Special Delivery

The Red Queen’s Suite

Haleigh was having a mini freak out about the prospect of Alek fucking Zizi. Ashley tried to reassure her that Alek wasn't going to be interested in fucking anyone but Haleigh now that he had her attention. But that didn't seem to make Haleigh feel better.

Haleigh: “You think he wants to be…exclusive?”

Ashley snorted.

"I don't think he's done anyone else in months. If he thought he could keep you from fucking anyone else, he would do it in a heartbeat."

She wasn't trying to freak Haleigh out, it was just the truth. Alek's eyes were only for Haleigh.

Haleigh finally revealed why she had come to Ashley's room: she wanted advice on running a court with someone you were not in a relationship with, with someone you were not exactly friendly with. Ashley explained what she did, putting the court first, taking her power back from her king. Haleigh didn't look convinced. Ashley stretched her legs out on the sofa.

"For example, that Rook problem you have? You can't let Cameron choose because the balance of power would shift to him. He's not going to let you choose for the same reason. So"

Ash leaned forward towards Haleigh and smiled.

"You hire two rooks. There's no rule that says you can have only one. Equilibrium remains and you're not left short a body."

Ashley told Haleigh that she'd recovered from what Alek did to her - so would Haleigh.

Haleigh: “I’m sorry you had to go through that. But AJ’s a real catch, so maybe it was all for the best. He obviously worships you.”

THAT made Ashley glow. She couldn't help but grin.

"He is wonderful. Too good for me, really."

Haleigh on the other hand, seemed incapable of believing that Alek loved her. Which a blind toddler could see. Ashley suggested that maybe Haleigh was having such a problem with the separation because she didn't really want this divorce.

Haleigh: “I chose to let Kelly inject me with nanites so I could give Cameron a child. Now I’m the size of a fucking school bus, and I wouldn’t change it, but…when I got pregnant, all the things I had wanted from Cameron came from Alek instead. Alek was happy, he was supportive, he was protective. Cameron ran off to Mexico to find Elena. He left me for a woman who is not even putting out, did you know that? What a fucking slap in the face. I might have been able to forgive him that mistake, but the fact that he let me be afraid of him for even a second? I’m never going to be able to forget that. I’m certain about the divorce. What it’s doing to our court, and how we’re going to raise a son together? That’s where my doubts are.”

"The question you should be asking yourself is: what do I have on Cameron that I can use to my advantage?"

Ashley pointed at Haleigh with her spoon.

"Exhibit A: he's got a daughter I'm sure he'd love to make White Princess. Exhibit B: he desperately wants in the pants of the daughter's mother, and you have deadly assassins at your beck and call. And let's not forget the biggest piece of leverage you have at your disposal: weeks ago when Cameron threatened your children, who supported Cameron outside of Heidi and Erika?"

Ashley paused and looked at Haleigh meaningfully.

"That's right, crickets. Three queens, and two of the three courts, all on YOUR side. He wants to do any business around here, he needs you."

The guards brought in the food, and Ashley got very excited. She spread everything out on the coffee table.

"I just don't know what to eat first!"

Haleigh: “What do you think Cameron’s going to do when Elena tries to take Carolina back home? I’m worried it’ll make him unreasonably possessive of his son.”

Ashley scoffed, despite a mouthful of Big Mac.

"There's no way in hel Cameron's going to let that child leave this building."
 
Smoke

Alek expressed his disgust that they had forced he and Ava to sleep together, for her to carry the baby, when Kelly could have easily done everything in a lab.

Ava: "It builds strength. At least, that's what Stavros told me for years."

Alek shook his head angrily.

"I'd rather my daughter be weak."

He apologized to her, for not doing something, for not stopping it. But then there was something else they needed to talk about. He asked what she'd told their daughter about him.

Ava: "I um...I didn't know what to tell her. I was scared that you...wouldn't want anything to do with her...because of me."

Tears fell down her cheeks, surprising him. She was so tough, always. He put his hand on her's, and looked her in the eyes.

"You don't have to worry about that. Not ever. I know what it's like to have parents who don't care about you. I will never do that to a child of mine. Never."

Ava: "I didn't want to break her heart, so I just told her that Stavros made a mistake...that he didn't know we were both alive. That she would come live with me and...that she would meet you when we got to New York. I tried to keep it as vague as possible..."

"That was smart."

Trying to explain why you'd killed the man your daughter thought was her father was not easy.

He told Ava he wanted to meet the girl.

Ava: "John's bringing her here. They should be here any minute."

"Does John know? About me?"

He couldn't imagine a world where John didn't know. But he asked anyway. Which brought up another question.

"Do you think they messed with his memories too?"

John had barely left Ava's side the entire time Alek had known them. How could Ava's absence for months been explained to him? In a way he actually believed?

Ava reached up and touched his brow. He flinched slightly at first, then let her.

Alek: "She has your eyes.."

Alek's eyes glistened again at that. And he couldn't help but smile over at her.

"Really?"

Alek: "Ellaria. Her name is Ellaria...but she goes by Lily."

Alek nodded.

"Lily."

He smiled at her again, less broad this time.

"I like it."
 
Alek had asked her what she had told their daughter about him and the situation. She had kept herself together relatively well thus far despite feeling like she was going to break, but this question made her crack. The thought of their daughter not having a relationship with her father broke Ava. Despite Stavros’ many faults, when she was a child she worshipped him. So many memories together defined the reason why she spared his life during the uprising, and to think that Alek wouldn’t want a relationship with Lily because she was her mother scared her, and she was honest with him about that. Tears fell to be cheeks, which she quickly wiped away in an effort to hide that they had fell. But he saw, and surprisingly he took her hand. Ava’s brows furrowed at the gesture, her eyes showing that she was a bit taken aback.

Alek: "You don't have to worry about that. Not ever. I know what it's like to have parents who don't care about you. I will never do that to a child of mine. Never."

A wave of relief overcame her as she gently nodded. To know that Lily wouldn’t grow up feeling the way Alexis did eased so many concerns she had since the moment she found out the possibility of Alek being her father. He could hate Ava all he wanted, she just didn’t want him to hate their daughter. Alek said that he wanted to see her and Ava explained that John was bringing her here, and that they would be arriving shortly.

Alek: "Does John know? About me?"

“No.”

She said simply, taking her hand back from Alek’s.

“I wanted answers first.”

He then asked a very valid question: did John know about what happened, and were his memories erased as well. Everyone in the inner circle knew that John was a shadow to Ava, even before she became Queen. He was hired by Stavros to be a guard and had done just that for a good portion of Ava’s adult life. Then he was promoted to Rook by Kelly, and remained that until Ava made him King. It wasn’t unrealistic to think that John may have known what happened and had his memories blocked as well.

“He didn’t know.”

Ava stated, knowing John would have never let the old regime do what they did to her.

“But I don’t know about his memories…or anyone else’s in the Inner Circle for that matter.”

Anyone within the Inner Circle could have had their memories blocked by Diana, especially if someone started to ask questions back then. But that would be something that would be explored later, for now Ava couldn’t help but notice Alek’s eyes as he stared at her. They had always been one of his most prominent features, but after meeting their daughter, she didn’t realize how identical his were to hers. Ava reached out without thinking, touching Alek’s brow as she told him. He flinched, and that snapped Ava from the moment, realizing what she had done. She withdrew her hand quickly, finally telling Alek her name.

Alek: “Lily. I like it.”

And as if on cue.

Lily: “Mama!”

The little girl was standing next to John at the doorway to the main lounge. She came bounding over, wrapping her arms around Ava tightly as she buried her face into Ava’s chest. Ava immediately held her, shutting her eyes as if she could breathe again.

[softly] “Hey, sweet girl.”

Lily: “I woke up and and you weren’t there and and I thought you went away again and I got scared! But then John said you had to go to a meeting…”

That broke Ava’s heart, to think her daughter was fearful that she would die again and leave her.

“I’m sorry sweetheart, I didn’t mean to scare you. But I’m not going anywhere, I promise.”

Lily finally let go of Ava enough to look at her, Ava brushing her soft dark hair behind her ear, tucking it there. It was then Lily’s eyes went past Ava’s shoulder noticing Alek. Ava’s heart stopped. Lily tilted her head as she readjusted herself in Ava’s lap to look at him more, but kept her arms tightly around her mothers body. It was like she was trying to piece a puzzle together, knowing that he looked familiar.

“Lily…”

Lily: “Your eyes are like mine. Like the sky.”

“Sweetie…this is your daddy...”

Lily was quiet for a moment, her expression hard to read as she stared at Alek. And then, she leapt from Ava’s lap, tears falling to her cheeks as wrapped her arms around Alek’s neck, burning her face into him.

Lily: “Daddy! I thought you…mama said…but I didn’t…I didn’t…”

Her words were muffled as she tried to speak between her cries, similar to how she reacted when Ava first reunited with her and told her she was alive. Lily was terrified that her father was still dead, despite Ava reassuring her otherwise. Ava’s eyes were filled with tears seeing the relief in her daughter as she held her father. But then, Ava looked over at John who still stood by the doorway.

“I’ll be right back.”

She said to Alek who still held Lily. Ava stood despite her body feeling like she had just been through a week long battle. They needed a moment together, and Ava needed a moment with John. Approaching him, she walked past him and through the open door back into the lounge. Running her hands roughly down her face, she finally turned around to face him.

“I needed answers. I couldn’t tell you until I knew myself.”
 
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NYC - The Blond

Adriana: "Ooh, let's do it. I'll go first.....dare."

A smile crept up on her lips as she switched from champagne to an espresso martini because she did actually have a death wish most days. Taking a long sip she began to look at the courts as she assessed her decision. The Red Court was a bit old world. While they weren't sticks in the mud, they were never the court that was going to be wearing lampshades on their hads at four in the morning. But that was why she he had always respected The Red Court under Alek and Ashley's reign. They were a bit serious, but they were also respectful of the game itself. The Black Court, she could tell they were trying to have a good show tonight. Daniel was always a bit of an obnoxious pot stirrer, but even Ben was seeming like he was genuinely trying to engage tonight, which was weird. But kind of nice. She hated how down on himself he always got. Because Erika felt like that too growing up, she just sought out destructive ways to not feel like that.

She also took into consideration the conversation that her and Adriana had just had. A conversation that had left her more than just a little bit aroused. But there would be time for that. Erika could do enough cocaine to kill an elephant before it really affected her, so while she still had her wits about her, she had decided it wasn't a good idea to bang The White Bishop just yet. She wanted to, but she also needed actual allies. And crazy knew crazy. She didn't know how Adriana might react if she popped the hood, but if she was anything like Erika, she was smart to be a bit cautious. But that didn't mean she would deprive Adriana of simple pleasures.

"Well..tonight is about building ties right? Adriana...I dare you to assess our inner circle here, make your selections, and choose one member from both the black and red court to lay a big, wet, and meaningful kiss on them..."

[smirking]

"With consent of course. Wouldn't want to cause a scandal on the eve of our savior's births, now would we?"

Erika took another sip and smiled. If there was something she loved more than altered states of consciousness, it was coffee and caffeine in general. She knew that Adriana would make interesting choices, and she also knew that this kind of dare would put some on edge. She wanted to see who would abstain, who was willing to play the game, who wanted to suck up, and who...just wanted a kiss from Adriana, so that she might decide whether or not to keep an eye on them, or to be jealous.

"Adriana? At your leisure..."
 
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Hellfire Mansion - The White King's Suite

God she was so much fun. Somehow in the last forty five minutes, Carolina had convinced him to stay up to watch two episodes of Paw Patrol and one special episode of Spongebob Squarepants of Cameron's choosing because he wasn't going to let his daughter continue to be raised without culture. He sat on the couch in his suite, her head pressed against his chest, her little fingers mindlessly tracing the outline of his pants as she watched. She held on to him like she could actually lose him, and it was somewhere in between the start of the episode and the rolling of the credits that Cameron realized he couldn't let her go. That he wouldn't.

Carolina: "I'm confused papi, why is it so hard to deliver a pizza in Bikini Bottom?"

He smirked.

"It's one of the great mysteries of life, baby. But it's funny right?"

Carolina: "Oh very. Patrick is a superstar, he deserves his own show."

The White King laughed because he agreed with her, before sighing deeply. How could he stop them from leaving? What could he possibly offer Elena to make her stay? He had come up with ideas over the last few weeks, some of which, Haleigh even seemed receptive to. But it was all up in the air, and Cameron hated that. He had always been the golden boy of Hellfire. To not be, to see so much power squarely in Haleigh's hands, he didn't like it. And he had grown up in a world where women ran the show, he knew that now? That Haleigh was going to be the supreme "mother" of the courts, that both Ava and Ashley would back her. He wasn't afraid of anyone harming Carolina. Because anybody stupid enough to try would be dead as soon as they formed the plan in their minds. He was worried about the legacy he might leave her. It may not have been what Elena wanted for her, but if he had any say, his daughter would one day run Hellfire with her brother, with the same kind of iron fist that he and his future ex wife had. That meant he had to start setting the stage.

And after the last few weeks, outside of spending as much time with his daughter that he could, he had been working on his next step in Hellfire. He was looking at where the power was, where it needed to be, and how he could get it. He knew that his love was enough, but he wanted to give Carolina the world. And if anybody thought they could stop him from that, they were crazy. They were also likely anticipating it. Cameron had to present himself in a new way, he had to show the courts that he was more valuable than Haleigh. That relationships with him were worth it. Not only for Carolina, but for his son. Parenthood might have been doing it's part to soften Cameron, but make no mistake. Being a father of two would only serve to FEED his desire of expansion, of his quest of power. Everything he did before this would be considered child's play. Moving forward, he would show them all that while Queens ran the show, this King would not be checked. It would take a lot, it would take a long time, but he would do it. For his children.

"It's about time to start getting ready for bed, mija."

Carolina: "Papi, just ONE more episode.."

"I'm sorry, mi corazon. But I'm already going to be in trouble with mami when she knows how late I kept you up. And we can't afford to make her mad right now."

Carolina sprung from her seat immediately. It was bittersweet. She wanted her parents together so bad. She wanted him to be with Elena. And he didn't know how possible that was anymore. A big part of him wanted that himself, but recent events had shown him that he didn't know how to love somebody unless he OWNED them. And it was clear, he would never own Elena. And that was part of why he was so drawn to her.

Carolina: "No, we really can't. Papi, you have to go meet with The White Queen. You said it was very important. I can take a bath and brush my teeth before mami gets home. She'll never know, and you won't get in trouble. But we have to hurry.."

Cameron scooped her up in his arms and kissed her face and cheeks and the top of her head with reckless abandon. He'd never known somebody so on his side like this, and it felt so good, but he didn't necessarily like it too much.

"You never need to worry about me being in trouble. Lina. I'm a big boy. I can handle myself. I'm a KING. But I appreciate your dedication to the cause. Promise you'll love me even if I no longer have a crown?"

Carolina: "Of course, papi! I love YOU. And it's your last name...you'll always be a king."

"She's right about that..."

The two of them rose to their feet as he took another moment to hug her and give her a sweet kiss on the lips.

"You're right though. I should get going. Don't let mami read the story about the girl who turns into the mermaid though, that one is ours."

Carolina: "Never papi! Goodnight....I love you."

"I love you too, Carolina. For forever and a day."

Carolina: "Forever and a day."

It had been their sign off to each other for weeks. He stepped out of his suite and pulled out his phone, the idea that he was about to sign divorce papers with Haleigh washing over him as he shot her a text rather than speaking into her mind like he always used to.

>> [To Haleigh]: "I'm ready when you are...I'll be in our parlor whenever you're ready.."
 
Smoke

Ava had laid the sleeping Lily in the back of the SUV next to him. She was a beautiful child, and John could easily see Ava in her. She was already dear to him, even in the short time they had had her with them. How Stavros could raise such a loving child, he had no idea. Though, John supposed, he had raised Ava, and she had turned out practically perfect.

Ava had wanted to him bring Lily to Smoke at eight, so they had time to wait. He let Lily sleep, and that left him alone with his thoughts. None of them terribly good. He couldn't help wondering who Lily's father was, and how she had been created. Had Ava blocked out the experience because it was a horrible trauma? Or had she had a love affair he didn't know about? Part of him help out some small sliver of hope that she was somehow his child.

Lily woke suddenly, confused at where she was. And then she began to cry, unbelieving that her mother was just running an errand and they would go see her soon. He tried to console her, but she remained clearly nervous as the driver took them into town.

When they arrived at Smoke, he had one of the guards check things out while he stayed with Lily in the car, and when they gave the ok, he carried her inside and to the elevator. Reaching the lounge, he set Lily down and pushed open the door to the terrace.

"Go to your mama."

Lily ran to her mother's arms. It was then that John noticed that Alek was there. He watched Lily jump into Alek's arms. His heart sank.

Ava was walking towards him, and he felt like a knife was stabbing into his heart. She didn't stop when she reached him, instead walking past him into the lounge. He turned and followed her, with a last glance at Lily and Alek.

Ava: “I needed answers. I couldn’t tell you until I knew myself.”

He nodded slowly.

And then he opened his arms, and wrapped her up.

"Are you okay?"
 
Smoke

John didn't know about him and Ava. Alek honestly didn't know how the man would take it. He had followed Ava around like a puppy for decades...and now that they were together, would he hold the whole thing against Ava? Alek?

Alek wondered if John's memories had been tampered with. He guessed they would know pretty soon, since according to Ava he was bringing their daughter here. Alek wasn't sure he would have done that without telling his significant other first, but that wasn't really his problem.

He admitted to himself that he was nervous. And Alek didn't really get nervous. But he wasn't prepared to meet his daughter quite so soon. It was all happening so fast.

Lily: “Mama!”

Alek turned. And his heart stopped.

There was a little dark haired girl running towards Ava and leaping into her arms. Alek couldn't breathe.

Lily: “I woke up and and you weren’t there and and I thought you went away again and I got scared! But then John said you had to go to a meeting…”

He had been watching this interaction with Ava, but then two blue eyes noticed him and looked right at him.

Lily: “Your eyes are like mine. Like the sky.”

Alek chuckled and nodded.

"You're right, just like the sky."

Ava: “Sweetie…this is your daddy...”

Ava hadn't wasted any time. Lily scrutinized him, and he could feel it like it was something tactile.

And then the girl was in his arms, hugging him tightly. His daughter.

Lily: “Daddy! I thought you…mama said…but I didn’t…I didn’t…”

"Shhh..."

He rubbed her little back and held her to him.

"I'm here now. We found each other."

When she finally loosened her grip enough that they could separate, he looked into her face, and wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumb. His own eyes glistened.

"If I had known..."

He ran his hand over her hair.

"If I had known about you, nothing could have kept me from you."

He kissed the top of her head.

"I would have burned down the world to get to you."

He brushed her hair behind her ear.

"But you're here with us now. And I will always keep you safe. No matter what."

Lily hugged him tight again, her little eyes squeezing shut. And he hugged her tight right back.
 
As Lily leapt into Alek's arms, for a moment everything felt right in the world. She had her daughter, and her daughter had a man who promised to be the father she deserved. Ava could see in Alek's face as he held Lily that he wasn't lying when he said he would never be anything but the best father to her. He looked complete holding her. But then Ava's eyes shifted over to John. He looked like he had the wind knocked out of him as he stood in the doorway of the lounge. Ava excused herself, and stood, walking toward John. His face stoic but his eyes showing how he truly felt. Ava blinked her line of sight away, walking past him and into the inside of Smoke. It was never supposed to be like this, Ava roughly rubbing her face as her back faced John. She would never trade Lily for the world - she WAS Ava's world now. But this entire situation of Lily being Alek's daughter? It would change a lot of people...hurt people unintentionally, and John was one of them. Finally, Ava turned back around, partly wishing he was back at Hellfire with no knowledge of this. She just needed a damn moment to collect her thoughts, to shuffle though everything that happened in the last 45 minutes. But he was there, standing in front of her, and Ava had to say something.

“I needed answers. I couldn’t tell you until I knew myself.”

Was the best she could come up with. It was true, but it was also vague, and John deserved more than vague. But right now, she couldn't give more, her head feeling like it had been hit by a sledge hammer again and again. John nodded silently before approaching her and taking her in his arms. Ava tensed immediately, shaking her head.

John: "Are you okay?"

"Stop. I can't."

She pressed her hands against his chest, pushing herself from his arms. The thought of being held, comforted, consoled? It made her eyes burn with tears. She couldn't fall down that rabbit hole, not now. Not when there was still so much more that had to be done. Additionally, a part of her felt so much guilt for not telling John...for having him find out like this. He deserved better, so much better than her pushing him away. But she was her father's daughter through and through, even when she didn't want to be.

"I'm holding on by a thread right now, and if I unravel, I don't think i'll be able to put myself back together. I still have two Queens and a King that I have to explain all this to."

Her hands still on his chest, Ava bowed her head and shut her eyes for a moment. John knew Alek was Lily's father but nothing more. In reality she had two Kings she had to explain this to, and John deserved much more than finding out along side the other regents. Ava pulled away from him, turning to the bar. The bottle that she and Elena had been drinking still there. She picked it up, her back to John still as she poured herself a drink.

"He [Alek] didn't hurt me. Helena did this - warped reality. And Diana blocked our memories of it ever happening. Kelly kept me sedated throughout my pregnancy until I gave birth, then they took Lily and blocked my memory of ever having her."

Downing the drink in one gulp, Ava put the glass on the bar top before finally turning around.

"Elena unlocked everything. I remember it all now."

Shaking her head gently as she blinked her line of sight away from John, staring absently across the room.

"It was all a deal brokered by Helena and Stavros for power and titles....[after a long pause] How could he [Stavros] do this to me.."

She whispered to herself. But then Ava blinked, snapping herself out of the destructive thoughts she was about to drown in. Her masked dropped for a moment, but she quickly went back into regent mode, securing it back into place.

"We need to tell Haleigh, Cameron, and Ashley immediately. I can't let them believe this was a power play on my part and have another situation like the one that happened three weeks ago."
 
Hellfire — The Red Queen’s Suite

Haleigh and Ash talked about Alek, and Haleigh vented a bit about how much time Alek was spending with the girl in security control. It wasn’t really an issue, just a suitable outlet for her frustration. Offloading her aggression on Zizi was a safe direction, but ultimately inconsequential. If Alek wanted to fuck other women, Haleigh would let him. She could get a handle on her jealousy, despite the heightened emotions and hormones of pregnancy. But interestingly, Ash pointed out to Haleigh that Alek hadn’t slept with other women in a while. And except for Brienne, who was clearly just strategy, Ash was right. It was a foreign concept to Haleigh, but it dawned on her that Alek might actually want to be exclusive. Ash seemed certain that if it meant he could keep Haleigh all to himself, Alek would agree to it.

“Huh.”

She said, her surprise evident. She hadn’t considered it before. She pushed it to the back of her mind and switched gears, to her actual problem. Nobody knew this shit better than Ashley. The Red Queen offered some advice on how to run a court with a man you can hardly talk to. Haleigh had her doubts, but it wasn’t really a secret. Everybody knew they were trying to fill the empty rook position. Everyone knew that a Court once indivisible had been quite at odds with itself for weeks.

Ash suggested they hire two rooks. Haleigh mulled that over. Not a bad idea, her expression said, but she was cautious for ways it could fuck her over. Would he want another Bishop when it became apparent that Adriana wouldn’t swing his way? Wouldn’t she be more comfortable with a Knight who wasn’t sleeping with the ‘enemy’? It sounded like they might end up running two courts in parallel.

“It’s too bad I can’t give Cameron to another court, and take Alek as my King. That’d solve both our conundrums nicely, wouldn’t it?”

Haleigh told Ashley that she was sorry that Ash had gone through the wringer with Alek, but she noted that it might have been for the better, because it had pushed her closer to AJ, who clearly adored her. The way Ash smiled then, it made Haleigh smile. She was happy for her friend, who was finally in the kind of relationship she deserved. Ash tried to say he was too good for her and Haleigh rolled her eyes.

“Oh, fuck that. We all get exactly what we deserve in the end.”

She replied, and then she discussed honestly how she felt about her divorce. No doubts that going through with it was what she wanted, but the fallout was uncertain. Ash advised her to consider what she had to use as an advantage against Cameron. She pointed out some various leverage, and Haleigh nodded to each of the suggestions. It made a certain kind of sense.

The food was delivered and spread out on the coffee table. It smelled so damn good. Haleigh capped off her ice cream and leaned forward to grab a Big Mac and sleeve of fries, while Ashley admitted she was spoiled for choice. Haleigh was already halfway through her cheeseburger. When she had finished inhaling it and was making a dent in the fries, she asked Ash what she thought was going to happen when Elena tried to take Cameron’s daughter. Ash said aloud what Haleigh had known all along, that Cameron wasn’t going to let that happen.

“Yeah I tried to tell that bitch Elena that on like day ONE, and she acted like *I* was the one threatening the girl.”

She replied, shaking her head incredulously. She balanced a box of chicken nuggets on her belly and opened up a spicy McCrispy chicken sandwich.

“You think he’ll actually be relieved if I offer to merc the prude? He’d get to keep his daughter then. And Heidi seems eternally wet for him so it’s not like he’d be losing anything of value.”

She mused before she plowed through the sandwich. She dipped the nuggets in tangy barbecue sauce. Her mind drifted back to Alek. She wondered how he was doing with the Ava thing. She hoped it wouldn’t keep him too long, wanting to be back in his arms, wanting to look in his eyes and search for this dedication that Ash insisted was there. Cameron texted her that he was ready to meet in their parlor and sign the papers. Haleigh took a deep breath and two apple pie pockets for the road.

“Wish me luck, and remind me how important it is to keep my cool.”

She said as she eased up off the couch. She stopped on the way out the door.

“And remember, if Erika asks what I had for dinner, you don’t know shit about fuck.”

She smirked, before heading out. Two Red Praetorians and her pair of White Guard peeled off from the security squad in the hall and followed her to the White Wing. She went straight to the parlor and set one of the apple pies down for Cameron before starting to munch on her own.

“Good evening.”

She said, guiding her long braid over her left shoulder as she sat back in a chair, the table between them. Her mental ‘firewall’ was up, and she reinforced it now, just in case. The crystal Erika had given her hung around her neck still, having proven it’s worth. But she couldn’t be TOO careful. It wasn’t HER life she was concerned about, but her babies that felt vulnerable despite being in what amounted to a bulletproof womb.
 
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NYC — The Blonde

Adriana was looking forward to the way the oxy would mix nicely with the coke and cognac. She backed Erika’s play when they got to the group, and volunteered to be the first ‘victim’. She picked dare without hesitation, and then smiled like the cat that got the canary as she watched Erika think about it. She knew what was likely on Erika’s mind, given their prior discussion, and was curious as to just what the Princess would do with it.

Erika suggested that tonight was all about building ties. Adriana resisted the urge to make a comment about how she wouldn’t mind tying up a certain Princess. No, this was not something to rush into, high as a kite in a hurricane. She’d get her chance, she knew that already. There was a certain amount of playing the game — the Hellfire game — that needed to happen.

So when Erika dared her to pick one person each from the Black and Red courts to kiss, Adriana masked her disappointment that the White court had been exempted. Instead she smiled, and made a bit of a show of appraising the group, as if the decision hadn’t already been made. She was glad to have the mint rolling around on her tongue.

Heidi looked liked she’d rather commit murder than get a kiss, but Adriana wasn’t sure if it was about Heidi herself or the fact that Jack might get kissed right next to her. Adriana locked eyes with Jack, who wore the same stoic expression as always. She raised an eyebrow at him, and smirked when Heidi leaned forward just the slightest. AJ was lounged back, still snacking, like he was determined to make sure there wasn’t a single cracker or sliver of salami wasted. She looked at Calder next, taking a little sip of her sidecar. Her gaze moved to Daniel, and then last but certainly not least, landed on Ben.

“Alright, I’ve made my decision. Ben? Calder? If you’re game, get up for me.”

She said, waiting to see if they’d accept.
 
Hellfire - The White Parlour

Haleigh: "Good evening."

She came into the room, her calvacade of guards of both red and white courts got into position just outside as she walked over to the table, set down a McDonald's apple pie in front of him as she began to eat one for herself. Cameron smirked, pushing his across the table and back in front of her.

"I'm stuffed, and you might as well shovel into your mouth what you can before Erika comes back to the mansion. She's been a little aggressive with the dietary restrictions..."

[pausing for a moment]

"But also...surprisingly helpful. It's been a bit affirming to see, actually. She's so excited to meet the babies. And she's very good with Carolina."

He reached for the briefcase beside him, pulling out a stack of papers and setting them on the table in front of him, grabbing a fountain pen, and pulling the cap off his with his mouth, spitting it out across the room.

"I'd like to get this part out of the way now...to show you I'm not playing any games...well, we both know that's not true. We still have a lot to talk about, but..."

He signed the papers coldly and slid the stack over to her.

"I would rather talk to you about those things as your King, not your husband."

It was a bit cold, but he didn't have much of a choice these days when it came to Haleigh. To allow himself to feel what he was feeling would only summon the kind of rage he had when he'd nearly killed her. When he had wanted to kill her. He was in mourning, but that wasn't for anybody else to know. Nobody in Hellfire would ever see that side of him again.
 
Hellfire — The White Parlor

Haleigh offered him an apple pie, and just as she’d once offered him her heart, he failed to appreciate the meaning of it. Rejecting it, he pushed it back towards her as she sat down, declaring himself full. Haleigh wanted to snap back a comment about him gorging himself on dinner with his fake family that would leave him in a few days, but she held back. There would be time and opportunity for that, and she needed to use it to her advantage rather than spit it in anger. So she let that slide, and instead focused on his mention of Erika.

“She means well. But there isn’t enough kale in New York, or time in the day, for me to consume the calories I need to grow two superhuman babies to full term in three weeks on a diet of salad and vegetables.”

She replied, as he pulled the packet of paper out of his briefcase and set it on the table. He spit the cap to the fountain pen across the room, an expression of his displeasure as he started signing for the divorce. She watched him go through it, and then push the papers towards her. She looked at the stack for a moment as he spoke of discussing certain matters as her King and not her husband. She knew this was the right thing for them to do, but it still made her sad to see it happen. Lesson number 343: Never let them see you cry. Behind Haleigh, there was the hissing of the gas valve opening in the fireplace, and the click-click-click of the igniter before it fired up.

“A little cold in here, don’t you think?”

She asked rhetorically. The fountain pen leapt towards the stack of papers and danced across the first page. She flipped to the next by manifesting a paper clip between the pages and lifting it. As the fountain pen worked its way through the stack, Haleigh kept her eyes on Cameron. This man that she loved, who she’d kill if it weren’t for their son. This man she’d given everything to, who’d hurt her if it weren’t for that future they’d gone to, that had shaken them both out of their selfishness. The pen flourished across the last page, and then the cap came floating over from where it had landed on the floor, affixed itself back on the pen, which laid down atop the stack.

“Thank fuck for the prenup Greeley insisted on six years ago. At least that makes the separation of assets straight forward.”

She said calmly, trying not to lose her composure. She knew he was angry with her. He could try to hide it, but they knew each other too well. They didn’t have to be mentally linked anymore, after several years the familiarity was permanent.

“You walked out on me, Cameron. You went to Mexico to find the one woman that it would bother me to see you with. Did you really think I was just going to accept that? Did you think I was going to beg YOU for forgiveness when you got back? Did you think I wasn’t going to notice that you were a little bit pleased with the fact that I was dead fucking scared of you?”

She asked in a voice detached from emotion, shaking her head slowly.

“The person you should be mad at is yourself. Or maybe your mother, for dangling this pregnancy thing in front of me like it’d be the chef’s kiss of our marriage, and not the matrimonial catastrophe that it is.”

She added, and then she shrugged.

“But it’s no use debating this anymore, I guess. What’s done is done. We aren’t going to change each others minds. Let’s try to come to an agreement that will rectify the state of our Court.”
 
Smoke

John knew that having a child - a child she already loved with her whole heart - whose father was Alek, someone she didn't get along with, had to be a shock for Ava. This on top of everything else. So he moved to pull Ava into arms to comfort her, asking if she was okay. But she tensed.

Ava: "Stop. I can't."

He recoiled as if she'd slapped him. She pushed herself away from him.

Ava: "I'm holding on by a thread right now, and if I unravel, I don't think I'll be able to put myself back together. I still have two Queens and a King that I have to explain all this to."

He slowly shook his head.

"Lily is your daughter. That's all they need to know right now."

Ava turned and moved away from him.

He searched for the words. And then he stiffened, standing up taller.

"Alek- did he...?"

Ava: "He didn't hurt me. Helena did this - warped reality. And Diana blocked our memories of it ever happening. Kelly kept me sedated throughout my pregnancy until I gave birth, then they took Lily and blocked my memory of ever having her."

How could they have done something so horrible? How could Stavros have done this to his own daughter? John's fists clenched. He knew Stavros had been Ava's kill...be John wished he'd done it. For this and for so many other things he had done to her. He forced himself to relax his hands.

Ava downed a drink from the bar, then turned around to face him again.

Ava: "Elena unlocked everything. I remember it all now. It was all a deal brokered by Helena and Stavros for power and titles....[after a long pause] How could he [Stavros] do this to me.."

"Let me help you Ava..."

But she was still distancing herself from him.

Ava: "We need to tell Haleigh, Cameron, and Ashley immediately. I can't let them believe this was a power play on my part and have another situation like the one that happened three weeks ago."

"They won't think that Ava. Yes, you need to tell them. But you don't have to tell them everything. Not if you don't want to."

He took a step towards her, then stopped. It felt like they were miles apart.

"You can take the time you need to process all of this. I can tell them what they need to know - you can stay with Lily. We're in this together, Ava. You, me, Lily - we're family."
 
The Red Queen’s Suite

The two queen were having a bit of good conversation and great food. Haleigh was struggling a bit with her separation from Cameron. Ashley gave her the best advice she could, but Haleigh would have to do the work.

Haleigh: “It’s too bad I can’t give Cameron to another court, and take Alek as my King. That’d solve both our conundrums nicely, wouldn’t it?”

Ashley narrowed her eyes.

"I am NOT switching kings with you. I've just gotten things how I want them."

She paused.

"Sorry."

She waved a hand in the air.

I wanted Ava to take Alek, but then she had to go and make John a king...that would have been a perfect option. Cameron really belongs to the Black Court anyway."

Haleigh asked what she thought Cameron would do when Carolina went back to Mexico, and Ashley responded honestly: there was no way Cameron was going to let the child leave the mansion.

Haleigh: “Yeah I tried to tell that bitch Elena that on like day ONE, and she acted like *I* was the one threatening the girl.”

Ashley shrugged.

"She'll find out soon enough. Cameron might think he's going to let her leave, but he won't be able to do it. I know him."

Haleigh: “You think he’ll actually be relieved if I offer to merc the prude? He’d get to keep his daughter then. And Heidi seems eternally wet for him so it’s not like he’d be losing anything of value.”

Ashley shrugged again.

"Couldn't hurt to float the idea when the time comes...carefully."

Haleigh: “Wish me luck, and remind me how important it is to keep my cool.”

"Good luck. It's really important that you keep your cool."

Ashley smiled.

"Just think of those babies in your stomach and you'll do what you need to."

Haleigh: “And remember, if Erika asks what I had for dinner, you don’t know shit about fuck.”

"I'll tell her you ate all the minerals."

Haleigh left, and Ashley was alone again in the suite. Somehow now it felt even emptier. She looked over the table, seeing what was left to eat. She wondered if AJ would like a pie. He usually wanted steak, but maybe he might eat it. She could always eat it later if he didn't want it. She set one aside, and pulled open the wrapper around a cheeseburger, taking a big bite. Even cold, it was so good.

Ash truly hoped Haleigh could work out her problems. More and more, kings were more trouble than they were worth. A chirp next to her alerted her to a little beggar on the floor. She looked down at the cub, then reach down to give her a scratch behind her ears.

"Kings are more trouble than they're worth, aren't they?"
 
NYC - The Blond

Calder was enjoying this little game. It made him feel more relaxed, and it was a bit more like the socializing he was used to: a group of guys, having some drinks, talking rubbish.

Daniel: "Never have I ever been in a long term romantic relationship. Monogamous, serious. Official."

Calder didn't think any of the girls he'd dated counted. There had been plenty, but no one he would consider himself head over heels for. Surely it would be different if Chimera ever agreed to go out with him. It's too bad she wasn't allowed to come tonight. He couldn't imagine her playing "Never Have I Ever" though. That made him smile.

Ben: "Never Have I Ever had a job outside of Hellfire."

Now that was an easy one. He took a drink. Calder wasn't sure that, aside from the people who'd grown up in Hellfire, anyone made it their first job. He felt like they came to Hellfire for something better than what they had. But maybe that had been just him. He's had lots of jobs: bartender, life guard, parking attendant, zoo attendant, tour guide, housepainter... But it was in Hellfire that he finally felt like he belonged. At least until he was thrust into the higher ranks with people who seemed to fit in so much better than he did. Speaking of...Erika and Adriana came back from dancing.

Erika: "I'm glad your enjoying yourselves. Never Have I Ever? Hmm...That's a good start. I almost want to suggest a little game of truth or dare, but I know who I'd be playing with...maybe if we promised to be good spirited..to keep the good times rolling?"

Adriana: "Ooh, let's do it. I'll go first.....dare."

Calder was actually okay with this one - he didn't really have much to hide, and he wasn't too proud that he couldn't do the stupid stuff you normally had to on dares.

Erika: "Well...tonight is about building ties right? Adriana...I dare you to assess our inner circle here, make your selections, and choose one member from both the black and red court to lay a big, wet, and meaningful kiss on them...With consent of course. Wouldn't want to cause a scandal on the eve of our savior's births, now would we? Adriana? At your leisure..."

Calder's ears perked up. Kissing was probably the easiest dare anyone could ask - and of course, Adriana was incredibly easy on the eyes. Though, he supposed, she might not feel as carefree about the whole thing as he would. Not that she would want to choose him anyway.

Adriana: “Alright, I’ve made my decision. Ben? Calder? If you’re game, get up for me.”

Calder tried not to smile as he got to his feet. And then he tried to stop wondering if this was some sort of trick. He ran a hand through his hair.

"Ready when you are."
 
Hellfire Mansion - The White Parlour

Haleigh: "A little cold in here, don't you think?"

She started a fire near them as she began to sign the papers in a very operatic manner, never breaking her gaze, but he wasn't afraid of matching it. Despite the pain he was in, there was actually something very freeing about the prospect of being divorced from Haleigh. He had loved her with all of his heart, but he had also felt like that about Elena. So it was becoming clear to Cameron that he had a problem of being blinded by his lust for beautiful and deadly women.

Haleigh: "You walked out on me, Cameron. You went to Mexico to find the one woman that it would bother me to see you with. Did you really think I was just going to accept that? Did you think I was going to beg YOU forgiveness when you got back? Did you think I wasn't going to notice that were a little bit pleased with the fact that I was dead fucking scared of you?"

Cameron gave a smirk at that last part. Haleigh had presented her newfound ability to become pregnant as if it were the start of something sacred between them. But she didn't treat it like that. The literal second she found out she was pregnant with his child she had slid Alek inside of her. And it was so close to the moment of conception that she found herself pregnant again, with Alek's child. None of them anticipated it, but it tainted it. It tainted his son. He was going to be the first child of Hellfire in this new generation, and now his wife, The White Queen was also pregnant with The Red King's baby, and he was supposed to be fine with that? He was supposed to walk around with her on his arm while people whispered and wondered what really went on in their bedroom. Being able to have a baby changed things, and they should have had a real conversation about how that looked. They didn't, but Cameron couldn't help but feel, with how close together it all was, that having his baby was a chore for her. A task to complete. A gift to give, so that she could go out and do what really wanted to do.

"Haleigh, I stopped caring about how you felt or what you would accept the moment I found out you were pregnant with Alek's child."

He had never been mad at Haleigh before that - at least that he could remember. But there was something that had been bothering him. Cameron had been happy with Elena. They had been in love. He always carried a torch for Haleigh, and he had made that very clear to her when they were in the throws of puberty and adolescence. She never gave in. Never gave him a chance. It was only after he proposed to Elena that she made her feelings known. As a foolish younger person, he hadn't questioned it. Looking back now, despite all the good that had come from it, he couldn't help but wonder, how much of that was her really loving him so much he couldn't bare to see her with Elena, and how much of it was her not wanting someone else to have something she believed belonged to her. How much of their relationship had been born from love and not just good strategy.

[leaning back in his chair]

"Going to Mexico was the best thing i've ever done. Because it brought Carolina into my life. So, I guess I should thank you. Had you never made a mockery of our marriage to begin with I never would have found her."

Haleigh: "The person you should be mad at is yourself. Or maybe your mother, for dangling this pregnancy thing in front of me like it'd be the chef's kiss of our marriage, and not the matrimonial catastrophe that it is."

"I think my anger is directed at the right person, but thanks for your input."

Haleigh: "But it's no use debating this anymore, I guess. What's done is done. We aren't going to change each other's minds. Let's try to come to an agreement that will rectify the state of our court."

"No, we aren't going to change each other's minds. But I do have an idea that will help the white court and give the other's a chance to heal..."

Cameron leaned in and gave a devilish smile.

"I want to my own court, and I want you to help me get it."
 
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NYC - The Blond

Jack: "No harm, no foul. Never Have I Ever understood just how much we all have in common."

Ben had to agree with that. He was actually starting to enjoy himself. It was nice to just hang out, with no Kings or Queens, or European visitors to worry about, though his mind was a bit on his King and Queen. They'd missed so much in the past few weeks, and they were being a bit cloak and dagger with exactly what they were up to. Especially after they called together such a defense in Paris. But that would be dealt with when it needed to. Tonight was celebratory.

Erika: "Well, kumbaya to that."

Erika sauntered her way over to the group, and he found himself staring. Ever since he had found out that she was his sister, he surveyed her for similarities. Before, he used to think she had the signature cobalt blue eyes that her brother and mother had. But now, they looked more like his. He wasn't sure if he was just looking for familiarity and believing he found it, but he was trying to just let it be what it was. It didn't matter if she looked like him. Erika was his sister. He had family. He was no longer alone, and while he knew he had to wait until after the babies were born to tell them, it still felt pretty good.

Erika: "I'm glad you're enjoying yourselves. Never Have I Ever? Hmm..That's a good start. I almost want to suggest a little game of truth or dare, but I know who I'd be playing with...maybe if we promised to be good spirited...to keep the good times rolling?"

Then Erika gave that Cheshire cat kind of grin she was apt to give. She was doing good these days, so he knew she wasn't going to do anything crazy, but there was always a little danger involved when Erika suggested anything. Her bishop however, was game.

Adriana: "Ooh, let's do it. I'll go first....Dare."

Erika: "Well...tonight is about building ties right? Adriana...I dare you to assess our inner circle here, make your selections, and choose one member from both the black and red court to lay a big, wet, and meaningful kiss on them..Adriana? At your leisure.."

Calder: "Ready when you are."

Calder rose to his feet, as did Ben. Because he did not want to have any sloppy seconds. Calder was a nice enough guy, but her certainly didn't want to taste his saliva. Ben cleared the distance between him and Adriana quickly, before he put his hand on the small of her waist, locking eyes with Adriana as he leaned in, his deep and gristly voice whispering in her ear.

"Me first..."
 
She was angry. Angry at her father. Angry at the old regime. Angry at herself for not fighting hard enough. But more than anything, angry on behalf of her daughter whom was blissfully unaware right now, but would be effected by this when she grew up. She would learn what really happened, the hard lesson of realizing how psychotic and ruthless her grandfather was. How her own mother couldn’t prevent what happened. John was trying his best to be supportive. To be the rock that she needed. To be everything she never had before. But it only fueled her anger about everything. He was thinking as her lover, not as the Black King.

John: "They won't think that Ava. Yes, you need to tell them. But you don't have to tell them everything. Not if you don't want to. You can take the time you need to process all of this.”

“Process?! How the hell am I supposed to process this, John? I have to live with the fact that I was targeted because they saw me as WEAK!”

Ava’s voice raised before she looked toward the terrace door, not wanting Lily to hear her yell. She quickly lowered it, though the anger was still very present as she looked back at John.

“They KNEW they could do this to me.”

Tears were in her eyes despite herself. She was trying so hard to keep the seams together - to not let the cracks of vulnerability to show, the pain. John could see that, offering to take the lead and go to Hellfire while she stayed with Lily.

John: “I can tell them what they need to know - you can stay with Lily. We're in this together, Ava. You, me, Lily - we're family."

She shook her head, the tears falling to her cheeks. She quickly wiped them away.

“No. I will go to Hellfire. I won’t show weakness in the light of what happened. And I will not let anyone EVER think that they can do this to me or my child again. I am the God damn Black Queen!”

Her voice rose. Fury in her dark, glistening eyes.

Lily: “Mama?”

Ava looked over to see Alek holding Lily by the terrace door before quickly turning away and wiping the tears that fell. Alek must have brought her in, knowing it was time to face the inevitable. Ava cleared her throat.

“Hey sweetie. You ready to go?”

She kept her voice as even as possible, raising it in tone just enough to show Lily that nothing was wrong. Finally Ava turned around when she had composed herself and smiled at her little girl, though Lily’s expression showed she didn’t quite buy it.

Lily: “You’re crying…”

Ava walked over to Lily and Alek, smoothing her hand down her cheek. Ava didn’t want to lie to her, not anymore then she already had to.

“I am. I’m just so incredibly sad that I missed so much time with you…but I’m okay, I promise.”

Ava hugged Lily, shutting her eyes and holding her tight.

Lily: “Me too. It’s not fair..”

“I know, baby…But you’re here now, and I’m not going anywhere. Neither of us [Alek] are.”

She whispered softly. Lying about Lily or how she was conceived wasn’t an option despite Ava’s embarrassment about the entire situation. John was right, and mirrored what Elena said earlier, no one needed to know every detail, but they needed to know a general idea of what transpired. She would bring her daughter to Hellfire, and whatever happened, happened. This night had been horrible; trauma at every corner of her memory. But she couldn’t continue to let that fuel her, she HAD to focus on Lily. She had to calm down and bottle everything back up before going back to Hellfire.

[to Alek] “I’ll take her to Hellfire. I can meet you there.”
 
Hellfire — The White Parlor

Haleigh had decided before walking in here that she was going to try one last time to reach a decent place with Cameron. She gave him dessert, even, but he pushed it back at her. Then she tried to ask him questions, to get to an understanding. She was honest about what had killed it for her, hoping he’d reciprocate, but no. Instead of having the good sense to pretend to be sorry he’d scared the fuck out of her, he smirked again. There was a flash of fury in her eyes. She wanted to murder him again. She wanted to fill his veins with lead in a nanosecond, and leap across the table to rip his smug face from his skull so she could stuff it up his ass. Logan kicked in protest, and she took a deep, calming breath. Her hand moved to rub her belly and comfort her son. Cameron told her that he’d stopped caring when she’d gotten pregnant by Alek.

“Right. Because all that shit you used to say about ‘her body her rules’ was just that, a pile of bullshit. Some feminist line you used to run to get the women to think you were real advanced in your thinking, so they’d want to fuck you. Because the TRUTH was that everybody could get a piece of your wife, so long as it wasn’t the pieces you thought you OWNED. Like my heart. And when I could get pregnant, my womb. Isn’t that right? It must be, because everything was kosher until you thought I might be catching feelings for Alek. And you really couldn’t handle me giving him a child. How could I ever have loved a man as selfish as you?”

She asked with wonder, shaking her head at her own foolishness. And the risk she’d taken to give him an heir. She’d made a deal with the devil, for HIM, not for Alek, and he’d just wanted to piss all over it and make it his, without actually having the fucking courage to say so out loud until it was too late. And now he wanted to be mad about it. He told her going to Mexico was the best thing, because Carolina, who he never would have found otherwise. Haleigh nodded maliciously, leaning forward now.

“Yes, and I hope you realize the full gravity of the statement you just made, Cameron. If I hadn’t volunteered to become an incubator for your legacy, you and I would just still be fucking all over the place, laughing and living it up, with you none the wiser about your own daughter. Because that woman, the one who rejects your advances every time? She’d have kept Carolina from you FOREVER. You’d better not get on Sparrow’s bad side, or else you’ll never find that girl again. And from my recently corrected perception? She’d be fucking wise to do it, because your love is completely dependent on you getting your way, and you’re gonna break that little girl’s heart.”

She said, because if he wanted to be ruthless and hurtful in the things they said to each other, then that’s exactly how it could be. Haleigh wasn’t going to be the one crying in the shower later. She told him that the person he ought to be mad at was him, or maybe even his mother. Haleigh had tried to do something nice for him, and Kelly knew exactly how she was. The mad scientist COULD have programmed her nanites to only allow impregnation from her son, but she didn’t. Cameron said that he thought his anger was directed properly, and Haleigh scoffed.

“Of course you do. Hell would freeze over before you admitted you might have helped fuck this all up for us. And Mommy can do no wrong in your eyes.”

She scowled, and then she added that it was no use debating this, since they weren’t going to change each other’s minds. She had tried, and that would be the last time. Now, they were officially divorced, and she didn’t owe him a godsdamned thing. He agreed that they weren’t going to change each other’s minds, but he had an idea to help the white court, and that was that he wanted his own court, and he wanted her to help him get it.

Haleigh stared at him in disbelief. He really thought he could come in here, be dead fucking cold to her, tell her that he didn’t care how she felt after several years of marriage, throw Carolina in her face again, and then after all that, ask her to help him get his own court. She shook her head, chuckling as she rose from her seat and went over to the minibar. She poured his favorite drink for him, and then cracked the top on a non-alcoholic ginger beer for herself. She handed him his, and smirked at the cautious way he looked at it.

“I wouldn’t poison you, Stud. Too subtle.”

She said, as she eased herself and her babies back into the chair opposite Cameron. She organized her thoughts on his proposition, remembering what Ashley had advised her.

“So first of all, there is literally nothing you can say to persuade me to help you take over one of the other courts. Unlike you, I actually respect the other regents as our equals, and I think every single one of them deserves to be where they are. Secondly, I don’t give a FUCK what you want anymore. And third, FUCK YOU for thinking you can roll in tonight, acting like the world’s biggest dick, and then ask me to help you get what you want. No. Try again. And you better check that fucking attitude before you ask your Queen for something. ”
 
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Smoke

John tried to console Ava. He tried to tell her she could take the time he knew she needed to deal with all of this.

Ava: “Process?! How the hell am I supposed to process this, John? I have to live with the fact that I was targeted because they saw me as WEAK! They KNEW they could do this to me.”

"We BOTH know you are not weak. They targeted you because they knew you would pass your STRENGTH to your child."

He told her that he would tell the other regents. That they were family. But it didn't seem to make a difference. She didn't want to listen to him.

Ava: “No. I will go to Hellfire. I won’t show weakness in the light of what happened. And I will not let anyone EVER think that they can do this to me or my child again. I am the God damn Black Queen!”

"Ava..."

But then Alek and Lily entered the room, and Ava switched to mother mode. Lily noticed that Ava was upset, and Ava told her it was because she had missed so much time with her.

Ava: “I know, baby…But you’re here now, and I’m not going anywhere. Neither of us [Alek] are.”

John nodded slowly. Ava was excluding him, and it killed him.

Ava: [to Alek] “I’ll take her to Hellfire. I can meet you there.”

"I'll go check things out outside."
 
Persephone
Persephone
Poor John :(
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