Hunters and the Hunted

"Yeah, if you wish to do it." Jess nodded. "What are your children like?" She asked.
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"Trust me Kai." She laughed, moving a hand down his chest.
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ucy snuggled into her. "I love you mummy."
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"I should hope so."
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"I would like to know."

Miram noticeably relaxed. "Zane has just turned eight. He's the oldest. Rayya is his little sister, she's only five at the moment. They're both little terrors." Her voice sounded fond. "I was one of his angels, but I challenged for the right of my freedom and he forfeited, he let me win. Zane and Rayya made the worry and stress worthwhile."

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"I trust you. It's your choice in venue that I don't." Kai took hold of her wrist and pulled her hand to his mouth so he could nibble and kiss her fingertips.

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Aria settled a hand carefully against her back. "I love you too sweetheart."

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"Of course I do. I don't see anybody else in here for me to confess my love to. Do you?"

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"He's not letting me know..." Ian frowned, concentrating on something. "Afraid of your disappointment I suppose."

She smiled. "I've never thought about having a family before." She told her as she sat on a fallen down tree. "And I know he can probably hear me, but I don't want him to feel bad about anything."
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She smiled. "I love you."
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Lucy giggled.
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"Well, you could be saying it to the wall." He told her playfully.
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"Would if help if I ordered him?"

"He won't be disappointed if you choose to leave him for the sake of wanting a family." Miram stayed standing. "He would do everything you asked to make you happy, but as he cannot give you children...he is very sorry."

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Kai licked one of her fingertips. "I love you too."

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"A-Are you ready to go home, Lucy?"

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"Well, maybe." Faye leaned to kiss his ear. "But there are so many more things you can do for me and that's much more enticing."

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Ian suddenly snorted. "Kai asked for his blessing. Said he was going to marry Rachel anyway but he at least wanted some sort of compromise and Cain completely flipped out."

"I love him, having children never mattered to me before and it doesn't matter now."
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She smiled.
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She nodded. "Yes mummy."
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"Like what?" He asked her. "Sex?" He told her playfully.
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"At least he decided to do it the proper way."

"If you wanted children a few years down the line, there will still be nothing he can do for you."

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"So, is there any reason you propositioned me on the doorstep?"

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Aria slowly made a careful attempt to stand.

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"Yeah, there's that. You also hold me, put up with my shit and tend to whisper sweet things to me when you think I'm asleep." Faye suddenly smiled, almost sweetly and definitely teasing. "You also have the best voice for talking dirty."

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"Almost got a broken jaw for his trouble."

"To be honest, I don't think I ever want children."
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"Because you like being reckless and you like to be adventureous."
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He laughed at the last bit. "You serious? I have the best voice for talking dirty?" He laughed.
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She sighed. "Ok, I'm going to say this to both you and Cain, Rachel is grown up now, she isn't our baby girl anymore and if Kai makes her happy then we will need to accet that."
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Scareth helped her.

"Neither did I. See where I am now." Miram laughed softly.

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"Yeah, but within a few metres of the guy that wants to hang my head over his fireplace is pushing it a little for me. I like to be adventurous, not suicidal."

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"Oh, I'm not kidding. It gives me shivers. Not that I'm complaining. Just the best voice all round really. Wouldnt even have to come near me, you could get me into bed with just that voice and I'm not even ashamed."

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"Family is family, young or old, weak or strong, ours or theirs." Ian sounded as if he was reciting something. "She could be ten she could be a hundred, we would feel the same because she is family and worth protecting." He flashed a grin. "We take family very seriously."

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"Sorry," Aria mumbled, watching the floor. "If I'd have known what he was going to try I...I wouldve tried harder to keep him out."

He laughed. "At times I can't believe you."
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"Hey it's ok, there doesn't seem to look like thre was any damage."
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"My dad's calm and anyway, I'm just sitting here."
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"Yeah I do." Jess laughed.
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"Trust me, I know that you take family seriously."

"Can always get rid of me if it's too much." Faye kept her voice light but her expression was almost carefully blank, guarded, as if she were afraid of his answer. "I'm not trying to be perfect if I can't even get there."

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Aria just simply hugged herself and shivered as if cold.

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"We both know he could snap at a pin dropping."

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"I don't mean to criticise you. He just wants you to know you have other options."

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"Normally spouses marry into the family. Kai isn't, Rachel's marrying out. Cain's good, but he's more instinct than I am. He doesn't want to lose her. We know she isn't going anywhere but...its hard to explain."

"No I think I get it."
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"I would never want that."
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"I know, but you have to trust me." She kissed his neck seductively.
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"I know, but he eneds to accept that I love him, and no one else.
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"Aria, are you ok?"

Ian relaxed, glad he didn't have to put it into words.

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"Just letting you know you've got a way out."

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"Its your fathers sanity I don't trust."

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"He understands it. He's just letting you know of other options." Miram shrugged.

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"It w-was just a little t-too invasive for my standards..."

Scarlet walked to him and she kissed him.
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"I know, but I don't want a way out and I can't wait until you realise that."
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"And like I've already said, do you trust me?"
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"I know."
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"Yeah it was."

Ian gently kissed her back.

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"Letting you have all the options."

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Kai hesitated. "Not enough to be this close to your dad. Jesus Christ that thing in him scares the crap outta me."

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Miram nodded quietly. "He doesn't want to lose you."

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"Sorta like daddy..." Aria's voice trailed off quietly before she cleared her throat and sighed shakily.

Scarlet kissed him deeply.
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"Faye, stop."
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She sighed but she still didn't move, she just trailed a hand down his chest.
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"And I don't want to lose him."
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Scareth kssed her forehead soothingly.

Ian matched his kiss to hers.

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Faye fell silent and just shrugged.

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Kai kissed her forehead. "Don't look so disappointed. I just don't want my entrails outside of me."

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Miram smiled a little. "He's worried of scaring you away."

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"Can we go home now? Will Jess be okay?"

"Ok." She kissed his lips.
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Scarlet smiled softly as she pulled away when the baby started kicking.
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Rosco kissed her lips gently.
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"Trust me, he can't ever do that."
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"Yeah Jess will be fine."

Kai smiled before sliding his arms around her waist and suddenly stood, arms holding her up against him. "Ready to go?"

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Ian sighed contently, reaching out to rest a hand on her stomach again.

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Faye slowly relaxed again as she kissed him back.

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"His job will never end. You could see him for weeks on end and then he could disappear for a year or so."

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"Was the injury bad?" Aria's voice was more controlled now, less shaky.

She nodded.
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She smiled.
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He held her close.
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"I know." She shrugged. "It doesn't bother me, as long as he doesn't fall for someone else whilst he is away."
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"No, just a scratch."

"Piggyback, fireman's carry or bridal?"

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"How much longer have you left to go?"

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Faye moved to wrap her arms around him.

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"It's pretty difficult for him to like someone. He finds you special obviously."

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Aria relaxed. "I'm glad..."

"I don't mind....But I can walk on my own."
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"Not much longer."
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H held her close.
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"I don't see why...I'll hav to ask him when I see him."
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He made them appear at home.

"And I want to carry you."

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Ian nodded quietly.

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Faye eventually moved to press her face to his shoulder with a barely audible, "Please don't leave me." It was quiet enough that she obviously meant him not to hear it.

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"Death works in mysterious ways." Miram wriggled her fingers before laughing.

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Aria relaxed at the familiar surroundings, slowly going to sit on the sofa.

"Alright then, surprise me."
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Scarlet smiled.
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"I'm never going to leave you."
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"Yeah he does."
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Lucy jumped up onto the sofa beside her.

Kai grinned and abruptly threw her gently over his shoulder, holding her legs to his chest as he started walking towards the trees.

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"Can't wait." Ian kissed the top of her head.

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Faye flinched gently but simply shrugged weakly.

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"From what I heard though, you were terrified. What changed your mind of him? It was the puppy dog eyes wasn't it? He feels guilty about everyone he kills."

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Aria moved to wrap her arms gently around Lucy to tug her onto her lap.

Rachel waited patiently.
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"Me enither." She smiled.
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"That was part of it." She giggled.
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Rosco kissed her forehead.
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She snuggled close to her mummy.