to be a family... No matter where we are..."

She sat up a little and kissed him, "I want to be just your wife and mother of your child."

The Ties that Bind

Serena's head was swirling, there were more Strigoi than she had thought and the group was making it hard to think. Luckily for her, fight was so engrained in her that she didn't need to. She kept running until she reached the car, pregnant or not Serena could still be anyone in a foot race. She pulled the door open and let Anna push Sebastian in. Serena turned at Anna's warning and on instinct rose her stake. The only thing that stopped her from throwing a punch at the Strigoi was Anna's sudden appearance. She watched the Strigoi as Sebastian told her to get in the car. She started to back up when the Strigoi was suddenly lunging at her.

Anna, who jumped in front of her, was lucky that Serena didn't accidentally strike her and managed to pull back her blow.

She watched as Anna was tossed aside before she jumped back into the fray. The woman didn't even have a chance to get all of her words out before Serena was driving a stake through the Strigoi's heart. She didn't wait to be told again and hopped into the car. She took a deep breath, pushing down the sickness, which worsened for a moment after killing. Killing was always the worst, the ghosts started to encroach on her right after and she had to take a moment to push them away... She didn't always have that time, the good thing was that Strigoi seemed just as scared of the ghosts and she had used that once or twice to her own advantage. She touched her head against the steering wheel and placed her palms against her temples. The piercing headache from the souls was prominent and she was struggling to keep the ghosts at bay. She took a deep breath, a thin layer of sweat covered her face, "You need to drive," She told Sebastian before she quickly climbed out of the driver's seat and into the passenger's, thankful that they had pushed him into the back of the car.
~
Gunner stared his mother down as she walked toward him. She clearly had told her Strigoi to keep out of sight because there were now a lot more than two attacking Anna and the others. She smiled, "Are you admiring my army? I couldn't waste all that talent, now could I? Especially when they were going to help me get to you."

By the time anyone had a moment to breath, Gunner and Abigail were gone.

The Ties that Bind

Gunner looked at Anna when she asked what it was that they should do. He pulled two stakes out from his jacket and one to Serena. His eyes met Sebastian, "Just a precaution."

He then shed his jacket entirely and rolled up his shirt sleeves, "Right now, I only know of one Strigoi that are hanging around here and I know what she wants," He looked at his friends, "I'll go out. Anna, you stay with Serena and Sebastian. I'll deal with the Strigoi then the three of you run for the car. You swing by and pick me up. If you can't get me," He looked directly at Anna, "Then go. I'll find my own way back to Court."

He handed his jacket to Serena and looked at her next, "You had better only use that if Anna isn't there."

Then without a word from the group, as if any of them could stop him, Gunner walked out of the building. He made it all of ten feet to the car before a blonde woman was standing before him. He looked her in the eye and took a deep breath, "Abigail."

Gunner's mother pouted, "Is that anyway to greet your mother?"

Gunner face gave away nothing, "I don't have a mother."

The woman's hand flew and struck Gunner across the face, shattering his cheekbone. He spun his stake in his hand and took a fighting stance. The Strigoi seemed to take no offense to her son pulling a weapon on her. A moment later, Gunner turned and sent his stake through the heart of the Strigoi trying to sneak up on him. Hardly without stopping, he turned to face his mother again, "Is that how you greet your son?"

The woman laughed, "So you are as good as they've been saying, of course you are... You're my baby boy."

She grabbed him by the wrist and tossed him onto a car, causing the hood to dent, "You'll be the strongest Strigoi ever..."

She started walking toward him, oblivious to the rest of the parking lot. Gunner groaned but sat him, his head still holding tightly to his stake, "You'll have manage to sink your fangs in me to even try that."
~
Serena looked at Sebastian when he took her hand and leaned into him a little. Something about being in danger made the gravity of the whole one hit thing a lot scarier. She was grateful when Gunner handed her the stake and quickly wrapped her hand around it. Sebastian had asked her to leave her stake at home, saying she wouldn't be needing it. She knew it was just because he wanted her not to be his guardian on this trip, not while she was pregnant. However, having the stake in her hand made her feel like she could manage something.

She watched as Gunner went then took hold of Anna's arm, "He'll be fine..." She took a deep breath, she needed to keep calm or who knows who would. With Anna worrying about Gunner and Sebastian worrying about her, they needed someone to worry about how they were going to get to the car. She squeezed Anna's arm a little, "The moment we get the chance, we run. You take up the rear. I'll lead, Sebastian in the middle," She looked at him, "Like it or not, you are the least qualified to be on the outside... even if I'm pregnant. Just keep vigilant, okay?"

She looked back out the window and watched as Gunner was thrown into a car and the female Strigoi walked to him like he was her prey. She squeezed her hands on both of her friends, "Now. Gunner just gave us an opening."

Then she was running, like it or not, the others would have to follow. She supposed that was one good thing about them being so protective.

The Ties that Bind

Serena shook her head when Anna offered up that she or Gunner take her place, "That may have been the plan but you made it to the Elites..." She looked at her friend and placed her hand on top of her's, "I think you should go back to them... I think you need to challenge yourself more. All I ever hear from you now is how you are holding people back... Anna, there is a fire in you and I don't need to be in Sebastian's head to see that. You challenged and pushed yourself all through our last year and you and Gunner started to fall apart when you started to see yourself as less than you are," She smiled at released her friend's hands, "You are feeling better, I think, because you have a goal again with your compulsion... Sebastian and I will just bore you and you won't get any closer back to being that girl."

She bit her lip a little and glanced over at the two men again, "I don't think Gunner really wants you to be the old you again... I know that that is what he's said but... he's not even the old him... I think he just wants to know that you are okay. That you aren't thinking yourself as the worst thing that could happen to someone."

At the mention of Gunner being her first, Serena laughed, "I assumed. Not to mention," She cleared her throat a little, "Sebastian could always tell when you two had... um... it was in your auras..."

She reached out again and patted Anna's hands, "I think there will be a time when you will be okay again... I struggled... after my father and dying and the new burden of Sebastian's darkness.... but I think I've come out of it a far stronger person than before. I know you will too," she sat back as the food was brought to their table and she started to pick away at it, glad to actually have an appetite, "You two still love each other... I think you just need to decide if that love is worth fighting for... maybe that will be your next challenge."
~
Gunner dropped his head, letting his chin lowered to his chest as he groaned a little, "You know Sebastian... It is a lot harder to ignore the turmoil inside of me when you are poking your little spiritness in where it doesn't belong," Despite his words, there was a small smirk of Gunner's lips as he looked back up at his friend. He ran a hand over his mouth, "You are a real pain... I don't know how you managed to convince Serena to marry you."

His eye was brought back to the girls' table when Serena suddenly stood, the look on her face caused him to rise and toss some money on the table before grabbing Sebastian and walking over to the girls. Serena looked at them, "I feel sick.... and... it's not the baby..."

The Ties that Bind

Serena sighed a little as her friend spoke, saying everything that the rational side of her brain was telling her. However, she just couldn't shake the need to get involved... To still be a guardian. She rested her cheek in her hand and looked at her friend, "I know... It's just... This is something we've worked toward our entire lives... A child... I never planned to have a child and I'm happy, I'm really happy, I am... I just... wish Sebastian and I were in a better position."

She ran her hand through her hair, "I don't think I'll take you up on the offer... I don't think I'm going to be a guardian anymore... I've been thinking about... letting someone else guard Sebastian when I have the baby... Let me be a mother and his wife... Let me be part of the family," She sighed again, "And I knew I would have to stop guarding him well before the baby was born but... I still feel like I can fight... I've fought through feeling ill before," She shook her head, "I'm sorry, Anna... You're right.... You really are... I just wish sometimes that... I didn't have to give it up the... title to have a family."

Guardian... That was a title she had worked for her entire life and now, when the baby came and her and Sebastian married, she'd be Mrs. A title that would love just as much but it was a shame she had to forsake a part of herself to get it... And it wasn't like Sebastian was asking her to but she didn't want to have to be professional in public with her family... For that, she'd give up anything. Besides, she could still train... Still protect them but it wouldn't be her job, it would be someone else's.

She sat back a little, "I'm feeling fine though... The nurses back at the Academy said that I should start to feel better now, the worst of it should have passed."

She ran her hand over her stomach and smiled a little, "The wee one has been a bit of a pain but... I think the worst has yet to come," She laughed a little, "Sebastian can't wait..." She stole a glance at him over at their table and her smile grew slightly, "He's going to make a good father... Better than his own," She felt her eyes stinging and laughed a little, "And here I thought I was done with the unnecessary crying..."
~
Gunner stiffened slightly when Sebastian asked about him and Anna, "We are... But just that," he glanced over at the girl before turning his eyes to Sebastian, "I don't know if it is ever going to be the same between us... I mean, after dating and... I guess our break up... A lot has happened. I'm just hoping that she can get back to who she was before... any of it really.... Before Jace," His face darkened a little at the thought of the man, "I hate that she's working with him... I mean, I'm glad that she is finding a way to... help herself... but I seriously just want to break that man's face."

He took a deep breath, pushing the anger back under his mask and looked Sebastian, changing the subject, "So, you're going to be a dad... You know, can't say I ever pegged you for a family man... What with your insanity and alcoholism," He winked a little, bugging his friend about his old ways of self medicating his spirit abilities.

Haywood Academy (Kimi and Tsu)

Park looked at Misaka and smiled slightly as she wrapped her arm around his. When she asked if she had done something wrong, he shook his head, "No... it's just... I want tonight to go well, for you to feel comfortable and all that," he sighed, "Eomma... doesn't really like the Japanese but don't worry, I talked to her about it and.... well, I just want to make sure she won't have anything to complain about...." he made a bit of a face, feeling like he was stressing Misaka out, "My dad will love you though."

He took his hands out of his pockets and placed them on his legs, "He'll also keep Eomma in line," he laughed a little, "She'll love to talk about coming here with you though."

Haywood Academy (Kimi and Tsu)

Park put his hands in his pockets, trying to think about different etiquette between Japan and Korea. Of course, he had never actually been to Japan but there were some stark differences that he knew about, "We eat rice with a spoon instead of chopsticks and we never pick up our bowls... Before we eat, we have to wait for my dad to pick up his spoon... Then we kind of all eat in time with each other..." He scratched the back of his neck, "There's a lot... and Eomma... will forgive you and I'll be there to help but... I think it might be best that you know what you are getting into."

He laughed a little awkwardly before he returned his hand to his pocket and their bus rolled up. He nodded his head toward it, "Come on..."

The Ties that Bind

Serena let out a small huff when they all quickly rejected the offer to let the men walk on their own for a little. She knew why but it didn't make her feel any better. In fact, Serena was feeling a little useless these days. Each one of them had basically shoved her out of the line of fire and took her off guardian duty. She knew that at some point during her pregnancy that she'd have to take a step back and allow someone else do her job. In fact, she had every intention of letting someone do her job full time when the baby came... But ten weeks into her
pregnancy... It was all just too soon. Sure, her stomach didn't allow for a full range of motion and she got sick from time to time but she was still capable of fighting.

She ordered a burger and fries from the waitress when her and Anna finally sat down to her. Serena had a few bag around her chair and leaned back as Anna asked how she was. As much as she appreciated what Anna was doing for her, getting her sometime away from Sebastian (who had been far less over bearing since their talk), but the girl, though she tried, wasn't much better. Serena could see the worry in her eye and how the girl helped her do just about everything... It was all just too soon. Everyone doing everything for her... Of course, she couldn't say any of that to her friend. She smiled at Anna and shook her head, "No, I'm fine... I used to run a lot further and for much longer... I've got plenty of energy still."
~
Gunner was watching Anna and Serena so intently that he had hardly noticed the waitress approach them. He quickly ordered then went back to his watching. He looked at Sebastian when he spoke and sighed. He took a moment before letting out a small laugh, "Who are you talking to? Me or you?"

He leaned back in his chair and looked at his friend before scratching the back of his neck, "Fine... I guess..." He shook his head a little, "I mean... I had prepared myself to kill her two years ago. It's been something I've wanted to do since I was a kid," He let out another short laugh, "Twisted child I was... But I just hate the thought of this version of her running around but when I got there and she was gone... I don't know, something changed," He groaned a little, rubbing his eye with the palm of his hand, "I don't know if I saw her now... if I could and that haunts me... That when I see her, because she is coming, that I'm not going to be able to kill her... And I have to kill her. Either that or she goes on stalking me and killing those around me... She's too far gone to save her..."

He took a deep breath, "I guess I'm as good as a guy could be with his mad mother stalking him and murdering innocent people because of him."

The Ties that Bind

Serena nodded at Anna's offer to have their 'girls day' even if it would consist of Gunner and Sebastian following them like a hawk. She also picked up of the fact that she didn't offer the mall, despite it probably having more options. Even with it being four years ago, Serena had no interest in going back to the place she had died. She smiled, "Sounds good to me," she looked down at herself and over her clothing, "I think more comfortable clothes are needed."

Gunner's eye twitched slightly at the mention of leaving court. The good thing about the last two years was he had become very good at masking any emotion. He didn't want them to go. He didn't know what his mother was doing, the guardians hadn't reported anything in the last month and it worried him. With his friends going out of the wards there was the chance that she'd come after them...

He took a deep breath and nodded, "Alright, the strip it is. I'll stick with Sebastian," he looked at the man, "I'm sure you won't be wanting to go far."

Serena released Sebastian's arm and grabbed her coat, pulling it on, "You don't have to, Sebastian," she looked at him and smiled, "Anna is a great guardian and I'm pregnant, not incapable. If you have something you need or want, you can," she looked at Gunner, "We'll be fine."

She started to do up her coat before realizing it was rather tight around her midsection and definitely showed off her bump. She sighed and undid her coat, "Seems I need a new coat as well..."