The town house was across from Hyde Park. Auron had been slightly mystified as to what was going on, until he'd started watching, a day or so ago. Now he understood what the Ravenscourts had done...So he'd gone back and gotten Matt. They were now standing by one of the entrances to Hyde Park, watching the house. This time of the morning, Rowen had already left.

Matt was hunched inside his long coat, the lump of his gun in its hidden shoulder holster a slightl comfort, but not as much as the machete strapped against his back or the hunting knife on his thigh. He stared at the house across from them, hardly daring to believe that after all these months they'd finally found her. IT took everything he had  not to run over there and get her. A sudden movement at one of the windows had him catch his breath as a familair face appeared briefly.

Auron shifted in his spot, watching. Saffron had given some pattern of a schedual. AT this time of morning, she'd leave the house, and cross through the park to the market place. He just wasn't really prepared for what this morning brought. The door to the town house opened a few minutes later, Saffron emerged. She was dressed in a long skirt, and her hair was pinned up, not exactly the same as Auron remembered her. She turned back into the door way a moment, and drew out, of all things a baby stroller.

The only thing keeping Matt from bolting across the road when Saffron emerged was Auron's hand on his chest. at the sight of the stroller, the hand fell away, but Matt could no longer move. He stared at the carriage, watching a tiny fist peek over the edge waving a rattle. "Oh fuck... fuck.. no.." he said softly,suddenly feeling as if he couldn't breathe. "Oh killing him isn't enough.. i'll fucking casterate him first..."

Auron was quiet for a moment. "Needless to say, this complicates things a bit. Taking her out of here is one thing...a child will only make the damned family fight to keep them..." He replied softly with a growl. He took Matt's arm, pulling him into the park as Saffron started across the street with the carriage. Auron considered how best to do this, with the right illussion, he could approach her, speak to her a moment, and see the baby up close.

Matt let auron steer him along, still stunned at the knowledge that, not only had his Saffron been brainwashed into believeing she wa someone elses wife and had been living as such.. she now had a baby..."Fuck... I think I'm going to be sick.." he muttered softly. "that Ravenscourt fuck.. i'm going to burn that fucking house down with the whole damn familyu in it.." he growled softly.

"As much as I dislike the family myself, you may want to rethink your plan of attack." Auron replied simply, as they followed behind at a safe distance. "There are one or two members of the family that are quiet innocent...I'd put this on Rowen...and Minerva Ravenscourt, the matriarch of the family...a truly demented woman..." He said softly, still considering. "Follow behind, I want to try something." He said, moving away from Matt, and shifted an illussion of an old well dressed gentleman and moved forward, approaching Saffron and the carriage.

Matt did as told, inwardly cursing and ranting about the whole thing. He eyed Auron's disguise with a soft snort. His own disguise was more physical. He'd put a brown rinse through his hair to cover the blue and pulled it back into a tight pony tail, showing off the slightly pointed ears. Everyone had said these two simple changes made a huge difference.. especially since most people didn't even know he was part fae. The fact that all of his tattoos were covered by clothing helped as well. Kay had said if she were to walk into the room and see him, she would'nt have recognized him... at least not unilt he opened his mouth. He snorted at the memory, realizing he's relaxed a bit and turned his attention back to Auron and Saffron... and the baby carriage...

Auron had easily approached Saffron, exchanging conversation with her, which was open and friendly, and it'd given him a chance to look in on the baby in the carriage. Which had gave him something of a shock, which had slowly turned into relief, though it made him wonder what Rowen and Minerva were really up to...After saying good morning to her and letting her go on, he dropped back to Matt's side, a slight smirk, reaching his lips as he watched Saffron continue on. He was quiet for a long moment, before saying softly, with out looking at Matt. "That's not Rowen's child."

It took a moment for Auron's words to register, then he blinked. "huh?" What? You mean..." Matt suddenly stopped walking. "fuck..." he said softly, one hand going to his mouth in shock. "Holy shit.." he said then found himself walking again, heading straigh for Saffron.. until Ahand clamped donw firmly on his shoulder. He brushed it off and turned to face him . "fuck.. Auron.. that's My kid! Saffron's supposed to be MY wife.. and she has my kid! What the fuck is going on... ?"

"That's what we're here to find out as well as get them out of here. But that baby's eyes, are violet for one...there's no way Rowen doesn't not know, who's child that..." Auron said softly. "Besides, what exactly did you plan on doing, when you reached her? She doesn't remember..." He pointed out solemnly. "I don't even think she knows she's a death elemental..."

Matt growled softly as he turned to watch Saffron walking slowing, the sound of her humming softly to the baby  reached him and he looked away. "fuck..." He looked at Auron. "how old? how old do you think my kid is? How much have I mised because of that sick twisted fuck?!" he hissed.

"Abuot...six, seven months, I'd say." Auron replied softly, still considering. Saffron had stopped, sitting down on a bench, in a more deserated area of the park, pulling the carriage close. She leaned over it a moment, before picking the baby up, sitting him on her lap. "His name is Caleb." Auron added, watching.

"Caleb.." Matt repeated softly, his eyes watering as he watched them. "Six months... fuck... so.. if he was born on time.,. she would've been.. what two months? Yeah... do you think she even knew before... Do you think HE knew before he took her?" he asked softly. his mind going over what liottle he knew of babies... in six months what had he missed? First tooth? Was that yet.... what about first word..? He suddenly paled as he wondered if his son had used his first word to call another man 'dad'...

"I wouldn't dismiss the possibility of him knowing when he took her...in fact it could be one of the reasons for doing so..." Auron said softly. "Rather or not she knew...you'd have to think back to the last few days before she...disappeared..." For the most part, she seemed to be happy, at least where the baby was concerned. Auron had an opinion of other wise, where Rowen was concerned, and that started giving him an idea, he turned his gaze on Matt, studying him for a long moment.

"Fuck..auron..I just can't stand here.." Matt said softly, unable to take his eyes off of her. "Either I go over there.. or I go back to that house and start hurting people..."

"Actually..." Auron said after a long moment. "Perhaps you should approach her...I've watched her with Rowen...she's...distant toward him...submissive, but distant, and certainly not happy..." He said with appearent meaning. "What ever they've done to her memory, her true personality is still there, underneath...Perhaps it's time she meet some one...different from Rowen...understand what I'm saying?" Auron asked softly.

Matt blinked and wiped at his eyes then turned and looked at Auron. "Yeah.. you wnat me to go hit on my girl... only pretend she's not my girl.." he said then snorted. "This is so fucked..." he said softly. "i'm going to really enjoy hurting that bastard before I kill him..." he said softly. "But yeah...I'll go .. introduce myself.." he said softly, but didn't move.

"If you don't think you can do it...we'll think of something else...I'd just rather try a more...or less traumatizing approach then simply...kidnapping her and make it harder on her..." Auron said.

"No.. no I can do it...I can.." Matt said softly. "Look.. I even look normal.. nothing much freaky about me... I can walk up and talk to her and not scare her off..." he babbled softly as he watched her. "'Kay...I'm going over.." he said and finally  made himself move. He made himself go through the breathing exercises and stuff that Marilee had always gone on about and found himself starting to relax a bit more. "Just think of it as a game.. role play.. yeah.. sure..." he muttered softly as he approached her.

Away from the house and with Caleb alone, Saffron finally felt relaxed. Times like this were the only times Saffron didn't feel she was under pressure to be the most proper wife and mother, Minerva was always seeming to try and make her. Caleb was waving the rattle around, giggling, while Saffron held him on her lap, before he suddenly threw it, a good distance at some one's feet. Saffron sighed, but smiled softly. "If you throw it, you can't play with it." She told Caleb, before looking up to see where it'd landed...

Matt swallowed hard and drew a deep breath as he bent to retrieve the rattle. He finished walking the short distance to stand infront of the bench and held the rattle out to her. "I believe this belongs to someone... even if they don't seem to care for it." he said softly, dropping his gaze to look at his son.

"Yes...He really doesn't do that...not sure what he was thinking this time, thank you." Saffron said softly with a soft smile, accepting the rattle. Caleb was looking up at Matt, almost intensely and when Saffron gave him back the rattle, Caleb held it up toward Matt. Auron was watching from his spot and snorted softly. Leave it to a child to know things...

Matt smiled softly and reached out to run a finger over the tiny hand holding the rattle. "No thanks, son.. you have it. I'm a bit old for stuff like that.." he said softly. "He's beautiful... may I ask how old he is?"

Saffron smiled a bit more. "He's just about to turn seven months in a couple of days...And thank you, he's my pride and joy..." She said softly, looking back down at Caleb. Caleb giggled and stuck his rattle in his mouth, but his eyes were on Matt.

Matt smiled, his eyes lighting up as he watched his son. He wanted to stay right here and not move, but he doubted that would work. He couldn't just sit down and start talking could he? Gods.. he alwasy sucked at this stuff... he'd never really needed it.. girls came to him and they didn';t care if he could actually talk or not.. and then there was SAffron... and no one else mattered.. He reached back donw and let one tiny hand grab onto his fingers, smiling softly. "so small..." he said softly.

Caleb giggled and suddenly reached up with both hands toward Matt. "Caleb..." Saffron was surprised. "He's usually not so...friendly." She said softly, before looking back up at Matt.For a moment, she was caught off guard, looking at his face.

Matt smiled softly. "That's alright... kids don;t usually take to me ... maybe he knows.." he let the rest t rail off and cleared his throat. "May I? " he asked, looking at her. "I mean... what am I doing.... you don;t know me,.. I'm a perfect stranger and all..." he said, blushing slightly. He was blowing it... but the only way he could keep from wanting to pull her into his arms was to focus on Caleb...

"Um...well...I don't..usually..." Saffron said softly and cast a gaze back toward the direction of the house. Something told her she could trust this man, but if some one from the family came looking for her, she'd never hear the end of it. Caleb seemed to whimper, and reach even more for Matt. "I guess it would be alright..." She said softly, watching her son, before standing with him.

Matt smiled. "Would you mind if I sat donw? Or.. perhaps you;d like to walk ?" he asked. "um... my names Matt, by the way." he added with a slight smirk.

Saffron looked up at him again, and smiled softly. "It's nice to meet you, Matt. My name's name's Saffron...and this is Caleb." She glanced back toward the house again. "Walking...would be nice..." She added softly, before Caleb seemed to lean out of her arms toward Matt. She stepped closer, allowing Matt to take him. Auron was still watching from his spot and snorted softly, shaking his head.

Matt smiled more as he held his son for the first time. He found himself staring into eyes remarkably like his own.. just a touch darker... but then.. perhaps his had been darker as a baby too? He didn't know. They started walking away form the house and he had to divide his attention to pay attention to where he was walking. He was trying to decide what to say to her... "So... I suppose someone as beautiful as you is married...?" he asked then blushed. fuck.. that sounded so bad...

Saffron glanced away, with a strange blush, biting her lip. Caleb seemed remarkably comfortable with Matt holding him. "I...well...I am...but...it...well it was rather arranged..." She said softly, pushing the stroller. Auron followed from a distance, behind them.

Matt raised an eyebrow."Arranged?" he asked, watching her, wishing he dared to brush his fingers over her cheek like he used to when she blushed. "Sounds a bit old fashioned. But then again... I suppose my family still holds to those traditions too... I'm just not apart of it anymore.." he said softly and smirked softly as Caleb spotted the skull earring and stared at it.

"I really wouldn't know about mine..." Saffron said softly, as they walked, not really passing any one except the odd victorian dressed goth, Hyde Park was known for that. "I'm an orphan...the arrangment was made...well...mostly for protection...and that thats the way his family does things..." Caleb reached a small hand toward the earring.

"Ah..." Matt said softly and caught hold of Caleb's hand, kissing it to divert his attention. "So.. a loveless marriage of convienience..." he said softly. "You deserve better."

Saffron smiled saddly, glancing at him. "Yes, well...there's not a lot I can do...And I'm certainly not the proper wife I should be..." She said softly. "I'm sorry, I don't know why I just said that..." She added, blushing again. "I'm just...I'm certainly not proper at all, as the family would like me to be, and I suppose, as Minerva says that's the reason my husband is having an affair...but there's little I can do about it..."

"He's what?!" Matt asked, actually stopping in his tracks. Caleb took the opportunity to grab hold of the skull. Matt just tipped his head slightly to releive a bit of the pull. "He's screwing around on you?!" Matt asked, unable to believe it. He didn't actually WANT Rowen to be sleeping with SAffron.. but he foudn the thought that the bastard had her and didn't wnat her to be rather... unbelievable. He looked at her and realized just how loudly he'd spoken. "I'm sorry... I just find it hard to belive... why anyone lucky enough to have you..." he snorted softly and resumed walking. "you have options.. you coudl divorce him. you have grounds."

Saffron shook her head, brushing a lock of black hair that had come free from the pins back, and looked at Caleb, who was not only mesmerized by the earring, but snuggling against Matt. She didn't know why she was discussing this with him, except...she needed to talk to some one...outside the family and it rather felt...like she could talk to him... "There's no divorce in this family..." She said softly. "And...even if I could...there's my son to think about it...I wouldn't put it past Minerva to try and keep him..."

"There's always divorce.. its matter of the courts... We can walk over to a law office right now and you can start things moving. They can't stop you." Matt said simply. "As for Caleb... you can always claim he's someone elses son... you can say he's mine.. we have the same eyes after all.." he added softly.

Saffron looked at him, half surprised, half fearful. "You don't know this family...they don't...deal with the law and courts...things are done...differently. I don't even think there's a...legal marriage certificate...it's just...not done that way..." She said, her voice falling softer. "They're...they're a powerful family..."

Matt shifted Caleb to his other side, freeing that arm and removing him form the temptation of the skull.. although the other ear had the two hoops and the ear cuff... "Saffron.." he said softly. "There are other powerful families out there. Other powerful peope... you don;t have to stay if you don;t want to.. you both could leave. There are people who will help you."

Saffron snorted softly, "A fleeting dream..." She said softly, before looking at him. "I don't want my son to grow up in this family...I'd give...anything to get away..." She said softly, reaching out to touch Caleb's hair.

Mat stopped walking and turned to face her. "Then do it." he said simply. "Take him and leave. right now... leave everything behind. I'll help you." he said reaching tou to catch hold of her hand. "Let me help you.. please... like you said... don;t let Caleb grow up here..."

Saffron looked up at him with wide eyes, slightly taken back. "Saying it, and doing it, are two different things." she said fianly, looking away. "I'd never get away with it..." She added. "I'd almost ask you take Caleb...but I don't...even know you...and they'd kill me..."

"Caleb knows me."He said softly and let og of her hand to raise her chin to look into her eyes again. "Safron..." he wanted to call her baby so bad it hurt, but instead he held back. "You need to do what's right for your son." he said simply. "I could have you out of the country by tonight at the latest... probably sooner." he added, although it would be Auron who did the actual work on that and it would definately be sooner...

"I can't..." Saffron replied softly, on the verge of tears. "I want to, believe me, but I can't..." She closed her eyes a moment, trying to collect herself before did start crying. She opened her eyes again, looking at him, and asked an absured question. "Have we ever met before...I feel...like I've known..."

Matt tried to think of an answer then instead leaned in and kissed her tenderly. "He has my eyes, Saffron. " he said softly, letting his fingers rest on her cheek.


~  ~  ~  ~

The world seemed to suddenly spin, when he kissed her, something seemed to click, a great awareness that what ever she had with Rowen and his family was all a great lie, and that she...and Caleb belonged somewhere else. Caleb was simply snuggling tightly to Matt and looking back at his mother as if he knew it as well...Saffron looked up at him, wide eyed. "Who are you...?"

Matt smirked softly. "The lucky guy who gets to steal you away..." he answered and kissd her softly again. "Sorry.. but you have no idea how long I've been wanting to do that, baby." he said quietly. "I love Saffron..I've always loved you. and before that bastard and his mother hit you with their spells.. you loved me... Caleb is my son, baby." he sid softly, hoping he wasn't ruing everything by telling her this. "come home, baby... let me take you home.."

Saffron wasn't sure what the most absured thing about it was, the fact that he was telling her this, or the fact that she believed him. She actually believed him. Auron suddenly moved toward them at that point. "Minerva is coming." He hissed. Saffron gasped, starting to turn. "No...don't turn aruond." Auron said. Minerva Ravenscourt was stalking toward them, with an angry look directed toward Saffron.

Matt looked at Saffron. "Now Safron... come with us. I have Caleb.. and I won;t let her get her hands on him again. Please, baby.." he said, tightening his hold on his son. "auron.. open a portal or something.. cast an illusion.. fuck.. do something!" he hissed. "You can't just let that bitch steal your daughter again!"

"Auron Mordant! What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Minerva snarled. Auron glanced back at Minerva, before opening a portal behind Matt. "Take them both, I'll deal with her." He said to Matt. "Don't you even dare!" The old woman snapped. "Saffron, get away from them..."

Matt grabbed Saffron's hand and pulled her with him as he stepped back through the portal. "Come on, angel.." he said, suddenly afraid she'd refuse. He had his son... what if she decided that Caleb was safe and stayed? what if her fear of Minerva out weighed everything else? "Please...come with us, baby.."

Saffron looked back and forth from Matt holding Caleb, to Minerva who started toward her, when Auron stepped between them. Saffron heard Caleb whimper and saw him reaching for her from Matt's arms, though he wasn't leaning forward, almost as if he was trying to get her to come as well. "Don't you even dare, girl!" Minerva snapped, attempting to lung around Auron. Saffron stepped back toward Matt, before looking at him. "I believe you..." she said softly, moving to his side. Minerva gave an enraged sound and turned her attention on Auron a spell already forming.

Matt slipped his arm around her and turned on his heel, pulling the three of them through the portal and into the living room of Auron and Kay's apartment. He immediately sobbed and buried his face in her hair. "Oh gods baby..." he said then took a deep breath and handed Caleb to her. "I have to go help your father..." he said. "KAY!!" he yelled then kissed her again before kissing Caleb as well.

Saffron was still trying to figure everything out, but held Caleb close, watching Matt. "Be careful!" She said, frightened, knowing what Minerva could do. The portal was starting to close as well. And before Matt could turn back into it, it was closed completely.

Kay snorted as she came around the corner behind Saffron in time to see the portal close. "Matt... haven't you learned by now... Auron doesn't handle rescues well... you move fast or you forget it..." she said with a soft smirk. "I see you got her.. welcome home, baby."  Matt smirked. "Um... got more than just her, Kay... meet your grandson.. Caleb."

Saffron was blushing, but gave a soft smile to Kay. She had a lot of questions, but didn't quiet know where to start asking...Caleb turned his head around, looking toward Kay and giggled, thrusting out the rattle he still had, at her.

Kay raised an eyebrow and looked form Caleb to Matt. Matt just stepped up behind Saffron and wrapped his arms around them both. "He;s mine, Kay... she was already pregnant when they took her... I just didn't know..." He brushed his lips against Saffron's hair then reached up and undid the bun, letting her hair fall free. "Sweetheart... this is your step mother, Clarice.. but we all call her Kay."

Saffron shook her head slightly, which allowed her hair to tumble free, since being in the Ravenscourt family, her hair had hardly ever been down. Caleb laughed when it fell, reaching forward to hide his face in it. Saffron sighed softly, hugging him, but looked at Kay. "I don't know why...but I...believe all of this..."

"Because it's the truth, sweetheart... you know it.. you've always known." Kay said simply, glancing over their shoulder at the place the portal had been. Matt spotted the look and smirked. "Go on.. you know you want to.. Hyde Park.. I'm sure you can find him."  Kay smirked, her eyes sparkling. "I'll grab my sword." she said then quickl;y kissed Saffron and Caleb. "Its so good to have you home, baby.. your sisters are going to flip when they see they're aunts.." she said then ran from the room. Matt chuckled. "How about we go find you something else to wear? You can't be comfortable i this thing... you look like... not you." he said with a chuckle. "I brought a bag of your stuff with me... it's downstairs in one of the guest rooms..."

"Not me?" Saffron asked softly, with a faint smile. "Yet, this is how I've dressed...all this time..." She sighed softly, Caleb was peaking out at Matt through hair, smiling. She looked from her son, up at Matt, studying Matt for a moment, then frowned slightly, before reaching to touch a strand of his hair, before letting her fingers drift to his face. She smiled softly after a moment. "He does have your eyes..." She said softly.

Matt squeezed her gently in a light hug, then kissed ehr softly. "Gods baby... I've missed you so much..." he said in a whisper then sighed. "Come on... we'll head down to our room. You can get changed and I'll wash this crap out of my hair... and by then you're dad will be back and I'll have to share you again."

Saffron was looking at Caleb who was snuggling against her. "I forgot his bag..."She said softly. "I'm...going to need some things for him..." She looked back up at Matt. "Well...lead the way."

~  ~ ~
 
Matt steered her form the apartment towards the elevator, his arm still around her waist and his free hand stroking Caleb's cheek whenever he popped out form behind his curtain of hair. "Just make a list or anything you need angel.. if I can't sweet talk someone into it, I'll go myself. Same goes for yourself... you have clothes and everything here and still at home.. but its been over a year... I don't know how it will fit you... you still look the same.. as gorgeous as ever...."

Saffron blushed softly, Caleb kept giggling, every time he peeked out of the long hair at Matt. Saffron was...she wasn't sure if she was surprised by Caleb reacting to Matt the way he was. "He's never been so...open with anyone..." She said softly as Caleb reached out toward Matt.

Matt hit the elevator call button and turned to face them, holding out his arms for Caleb. "He knows... I have no idea how, baby... but he knows who I am.. he knew as soon as he sw me..." he lifted Caleb into his arms as the door opened and the thre of them got on. " I should be surprised.. but I'm not... knew my dad when I first saw him too... " he added softly.

Caleb cuddled against Matt. "I suppose that's why...he never took to Rowen..." Saffron said softly, watching them both. She smiled softly.

Matt snorted. "Rowen's an ass... and a dead ass at that..." he said softly as the door opened and he lead them into the guest lounge towards the room he'd been using. "He's going to hurt for what he's done to you..."

Saffron bit her lip, not answering to that, Caleb had laid his head on Matt's shoulder. She thought about the things, back in London that were...her's, but realized she didn't want them. She still had a lot of questions to ask...

Matt let them into their room and closed the door behind them. "The black and grey print suitcase in the bottom of the wardrobe is yours..." he said simply, trying not to look at the bed. The sight of it made him both want her even more.. and at the same time made him cringe at thoughts of Rowen....  an entire year they'd be together.. over a year... Matt sighed and turned to hand Caleb back to her. "Here... I'm going to pop in the bathroom and wash this shit out of my hair... blending in is over and done with... need to get back to being me again... I'm starting to feel... 'normal'." he said with a fake shudder.

Saffron took Caleb, looking at Matt, with a raised eyebrow. "I didn't think this was how you...normally looked..." She said softly, Caleb seemed to whimper with a pout at being handed back but settled against his mother, looking sleepy and hungry. She was set to stop breast feeding him in a month. She'd started him on a bottle recently, but she didn't have his bag. She did wish she had his blanket though.

Matt smirked. "no... your dad said I stood out too much and would attract attention.. so I caved. Refused to do a permanent dye though.. just a wash in  wash out deal.. if it had rained, I'd have been screwed." he said with a smirk and stole a kiss. "I'll just be a minute... if you need anything for Caleb right away, just pick up that phone and hit zero.. the main desk will pick up and you just tel them what you need..." he said then stole another kiss, this one a bit longer before finally making himself leave her and head into the bathroom. He left the door open as he yanked out the pony tail holder, and took the shower head off the holder. Towel  and shampoo at the ready, he knelt on the floor beside the tub and started to scrub the brown out of his hair.

Saffron glanced at the phone, but decided, she'd really perfer to get a list together first, she could nurse Caleb for now, then change...She glanced around, and decided the chair by the window was good enough. For the moment, she lay Caleb down on the bed, where he yawned, but whimpered hungrily. She smiled softly, and removed the blouse she was wearing, before picking Caleb up again, and moving to the chair by the window, settling down, letting Caleb nurse after moving the strap of her camisle.

Matt watched the water running down the drain until it ran clear then shut it off, squeezing out the water and quickly towelling it as dry as he could. His coat lay over the counter where he'd tossed it and he shoved it over to get at the brush. The familair blue brought a smirk to his face as he finished brushing it and gave his head a shake to loosen it back up. He'd actually been starting to like the brown... especailly pulled back... which he foudn a bit disturbing considered he'd always hated his ears showing... he snorted and snapped the light off, slipping back into the bedroom and stopping to watch Safron and Caleb.

Saffron held Caleb craddled, she stroked the black hair, watching her son's eyes close as he nurse, before turning her gaze to the window, considering everything. She felt so drawn to Matt, and she did believe him, but she was still afraid of what Rowen and Minerva would do...She realized she was being watched, and turned her eyes toward the bathroom to see Matt there. She blushed.

Matt smiled softly as she spotted him staring and walked to sit on the bed across from the chair. "Sorry... I just... I dont think I've ever seen anything so... wonderful.." he said softly, watching Caleb. "I missed so much.... Gods I missed so much..." he said softly, his eyes filling again and he knuckled them clear before the tears could even fall.

Saffron blushed more, lowering her eyes to look down at Caleb, her free hand stroking his cheek."There's still so much more you wont miss..." She said softly after a while. "First words...first tooth...He's only just started to learn to crawl...there's still first steps..."

Matt looked up and smiled. "He hasn't spoken yet then? gods..." he said with a wry chuckle. "Had this waking nightmare of him calling that bastard daddy.." he snorted softly. "I wish we'd found you sooner.... I wish he'd never gotten you at all..."

"No...he...around the rest of the family he doesn't...react to them...I think he's...afraid of them...Well...except for Natasha...she's...the only one that was...wasn't like the rest of them...she's a sweet girl..." Saffron said softly, looking back down at Caleb. "She assisted...in Caleb's birth..." She said even softer, shuddering at the memory of that night.

Matt reached out and cradled her face in the palm of his hand. "Damn .. I wish I'd been there for that.... no.. no I wish you'd been HERE for that.."

Saffron leaned her face into his hand, closing her eyes. "Either way...I imagine things wouldn't have...gone the way they did..." She said softly, because of not remembering being a death elemental, that night still scared her, what had happened.

"What is it, baby?" Matt asked softly, slipping off the bed to kneel beside the chair. "What happened?"

Saffron looked up at him, her eyes slightly frightened. "When...when Caleb was born, Minerva came in...she looked at him...with such...hate, and...she...she told the midwife...to..to kill him...The midwife...went to smoother him...with the pillow..." Saffron said, her voice very soft. "I..I tried to stop her...When I...grabbed her arm...and...and she screamed...and...died..."

Matt scowled softly. "That bitch..." he said softly then suddenly realized how frightened SAffron was. "It's alright baby... I know you hate using your powers, but, you had to, angel.. you were protecting Caleb.. I just wish you'd nailed the Ravenscourts too.."Matt said softly as he stroked her hair and cheek.

Saffron stared at him, still frightened, before sighing, looking down at Caleb, who'd fallen asleep,  finished nursing. She shifted him, pulling up the side of her camisle. "Minerva hated Caleb...she was always trying to make sure I concieved Rowen's child...I think she really would have killed Caleb if I had of..."

"You ... you didn't... did you?" Matt asked softly. "I mean.. if you did.. if you are... I'll adopt it, Safron.. surely if we raise it it won't be an ass liek the rest of the Ravenscourts..." he said softly.

Saffron looked back up at him, as she rocked Caleb gently. She snorted faintly. "I did my best avoid sleeping with him...there were times I had no choice...but..." She sighed, Caleb whimpered faintly, shifting in her arms. "The only time...I did...I lost the baby...And Minerva nearly beat me to death for it..."

Matt bit back the growl at hearing that, instead he slipped his arms around them both and leaned into them. "Neither of them will ever lay a hand on you again, angel." he said simply. "And I'm sorry you went through losing a baby.. I can't imagine how hard it was... but..." he sighed and l;eaned his head against hers, not wanting to say he was glad for it.. after all, it was a part opf her and an onnocent life.. and he had the feeling that it might have been her powers reacting to her not wanting the baby..

Saffron sighed softly, it'd only been three months before. She closed her eyes, to hold back the tears. "Everything was...fine...and...and then I just...lost it..." She whispered. "And...they covered up the whole incident with the midwife...but Minerva beat me for that...threatening to...strip me of my...abilites, but I don't know WHAT she was talking about...I don't...I'm not like them...I know they're...they're witches but..."

Matt frowned softly and cradled her face tenderly, turning her to look at him. "Sweetheart... " he said then swore softly. "Oh shit.. of course... they fucked with your memories... they wouldn't wnat you knowing what you could do or you'd turn it on them and be free..." he said. "Baby.. you're an Elemental... the death elemental..."

Saffron stared at him, wide eyed. "I'm...what? What do you mean?" She asked, her voice soft, but paniced. "Are...are you saying...I'm responsible for what happened to the midwife?!"

Matt took hold of her face gently in both hands and tried to calm her, Caleb waking and begining to fuss at teh commotion. "shh.. shh baby.. it wasn't your fault... your powers and your control over them was supressed.. you just reacted on instinct to protect Caleb.." he said softly. "It was Minerva's fault... if she hadn't blocked out your momeory of them you would've been able to control them...”

Saffron felt close to panic, at the idea she could kill some one with just a touch...She looked down at Caleb who was starting to cry, seeming to know something was wrong. "I...oh..my god..." Saffron breathed. She moved, to stand from the chair, suddenly afraid to even be holding her son.

Matt wrapped his arms around her and Caleb, holding them still. "Sh.. sweetheart calm down.. its alright.." he said softly. "Right now it's operating on instinct... protecting you.. and Caleb.. you won;t hurt him baby. and you wont hurt me.. it's okay..."

Saffron found herself calming, despite the thoughts running through her head. Caleb had quieted to a whimper, clinging to his mother. "I don't want it..." Saffron whimpered soflty. "I don't want to be like that...have that ability..."

Matt frowned softly. "Baby... I know... we al know.. but it's not something you can change. and besides... it was what first drew us together..." he added with a soft smile and kissed her. HE moved one hand to stroke Caleb's hair and leaned over to kiss his forehead softly. "go back to sleep, squirt.. mommy's okay.."

Caleb seemed to peer at him a moment, before settling back down to go back to sleep. Saffron held him closer, and turned slightly, enough to lay her head against Matt's chest, closing her eyes. She did her best to calm herself, over finding this out, but frowned slightly. "What do you mean, first drew us together?"

Matt sighed softly and puled away form her to stand up, then drew her to her feet and moved them both to the bed where they could sit together. "I'm a necromancer, babe... not by choice.. i was born with it and it just .. woke up one day. I don't have choice in using my powers either... they're just there." he said softly, stroking Calebs forehead gently as he drifted back to sleep. "Makes me wonder what our son got stuck with... as far as I know necromancy isn't hereditary.. but then... as far as I know i'm the only necro that's had a kis after coming into their powers... and there is only one death elemental at a time, so..."

"And that drew us together?" Saffron asked softly, before looking down at Caleb, who'd fallen back asleep, a tiny hand resting near his cheek. All of this conflicted with the memories she had, of growing up in an orphanage in England, and everything leading up to her marriage to Rowen...she even had a british accent. And yet she knew everything she remembered was a lie...

Matt sighed softly. "Baby... we'll break this spell and you'll remember all of this. I promise." he said simply, pulling her close and kissing her forehead tenderly. "When we're close like this... can you feel something? I don't know what it feels liek to you, but to me... it feels like a cool breeze dancing over my skin... and when we touch or kiss.. its like a rush of power, all cool and tingling.."

Saffron sighed, more then comfortable in his arms. "I...I feel something...I just...don't know how to explain...I do know I've never felt so...safe..." She said softly.

Matt smirked softly. "Ah.. well.. thats something else entirely..." he said softly and letting it go at that. "Saff.. baby... I love you so much sweetheart... this past year has been absolute fucking hell without you.."

Saffron was quiet for a long moment, before asking some of the things she wanted to ask. "Were...were we married?" She asked softly.

"No... not yet. We were planning on it though." he said softly. "You'd finally decided on a dress and loctaion.. and had called me to tell me you'd set the date.. and that i'd have to book it off and cancel anything I had going on because you weren't changing it again." he said with a chuckle.

"But...but I would have to have already been...pregnant..with Caleb..." She said softly, before sighing, quiet again for a moment. "How long were we together?" She asked softly.

Matt smiled softly as he held her closer. "Hmm.. let's see... about a week and a half before the change... then just under four months when you.. wer taken." he said softly. "you were probbaly about two months along... I didn't know.. I'm not sure if you did either..."

Saffron blinked, looking up at him. "We were only together that long..." She said breathless, surprised.

Matt smiled softly. "I know... doesn't seem like much, does it? Especially considering you'd been gone for over a year..." he said then carefully took Caleb form her and laid him on the bed behind them, watching him until he settled back to sleep. He turned and scooped her off the bed and set her on his lap, holding her. "I love you, SAffron..I've loved you since the moment I met you and I know you felt the same.. because you've told me often enough. I know I was going to marry you right away... and I told you so.. the first day we were together I told you that sooner or later I'd marry you .. and you said that whenever I got around to asking.. you'd say yes... and you did."

Saffron bit her lip, looking at the carpet for a long moment, considering. It seemed odd to her, but she knew...what she was feeling for him now, had to be love..She looked up at him, into his eyes, and raised a hand, touching his face. "All of this...conflicts with what...I've believed all this time...and yet...I believe you...I just...don't know what to think...or do...or say..." She said softly, a few tears slipping down her cheeks. "I've spent all these months...afraid..."

Matt held her face i his hands and kissed away her tears. "It's alright, babe... you're free form all that now.. you're home with me.. well.. not quite home, but you're back with me anyhow." he said softly, stroking her cheeks with his thumbs as he cradled her face. "It'll come back to you, angel... just.. trust yourself..."


~ ~ 

Saffron sighed softly and leaned against him, closing her eyes for a moment. Part of her was surprised she was so...trusting of him, being so...open with him, Minerva and Rowen had driven her into a submission. "Where do we go from here?" She asked softly.

A soft knock came to the guest room door, Lex had learned that Matt had returned, with Saffron. She'd hesitated in coming, not sure if she should bother them, but it got her out of the archieves, would meant Nate couldn't bitch about her spending time in there, when she was on materinty leave, her due date close at hand.

Mat kissed her hair softly. "Let the receiving line begin..." he muttered softly. "Ten to one it's your youngest sister..." then called out a bit louder. "Yeah.. doors open."

Saffron blinked, at the word sister, but looked toward the door as it opened. "I'm not...intruding, am I?" Lex asked softly, stepping around the door and closing it. She looked at Saffron, biting her lip. Saffron looked back at her, before slipping off Matt's lap, standing. She approached Lex, staring at her. "It's you..." She said softly, slightly wided eyed, Lex blinked. "You're the one he was always obsessing after...he had...a portait, done of you...he kept it in his study..." Saffron said. Lex sighed deeply, closing her eyes a moment, before smiling wearily. "Rowen and I have a long history..." Lex replied.

Matt moved to sit back on the bed beside Caleb, stoking his hair softly as he slept, still in awe of the fact that he was a father. At hearing about Rowen Matt snorted softly. "A bad history... worse then yours, Saffron.. you he pretended to marry and tried to have a kid with... Lex he tried to kill..."

Saffron looked back at Matt at that, wide eyed, before looking at Lex. "Tried to kill you? But he was...he was always going on about how...he..." "Loved me?" Lex finished with a soft snort. "I suppose in his demented mind it is love..." Lex said softly. She sighed, looking at Saffron. "I'm sorry...Rowen did all those things to you..." She said. Saffron shook her head slightly. Lex hesitated, before reaching out, to touch Saffron's cheek. When she did, Saffron looked up at her with a gasp, staring at her with surprise, even Lex looked surprised. "Lexi?" Saffron asked breathlessly. "I...I remember you...Gods do I remember you!" She suddenly hugged Lex who gave a squeak, and hugged Saffron back tightly.

Matt looked up in surprise and then smiled softly. Caleb stirred beside him, whimpering softly, one small hand flung out to hit his leg. Matt looked donw as a tiny fist rubbed fitfully at an eye and smiled softly before scopping him into his arms. He let him lay aganst his chest, kissing the soft hair before laying his cheek against the Calebs head. "go back to sleep, little man... you cn meet your aunt later..." he said softly as he rubbed his back.

Caleb shifted, before snuggling closer to Matt with a faint whimper, but stayed sleeping. Saffron touched Lex's hair, before looking her over. "What happened?" She asked. Lex gave a soft laugh. "I married Nate...I have a few more weeks before I have our..son, Gavin." Lex said softly. "Nate...?" "You can meet him later..." Lex said, before looking over at Matt and seeing Caleb. She looked back at Saffron. "Is that...?" Lex couldn't finish, she didn't want to really think of her sister having Rowen's child, though she wouldn't hate the child...it wasn't the child's fault.

"Our son, Caleb." Matt said softly, seeing the look on her face. "When he wakes up you'll be able to see for yourself... he's got my eyes." he said with a wink.

Lex blinked, before looked back at Saffron. "Then it was true..." Saffron sighed but nodded. "You told me a few days...before you...you disappeared that...you suspected you were..." Lex said softly, with a soft smile.

Matt stood up and made his way towards them, being careful not to wake his son. He stopped and kissed Saffron softly. "I'll let you girls catch up. don;t worry about the list, babe... I'll kidnap Sylvie.. I'm sure she knows everything a baby needs."

Saffron bit her lip, watching Matt carrying Caleb, but nodded, before looking back at Lex. "I'm sure Sylvie does, Matt." Lex replied softly, before stopping him a moment, her hand on his arm. She leaned up, and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you...for bringing her home."

Matt smirked blushing slightly. "Hey...my pleasure, Red.. and yor dad provided the lift... and he's hogging all the fun right now, although your mother's no doubt there by now too... hope they leave enough of Rowen for me to take out a few agressions on.. even if I have to raise him to do it..." he added with a smirk and left the room, heading for Sylvie's office. She was the only one of  women in the buildng aside fomr his  inlaws -to -be that he'd trust  to ask for help in something.

Lex snorted softly with a faint smile. "Only if you'd get in a few hits for me." she called after him, before turning back to Saffron."I know it's not much to say, but...you look well." Lex said softly. "Oh...for the most part...I am..." Saffron answered. "I think I'm going to change though..." She said, turning toward the wardrobe.


~~
 
Matt found Sylvie in her office at her desk, a cup of coffee in one hand as she  read through  someone's report. "Hey pretty lady.. need a favor." he said with a soft smirk as she looked up at him. "My son needs... everything and his mothers busy catching up. think you can help me with a shopping list? Just trying to decide whether to go in person and get everything, or send someone...." Sylvie shot to her feet, setting her coffee cup on her desk absently as she came around to his side. "your son?!" she asked, keepng her voice quiet as she peered at Caleb. "Oh my god.. he's adorable! Saffron;s home then?" she asked and Matt nodded. "Good. Just in time for the junoir Macdonnell to have a play mate..." she said with a smirk. "Sure.. and you can just shop online. We have more then enough places here in town that offer same day delivery. I'll set you up and write a neseccities list."

Matt let her shoe him around to her chair and watched with a soft smirk as she went through the motions of setting up the shopping account, putting it under Kay's account. she pulled up a file with a list of the loacal stores that offered same day and rush delivery then left him to browse while she wrote up a quick list. He held Caleb with one arm as the boy slept and scrolled through the list, smiling sopftly as he spotted a familiar name. On eof the goth shops Saffron and Lexi loved going to. He opened the page and began browsing in earnest.

Sylvie handed him the list and glanced over his shoulder as he added a black onesie to the cart. "Matt... try not to get too carried away.. his mother might enjoy having some say in his wardrobe too.." she said and patted his shoulder. "I'll check back later." Matt smirked and added a tshirt before looking at the list and finishing off the order, then shifted to another site for the neccesseties."

Matt quickly made his way through the list, ordering everything from diapers , bottles and bibs, to a crib and car seat. He printed out a copy of each receipt so he could pay Kay back for everthing. He passed over the blanckets and things in the bright colors and fanciful prints whenever possible. A large helping of the purchases were more goth in taste but he figured Saffron would've chosen the same. He suddenly remembered how she'd been dressed and wondered if she'd changed that much on her own or if it was just the spell... did she still like the same things?

Matt sent his order off, hitting the rush button on all of them.He'd been tempted to have it sent to their home but knew Safron and Caleb were far safer here. It would be a while before they were able to leave safely so they'd have to take over a couple of the guestrooms. He slipped back out., pausing everynow and then to let the various secretaries fawn over Caleb and give the girls that much longer together.

"Who's bairn?" Nate asked as Matt passed him. "an' who'd be crazy enough t' let ye look after him?" Matt snorted, his eyes sparkling. "He's mine...you lost out on the first grandchild, sorry." he said with a snort. "Lexi and Saffron are in our room catching up." he added softly.  Nate grinned. "Ye foudn her then? did ye kill th' bastard?"  Matt snorted. "no, but auron and Kay may have... they haven't come back yet.”

Nate snorted softly, his smirk fading. "We were right then... Ravenscourt had her?" Matt nodded and Nate looked down the hall towards the guestrooms. "Did he... did he hurt her, Matt?"  Matt sighed, rubbing Calabe's back as he spoke. "him and his mother fucked with her memories and hide her powers fomr her... Minerva apparently liked to beat her.. and Rowen apparently tried to get her pregnant once Caleb was born... but she lost the baby..." Nate swore softly. "Kay an' auron miss him.. ye know i'll help ye take th' bastard donw..." Matt smirked softly. "I know... you coming to say hi to your sisterin law?" Nate snorted, smirking slightly, "Aye... lead th' way.. dad."

~~~


Saffron pulled out the suitcase Matt had said was hers, sitting it on the chair, unzipping it. Lex sat down on the edge of the bed, a hand on her stomach. "You said he had a portrait of me..." She said softly, after a moment.Saffron sighed as she opened the suitcase, looking at the clothes. "Yes, in his study...he'd...spend hours looking at it...I...wasn't supposed to know...or hear him and  Minerva talking...there was some...grand final plan they were working on...something to do...with us..." Saffron said softly. Lex shuddered. "He still can't let me go..." Lex said softly....looking towardthe window.

"Do you...know what this so called...grand final plan is?" Lex asked softly as Saffron shifted through the clothes, apparently unused to wearing any of them. Saffron shook her head. "No...if...Minerva found out I'd heard any of...what I did...she'd...well I don't know what she would have done...and I'm afraid to think about it." Saffron said softly. Lex watched her, noting how much...different she was, but understanding completely, and knowing it was Rowen and Minerva's fault. "I have a feeling, even if Matt did bring you and Caleb home...we haven't seen the last of them..." Lex said softly. Saffron sighed, glancing at her. "I know we haven't...and that's what scares me."

"Nate certainly wont be happy to hear Rowen's still obsessed with me..." Lex said softly, shaking her head with a sigh. "But then...we're safer here from him and...Minerva then anywhere else, I suppose." She added. Saffron sighed. "I wonder..." She said softly. Lex looked up at her. Saffron had found a simple long black skirt, slit on both sides, and a long sleeved black lace top with a black tank top underneath, and moved to change. She unzipped the skirt she was wearing, letting it drop, and removed the slip. Lex blinked, Saffron's legs and thighs had brusies on them. Bruises that trailed up her sides and back. "Did...Rowen do that?" Lex asked, shocked. Saffron shook her head. "Minerva..."

"I never met her...but I heard enough about her..." Lex said softly, as Saffron got dressed. Saffron snorted faintly. "Be glad you never met her..." Saffron said softly. "She hated Caleb...the only reason she stopped trying to kill him...was Rowen finally told her to lay off...and that he could probably be used at some point..."

Saffron finished getting dressed, leaving her hair down, although out of habbit, she'd started to put it back up. She sat down on the bed next to Lex and looked at her. "So..." She said softly after a moment. "I take it you're happy..." Lex smiled softly. "I am." "I'm sorry I missed the wedding..." Saffron said with a sad smile. Lex took her hand. "It really wasn't that big of an affair...small, really, just...family, but...it's alright, really..." Lex said.

"I seem to have...some memory, though small, of a Nate...Scottish, right?" Saffron said softly. "Yus." Lex answered with a soft laugh. "Hmm, I guess I'll have to meet him...again to reform an opinion...as long as he's good to you..." "He is...he's my guardain..." Lex said softly. "And he loves me...I love him..." She added, with a blush. Saffron smiled softly.

"How long have you been married...?" Saffron asked softly. Lex blushed. "Oh, well, just about eight months..." Saffron eyed her, her eyes sparkling. "Yus, I know...but I found out I was pregnant, after he asked..." Lex said softly with a faint smile. Saffron snorted softly. "I suppose I can forgive him then..."
~~

 

Matt just smiled softly, turning his head enough to kiss the soft black curls, his eyes sprkaling. "you're just jealous that I beat you." he said with a smirk as he lead the way to their door and knocked softly. "Hey ladies..." he called out softly. "CAre for some company? Hell.. if you're decent, come on out here and we can all sit down .. thats what the lounge is for..."

Lex and Saffron looked toward the door, Lex snorted softly, shaking her head, but they got up, going over. "Did you find Sylvie?" Lex asked opening the door as she and Saffron stepped out.

"Yes.. found Sylvie and did my shopping.. everything will be delivered as quickly as possible." Matt said. "Of course, this means we'll either need to move to the biggest guestroom there is or take over a second one for everything..." Nate cleared his throat. "Saffron... I understand ye probably don't remember me...  i'm Nate.. yer brother in law... I already met m' nephew. Well.. sort of...little tyke still sleeping..."

Saffron smiled softly, one hand reaching up to touch Caleb's back. She looked at Nate. "Lex has been talking about you..." She said softly. "I guess, I could say its nice to meet you...again.." She said softly. Lex slipped to Nate's side, leaning against him.

Nate wrapped his arm around Lex and kissed her temple. "Aye.. it's good t' meet ye again as well, lass... it's good t' have ye home. Although I'm a bit upset with yer fer bringing th' wee one.. made me lose m' place as th' first t' make Auron an' Kay grandparents." he said with a wink. Matt snorted, slipping his arm around saffron. "You looks gorgeous, angel... feeling a bit more like yourself?"

Saffron blushed softly. "I'm not sure...I suppose so...getting there anyway..." She answered Matt softly. Lex gave Nate a look, shaking her head slightly. "Considering the due date is only a few weeks away, I wouldn't complain TOO much." she told him.

Nate smirked softly. "Aye .. this way I get t' watch Matt bumblin' away with diapers an' such an' then feel better when it's my turn." then he frowned slightly. "Hey now... what's this about shopping?"  Matt chukcled, his eyes sparkling. "diapers, formula, bottles, bibs, wipes, clothing, crib, high chair, car seat... you name it.. all the nessecesities. We didn't have time to plan ahead for this stuff after all... and we didn't exactly have time to bring it with us..."

"I really should have thought to grab his bag, but...I just didn't..." Saffron said softly. "And you managed to get all that on your own?" Lex asked, looking at Matt with a smirk. "Hmm...I can only imagine the patterns and color schemes..." She said with a soft laugh.

Nate snorted. "Aye... th' idea of ye shoppin' fer a wee bairn.." Nate said and shuddered. "Frightenin' t' say th' least...yer a brave woman lettin' this fella choose all'a that."

Matt snorted. "Hey.. I'll have you know I didn't pick anything Saffron would'nt have. And the color schemes are fine... I found a nice night time, moon and stars kinda thing for the crib set and they had a similar thing for the highchair too. I did fine."He said, not mentioning the gothic onesies and sleepers. "As for Calebs bag.. sweetheart... you were kind of distracted.. plus... do you really think I would've let you leave my side long enough to get it?"


Saffron sighed softly, "No, I suppose you wouldn't have..." She said softly. "I guess there wasn't anything in the bag, he especially needed...nothing favorite or anything..." She added, reaching up to stroke Caleb's hair. "The stores will deliver pretty quickly." Lex said with a soft smile.

Matt reached up woth his free hand and stroked Saffron' cheek. "He'll be fine, babe. I don't think he gives a shit where he is.. as long as he's loved." he said. "come on... let's sit donw." he said, guiding Safron to the semi-circle of couches and love seats in the center of the room. Nate and Lex followed.

"Saffron told me that..Rowen and his...grandmother, Minerva are apparently...forming some grand scheme, involving Saffron and I." Lex said softly, sitting down. Saffron sighed, sitting on a couch. "Unfortunately, I don't know what it is...I didn't hear more...and if they'd found I'd heard at all..." She said

"Rowen doesnae surprise me.. th' bastard's a fuckin' psycho...."Nate said simply, his arm around Lex. "but Minerva gettin' involeved in his crap...."  Matt snorted. "Doesn't matter... the girls are safe here. Auron and Kay are off dealing with her now... and we've ben warned."

"Hmm, yus, but you know how Rowen is...even when you think the bastard is dead...he has the nasty habbit of turning back up." Lex said softly, leaning against Nate. "And Minerva is...powerful." Saffron said softly.

"They'll be dealt with." Matt said softly. "I know you two are worried about them... I am too.. but that won't do a damned bit of good. You stay inside where you're protected for now until we find a way out of this.. that's all we can do."

"Really, Matt, did you think we were going to run right out the door and advertise where we were?" Lex asked with a slight smirk. Saffron snorted softly, with a faint smirk, leaning against Matt, her hand still on Caleb's back.

Nate snorted and hide his smirk. "Well Lexi.. in all honesty.. ye HAVE been known t' do just that ..."

Lex turned enoguh to give Nate a look. "That was then, this is now, I have some one else to think about." she said, sticking out her tongue at him, then winsed, placing a hand on her stomach as the baby kicked rather hard. "Have you had...any complications?" Saffron asked softly. Lex sighed, glancing at her sister. "Yus and no, I should say...it hasn't been an easy pregnancy..."

"Thank t' Rowen." Nate said sourly and wrapped his arms around Lex, rubbing her stomach soothingly until the baby settled down.  Matt groaned softly and pulled SAffron closer, kissing her forehead as Caleb continued to sleep n his sholder. "Everything always comes donw to him... "

"My thought, I suppose..." Lex said softly. "I really...should have said no, that first night I met him. I've had more days of bed rest, thanks to the curse...and cause of that, the archives have....fallen out of some order...But I'm supposed to be on materinty leave...Sylvie's even threated to take my pass away if I don't stop going into the archives..."

Matt snorted at the same time Nate did. "Your sister is a book addict... and an order addict. Kay turned the archives over to her as soon as they were conceived and we have to drag her out of there on a nightly basis." Matt said as he idly stroked Saffrons hair.  "Aye... still havenae decided whether we should be thankin' Kay fer th' assignment... or cursin' her..."

"I'm just trying to keep things in order." Lex said in her own defense. "Besides, if I didn't, case files and information wouldn't be so easily accessed when you need it. I will point out the number of times, you've thanked me for having that information at such easy access for you." She said, crossing her arms. Saffron smirked slightly, leaning against Matt.

Nate continued to rub her belly lightly as he leaned around and stole a kiss. "Aye... yer a godsend, tha' fersure... but ye need t' start relyin' on others t' help ye out an' stop takin' on so much yerself.. it's not good fer ye an' it's not good fer Gavin."

"I accepted allowing two others into the archives, didn't I?" Lex replied with a soft smirk. "Obiviously you're still not letting them do most of the work..." Saffron said from her spot. Lex blushed slightly.

"nope.. not our Lexi.. the 'book nazi'." Matt said with a smirk. "No one can do it right except her..."  Nate ducked his head and smirked softly.

"I don't want greasy finger prints all over my books!" Lex replied with a look. Saffron gave a soft laugh. Caleb stirred with a whimper, snuggling closer to Matt. "Although to change the subject, you look perfectly comfortable, Matt." Lex said.

Matt blushed softly but grinned. "Yeah...it just feel so.. right. Like when Saff and I first met.. it was just the way it was supposed to be.. you didn't question it.. you just went with it."

"well that's a good thing then." Lex said softly, shifting some. The baby seemed awfully restless. "Caleb has accepted him anyway...or he wouldn't be sleeping." Saffron said softly. "Which i'm...glad of.."

Nate kissed Lex's cheek and settled her closer against him, pressing his fingers a bit deeper against her stomach as he rubbed. It was something that usually settled Gavin down... after he took a few shots at kicking the fingers, that is.
Matt smiled softly. "you guys shoud have seen it.. he knew me... As soon as he saw me.. he knew who I was..."

"I don't think he's going to wait for the due date." Lex said softly to Nate, glancing up at him as Gavin kicked. She looked over toward Matt, with a slight smile. "Goes to say something about babies I gues..at least babies in this family..." She said. "But at least he knew you." Saffron smiled herself. "He certainly never acted that way around Rowen..."

Matt snorted softly. "Fuck.. who would?" he asked with a smirk. "Lexi... you alright?" he asked softly then smirked. "Want to hold your nephew.. maybe Gavin's just lonely..."

Lex snorted softly with a faint smirk. "And here we thought Gavin alone would be a little terror...imagine the two of them growing up together..." she pointed out. Saffron laughed softly.

Matt kissed SAffron softly as he shifted forward on the couch and carefully handed the sleeping Caleb over to his aunt. He blinke dopen his eyes for moment, about to fuss then looked at her, wide eyed.

Lex smiled softly at Caleb, craddling him. Caleb blinked sleepily, before beaming up at her. "He really is beautiful." Lex said, glancing up at Saffron, who smiled softly.

Matt sat back and pulled SAffron into his arms as he watched his son. "Yeah...he's something else, isn't he?" he said softly.

Lex smiled at Matt. "Be proud...I wonder what kind of abilities he'll turn up with." She said softly, looking back down at Caleb who was now peering up at Nate curiously. "I'm not sure I want to think about that just yet..." Saffron replied softly.

Nate snorted and reached over to brush a fnger over Caleb's cheek. "Aye.. don't blame ye. not somethin' I care t' think of either t' be honest... witch, fae, elemental.. plus th' whole Seal business.. Lards only know what Gavin will end up with..."

"Well I don't think we have much to worry abuot where the Seal is concerned, that's more for our daughter anyway...we when have her." Lex said with a soft smile, as Caleb shifted, sitting up. "Minerva seemed to think already, he was going to be powerful..." Saffron said softly.

Matt snorted softly. "Well... I dont know what he's going to get, baby.. after all.. you're the death elemental and there's only one of you ... but he might get the fae and elemental... and I'm a necro... no clue about how that's passed on... but he'd get the fae and possibley the witch..." he shrugged softly. "Doesn't matter in the end, really... he's our son and he'll be who and what he is..."

"Only time will tell I guess." Saffron said softly. Caleb was playing with Lex's hair. "Reguardless, he'll have good parents who'll help him." Lex said, glancing up at Matt and Saffron.

"So will Gavin.. and not just parents.. Aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins..." Matt said softly. "Even if they don;t get what his powers are about.. they'll still understand him to some point. Alot more than any of us had, I'd say..."

"A LOT more then any of us had..." Lexine replied with a weary smile. "They'll have more support then most of us had growing up...but then they'll also be spoiled rotton...and I wouldn't put it past them to be trouble makers as well." Lexine added.

Matt snorted, smirked at that. "Yeah well... with us as parents.. they'd be trouble makers even if they're not spoiled..." he said, pulling Saffron against him and kissing  her neck lightly, his eyes never leaving his son. "Guess those two will probably end up being pretty damn close, huh?" he said softly. "Like.. best friend kinda close. Suppose that means the four of us will be too..."

Lex laughed at that, eying Matt. "Then hell would probably freeze over...Don't get me wrong, you and Nate have been civil, but close friends...?" She shook her head. Saffron was forced to smile herself.

Matt blushed slightly."Well.I didn't mean that.. just meant.. that because of the boys... we'd probably wind up spending a lot of time together. I only had one cousin close to my age... we were like best friends. Fuck.. he was the only friend I had, pretty much... but I didn't get to spend as much time with him as I would've liked because his dad didn't like being around us..." he said softly. "I don't want to get between my kid and his happiness like that..."

"I doubt you will...considering how close Saffron and I are, the boys will no doubt be seeing a lot of each other anyway..." Lexine replied. "Although we certainly have plenty of time before the two start getting themselves into trouble..." Saffron said softly.

Matt snorted softly."Don;t count on it... I bet they're getting into shit long before the terrible twos hit..." he said with a smirk.  Nate snorted, smirking himself as he rubbed Lex's stomach, his eyes on the baby in her arms. Just a bit longer and it would his son in her arms..

Lex smirked. "True, and it'll probably only get worse the older they get... after all...with you two for fathers..." She said, letting it hang. Saffron snorted softly, smirking faintly.

MAtt smirked. "Yeah... fuck.. I'm a dad.." he said with a grin, still amazed at that knowledge. He shifted back to LEx's side and held out his arms for Caleb. "My turn again...." he said with an impish grin.

Lex laughed softly, before handing Caleb back to Matt. "The realization of that is going o hit sooner or later..." She said softly. "And then there's the fact that later on, you'll most likely have more kids...at least a daughter..." She added. Saffron blushed softly.

Matt grinned even more at that, his eyes locked on Caleb who stared up at him for a minute before turning his face into Matt's chest and closing his eyes. "Oh sure.. I'm boring already am I? Back in dad's arms so you can fall asleep again, huh?" he said softly with a laugh, then  looked up at Safron. "As for more... I'd like that. I'd like that alot... but I won;t hold my breath... this guy here is miracle enough..." he said softly.

"Well it is proof you can at least have kids with Saffron and seeing as she and I are both required by the Seal to have daughters..." Lex pointed out. Saffron sighed softly, watching both Matt and Caleb.

"Yeah...I know...I just meant..." Matt sighed, smiling tenderly down at Caleb. "I never imagined ever even having one child.. let alone one so beautiful..." he said softly. "The fact that we'll have a daughter is just too wonderful.. . And the idea of having more than that..." he laughed softly, his eyes watering slightly. "Fuck... it's too much to even think of...."

"Well enjoy it Matt, because they grow up fast..." Lex said softly. "Its a good thing you found Saffron and Caleb now...instead of it taking much longer..." She added softly. "Is he crawling yet?" Lex asked Saffron. "Not quiet...he just started sitting up on his own..." Saffron said softly.

Matt just shook his head softly, as silent tears suddenly spilled down his cheeks. "Fuck... I missed so much... dam that son of a bitch..." he said softly.

"Not as much as you think, Matt..." Lex said softly. "Well, his birth definitely..." She bit her lip, glancing at Saffron, but Saffron was looking at her hands at when Lex had said that, lost in thought a moment. Lex sighed softly, before adding. "There's stll so much more that's important..."

"I know..." Matt said softly, sniffing lightly as he noticed his tears only when one fell onto Caleb. He hastily wiped them away. "It's just... Fuck... Nate... can you imagine if you'd missed out on Lex's pregnancy?" he asked, looking over at him. "Can you imagine knowing some other guy had claimed your son for his own?" Nate paled slightly at Matt's words and just shook his head slightly.

"Not just any man, but Rowen Ravenscourt...Oh he should have died so many times..." Lex muttered, looking away a moment. "He'll die...one way or another..." Saffron replied softly, not looking up.

"Fucking right, the bastard is going to die.." Matt growled softly. "Stealing my Saffron... stealing my son... Screwing with their minds like this... " he had to take a deep breath to get control of himself as Caleb whimpered n his arms, no doubt sensing something wrong. "He's going to fucking hurt before he dies...."

"Wasn't that long ago, that I wanted to be the one to kill him..." Lex said softly, leaning against Nate. "Now, I really don't care...as long as he dies..." She added, with a sigh. "Not that I have to ask that he suffers for what he's done..."

"Hey... don't worry Red... you can have shot at hurting him if you want... you've definately earned it. We'll make sure everyone who wants a shot at the bastard gets too...." Matt said softly. "I'll share... just means he'll hurt more  and longer..."

Lex snorted softly. "As much as I might like to give into that, I'm a bit prevented from doing so, you know..." She replied, gesturing to her stomach. "So I'll probably leave it to you guys..."

"Hey no worries.... I'm sure between all of us we can keep the bastard on ice long enough for you to take part... Or you can just hurt him from a distance... " Matt said, giving her a wicked smirk. "You know.. hand you a bucket full of darts and draw a bullseyes on his ass for you ..."

Lex was forced to laugh, smirking slightly. This brought a slight smirk to Saffron, who glanced up. "Very tempting, Matt..." Lex said. "Though I trust Nate to get in a few good hits for me..." She added, glancing at Nate.

Matt snorted. "Nah... rather like my idea.. We'll tied him up and give everybody darts or b.b. guns... use the bastard for target practice for a few hours at least... maybe a day or two..."

"Actually, I'd quiet like to throw a few fire balls at him myself..." Lex replied."I don't think I ever want to see him again...or Minerva..." Saffron said softly, looking toward the window.

Matt turned back to her, freeing  a hand form his son to cradle her face. "Then you won't. I'll make sure they both pay for what they did to you." he said simply.

Saffron started to argue, to point out how very dangerous they both were, but caught Lex shaking her head slightly out of the corner of her and she sighed, not really saying anything, though she leaned her face more into Matt's hand.

Nate gave a startled yelp as Gavin gave a sudden kick against the palm of his hand where it lay on Lex's stomach. He looked up, blushing slightly that finding the others all looking at him. "sorry... little bugger kicked me... Caught m' by surprise.. he'd settled donw..." Mat snorted softly, his gaze dropping to where Nate's hand lay and was suddenly hit once again by the thought that he'd missed out on that with Caleb...

"Has it been a hard pregnancy?" Saffron asked Lex. "Oh, there's been ups and downs...I had bed rest ordered for a while, but then morning sickness didn't last very long..." Lex replied. "What about with Caleb?" She asked. Saffron sighed. "Difficult, but I think some of it was...the enviorment...”

Matt shifted Caleb to the crook of his arm, then sliped his other arm around SAffron, puling her closer. He kissed her forehead tenderly. "I bet our daughter will be easier." he said softly, forcing his mind off of the loss he couldn't change and onto happier thoughts.

"Oh well, the enviorment does help..." Lex said softly. She hated to think of what her sister had gone through...especially at Rowen's hands...she still didn't understand WHY Rowen had taken Saffron in the first place... Saffron sighed, but found herself leaning against Matt.

Nate opened his mouth to say something when Gavin gave another kick. He glanced donw that his hand then looked over at Matt. "Hey..mate.." he said softly. "Ye want t' know what it feels like? Th' little bugger movin' around an' kickin' an' all?" he asked. Matt looked over at him, his eyes going to Lex's stomach then he smirked softly. "thanks but.. I'll wait for my daughter." he said, kissing Saffron's head tenderly.

"I told you..." Lex said softly, with a wince. "Gavin isn't going to wait for his due date..." She added, shaking her head slightly. "I imagine he knows he's got a cousin out here waiting now..."

Nate smiled softly, tightening his arm around her comfortingly as he rubbed her stmoach again. "How early do ye think he might? Can change m' bet in th' pool..." he said softly.

Lex snorted softly, looking at him a moment. "Honestly...I give him another couple of days..." She said softly.

Nate thought for a minute. "Think I might still be good then...Us MacDonnell's always tend t' be a couple weeks early... don' think a single one of us has been born on time..." he said softly. "Think i had the first two days of next week marked... which gives him about three t' fours days..." he said. "think ye can hold on tha' long, Gavin? Make yer old man a bit o' money?"

Lex snorted again, giving Nate a look. "I doubt he's going to listen..." She said dryly, beofer looking at Matt. "And don't tell me your in on the bet as well." She added with a look. Saffron smirked slightly.

Matt glanced up and gave a smirk with a slight shrug. "Think I had today actually.." he admitted with a slight blush."Or was it tomorrow... nah... think it was today...." he said. "So I'm covered until midnight...Whenever you're ready kid..."

Lex snatched a throw pillow beside her and smacked Matt on the legs, with a look. Saffron was forced to smirk more, shaking her head. "Yeah, you're just lucky you missed out on that, Saff." Lex said. "Not that the bets didn't go around for your wedding date...or if it'd even happen..." She said.

Matt's smirked faded a bit and he tightened his arm around her a bit more. "It'll happen.. if she still wants me, that is.. I mean... I knocked her up and all..." he said  with a sort of sad playfullness.

Saffron bit her lip, not really sure what to say in reply. It wasn't tha she didn't find herself in love with Matt, and they did after all have a baby..."Didn't mean it like that..." Lex said with a sniff. "Just pointing out certain PEOPLE in this office had a pool going."

Matt smiled softly. "I know, Red...it's cool." he said softly. "And when Saff is ready... we'll still have it..although i think damn near everyone is out of the running by now.." he said with a snort. He kissed Saffron's forehead softly, "Angel... it's alright... you've been through alot and you've just found yourself rescued form a shitty miserable marraige.. even if it wasn't real. I know you're probably not in any big hurry to marry me right now... and that's alright. As long as I have you and Caleb... I can wait."

"well, in the mean time, you might want to take care of Ravenscourt first..." Saffron said softly.

 "Ditto..." Lex added with a soft snort. "THEN you can think about getting married..."

Matt smirked. "Oh well... he'll be taken care of.. both of them will." he said softly. "And ... we don;t have to get married, you know... If you decide you don;t want to.... I don't have any problem with living in sin..." he said with a soft smirk, stealing a kiss.

Saffron snorted softly, shaking her head, "Wouldn't exactly be fair to Caleb if we did that..." She said softly.

"Why not?" he asked softly. "As long as  we're together... what does a piece of paper matter?" he asked softly. "We can wear rings and you can take my name... we can do all that... don't need the stupid paper..."

Saffron sighed, not really sure what to say in reply. Lex snorted softly, giving Matt a look. "Might I point out, Matt, that she once did tell you that having an actually wedding, meant something to her..." Lex said.

Matt looked over at LEx. "Yeah... but that was before Ravenscourt fucked things up... If she feels that way again, awesome... But if she doesn't... I'm okay with that too."

"Give her time..." Lex replied.

"Time would be nice..." Saffron agreed, softly. She watched Caleb, still surprised he was so very comfortable.

Matt sighed softly and rolled his eyes , looking at Nate who was smirking softly. "Isn't that what I just said?" he asked and Nate snorted, giving a shrug.

"don't argue with us." Lex replied, smacking him in the legs again with the pillow. "Gods, haven't you learned not to argue with women..." she rolled her eyes.

"Don;t you have a baby to give birth too, Red?" Matt said with a smirk,  tapping her leg with his foot.

Nate snorted and knocked his foot away. "No... she's waitin' a couple more days..." he said, pulling Lex back against him.


"Ass." Lex replied, giving Matt a look.

Saffron smirked. "Really, Lex, if he hasn't learned not to argue with women yet...he will." She said softly, Lex smirked herself, rather glad to see some of Saffron's sense of humor returning.

"Who ...me?! Not argue? Babe... not gonna happen..." Matt said playfully, kissing her shoulder. Nate gave a sharp laugh.

"You'll learn..." Saffron said simply, with a slight look.

Lex smirked more. "Well, I think I want a cup of tea..." Lex added, weighing out her options for actually getting off the couch or not...

Nat smirked softly and stole a kiss before letting go of her. He bent down to kiss her belly gently, smirking even more as he stood. "I've got it darlin'. stay with yer sister ifn ye want..."

Lex sighed, rolling her eyes, with a slight smirk.

 "Wanted to actually get up, didn't you..." Saffron said softly.

"Actually yus...I get tired of sitting around all the time..." Lex replied still smirking slightly.

Nate chuckled softly and held out both hands. "Well then I'll just offer ye a lift.." he said playfully.  Matt watched the two of them, wondering how long it would be before he got to experience that sort of thing with Saffron....

Lex took Nate's hands, letting him help up from the couch. "Care to come along?" She asked Saffron and Matt, "Or do we see you later." "I'm not really up for anything right now..." Saffron said softly.

Nate slipped his arm around Lex's waist and smiled softly. "Alrigh'... we'll see ye later than." he said simply, his gaze pausing breifly on Caleb sleeping in the crook of his fathers arm.

"I'd lean down and hug you, but...I'd never get back up again..." Lex said with a slight smirk, Saffron smiled softly and shook her head. "I'll seey ou later, Lex..." She said softly. Lex nodded, before heading for the staff kitchen.

~~

Matt watched them go then sighed softly. "You okay, baby?' he asked quietly.

"It's still a lot to take in..." Saffron admitted softly, leaning against him. "Not that I'm not glad to see Lexi again..I just..." She shrugged, trailing off. "Trying to get used to everything...excepting everything else as the lies they were..."

"I know..." he said softly, shifting on the couch so that he was leaning back agsint the arm, Caleb cradled in his outside arm. He pulled Saffron down so she was half laying on top od him, his fingers playing with her hair." It'll come clear sooner or later.... don;t worry. Take your time, baby."

Saffron found herself oddly comfortable in that position, laying against Matt. She reached over, letting the back of her fingers caress Caleb's cheek. "I just...wish the real memories would come back..." She said softly.

"Don't wory about it." Matt said softly. "They'll come back in their own time... and in the meantime... we make new ones..." he said simply, kissing her forehead.

Saffron found herself smiling softly. "I think I like that idea..." She said softly, looking up at him.

Matt smiled softly in return, stroking her arm lightly. "I love you, angel. And I'm just crazy about my son.... fuck that sounds great, doesn't it? My son.." he said, grinning.

"I guess that means we've got nothing to worry about in being happy together..." Saffron replied softly.

"Oy! Hate t' interrupt ye two," Eire appeared on the other side of the couch, leaning on the back. "But there's a bunch o' boxes down stairs with yer name on it, Graves."

Matt snorted softly."Ooo kay...." he said softly and patted Saffron's arm gently. "Gonna have to move so I can go deal with this, sweetheart.." he said simply, making no move to hand over Caleb.

Saffron sat up, glancing at Eire. She found it surprising that she actually remembered Eire. "Wotcher Saffron." Eire said with a smirk.

Saffron didn't think she'd hear that slanged greeting outside Britian any time soon and smiled a bit more. "Hello Eire."She said softly.

Eire smirked a bit more. Then glanced at Matt. "Ye might wanna leave the kid here..."

Matt sat up and raised an eyebrow at Eire. "Why? The boxes are mostly for him, anyhow..." he said with a smirk. "It's not like I'll have him long once the girls catch sight of him anyhow... and unless Saff wants to come along... she might enjoy a bit of time alone....." he said softly as he stood. "What about it, angel? You want to come along; stay here with Cal.. or enjoy the quiet alone?"

"I suppose I should see just what you went and bought for him." Saffron said softly with a slight smile.

Eire snorted at that, sitting on the back of the arm of the couch. "We can only imagine..." Eire said.

"Well it's nice to know you haven't changed, Eire..." Saffron said softly.

Eire smirked. "Me change...ne'er..."

Matt snorted. "You want to hide out a bit longer it's alright..." he said simply. "I'll make Montgomery here bring it up to you." he said simply. "Oh hey... furball... this is my son, Caleb." he said with a smirk, stroking the slepping boys cheek lightly.

"Nah, really?!" Eire replied sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "No offense, Graves, but I kinda already figured that one out..." He added. "How was England by the way?" He asked.

"No really, I don't mind..." Saffron said, getting up from the couch.

Matt scowled and jammed and elbow at him, knocking him off the arm of the couch before he held out his hand to Saffron. "Smart ass... I was introducing you... I get to do that.." he grumbled lightly, his eyes sparkling in good humor despite his grumbling tone.

"Well since word's gone 'round 'ere...most o' us think Hell's froze o'er 'r somthin', ye bein' a dad an' all." Eire said, picking himself up.

Saffron took Matt's hand. "Is it that much of a surprise?" She asked.

"Fer e'ery one who knows 'im it is." Eire replied.

Matt snorted softly, pulling her close and wrapping his arm around her. "Remember Lex's comment about the wedding pool? The general belief on that was that I'd chicken out or you'd kick my ass to the curb... Us having a kid was a long shot since no one thought you'd put up with me long enough..." he said with a smirk.

"Are you that disliked around here?" Saffron asked softly.


Eire gave a short laugh. "Disliked...no...feared, maybe...I can't say any one hates 'im, just they they'd rather not put up with 'im." Eire said.

Matt  smirked softly. "Before you came along, angel.. I worked very hard at being an asshole and keeping people at a distance...still do, for the most part. I didn't want friends. I didn't even really want co-workers.... I worked solo as much as I could and when I had to work with other people, I did my best to intimidate the shit out of them, scare them or just irritate them.... Made sure they wouldn't want to hang out afterwards." he said with a slight shrug.

Saffron looked at him for a long moment, frowning slightly, she glanced at Caleb a moment. "'Ey, most o' us jus' ingore the bastard." Eire said, heading back for the stairs.

Matt snorted softly, watching Saffron. "I'll be a good dad, Saff... I' swear.. I've always been good to you... The asshole is just for everyone else...I'd never..."


"In other words, he's not as much as an asshole as he pretends t' be." Eire replied, disappearing down the stairs. Saffron glanced that way, before looking back at Matt for a moment, not saying anything.

Matt snorted and gave a slight shrug. "Well... I can be... but..." he smirked softly. "I promise... I'll be a good dad.... give me a chance... please..." he said softly.




 



 

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