“Rainer.” Bo finally muttered. “And now there’s Rainer… Look, Lauren, if you hadn’t run away then things might be different. But now…”

Lauren saw the pained expression on Bo’s face, “But now you also have to work out things with Rainer.” She had only just shown Bo the painting of Rainer in the book, the pointed teeth and demonic image of the man she was now supposedly in love with. “Bo, I really am worried about the whole thing with him… something isn’t right…”

“And what makes you such a good judge of what’s right for me?”

“Because I care, Bo!” Lauren’s voice started to raise. “I may have run away, but leaving you was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. And not for a single second did I stop worrying about you, wondering where you were… and wishing… wishing that I was by your side.”

Again the air was thick with tension. Both women clearly wanted to say something, but both were holding back.

“I love you, Bo.” Lauren raised both of her hands a little, displaying an open gesture. She balled her right hand into a fist and used her left to take the brunt of the soft blow. “I still love you. And I will always love you, Bo.” she added.

A slight look of panic crossed Bo’s face, and Lauren thought for a moment that the brunette was going to burst into tears. “You know, I could take this at any other time Lauren. As much as I wanted to give up on you and us, I still held on that you were going to charge on back into my life… but I never expected it to happen now. Not when so much has come between us. Not after Rainer… ”

“I understand.” Lauren’s voice was dejected, and her head hung slightly as she spoke the words. “We’re over, and you’re with Rainer now…”

“We’ll never be over, Lauren. Rainer will never be you.”

“What are you saying Bo?”

“I’m saying that…” Bo paused, thinking over her next words carefully. “I’m saying that I don’t want you to walk away from here and now thinking that we’re over.”

“Okay.”

“Sure, things are now more complicated, but if things were simple and easy… If things were simple and easy then why the hell can’t I get you out of my head.” Bo stepped forwards, taking Lauren’s fist in her own hand, smoothing out the fingers, and gently caressing them. “And I certainly can’t get you out of my heart.”

Lauren closed the remaining few inches between them, and placed her hand behind the nape of Bo’s neck, pulling her in to her own body. Their lips locked in a passionate embrace. Hurried kisses turning into frantic hunger. Lauren’s hands were pressed close to the side of Bo’s face.

Bo took a step back, gently easing away from the blonde. “Lauren, we need to think about this. There are other people involved…”

Lauren took a deep breath, and pursed her lips together, “Of course, you’re with Rainer now…”

“I’m not saying that. Just let me figure this out, Rainer, the Pyrippus… I have so much going on, and I also need to be there for Kenzi too.”

“Of course.” Lauren nodded in understanding. “If there’s anything I can do…”

“I’m not abandoning us.” Bo looked deeply into Lauren’s eyes.

Lauren felt her eyes start to well up with fresh tears. “You’re not? I mean… there’s still an us?”

Bo placed her hands on Lauren’s cheeks and brought her in close, she softly kissed her on the lips, gently parting them to deepen the kiss. Eventually they broke apart, Lauren resting her forehead against Bo’s, just wanting to keep some form of contact. Their fingers danced lightly over each other, until their hands locked in a firm, and comforting grip. “I can’t imagine a world without an us in it.”

Lauren smiled, and then softly laughed, “So is this the part where we go about saving the world?”

“And I thought I was the dramatic one! But yes, we both have important things to do, and then we can concentrate on us… on making this right.”

“One step at a time then?” Lauren smiled.