Faal leaned against the sink. listening to the sounds from Lex's room as his heart sunk. Why did he always seem to make he feel this way? What was it about his willingness to love and accept her made her feel like this?? He sighed and finished drying of his face and went back to his room, grabbing his bag off the floor. He toyed with the idea of opening a rift right there, but decided he should talk to clarice or Regan, and send one of them down to see if they had a better effect on Lex then he seemed to have. He turned and cast a galcne towards the bathroom door, wondering if Lexi was still crying tino her pillow... then  left, letting the door swing shut behind him. the thump of the door closing seemed oddly loud and made him jump. With a snort he slung his bag over his shoulder and started across the common area to the elevator

Lex sat up on the bed, hearing a door close. And she knew, with out having to look, it was Faal leaving. "Oh you bloody brat!" She snapped at her self, wipping her cheeks off. This wasn't his fault. It wasn't entirely HER fault, and yet, it was. Why did she have to push every thing good in her life away? Why was she so cursed, that she couldn't have any happiness!? And yet, she knew the answer. The damned Fates. "I hope you're having your laughs." She snarled at thin air. The Fates...The Fates! She looked up, as the thought came to her. It was insane, and reckless and yet, she needed to know. She'd go to them, or at least one of them. Rue had done it once, so had Jack. Honnor Knight had appearently done so as well. She just needed to know how... She supposed she could find Rue...She got up off the bed, moving toward the door

Faal leaned his head against the wall as he waited for the elevator. The soft sound of a door closing behind him made him jump and he gave soft snort at his behavior. He straightened up, glancing at the floors. What was taking so long? It wasn't that tall a building, for crying out loud...

Lex started toward the elevator, when she saw Faal with his back to the hall, leaning against the wall. She stopped, staring. She didn't know what to do, she didn't know if the building had any other elevators or where the stairs where. And she couldn't stand to see him like this, but she didn't know if it was a good idea to approach him or not, with out making a mess of things again, though she found herself taking a few soft steps closer, and even found herself raising a hand...

Faal caught a faint reflection of Lex behind him and turned to see her reaching out as if to touch his shoulder. He smiled softly. "Hey...I figured I'd leave you alone for a while... I don't seem to have a very good effect on you right now..." he said softly, dropping his eyes. "I was going to pop up and let your family know i was leaving.. no doubt your mom will be donw in a few minutes to see how your doing...."

"It's not you...that's having this effect on me..." Lex answered softly. "Please don't think it is...you haven't done anything wrong...I did ask you to kiss me...I wanted you to..." Her eyes looked pleadingly, despert for him to believe her that it wasn't his fault. "You don't have to leave...and you don't have to tell her to check on me... I...there's something I have to do, so..." She didn't know rather to tell him what she planned to do or not.

He let his bag drop to the floor at his feet and reached out taking her hand. "I know... I'm sorry for reacting this way. you just have to understand... I can't se you hurting.. I can't! I've always held you and kissed away the tears and done my best to make the hurt go away... and I can't do that right now, because that's what's causing the hurt to begin with..." he said softly. "I want to help you , Lexi.. I NEED to help you ... I just don't know how...Please.. if you know something I can do, tell me."

"There's something I have to do..." She repeated softly, not looking at him, but letting him take her hand for the moment. "I need answers, I need to know...or I can't get past this...I just...don't want you to be mad at me for what I'm going to do..." The elevator arrived, the doors opening.

"I could never hate you, Lexi.. not for anything." Faal said softly, frowning as he held her hand. "What are you going to do? If I can help, I will.... I'd like to come with you at least...please." he asked.

Lex looked toward the elevator doors, debating on rather to tell him or not. "I told you...I need answers...and I can only think of one place to get them..." She answered softly. "Or at least...clues to the answers I need..." She took a deep breath, before looking back at him. "I want to see the Fates..."

Faal was silent a moment, then slowly nodded. "Sounds like a sensible plan. I'll take you. We'll pop up to Xander'd and then go." he said, pulling her towards the elevator, catching the door just as it started to slide shut again.

Lexi blinked as Faal pulled her into the elevator. "Xander? What for?" She didn't know if she could take seeing Xander right now. She knew Auron had said they had a better relationship but all she remember was still despising him.

Faal pressed the button for the top floor before answering Lex. "Because Xander works for Hope, the youngest Fate..or he did anyhow. That's why he came here, Lexi... his job was to keep you safe until I could get here to take over. And even after I arrived, he still stayed and looked out for you. Of course after a while, he had another reason to stay..." he said with a soft smile.

Lex frowned. She was still trying to picture Xander and Sylvie together like Auron had said, and even having a baby. She just couldn't quiet picture that. But she supposed Xander must have changed for that to happen.

Faal stopped outside their apartment door and knocked softly, not wanting to ring the beel incase the baby was sleeping. A moment later the door opened to reveal Xander, complete with the spit up cloth over his shoulder as he rubbed Bastin's back. He smiled as he saw them. "Hey, the love birds are back! Come on in guys! Lexi, I heard about .. you know... the Seal thing... If your happy, then I guess congratulations are in order."

Lexi was caught staring at Xander, with the baby. Xander looked so different, his black hair shorter then she remembered. He was wearing a t-shirt and blue jeans, nothing black. Not even any eyeliner. She was blinked, when she heard what he said and started to say thank you, but it didn't really want to come out. Xander raised an eyebrow, knowing something was wrong. "Okay...so now what's happened?" he asked conerned.

Faal smirked slightly, as he ushered Lex inside so he could close the door. "There was some trouble early this morning.. I don't know if everyone's heard or not. Eire and Lex were both hurt... Eire needed surgery but is in recovery. Regan is with him. Lexi... suffered some head trauma and has lost the last three years worth of her memories.. " Xander's face fell and he looked down at her. "Oh.. Lexi... damn I am so sorry to hear... is there anything I can do?" he asked softly.

Xander of course also knew that ment she couldn't remember his apology but that was the least of Xander's worries at the moment. "Do you know how to reach the Fates?" Lexi asked softly, not looking at him. Xander blinked. "I know how to reach Hope...why do you...Lexi, it's not exactly a good idea to go demanding answers from the Fates, I rather learned that the hard way..." Xander answered softly

Faal reached out and laid a hand on his free shoulder, smiling softly at the fact that through the whole conversation, he hadn't stopped gently patting Bastin's back and jiggling him when he started to fuss. "I know, Xander...I'm going with her. But they're the only one's who can help her sort out what's happened to her. Please, can you tell us the best way to Hope?"

Xander sighed. "There isn't any...best way to Hope. But I suppose I could take you. Just...don't expect any direct answers. At most everything will probably be in riddles...and we know how much you hate riddles, Lexi." Xander said softly, rubbing Bastin's back. "I've got to at least try..." Lexi muttered, finally looking up at him.

Xander gave her a sad smile. "Yeah, I guess you do. At least you're doing it the right way this time... no charging off on your own. You're taking Faal and came to me... and I know that wasn't easy considering..." he let his voice trail off. "Well.. let me hand Bast off to  Sylvie and I'll be right with you." he said, giving Lex another soft smile as he turned and headed for the spare room Sylvie and him used for their studio. The sound of the sewing maching  could be heard as he opened the door, and it stopped a moment later.

Lex stared after him, in wide eyed surprise. "I guess he really has changed...' She said softly. She smiled slightly, finding that she was happy for Xander,

Faal smiled donw at Lex and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "He wanted to make amends for what he did, Lex.. that's why he went to Hope... and hope sent him here to help you... and then he fell in love and that was that. From what Sylvie has said, he was never the complete ass he showed the world anyways... But then, we are never completely what we show the world, are we?"  He asked softly, then gave a snort. "you know... you asked to see my tattoo.. and yet you never asked to see me. Myself without the glamour, that is. I keep forgetting I even have it on.. I went for so long without it..."

Lex looked up at him, silent a moment, then sighed. "I don't remember you with out the glamour...but if you're...willing to show me..." She said softly.

Faal smiled softly. "Always wore it.. I don't think you ever saw me without it until the day your collar came off and I lost my powers. Which by the way, didn't have anything to do with you... I'd thought I'd burnt them out removing your collar, but it turns out I'd just .. ignored them so long that they just went away on their own." He smiled again. "Good thing I'm not just elven and have my faeire abilities now. Anyhow, from then until just a few weeks ago, I hadn't even used glamour." he gave a soft chuckle and rolled his eyes. " I don't know why I brought it up.. after all, like I said, we were togerther for some time before you ever saw me to begin with..."

"And even seeing the real you, obviously didn't change how I felt about you...so what does it matter, glamour or not?" Lex muttered

He looked down at her with a soft yet sad look. "I suppose because you loved me then, Lexi. What I looked like didn't matter to you because you loved me. Would it matter now though.. that's another question. You no longer have the memories that lead you to accept me for what I was. If I were to show you now... would you have the same reaction?"

"It's a risk that'll have to be taken if we're to ever know." Lex answered looking at him. "I'd like to know, of course. But I suppose it's really up to you." She answered. They heard Xander coming back and Lex had to fight to glance that way.

Faal dropped the glamour and turned her back to face him. He heard Xander give a low whistle and stop, hangin back a few feet trying to look as if he wasn't paying any attention to them. "Well, Lexi?"

Lex looked up at him, silently, just looking at him. She reached up a tentive hand, touching his cheek a moment, before moving her hand to curl a lock of his hair around her fingers. She smiled softly. "Well what? Are you expecting me to run away?" She asked in a whisper, ignoreing Xander, who had busied himself with picking up some of the baby's things from near by. "Seeing the real you, doesn't change the fact that I know I loved you and that I know I still do, just because I can't remember saying it, or showing it."

Faal smiled softly and let the glamour slip back into place. "Thank you." he said softly before glancing back up at Xander. "It's alright Xander.. the ears are gone. Thank you for waiting."  Xander gave a soft chuckle and shook his head. "Sorry, man .. I just can't... they're just..." he chuckled as he grabbed his jacket out of the closet. Faal smirked down at Lex. Xander and several of the others have a hard time looking at the ears without laughing...they're to... 'pointy' I believe wa sthe last reason I heard before we left.."

"Well maybe they shouldn't spend all that time looking at your ears." Lex said, casting Xander a look. Xander snickered. "They do kinda stick out, Lexi." He replied. Lex rolled her eyes. "Are you sure you wanna do this Lex?" Xander asked softly, growing serious. "Yus." Lex answered. Xander sighed. "So be it." He turned slightly and spoke out loud to thin air. "Hope, open up!" A moment later, a rift opened up.Xander gestured to it, waiting for them to go through first.

Faal gave Lex's hand another squeeze of encouragement and she looked up at him with a small smile before stepping through the rift, Faal right beside her. Xander chuckled as Faal passed him. "She doesn't realize she's not wearing any shoes, does she?" he asked softly.

"Of course, when has that ever stopped her before.." Xander added shaking his head with a smirk before following them through the rift, which closed behind him. They were in a dark stone chamber, lit only by one or two torches. In the middle of the floor was a unnaturally beautiful red head, weaving. "Why do you call me, Alexander? Your term of serves ended." Hope said softly, not looking up.
 "It rather seems Lexine wants some answers." Xander said, looking at Lex and Faal. "But you knew that already." He added, looking back at Hope, who still didn't look up, but her silence was enough to tell them she had.
 "Ask your questions." She said finally.
 "Why?" Lex asked back. This got Hope's attention and she looked up raising an eyebrow. "A very evasive question.”
 "Well I've been told  the Fates don't like to give direct answers, so I figure my question should be in direct...but I rather think you already know what I want to know..."

Faal couldn't help but smile softly at Lexi's words. HE galnced at Xander who had a rather stunned look on his face and yet managed to look impressed at the sme time.

"I can't give you back your memory...that you must do on your own." Hope answed, turning back to her weaving. "That's not what I wanted to know. I want to know WHY you've done the things you have to me." Hope smiled faintly. "That to you will understand in time. I could change everything, Lexine...but you'd loose the most important thing."

Faal stepped behind Lex, sliding his hands around her waist. "Why do you keep torturing her? Why do you keep torturing us? Haven't we gone through enough already?" he asked softly. "Lex at least deserves peace from your manipulations..."

"You speak to me as I'm the only one doing this." Hope said softly, Xander winced, knowing that tone and he rather wanted to stop Lex and Faal now, before they made it worse. "I weave only part of the tapistery. I'm the one who has bestowed the good things. But if you presist on demanding answers, I'm not above taking them back." Hope's eyes, although obviously blind, flashed as she looked up at them.

"But that's what keeps happening... we find something good and it's taken from us. If you can't give her the answers she seeks... at least point us to where we can keep looking..." he asked softly.

"It isn't quiet as simple as that...and yet it is." Hope answered. Lex groaned, found herslef leaning back against Faal. "You wish to recover your memories, you need only try harder, and try not at all." "Stop with the bloody riddles!" Lex snapped. Hope's eyes flashed again. "Stop trying os hard in remembering to love, and just do it!" Hope snapped right back. "As for the answers you seeks, you'll have to start back at the beginning. We're not the only ones who write your life Lexine. You belong as much to the seal as the life stone, and they are your true masters."

Faal suddenly knew that was the best they were going to get from Hope, and held Lex tighter against him. "Thank you for your time, Hope. And thank you as well for the good you've brought into our lives. All our lives. " he added with a smile to Xander. "Come on, love.. let's go."

There wasn't even a rift, they simply just found themselves back in Xander and Sylvie's apartment. Lex turned in against Faal, shutting her eyes against the onslaught of tears. Xander sighed. "I'm sorry..." He muttered, shaking his head. "Hope does tend to give out more information then the other two but I think it's a rule they have to be so evasive."

"It's alright, Xander. She told us enough. Thank you for your help. " he said softly. "Come on Lexi... let's leave Xander to his diaper changing fun." he added with a small smile and swept her into his arms. Xander quickly opened the door and as they were leaving said softly. "Hey... you guys ned anything. just call, eh? And Lexi.. you make a gorgoues girl."

Lex looked at him for a long moment, and for lack of anything else to say, said softly, "Thank you.." She let Faal lead her from the apartment, but had no idea what to do now. She was loosing her emotions even anger, she could feel herself slipping, back to a place she did not want to be.

Faal cradled her in his arms as they waited  for the elevator. "What shall we do now, Lexi. Will you take her advice?" The door slid open and he stepped in, hitting the floor for the guestrooms.

"Can we just...go...home..." Lexi muttered softly. She wanted to get away from the offices and everyone else. They weren't helping, only making it all the more confusing for her. "I suppose Ireally don't have a choice other then take her advice, for what good it'll do..."

Faal sighed and kissed the top of her head. "LExi.. isn't it the same as what we were discussing already? About loving each other and giving us another chance without the memories?" he asked softly and stepped out of the elevator, heading for her room. "And where do you mean by home?"

"I want to get away from this place, away from everyone else. And I'm assuming we have a home some where...away from everyone..." Lexi answered softly, glancing up at him from his arms.

Faal opened the door and stepped inside, but didn't set her down right away. "Yes.. we have two. The one in Scotland .. and  one here just outside town." he said softly  as he moved to the bed and sat down, holding her on his lap. "Would it be so bad, Lexi? Just.. being with me and building new memories?"

"I never said it wouldn't...but I want what was mine...it's unfair...to forget everything else." Lexi muttered, not looking up at him. "And it doesn't matter which of he two, as long as it's away from here..." She muttered.

Faal sighed and kissed her neck. "Little flame..." he sighed again and let his words die, instead he stood, lifting her in his arms again and opened a rift. He didn't set her donw until they stood in the living room of their place in Scotland. "I'll pop in for our things later and to let everyone know where we are." he said softly, reaching out to play with her pony tail.

Lex looked around the living room, trying to get a feel for it, trying to remember it. But at least she felt comfortable. "I'm sure they'll be worried.." She answered softly, as her eyes traveled over the room and it's furnishings.

"There's an old swing hanging on a tree out back... ever since you found it you go there when you want to think." he gave a soft snort and buried his face in her hair. "Most of the time you beg me to come out and push you... feel like giving it a try?"

Lex smiled softly, turning her head slightly to look at him. "It's better than standing here staring at everything." She answered. "Show me the swing?"

He chuckled softly as he looked own at her. "As soon as you put on shoes and a jacket." he said and let go of her long enough to retrieve both for her.

She took her shoes first and leaned against him to slip them on, before pulling on the jacket. "I forgot...Scottland can be chilly, can't it..." She muttered softly, straightening up, but still leaning against him.

He  slid one arm around ehr waist and held her against him. "It can at times.. but we don't seem to mind it. It is a bit too cool for a summer dress without a sweater over it though." he said softly and kissed the top of her head.

"And I still don't like being cold..." She replied, with a slight smile. "Well then, now that I've got said sweater, you were going to show me the swing.." She said softly, looking up at him.

Faal smiled spftly and swept an arm out to the side in a mock bow, then offered his arm. Lex gave a half smirk at the gesture, but accepted his arm and let him lead her out to the back yard where a huge old oak tree sat with a swing hanging off one large branch. "I just replaced the ropes a few months ago for you... lots of fun climbing up there to do it too.. you seemes to enjoy watching me.." he chuckled softly.

Lex detatched herself from Faal, and moved over to the swing, touching the ropes and the seat, before sitting down. Her feet were off the ground a bit, and she kicked them slightly, turning a bit to look at him. "I suppose I thanked you..." She said softly.

Faal tilted his head to one side, smirking. "No.. actually I don't recall you ever doing so... you were too bust laughing at the time... or perhaps you did and it just slipped my mind." he said coming around behind her. "Shall I push?"

"Hmm...well...thank you." She said softly, still kicking her feet slightly. "And yus please." She said, still looking up at him. She smiled a bit, holding onto either rope

Faal chuckled and began to push her gentley, letting her build her own momentum if she chose. He smiled softly remembering how many times they'd been out here just like this. He blinked back sudden tears at the thought that they were just getting to the point where they'd soon have children he could do this with as well...

She'd inclined her head, watching her feet as he pushed her. She found it comforting, but other wise couldn't remember doing it before. With a deep sigh, she looked up over the yard and landscape, trying to place it, hoping something would jog her memory.

Faal let his mind drift, just trying to enjoy the time spent with her, trying not to think of what had happened and what he'd been so close to losing.And might still lose. "How are you feeling, little flame... let me know if you start to feel dizzy or anything like that.. or hungry perhaps... it's been quite a while since you ate last.."

She turned her head slightly, to look back at him. "Little Flame?" She asked in a whisper, smiling softly. "Do you always call me that?"

Faal smiled softly. "Yes. I've called you that... forever. "He said softly. " your my little flame... although I always told you one day you would flare up into a fiercesome Blaze.. and you have.. I've seen you. But you shall always be my little flame... my eternal flame... it's  what I inscribed on your band..."

Lex smiled a bit more, althought it was sad. "Well I suppose it's better than cupcake..." She said softly. She leaned her head against one rope, thinking about his nickname for her. She thought it rang familiar in her mind. And then she began to think about what Hope had told her, to recover her memory. To love, she had to trust and trust didn't come easy for Lex, considering her past. It wasn't just trusting Faal with her feelings as well, she knew she'd have to trust him physically, she found herself wondering just what kind of relationship they had in that area, and felt her cheeks flush, and rather hoped he hadn't noticed.

"Of course,  that's not the only thing I call you. It's just the one that is always a part of us. I just recently found myself calling you babydoll... which amuses you.. not sure where it came form either..." he frowned slightly, trying to remember where he'd gotten the name from. "Mostly though, it's little flame, or  love, sweetheart..little things like that.." he said softly. "I did call you Lexi.. but now everyone calls you Lexi, so I suppose that no longer counts..."

"Lexi...right there in the middle..." She snorted softly. "I suppose I still don't care to be called Lexine, even as a girl...never undestand WHAT my...mother was thinking..." Lex shook her head. She'd inclined her head to hide the blush, but the thoughts wouldn't exactly leave her mind and she was to nervous to ask them out loud and wondered if she could bring herself to find out for herself. She'd never had some one kiss her with such passion. Well she never expected to find herself married, or a girl.

Fal gave a soft chuckle. "I believe we'd come to the conclusion that your mother some how knew one day you would become a girl, and so named you for that reason..." he gave her another gentle push before continuing. "either that or she was just plain mean."

"Probably plain mean." Lex replied, with a slight smirk. She sat her feet down, stopping the swing, but sat there for a long moment, letting go of the ropes to hug herself, still looking at the yard. She took a deep breath, then asked in a very soft voice. "How long...were...we together before we..." She trailed off, blushing fully now. 

Faal frowned at her question.. trying to decide what she meant to ask. He walked around infront of her and looked donw at her for a moment, then sat on the grass, one knee drawn up before him. "Before what? Before we were wed? Well... we were together five months i believe... and then i was trapped for two years..." he glanced up and saw by the expression on her face that that wasn't what she'd meant. "Oh... that's not it, is it..." he asked softly, leaning back  on an elbow. "You meant.. before we were... intimate.."

"Yus, that's what I meant..." Lex answered in the same soft tone, her cheeks still crimson from the blush and she had to advert her eyes.

He smiled softly, plucking a handful of scraggily grass as he spoke. " Well.. we were intimate from the start in a way..." he said, enjoying her fursious blushing. " Our first date saw me holding you in my arms while you cried... and as I said earlier, we couldn't seem to stop talking.. telling all our most painful parts to each other... it ened with a kiss.. a incredibley wonderful kiss.. but just a kiss. Our second date saw the beginnings of a more.. physically intimate relationship... but even then.. we didn't 'go all the way'.. we might've,  we certainly had the oportunity...we always had a tendency to wind up talking.. or playing... sex, while incredibly wonderful... was never the be all and end all of our 'intimacy..."

She slid out of the swing to sat on the grass. "I told you everything?" she asked incrediouly. "On the first date? I can't imagine doing that...not with some one I'd only just met...there's things.." She trailed off, "How much about my past DO you know?"

Faal dropped the handful of grass and sat up, looking her in the eye. "All of it, sweetness. Every last gory detail. I know about Xander and Evie.. about Abadon and his ..' favoritism'... I know about Rowen,  and Rue... I know about it all, love...you told me because you needed to tell someone.. and no, love.. you didn't tell me everything that first night. There were things I didn't know until just these past few months..."

Lex lowered her eyes, staring at her hands in her lap. "I couldn't have told you everything...I can't talk about most of what Abadon did..." Yet she found the sudden need to, as if it was her best way to decide rather or not she could trust him...again.

Faal shifted to his knees and crawled the few feet to where LExi sat on the grass and sat beside her. "Lexi... I know it's hard to imagine it, but you did tell me... you've always said you felt comforatble with me, and didn't wnat to hold anything back... I know the things he did to you .. the things he made you do.. I know how he made you feel.." he said and reached out to gently stroke her arms where the scars were hidden beneath the sweater.

"Everything? How it started when I was seven? How I was made to wait in the bed for him if he wasn't in the room when I was called for? The things I was forced to do before and after he used me?" Lex shuddered, hugging herself, she was fighting back a tremble. "The whip? The shackles? The leash?"

Faal reached out and gently pulled her into his arms, kissing her forehead. "Sweetheart.... at various times throught out our life together, you've told me things that you felt you just couldn't hold inside anylonger. I've held you at night when you've woken form nightmares and soothed oyu as you told me about them... I've been in your dreams helping you fight off the demons that haunt you..." he kissed the top of her hair again and lay his cheek against her head. "Perhaps there are still things you haven't found yourself needing to tell me yet... but you've told me so much..."

"He used to whip me...in the bed...just to hear me scream...if I didn't scream, he just whipped me more...He'd chain me to the bed...on my stomach...that's how he liked me best...If he wasn't in the room when I got there, I had to shackle my own wrists..." Lex muttered ina barely heard whisper. "The leash he used to drag me by..."

Faal cuddled her closer, rubbing her back as she spoke. "I know, love... and one day i'll kill him for hurting you like that... I swore to you he'd never touch you again and he won't. I'll die before I let him lay a single finger on you again..."

"But you can't erase the past." Lex whispered. "I wish I'd forgotten that, more then anything else..." She pulled away from Faal, staggering to her feet with a strangled sob, using the swing the to pull herself up. "You said you were a slave once as well, but you can't possibly understand what it was like for me...have you ever been used like that?" She demanded. "The same way I was?!"

"Yes, Lexi.. I was... not from so young or for so long, no.. but I was." he made no move to get up, feeling she might fel threatened if he did. Instead he held out his hand to her. "Don't run away form me, love... please. Come sit with me.. we can talk about other things..."

Lex gave the swing an angry push. "I don't WANT to talk about anything else!" She snapped. "Have you told me this before, or have you kept it a secret?" She questioned, moving around the other side of the swing and sitting down in it, with her back to him. She needed to know, if she'd told him everything, she needed to know everything from him, or she couldn't trust him.

Faal sighed. "There are no secrets betwen us, love. I'm sure there are many things that haven't been spoken of, but that's merely because the subject hasn't arisen yet.. but yes love.. I have told you this once before..."

"Well that's great, but I can't remember." Lex replied, slightly cold. "Do you not understand, I NEED to know...I can't do this other wise!" She turned partly on the swing to give him a despert and serious look.

"Lexi.." Fal sighed. "You asked if I'd told you before.. you didn't ask me to tell you again.. sweetheart... if you want me to tell you, ask me to tell you." he said softly, drawing his knes up before hims and wrapping his arms around them. "Would you like me to tell you about my life? My father the tyrant who when I discovered him raping and murdering moratl women had my memory wiped and implanted with a false one.. then had a spell so powerful cast that the entire realm forgot about me? A spell so strong that it took over 1600 years to break.. and even now some memories are still hard to find...?" he kept his voice soft as he spoke,. watching her. "Or do you just want to know about my time as a slave...?"

"Tell me, all of it..please?" She whispered. "I have to know...I can't..." She shook her head, running the back of her hand over her eyes.

Faal sighed softly and rested his chin on his knees. "I suppose I might as well tell you about the slavery first.. it's jumping in the middle of the story, but it's what you originally asked about..." he said softly and closed his eyes. He'd never thought he'd be talking about this again. Lex had been the only person he'd ever told, and he'd thought that once it came out, he'd never have to talk about it again..." Once the spell i mentioned was cast I became Faal.. I was set in place as a guard in same castle I grew up in .. but no one knew me and I knew no one. I met a lady, Jasmine.. and we became friends.and she introduced me to the prince, Estehl.. and we became friends as well... then one day i was standing guard and low and behold, I witnessed the same thing that had my memory wiped in the first place... of course this time, I was merely a lowly guard... so he had me bundled up and sent to the goblins as a present...."

He sighed and kicked his shoes off, so he could wiggle his toes into the cool grass, the contact with the earth somehow calming. "One minute i was facing my king the next i was waking up with my arms and leg bound behind me, a gag and blind fold in place and a burning around my neck... " he reached up and rubbed the faint scar, his eyes unfocused as he spoke, but riveted on the ground at his feet. "When they knew i was awake, they started to 'play' with me... poking at me with sticks, finger, knives... whatever they had at hand... a few braver souls bit me.. then they removed the blind fold and I was told that I now belonged to them...."

"At first, they contented them selves with mild torture and degradation... I guess they were trying to break me. I was apparently too stubborn, so the king decided to try a different tack. He handed me over to his wives... then changed his mind and decided to join them. Goblins are very fond of pain during sex. Pain and mutilation... they have healers close by incase they get too carried away, but most goblin carry scars or even amputations from sex  proudly.. signs of their virility apparently. "He gave a soft snort then added softly. "I was spared permanent disfigurement only because they liked hurting me better when I was 'beauitufl'... meant more to them to carve up perfect flesh..."

Faal dug his toes deeper into the grass and sighed again, resting his cheek on his arms. "They seemed to particularly enjoy flaying the skin off me... both before and during... they seemed to have several differnt method of doing it to... some used a scourge.. others just craved it ofdf with knives... the more you screamed, the more they enjoyed... I tried not to scream too much..." a shudder went through him at the memory and he took a moment before continuing. "The queen liked to  lead me about on a leash... especailly if I still bore her 'marks'... Every now and then I'd be tossed to some group of favorites... " he squeezed his eyes shut as another shudder ran through him. "Lex... I don't know if I can do this again, love... even after a thousand years, it's still there when I think of it, as fresh as the day it happened..."

Lex was silent, her head hanging. A couple tears fell off her cheeks, landing on her hands which were folded on her lap. There was nothing she could say. The words 'I'm sorry' just didn't cut it for something like that. After a moment, she wiped her cheeks off, and slid silently from the swing, settling down beside him and hugged him with out a word, , resting her cheek against against his shoulder.

For a moment he couldn't move. He just continued to sit there with his knees drawn up and his head on his arms. When he could finally bring himself to move he turned and pulled Lex into his arms, still trying to fight the sobs he could feel waiting inside. the tears he couldn't stop, however, and he could feel the material of his shirt sleeves soaked through. "Lexi... I'll try if gthere's anything specific you want to know... but.. reliving the whole thing again..."

Lex shook her head slightly. "No..." She said in a barely audible whisper. She hugged him close. "How did you escape?" That was the one piece of her own past she never could remember. How she escaped Abadon's realm, she could remember the last time Abadon used her, and she could remember finding herself in alley way, but she could never remember the inbetween those two moments.

Faal held her close, pressing his face against her hair. He gave his head a gentle shake, feeling the hair tickle across his cheeks before he pressed back against it. "I'm not sure exactly... I tried many times, but I always failed...  On my last attempt, it looked like I was going to  fail yet again... and then Estehl was there... He was just there and he grabbed me and tossed me over his shoulder and hauled me off... he removed the collar somehow and healed me... and sent me off to the mortal realm to avoid the king..."

Lex sighed softly, still holding him. "Estehl has a habbit of that, I think..." She said softly. "He's saved everyone's life at one point or another...even Rue..." She rested her cheek against his shoulder. "I still don't know how I got away from Abadon's realm...I suppose I'll never really know...Still..." She trailed off, falling silent. She still couldn't bring herself to say I'm sorry. She knew those were some of the two most useless words, even if she felt that way completely.

Holding her in his arms and feeling her hold him back... he sighed and pulled her closer. He whispered softly in her ear, "Thank you."

"For what?" Lex asked softly, turning her head slightly to look up at him, with a quizzical expression.

"For asking, for listening.. for caring..." He said softly, looking down into her eyes, his fingers craddling her cheek. "No one else has ever asked aside from you, Lex.. not even Estehl. Not that I would have told them if they HAD, of course..." he added with a slight wry smile. "But at least you asked... "

"Perhaps..." Lexi answered softly. "But I wish you'd never endured it...and saying I'm sorry doesn't help, it doesn't change it..."

Faal snorted softly and pulled her close again. "I feel the same about you and the things you've been through, love. The diffrence being, that you weren't even dreamt of by the Fates let alone born when I was a slave... for you, however.. I was alive and well and your guardian.. and I should've found you and rescued you... and for failing you in that, even though what you endured made you the strong, vibrant person that you are now.. I will never  forgive myself.."

"I suppose...I'll never know why I ended up there...until I know how my...how Lillian did..." Lex said softly with a sigh. "And only Honnor Knight knows the truth there..."

Faal stroked a hand through the thick red curls and buried his face in them again, his other hand wrapped around her holding her close against him. "I'll help you find out anything you want to know. Perhaps we'll find some answers in Ireland when... if we go." he said, finishing softly as he remembered that their travel and adoption plans were now on indefinate hold..

"Right now, I just want my memory back..." Lex muttered, turning slightly, to find herself laying her head against his chest. She was dwelling on what Hope had said to her, about how to recover her memory and in most ways it made perfect sense to Lex, All she had to do was give herself whole again to Faal, but that meant complete trust.

"Maybe we're just trying too hard... " he suggested softly, stroking her hair. "Would you like to go back inside and look through your things? Or perhaps a walk or trip in town....?" he closed his eyes, breathing in the warm scent of her and wishing he could just sweep her into his arms  and carry her off to bed. "Anything you wish, love.."

"The problem is, I don't even know if looking through my things would help..." Lex answered softly. "I know what Hope meant...it's just...not...easy." She said in a whisper. "I don't know...if I can do that right now.."

"It's alright... there's no need to rush into things yet." he said softly, kissing her hair. "Are you hungry? Shall I cook for you? I'm not that bad of a cook... lazy, but not bad.." he said with a soft chuckle as he nuzzled into her hair, loving the soft feel as it brushed his face. "Or we could go in town to the pub..."

"I suppose the pub would be alright." Lex answered softly, she was divided, as much as she wanted to be alone with him, she didn't want to be completely alone with him, more to do with herself then anything he'd said or done. She supposed she couldn't have asked for a better husband, who seemed to be more devoted to her happiness and comfort then anything else.

Faal gave a mock sigh. "Should I take that as a comment on my culinary abilities?" he asked, chuckling softly into her hair. "Then again... I seem to remember a few of my earlier kitchen experiences ending at the pub... I suppose it's a lucky thing they have a very good cook.. limited, but good."  he  knew he should get to his feet and help her up, but he just couldn't bring himself to break this moment any sooner then neccessarry... just having her in his arms... he nuzzled his face lower into her hair and kissed her neck.

She breathed deeply, closing her eyes as he kissed her neck. "I suppose I could make something..." She said softly, moving slightly rest a hand against his chest. But if he kept kissing her neck, she wasn't going to be able to move, and she had the feeling she'd allow it to become more. She supposed the only question about that was rather or not that was a bad thing...

Faal sighed softly against her throat as he felt her touch his chest and kissed her again, following the path of where th collar used to lay. Aside he hit the front of her throat, he stopped and looked down at her, her head tilted back and he eyes closed.. his gaze fixed on her slightly parted lips and he gave a soft moan before catching those lips in a kiss.

The kiss caught Lex by surprise and her eyes fluttered open, but she didn't pull back. Instead, after a moment, she fell into the kiss, her hand sliding up his chest to wrap around his neck as she leaned against him.

Faal gave a soft groan as he finally broke the kiss. "I .. I'm sorry, sweetheart.. I shouldn't have..." he drew ina breath and looked at the ground trying to gather his thoughts...

Lex looked up a him, slightly disappointed. She shook her head slightly, pushing a lock of her hair behind her ear. "No...its alright...don't apologize..." She said softly, watching his face.

He closed his eyes for a moment before turning to look at her, his ex[pression a mix of longing and sadness. "I feel I should... I shouldn't be giving into these.. urges... You're struggling to remember and I can't be helping matters... " he saod softly. "If I had my way, love.. I'd sweep you into my arms and carry you off to bed and we'd never leave..." he smiled softly. "I suppose it would be best if we went to dinner..."

"Would that be such a bad thing?" She asked her own question softly. She offered a shy soft smile. "After all, we're supposed to be making a new start, but...we are still married..." She blushed, and looked back at the ground, but didn't quiet move to get up or away from him.

Faal looked at her for a moment before reaching out to stroke her hair. "Not a bad thing, no, love... but would it be fair to you?"

Lex sighed deeply. "No, I suppose not...I doubt...I...could right now." She muttered, then smiled slightly. "I suppose we should go to dinner..."

He smiled softly and somewhat sadly. "Yes, I suppose we should." He said, still making no move to let go of her or retrieve his socks and shoes. Despite his words, he wanted to do nothing more then just go on kissing her, and the temptation was hard to bare.

With another sigh, Lex pulled herself up, standing and brushed off the skirt of her dress, not exactly looking at Faal. Casting a look over the yard, she pulled the ribbon that had half come out of her hair by now out, and tied it around her wrist, letting her hair fall down her back. Her expression was sad and thoughtful at the same time.

Faal sat at her feet, just watching her for a moment, his heart cinstricting almost painfully at the sight of her. "Bright Terra but you're beautiful..." he said softly.

Lex turned to look at him and after a moment, seemed to grasp what he said, and blushed. "I get this feeling you like to see me blush." She said softly, her head slightly inclined so that she was looking at him through her lashes.

He smiled, chuckling softly. "That doesn't make it any less true..." he said softly, reaching out for her hand. He ran his thumb gently over her knuckles before bringing it to his lips. "I fall more in love with you seemingly everytime I turn around..."

Her blush increased as she watched him. She didn't quiet know what to say to that. "We should go..." She said in a whisper

He sighed and heaved himself to his feet, still holding her hand. He stood looking down at her for a moment, his free hand reaching out to carress her cheek. With a sad smile he raised her hand to his lips for another kiss then released her, bending to quickly pull on his socks and shhoes.

She watched him a moment, before moving back toward the house with out him. If she put enough distance between them for a moment, she could get over the urge to just forget everything and let him carry her off, and disappointment that she knew he wasn't likely to at the moment. She wandered toward the house, looking up at it a moment. It was a nice place, she rather liked what she'd seen of it so far, it felt...like home.

He stood for a moment and watched her approachg the house. by the time his shoes were on again she was  just reaching the back door. With a slight smirk he sprinted across the lawn and caught her as she opened the door, swinging her up into his arms. He let the door swing closed again and chuckled as he carried her around to the  front where the car waited. "No need to go inside..."

She squeaked when he caught her and turned her head to look at him with a slightly annoyed, more amused expression. "I see, well you could have told me that BEFORE I was almost inside." She replied

He gave a chuckle as he approached the car. "I could have .. but where would have been the fun in that?" he asked and stopped beisde the car, setting her on her feet. He stood smiling down at her for a moment as he reached over and opened the door for her. At the last moment he grabbed her and pulled her into a kiss. He knew he shouldn't.. he knew he should go with his original plan and hold back to make her comfortable.. but he just couldn't. He had never been able to be around her without giving in to the urge to touch her and kiss her.. so why start now?

She pulled away from the kiss before it became to much and slipped into the car, her cheeks still flushed. She smiled softly and muttered to herself as she watched him covertly, going around to the other side of the car. "Cheeky..."She shook her head slightly, still smiling softly

Faal was still smiling softly as he got behind the wheel and started the car, heading down the lane towards the road that would take them to the small village and it's only pub. He let his hand slip over and take hold of Lex's as he drove.

Lex watched the scenery passing as Faal drove, loving the ride and the scenery. She didn't mind that he took her hand. It wasn't far into the village but far enough, and it wasn't a huge village, rather nice actually. She gave a sigh, but this one was more content then before

He pulled the car to a stop and practically lept from it and raced around to Lexi's door. As he helped her out he smirked donw at her and spoke softly. "When Maggie asks if you'd like the usual... just say yes. It's a joke..." he said, his eyes twinking.

Lex raised an eyebrow. "A joke? As in what?" She asked in reply, eyeing him.

He chuckled as he reached out for the door handle. "They only serve one thing.. it's different each night, of course, but still..."  the  smirk had spread into a grin as he pulled her into the pub.  The place was just over half full, since it was still a bit early, and they wound their way past smiling and nodding faces to a booth.

Lex shook her head slightly amused and slid into the booth, and to it's corner before casting a look around the common room of the pub and the people inside. It was a quaint little place, lovely in it's simplicity.

Faal nodded in return to a few hellos and smiles form the other customers. A middle aged woman with short curly brown hair and a dimpled smile suddenly appeared before the table. "'Ello, luvies... can I get you folks the usual, tn'ight?" she asked her eyes sparkling. Faal smiled back and nodded. "I wouldn't dream of having anything else, Maggie my dearest. And you, Lexi?"

Lex glanced up with a blush, then managed to nod with out a word. Some one coming in the door had caught her attention, but he disappeared behind some people before she could really look and when she tried, she didn't see him. She thought he seemed familiar, but there was no way she could place him with the split image glance she'd gotten.

Faal turned and noticed Lexi's distraction. "Are you alright, love?" he asked, reaching out for her hand. He turned to glance in the direction she was looking but failed to see anything that caught his attention.

"I just thought I saw some one I knew...or knew..." She muttered, trailing off at the insaneness of that statement and shook her head slightly, turning back to Faal. "I suppose it should have been obvious by now, but...you've lived here before we were married haven't you?"

He smiled softly. "Yes.. off and on for many many years. The locals are split no doubt on whether they believe that i'm on of 'THEM', or my own grandons or son... " he shrugged. "I let them believe as they will. I love this place... it's close enough to home that it has a similar feel.. but i don't actually have to go there. " he gave another smal shrug. "Plus it's just a good place... you felt it too form the start..."

Lex smiled absently. "One of them...I don't know how you or Estehl do it...manage to survive or...blend in so long, with everyone else...I'd think...mortals would bore you..." She said softly, "But it is a nice place..."

"Fae bore me... or to be more precise.. elven fae bore me. Having grown up and been forced to that life for so long..." he shook his head. " I wonder if i would've felt differently if I'd been raised with access to my faerie kin... would it have made a difference knowing I wasn't wrong in feelign the way i did..." he asked softly then shook his head and offered Lex a small smile. "Well, anyways... I have always perferred the company of non-elven fae. although .. a certain half breed has proven a great exception to the rule..." he finished with a smirk.

Lex raised an eyebrow and started to ask who he meant then sighed. "I'm assuming then, Lillian was elven?" She asked softly. "Well that certianly makes things more interesting I suppose. Didn't know there could a half fae half elemental..."

Faal chuckled softly. "Lexi, sweetheart...there are no end to the possiblities of what the is or can be..." he said. "The wide range of species, sub species and half breeds that make up our family and freinds should be proof of that..."

"Perhaps." Lex answered softly. She glanced about, noticed the short hall way with the wash rooms and began sliding out of the booth. "Excuse me a moment." she said softly, before heading for the ladies room. As she passed the bar, several people moved closer to an old man who was talking about something and them doing so, obscured the view of the hall, and the fact that a man at the end of the bar near the hall, was watching Lex covertly.

Faal watched her head for the bathrooms, smiling softly. Maggie crossed in front of him, blocking his view as she set their drinks down. "Lovely' ev'ning, out, eh, Dom?" she asked and  Faal nodded. "It is at that. I don't suppose you'll be getting a chance to go out an enjoy it any time soon, though?"  She scowled and rolled her eyes. "not bloody damned likely.. pardon my language.. pulling a double again.. Dani's off sick again..." Faal smiled and chatted with her as he waited for Lex, every now and then glancing around Maggie towards the hall...

Lex had really just popped into the wash room to gather her wits. She stared at her reflection a long moment, and took several deep breaths. She felt like she was on a first date more than anything else. After a couple moments, she turned, leaving the wash room and as she did, she bumped into some one, she'd been sure there hadn't been any one in the hall when she'd started to come out and then all of a sudden collided with another body. She started to tumble back when a hand caught her arm, righting her. "I'm very sorry, are you alright?" A soft voice asked and Lex looked up. She blinked several times, her eyes widening slightly. Now she knew she knew the person that had come in, "Rhy...or Rhett?" She hissed. "Rhett." He said with a charming smile. "Rhett...what are you doing here?" Lex  asked with another hiss. "Business for the Lux Veritartius. I could ask you the same thing." "Oh...I'm here with...Faal..." Lex answered. "Ah...then you and Faal are still together?" Rhett asked, stepping closer to her as some one squeezed past. For a moment, Lex felt very light headed, but Rhett still had her arm. "We're...we're...married..." She muttered, shaking her head slightly to clear the fog. "You don't sound so sure on that..." Rhett replied in a softer tone. "Its...complicated right now.."

"It's more complicated then you know, Lex." Rhett said with a sigh. "What are you talking about?" She retorted with a look. He leaned even closer. "It's all been a lie..." He said softly. Lex gave him a dark look. "What do you mean?" She demanded. "Lex...he...I don't like to be the one to tell you this, but..." Rhett looked troubled, "He's Abadon..." Lex stared at him in horror. "No..." She breathed. "It's impossible! What about the collar!?" "You've lost three yeas of your life...he's found other ways to control you." Rhett replied. "Why do you THINK you've lost three years of your life." "But why all this?" She gestured. "The more he can make you believe this, the more he can control you..."

Faal sighed and took a sip of his drink, glancing again towards the bathrooms.     Rhett could see Lex starting to waver. "He's told you .. personal.. things about yourself hasn't he.. things that you would NEVER tell anyone..." Lex's shocked expression made him continue. "I'm right, aren't I? How do you think he knew those things?"      Faal pushed his glass aside and stood, a bad feeling starting to grow in the pit of his stomach. He had a feeling that Lex was in trouble .. again...

"But...he...he said I'd told him before..." Lex answered in a whisper. "Lex, think about it...have you or would have told any one else? Aside from Xander...but I wouldn't trust him either..." "Xander..." She blinked. Rhett sighed dramatically. "Xander's never really stopped working for Abadon either..." Lex swallowed. "I think we should leave Lex...while we have a chance..." Rhett said, turning her to steer her out of the pub, keeping her close to him. "Rhett, I don't understand..." Rhett was leading her toward the back door at the end of the hall. "You know he wants absolute control over you, for what you are..." "What about the fact that he says he's my guardian, and what about the rest of my family?!" She demanded. "You don't think Abadon is powerful enough to bespell them as well,"

Faal was just entering the hall when he saw Lex being ushered towards the back door. "Lexi! Leave her alone!" He called out and gathered his magic, preparing to do what he had to protect Lex. " Rhett?" he asked, confusion setting in as the man turned to face him. "What by Terra is going on...?"

Rhett swore under his breath, they were so close to the back door. He had to do some quick thinking. Lex in the mean time had slid around behind Rhett, looking back and forth between the two men and the door. AT the moment she didn't trust either of them. "LiVed's been spotted hanging around, Or at least some of his men have been seen." Rhett said simply.

Faal frowned,  trying to pin point the feeling that something wasn't right. He walked closer to Rhett and Lex. "Should I take Lexi back to the offices then?" his gaze caught Lex hiding behind Rhett. " Lexi? Sweet.. what's wrong.. are you alright?" his eyes snapped up to rhett and he suddenly scowled, sensing the spell around the man. "Lexi, love... come back to me..." he said softly, holding out his hand towards her, his eyes locked on Rhett. "I don't know what's going on .. but no one is taking her away from me again..."

"The smart idea would be to get her out of here..." Rhett replied, with a slight growl. Lex's instinct was to run now, and that was exactly what she did, she turned and shoved the door open, running out side. Rhett spun around with a growl and managed to catch the door before it slammed shut. "Lexine, damn it!" He slammed it open in time to catch her doing something she didn't normally do, she was opening a shadow portal.

"Run, Lexi!!" Faal yelled after her and hurled a blast of pure  magical energy at Rhett, knocking him through the door and to the ground. He ran after them, skidding to a stop in the doorway, hoping there hadn't been anyone waiting for her outside and that she'd managed to get away...

Lex turned a slip second looking back, then spun and stepped through the shadow portal. Rhett held up a hand to close the portal before she could, but she was already through. Rhett rolled to his feet and gave Faal a dark look. "That was incredibly STUPID!" He opened a rift behind him, concentrating on Lex's location, which was hard to get a tag on, but he knew exactly where she'd gone either way. "And as for no one taking her away from you..." Rhett said, but ended only in a sarcastic smirk, befoe stepping backward through the rift, which closed at once.          Lex's shadow portal slammed her into another body and she felt a pair of hands steady her. "Lexine, what on earth?!" Justice Knight exclaimed. Lex looked up at him, trying to hold back the tears, then pulled back away from him before she realized it was Justice and not Honnor. "I didn't know where else to go..." She muttered, casting a look around the empty throne room of the white court. "What's happened?" Justice asked, concerned

"No, damn it!"  Faal said and ran to where Rhett had vanished. He tried to reopen Lex's portal, but where ever she'd gone, he was locked out. Which of course told him exactly where she was. "Rue..." he muttered and opened his own portal in search of the only other person he knew who had access to the White Court..’

"I don't know..." Lex muttered, beginning to sob, Justice did the only thing he could think of, he pulled Lex into a hug and let her cry. "Lexine, you've got to tell me what's going on, or I can't help you." Justice said softly, before holding her out at arms length, to see her face. "Rhett said he was Abadon...and it was all a lie, and I can't remember the last three years to be sure!" "Rhett said WHO was Abadon?" Justice demanded. Lex sniffled. "Lexine! Who did Rhett say was Abadon?!" Justice repeated. "F-faal!" Lex sniffled through the sobs. "And you believed him?!" "I can't remember the last three years!" Lex snapped back. "Only tiny bits and pieces and I don't know..." She broke down in more sobs again. Jocelin appeared at Justice's side. "Take her to a room." Justice said softly to Jocelin, who took Lex by the shoulders. Lex looked at him confussed. "I'll straighten this mess out, Lex." Justice said calmly, but his voilet eyes flashed.     

                         Rue was in the office of the Raven, going over the books when the rift opened up. She glanced up casually, not unused to having people show up in the office that way.

Faal stepped into the office and straight to rue, looking down at her with grim determination. "Rue... I need you. Something strange is going on and I believe Lex is in trouble.. she's run to the White Court though.. and I can't follow. He did though.. I don't know how.."  Rue pushed her paper work aside and stood. "Who followed?"   Faal frowned. "I don't know. He looked like Rhett, but I could feel a spell held close to him... I'm thinking it was a disguise..  no doubt to allow whoever it was to get close to Lexi. Rue.. whoever it was said or did something to her before I got there... she was afriad of me..."

Rue raised an eyebrow. "It must have been a very convincing lie for her to be afraid of you." Rue replied, but turned from the desk and opened a shadow portal into the White Court. She stepped through, followed closely by Faal and came face to face with Justice. Rue quirked an eyebrow. "Is Lex here?" She asked Justice, who had quirked his own eyebrow. "As a matter of fact she is, and quiet hysterical at that." Justice answered, casting a glance at Faal.     
 
   Jocelin took Lex to a room and let her in side. "I'll fetch some tea." Jocelin said softly, turning from the door and closing it softly, leaving Lex alone in the room, or so they thought. "Lex, damn it! Don't run like that!" Rhett came forward from the other room and Lex spun to face him. "Go away!" She hissed. Rhett gave her a look. "You know I can't." "What do you want?!" Lex demanded. "To get your to safety." Rhett replied calmly. "I'm safe here." Lex snapped back. "No, your not..." Rhett replied with a sigh

"Who else came through?" Faal asked. Justice quirked an eyebrow. "No one but Lexine and now you two."   Faal growled and shook his head slightly. "No.. Someone was chasing after Lex and followed her here.. I saw him. He was diguised as Rhett. He's after Lexi..." he said and pushed past Justice, scanning the room they were in. "LEXI!!   GET AWAY FROM HIM!!  DON"T TRUST HIM!!"  he yelled, hoping whereever she was she'd hear him.

"Well I suppose that would be why Lex said Rhett told her you were Abadon..." Justice said dryly. Rue swore. "Rhett, is in Paris!" She growled, before heading down the halls she knew so well, letting her vampire senses lead her. Justice turned to keep up with her. "Rhett wouldn't be able to get into the White Court anyway." Justice said. "No only memebers and former members..." Rue trailed off and spun around, Justice met her gaze. "Honnor!" They both said at one, before breaking into a run.            "How can I not be safe in the White Court?" Lex demanded and turned her head slightly, sure she'd heard some one yell her name. "Abadon's not limited by the voids, Lex, he can go anywhere, you've GOT to come with me." Rhett said calmly, but almost with a despert edge, moving forward to take  her arm. Lex pulled away from. "How do I know I can even trust you?!" She demanded. "Lex, have I ever done anything to harm you?" Rhett asked soothingly. Lex faulted. "No..." she answered in a whisper. 

"LEXI!" Faal yelled, trying to use their link to find her as he ran. "LEXI! HE"S NOT RHETT!!" he yelled again, stopping at a junction trying to find which way to go. "Damn it... not again... Lexi, baby... hold on.. I'm coming.. No one is taking you away again..." he said softly and then sprinted down a hall and skidde to a stop, back tracking to a door. "LEXI! GET AWAY!!  HE"S NOT RHETT!! IT"S A TRAP!!" he yelled as he tried the door only to find it locked.

Lex turned toward the door, eyes wide, then spun facing Rhett. Rhett shook his head. "It's a lie, Lex..." He said softly, calmly. "Is it?! Or are you lying?!" Lex demanded. "Lex, you can't remember three years of your life, don't you think he'd lie to you again? He'd lie any way he could to keep you..." Lex looked down at wedding rings on her finger for a long moment, then at Rhett. Rhett held out his hand to her with out a word. Lex hesitated, glancing back at the door. In the hall, Justice skidded to a hault beside Faal and grabbed the handle of the door a split flash of light before the door unlocked. In side the room, Lex was still trying to figure out who was telling the truth in all this. Rhett stepped closer to her, hand still extended. Lex hesitantly reached to take his hand, as he opened a rift behind them and as the door began swinging open.

Faal saw Lex take Honnor's hand. "NO! Lexi.. please, baby.. trust your heart... Damn you Honnor... can't you just die already!" he growled and flung out his hand towards the man, knocking him to the ground. "Lexi... please.. believe me, baby.. please..."

Honnor cast his back up spell as he got to his feet and Lex was staring wide eyed at Faal. "No!" Rue shouted as Honnor ended the spell and there was a brilliant flash of light. When the light cleared, Honnor and Lex were gone. Justice had already brandished his sword. "What spell did he cast?!" He demanded of Rue, who was staring at the place the other two had been. "A seduction spell..." Rue muttered misrably. "Do we know where he took her?" She asked Justice, turning her head to look at him. "I've  got a damn good idea..." Justice replied. "But if he's cast that kind of spell it's going to be awfully hard to break it...Its not something any of us, except Faal can break, and even then only with out magic...Magic will only make it stronger..."

Faal turned a stricken gaze on Justice. "A seduction spell?? No... oh Terra no... fight him , Lexi.. oh please fight him.." he turned to Justice as he drew a deep breath. "Take me to him, Justice. I'm bringing Lexi home. And this time,  when I finish with him the bastard stays dead."

Justice nodded, opening a rift. "Coming along, Ruewina?" He asked her softly. "Of course I am." Rue replied with a look. Justice smirked slighty and indicated she should go first. She marched past them, stepping through the rift into the dungeons of the black court. "Oh, I think I've been here..." She muttered to herself, looking around.      

  When Lex came to, she found herself on a victorian fainting couch in a very victorain looking room. She looked around wide eyed. "I'm sorry I had to resort to this..." came a soft voice and she started, turning on the couch to find Honnor Knight moving toward her with a glass. He held it out to her. "It'll clear your head." He said gently. She hesitated, but took the glass, which was filled with a sweet wine. She watched him move around the front of the fainting couch to kneel before her. "You don't have to fear me, Lex..." He said softly. She stared at him. She knew he'd tried to kill her before, but for some reason she didn't feel the feeling she should be assosiated with that.

Faal looked around, reaching out with the link to find her again. "We need a way to stop him from simply running with her again..." he said as he turned and headed off, trying to feel her location. He was trying to figure out how he could break the spell without using magic... his magic was what had always saved Lex before now...

"He wont run with her now..."Justice said softly. "Not when he thinks he's won...but even so, I can cast a barrier over her, which would prevent him from taking her through rifts or shadow portals." "What does he want with her this time?" Rue asked. Justice snorted. "Probably the Life Stone...She's the key to getting it.              

         Honnor took the glass from Lex's hand after she'd taken a drink and sat it aside, moving to sat on the couch next to her. "You tried to kill me..." Lex breathed. Honnor hung his head. "A mistake..." He said softly. "I don't...understand..." Lex muttered shaking her head. "Lexine...your place is at my side..I told you that once before..." Honnor said, reaching over to touch her cheek. She didn't pull away.

Faal growled. "I don't know, Justice. Somehow.. I think there's more to it... it feels more personal somehow." he said softly, manuevering through unfamiliar halls as surely as if he'd walked them a hundred times. All he could feel through Lex was confusion. "Please, baby... don't give in to him..."

Justice snorted. "Who knows with Honnor. I never claimed to know my brother that well." He muttered. Rue shook her head. "I've got a couple theories of my own." She said softly as they followed Faal. "Did Lillian not look just like Honnor's wife?" She asked Justice. Justice nodded. "Which in turn would mean Lex does as well, but..."   

Lex found herself and Honnor leaning closer together as he stroked her cheek and neck. "You've got nothing to fear from me, Lexine." Honnor said softly again, holding her gaze as he leaned even closer. He ran his thumb over her lips.

Faal stopped at a door and paused for a moment, then sent forth a busrt of power, knocking the door clear off it's hinges. He strode into the room. "Get away from my wife." he growled softly and flung out a hand at honnor, a ball of light slamming into him and flining him back away form Lex. Faal stopped beside the couch and looked dowjn at her. "Lexi... oh sweetheart..." he said softly, tears filling his eyes as he dropped to his knees beside her. "Once again I failed you... " he whispered softly, taking her hand in his and kissing her fingers before pressing her hand to his cheek.

Lex pulled her hand back, looking at him with wide fearful eyes. Honnor picked himself up, dusting himself off. He snorted in amusement, eyes shinning. "Lex." He called softly, curling his finger for her to come to him. Lex looked at him from Faal, then back again a moment, before sliding off the couch, going to Honnor's side with out a word. Honnor smirked triumphantly, sliding a arm around Lex's waist. "You've lost my friend..." Honnor said. Rue moved forward, "Lex, hun, don't...you've got to remember..." Rue said earnestly. "Remember what? That all of you lied to me?" Lex replied softly. Rue swore, and gave Honnor ablack look.

Faal sighed and stood, feeling the tears pour down at his face. "I can't loose you, Lexi. I gave you my heart just as you gave me yours. I won't let this...man..." he waved a hand at Honnor. "Destroy everything we've fought so hard for. What you're feeling for him isn't real.. it's a spell. Trust me, Lexi.. if I though you really chose him over me.. I'd step aside, even though it killed me. All I've ever cared about was your happiness." he tore his gaze form Lex and looked to Honnor. "She's not your wife, honnor... your wife is long dead.. as is Liilian. Just because Lexi looks like them... " he sighed, shaking his head slightly. "Trying to replace your dead wife by bespelling another man's wife to take her place... that's so pathetic.. I could almost feel sorry for you... won't stop me from killing you though."

"Is that what you think?" Honnor asked with amusement. "Very funny, I see Justice still thinks of himself as a romantic. No I'm afraid you have it completely wrong." Honnor said. "And this is Lex's choice." He turned slightly to look down at her. "You're choice, Lexine. Do you wish to go with them? Or remain with me?" "Honnor." Justice snarled in warning, violet eyes flashing. Honnor held up a finger. "Let her decide." He said calmly.

"She can't decide while under your spell." Faal said simply. "You want it to be real.. release the spell." He stepped closer to them, stopping directly in front of honnor. "You can lie to her all you want, Honnor.. thanks to your spell, she can't do anything BUT believe you... but we know the truth.. and so do you. She will choose you, but not because of her real feelings.. because of your spell.   She already made her real choice. She choose me. She married me. She planned a family with me. You had to use a spell to take that away from her..."  without taking his eyes form honnor he reached out a hand to Lex. "Little flame... please... I beg of you .. don't give your self to this man. If you choose to leave me, I will accept that..I told you that already... but not with him. Search your heart, my flame... my little one. Don't let him destroy you."

Honnor chuckled softly."Do I strike you as a fool? It can't be releashed by magic, it relies souly upon her choice...If you can't convince her, you'll have to simply accept defeat." Rue turned to Justice, motioning him closer. "How does this work, Justice?" She hissed. "Just what Honnor said, he's got to convince her..." Justice hissed back. "How?! Nothing he's said so far has made her blink an eye!" Rue snapped. Justice cast a look in their direction. Then groaned, running a hand through his hair. "I see exactly what Honnor's done now..." He spoke out loud to his brother. "You son of a bitch, Honnor..." "Justice, explain!" Rue snapped frustratedly. Justice glanced at Rue, then looked at Faal. He took a breath and said softly. "Shes got to remember the price of leaving you..."  "Which wouldn't quiet work, considering who she believes he is!" Rue snapped bitterly, giving Justice a dark look at as well. Justice shook his head. " the lie wont matter if she can see what chosing Honnor would cost."

Faal looked to Lex. "Did you hear him, Lex.. he admited to the spell... Isn't that enough to make you doubt your choice?" he asked softly. He moved and knelt donw in front of her. "Lexi... I swear to you.. I am not who he claimed I was. I have done everything in my power to protect you from abadon, and have sworn to you that one day I will do my best to destroy him..." he reached up and ran a finger over the scar on his neck. "Remember what I told you, Lexi... I know what slavery is like... what Honnor is offereing.. will be no better, just a different form..."

Lex stared at him, silent, in her mind was a two sided war. Part of her knew they were right and Honnor was wrong. But the part of her that still couldn't trust, sided with the spell. But she reached out with hesitant fingers and touched the scar around his neck, again her own fingers went to her throat and the absence of the collar.  "Drop the glamour..." Justice hissed. Honnor's gaze was narrowing coldly, and his mind was already forming another plan if she suddenly remembered.

"Lexi... do you remember Callum?" he asked softly, looking into her eyes. "Do you remember our hopes and dreams for him.. and Cearea... if you choose Honnor... Cearea will never be more than a dream... neither will I..." he added softly and waited.

"Cearea..." Lex repeated in a whisper. Honnor scowled. Lex turned her eyes on Honnor a moment, then looked back at Faal. Looking in to his eyes a long moment, she suddenly remembered, perfectly and vividly the morning the collar came off. "I remember..." She said in a whisper. "You can't live with out me..."

Faal smiled and suddenly grabbed her hand, yanking her away from Honnor and behind him as he lurched to his feet, his sword suddenly at Honnor's throat. "By your own rules... she chose. You lose.. I suppose it's too much to expect you to be gracious about it.." A rainbow sphere suddenly enveloped Lex, protecting her from any further treachery from Honnor.

"Jumping to conclusions can get you killed." Honnor replied a sword of his own suddenly in hand. "Make sure she's chosen for sure and not just remembered a single moment." "You tried to kill me, Honnor!" Lex snapped. "Whos to say you aren't trying again only with a more complicated plot!" Justice smirked. Rue moved forward a bit, toward Lex's side. "Lex, you know Faal not to be Abadon now, don't you?" She asked softly. "Yus..." Lex answered softly.

"Choose, little flame. You have some memories.. both good and bad of me.. I know that.. but what do you have of him? I know how hard it is for you to trust, lexi.. but you have to. you took a chance on my once, love... will you not do so again?"   he asked softly, his eyes focused on Honnor. He knew the man no doubt had something up his sleeve and was just waiting for his chance. Lex was safe with his magic, so he had no fear for her. Rue and Justice could handle themselves, he knew and suspected they probably had their own tricks in the wings... as for himself, he didn't care if something happened to him, as long as Lex was safe, but he had his own back up plan ready...

"And if I were to chose neither." Lex questioned. Honnor's eyes flashed momenteraily with panic and aggression. "That's not the way it works!" He snapped. "you have to chose one of the other, no in betweens!" "You seem very persistant I chose you, Honnor...For that reason, I refuse to chose you. Abadon would have never, almot given his life to remove that collar. That collar kept me linked directly to him. Oh he may be on the verge of breaking free, but I'll deal with that when it happens." "Pretty words for some one who can't remember three years of their life..." Honnor retorted. Lex shrugged. "I guess I'll have to work around that untul I remember...But I chose my husband." "So be it." Honnor snarled, spinning his blade and drove it toward Faal.

Faal lifted his hand and a flash of light hit Honnor in the face, ruining his aim. He only had to duck slightly to one side for Honnor's sword to miss him, although it did slice a line through his shirt. "Close your eyes, Lexi... you don't need to see this.." he said as he  readied his own strike.

Honnor spun, gaining back his balance very well and shifted his vison. "You'd let him kill me, Justice, your own brother." Justice snorted. "I've tried to kill you for decades, he'd be doing me a favor really." "Then I'll return the favor." Honnor remarked, before turning, and running his sword through Justice. Justice staggered back slightly in surprise and looked down at the sword, then up at his brother's wicked smirk. Justice snickered, before flicking both wrist, an invisable force shoving Honnor back. As Honnor regained his balance, Justice shook his finger. "You've killed me once, Honnor, do you think I'd allow you to do it twice?"

Faal spun, following Honnor's lunge for his brother and ran his own sword through him. He stood behind Honnor, looking over the mans shoulder at Justice. It was rather eerrie seeing the twins standing face to face, both with a sword stuck through them... Justice with the hilt in front, and Honnor with the blade in front. "No more, Honnor. If I had my original blade.. you'd be gone form this life and on your way to the next... personally, I don;t think you deserve a next... you've spent the last several decades plotting for a way to steal Lexi for your own, ripping her family apart and sending her into a life of torment and misery... " he gave the sword a twist, lifting Honnor up onto his toes briefly. "I told you, no one would ever hurt her again..."

Justice was still snickering, aware Rue was staring wide eyed. Justice grabbed the hilt of the sword, pulling it from him with a grimace. "Damn that hurts." He said a bit to cheerfully, looking at the sword. "Been a long time since I've seen my own blood." He said, looking back at his brother. Then spun the sword, and ran it through Honnor's heart, next to Faal's sword slowly giving Faal time to take a step to the side to keep from being impaled on the other end. This brought Justice and Honnor face to face. "You were told, by the fates, that woman who got you killed would look just like Ashleen. She may not have done it herself, but your attempts to destory her life, brought you to your end, Honnor. You should have left well enough alone..." He gave the sword one more good shove.

Faal gave his sword a yank, pulling to free. He stodd for a moment, watching the two brother's then turned and went to Lex. for a moment he just stood there looking at her with the barried still between them, then with a sigh, he sent his sword back to where he'd called it from and let the barrier drop. " you can move now, Lexi.. I'm sorry if I hurt you when I grabbed you... I couldn't risk him hurting you once he knew you weren't his any more..."

Gillorn and Luthien were strolling their way, both looked dirty and bloody but whole. Estehl nodded to Faal, and turned to Morgan and Mystery. "You heard Prince Ellander, General." He said with a smirk. Morgan saluted him. "Right away, magesty. Oh..." She snickered. "Damien is being held in the dungeon..."
"Well at least you managed to keep on your feet." Gillorn remarked to Faal with a smirk as he and Luthien came to a stop in front of them, Luthien's blood red hair cut short in a page boy.

Faal gave his uncle a smirk. "So little faith in me, uncle..." he said and turn to Luthien. "Are you sure you want to marry him? I'm sure there must be some one more deserving of you .. certainly better looking.." he said, his eyes twinkling.

Lex turned her gaze from Justice and Honnor as Justice kept the blade where it was, as Honnor died slowly, and looked at Faal. She shook her head slightly. "You didn't hurt me..." She said softly. "Any chance of him...coming back?" Rue asked Justice as Honnor died. Justice snorted. "Only if he had his soul...stored some where else.." Justice replied. "Is that how you came back from the dead?" Rue asked. Justice smirked. "I had my soul placed in a ruby, a ruby Estehl kept with him. Only man I trusted to carry it."

Faal hestitantly at first reached out a hand to Lex. "I swear, Lexi... I  have only ever wanted what was best for you. Everything I've done has been towards your happiness. Unlike Honnor, I won't force you to choose. If you meant what you said in that you wish to choose neither.. you know I'll stand by that. As I told you before in the archives.. everything I have is yours... I won't stand in the way of your happiness.."

Lex`sighed deeply and shook her head. "I said I choose my husband. I only said neither  to upset Honnor." "Which worked..." Justice said resonably with a bit of a smirk. "I'm assuming you remember then?" Rue asked softly. Lex shook her head. "Not really...only bits a pieces, but...I don't think that matters right now...I have a feeling I'll be getting it back soon..." She said softly.

Faal took a step closer and reached up to stroke his fingers through her hair. "I won't lie to you, Lexi. I've loved you fomr the first moment I lay eyes on you and I've been  falling deeper in love you ever since. I can't bare the thought of not being with you. I want more then anything, to be your husband and spend the rest of my life making you happy. If you'll have me."

"The kind of love I should have always had..." Lex answered softly, reaching up to touch his cheek. "I'm not sure why you think I'd complain about that...I know I'll get my memories back soon...I know what Hope meant now...Please don't hold it against me right now if I can't say I love you...but I do...care very much for you...I know deep down I DO love you...I just have to find that..." Lex said softly

Faal smiled, his eyes blurry as they filled with tears again. He gave a soft laugh and pulled her into his arms. "I'd never hold anything against you, Lexi.. and I already told you .. I'll take anything you give me. When you do find itwith in you to say those words to me again... I'll cherish them more then you could ever know." he kissed the top of her head as he held her. "I'm sorry I didn't stop him in time..."

Lex clung to him and shook hr head as much as she could. "Does it matter, you still saved me..." She answered softly. "So how did Hope tell you to recover your memories back..."Rue asked softly. Lex blushed slightly. "Only that I have to trust Faal...fully..." Rue understood and smirked slightly. "Ah...I see. Well...good luck." Lex gave her a look. Justice chuckled softly. "I suggest we all get out of the black court." He said seriously.

"Yes.. let's." Faal said and swept Lex off her feet, cradling her in his arms. "Any place you'd like to go? We never did get to have dinner..."

Lex shook her head. "I wouldn't have eaten much anyway." she answered. "Still probably wouldn't so...I guess...home is the best choice." "Well then if no one needs me any more." Rue said, "I've got some paper work to finish, before Doyle has my head...I haven't quiet caught up since Ter Nah Nog." Rue said with a pointed look. Justice chuckled softly

Faal chuckled softly. "Thank you again, Rue. We're lucky to have such a good friend." He called a portal before them and turned to Justice. "And thank you." he said, not needing to say more.

Rue opened her own portal. "Hey, any time." She said with a dismissive gesture, before disappearing. Justice in clined his head simply in reply. "Thank you, Justice..." Lex said softly. "I'm sorry for busting into the white court unannounced..." Justice chuckled softly. "Never a problem, Lex. just be careful from now one and good luck with regaining your memory."

Faal smiled donw at the woman ni his arms and turned, stepping through the portal. As he emerged into their back yard he sent a wave of power back through, ruining any attempts that might be made to follow them or trace the portal.  With a sigh he set Lex on her feet and looked up at the sky where the star were already starting to peek out. "I forgot the car... should I pop over now and get it? I can get some take out while I'm there...."

Lex shook her head slightly. "I think the car will be fine until morning." She said softly, glancing up at the sky herself, then she looked at the house. With out a word, she started toward the house. Half way there, she paused, and looked over her shoulder at him.

Faal watched her for a moment, just happy she was here with him, despite everything... with a sigh and a soft smile he cast one last look at teh stars and walked over to her, reaching out to take her hand. Bringing it to his lips he kissed her knuckles with a sly smile. "Welcome home, Lexine Dominic..."

She shook her head again. "Not quiet." She said softly, before starting forward again. When they reached the door, she turned and wrapped an arm around his neck, pulling him down to her and kissed him. "I'm sure you're smart enough to gather what Rue and I meant back there..." She said softly, letting him go.

He gave a soft smile. "That look on your face accompanied by that blush.. usually indicate a certain subject, yes..." he said, reaching out to catch her face in the palm of his hand and turn her back to look at him, his thumb stroking her cheek. "I'd love nothing more, Lexi.. but I don't want you to rush into things... be sure it's what you want and that you're ready. I'll be here."

"If not now, Faal, I'm likely to change my mind and then who knows..." Lex answered with a shrug. "if I wasn't ready,  I wouldn't have brought it up...Admittedly, the last time I remember sharing a bed with anyone, I was a boy...But I have the feling I'd best get used to it being this way." She said softly, looking up at him.

He swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry. "Lexi... please.. be sure. I don't think I could stand it if you changed your mind again..." he said softly, his hand sliding into her hair and tangling in the curls.

Lex held his gaze. "Now or never, Faal..." She said in a whisper. "Sure, I can remember everything Rowen did in the bedroom, but you're not Rowen...and if I'm going to trust you completely..." She left it hang. "Stop hesitating, before I do change my mind..." She added still in a whisper, her eyes pleading with him.

Faal gave a soft moan and caught her mouth in a hungry kiss, his hands tangling in her hair. He let one hand slip free and slid it around her waist, pulling her close. "Oh little flame..." he whispered softly as he broke the kiss long enough to sweep her into his arms.

She curled up in his arms, snuggling against him. Any little doubt she had in her mind, she shoved aside. She had to do this. She wanted to do this, even if she didn't recover her memories, she wanted to be in this moment with him and know what it was like. And she was certainly not going to let any self doubt from her past with Rowen stand in the way.

Faal cradled her in his arms and used his powers to open the door, closing it behind him. After avoiding using magic for so long, it felt good to be so frivolous with it. He locked doors and turned on lights as they went, tunring them off again behind them until they found themselves in the bed room. The door swinging closed behind them, he set her back on her feet and pulled her into another kiss.

Lex slid both armd around his neck, kissing him back hungerily, she tightened her arms around his neck as much as she could, even standing on her tip toes to keep the kiss going, already loving the way he kissed her, wanting him now more then ever.

As he felt Lex kissing him back with just as much passion as she ever had, he gave a soft growl and began quickly undressing, trying not to break the  kiss as he did so. Kicking his pants free he pulled Lex tight agaisnt him and tugged off her jacket, then began unbuttoning the dress, leaving her lips only to trail kissed along her body with every button he undid.

Lex let go of his neck only long enough to slip her arms free of the dress and let it drop about her feet as she wrapped her arms back around his neck, her eyes closing as he trailed kisses over her skin, feeling every nerve where he kissed tingling with excitement, she moaned softly, tangling her fingers in his hair.

He lifted her off her feet, letting her shoes fall to the floor as the blankets on the bed pulled back by themselves. With a soft chuckle he lay her down on the bed and resumed his trail of kisses across her chest as he removed her camisole, then continued their trail down across her stomach and donw her thighs as he slid off her panties. He sighed, closing his eyes as he kissed his way down one leg, then started back up the others, loving the way she squirmed and moaned softly beneath his touch. Even though he'd made love to her countles times... somehow it felt like it was the first time.. and in a way, for her, it was...

She wiggled and squirmed in agonzing pleasure under his touch and kisses, her entire body burning with desire, she ran her hands up his arms and shoulders, before they dropped to grip the sheets in pleasured torment as she moaned softly, biting her lip and arching slight under his touch.

Faal took his time as he slowly made his way back up her body, pausing everynow and then to pay more attention to an area or two, chuckling softly at the little sounds she made. His jouney finsihed, he stretched out beside her and loked down at her for a moment. Her head thrown back, curls spilling across the pillow. She was biting her bottom lip slightly and he leaned down to tease it free with his own.

She smiled softly as he did this, before sliding one arm around his neck to make sure he couldn't pull away and kissed him deeply, letting her tongue slip past his lips to tease and tangle with his as she slid her fingers gently into his hair, tangling gently, not about to let him pull away until she was done kissing him.

Content to let her take the lead as long as she wanted it, Faal slid closer to her, letting his fingers dance over her skin as he kissed her back as passionately as she kissed him.

She broke the kiss only when she had to breath properly and smiled softly at him, running the hand from his hair down over his cheek. She turned slightly against him, wrapping her other arm around his neck and gazed into his eyes. Some how, she knew with out a doubt, despite not remembering three years, that this was how it was supposed to be, that they were meant to be together.

Faal smiled, letting himself get lost in those gorgeous absinthe pools as his fingers continued to play over her skin, seemingly of their own accord. " You are so beautiful.." he said softly. brushing his lips over hers. I'm truely the luckiest man alive to have you here in my arms...."

She smiled a bit more, stroking his cheek, then kissed him softly, before whispering, "I remember our second date...and the room in the inn, with the fire place..."

Faal chuckled, mischieviously. "Oh really?" he asked, letting his thumb drift down to her belly button where it began to flick the hcerry charm back and forth playfully. "and what exactly do you remember of it?"  he asked, moving to kiss her neck as he continued to play with the charm.

"Besides the way you held me?" She asked softly, smiling a bit more. "There was the way you tickled me..." She ran her hand down his chest. "but that was all after Rhy decided to trash my car, wasn't it...and you did what you had to do to protect me..." She squirmed slightly as he played with the charm on her belly button ring.

He chuckled softly as he nuzzled her neck and stopped his toying with charm. "I tried so hard to be a gentleman around you .. to not rush things sexually until you were ready... but you were so damned irressitable. The playful coy look of yours.. thatv sexy pout... and of course, that giggle and blush..." he said, letting his hand slip down between her thighs. "you had me as your willing slave form the start.. i'd have done anything you asked.. I still would..."

She shifted slightly as his hand brushed the inside of her thighs and gave him a coy look, "anything, hmm? That could be dangerous..." She said softly running her fingers lightly over his chest, she leaned forward, kissing his shoulders and neck, breathing his scent in deeply.

He pulled back from kissing her neck and looked down into her eyes. "Anything, Lexi. You have only to name it and i'll do everything in my power to see that you have it." he said seriously. Before she could say anything he caught her mouth in another kiss, letting his fingers slip inside her.

Lex gasped behind the kiss, her eyes closing and she arched against his fingers, the sensation overriding any thought or any other feeling and she could have screamed in pleasureable agony.

Lexi's squirming and wriggling against him was driving crazy and he had to stop for a moment, pulling back even from the kiss. He lay his head down just over her shoulder, his face pillowed on her hair. "Lexi, my love..." he said softly, his hand slipping across her waist and pulling her closer. "Sweetness..." he whispered against her neck. "Anything you want is yours..." he said again, knowing he was repeating himself , but not caring. He felt he had to let her know just how much she meant to him..

She struggled to catch her breath, and managed to smile absently as her eyes fluttered open a moment. She reached up, curling a lock of his hair around her fingers. "The only thing I want right now is to be yours." She answered softly.

He gave a soft groan as he nuzzled against her neck again. "You are mine, sweetness.. you always have been and always will be.. just as I will always be yours..." he said softly before moving so that he lay above her, his elbows braced to either side of her so he could look donw at her. He loved the way she looked laying there, her lucious red curls spread out over the white pillow, the faint flush to her cheeks.. the way her  eyes sparkled.. He gave another soft moan as he caught her in another hungry kiss, enjoying the feel of his body pressing against hers, but still being careful not to squish her beneath him.

She kissed him back, hungry and despert, one hand tangling her fingers in his hair, the other slid around his neck, clinging to him, despert to hold onto him and the moment. She arched against him, her body pressing against his, whimpering softly behind the kiss.

Not breaking the kiss, he slid his hands down her waist to her hips, pressing against her for a moment enjoying the kiss before he broke apart from her mouth and guided himself inside her, pulling her hips tight agaisnt him. Helet out a moan as he let himself fall forward against her, his hair falling across her chest.

Lex gasped deeply, before a soft moan escaped her, as her eyes closed slowly again. She slid her hands down his back, as she wrapped her legs about his hips. She was reveling in the pleasurable agony.

Lex's soft moans in his ear and her legs wrapped tightly around his waist encouraged him to find his breath again. Slipping one arm beneath her back to tangle in her hair, he began the slow easy rhythm that he knew would eventually drive them both mad. A small part of him tried to remember that this was a first for her, that she couldn't remember ever having been with him before...

The sweet torture of his movements where nothing like she'd ever felt, or she supposed she had, but she couldnt remember that If this is what it was like to be in a real lover's arms, she had no desire to be any where else. Her fingers carassed his back and some how began tracing the phoenix tattoo on their own accord.

He buried his face in her hair, feeling her breath against his throat and her fingers dancing over his back. "Lexi... babydoll..." he whispered huskily, his body moving faster as if of a mind of it’s own .

Lex moaned softly, arching against him more, lost in the moment and knowing she was going to go mad with the desire of the moment, despert for more, but not wanting it to end. He was driving her toward the edge. "Faal.." She moaned against his shoulder, clinging to him It was almost to much for her.

Hearing her moan his name was too much and he lost any pretense at control. He threw his head back as he let his body take control, feeling Lex's leg tighten and spasm around his waist as she moaned, her fingers digging into his back. He knew she was about to cum.. could feel it not just through her body's reactions, but echoing through their link as well, and his own body raced to catch her. He gasped, feeling her emotions crash over him.

She arched against him even more, pressing hard against his body as she felt the torent of the breaking point starting to build in her and knew she couldn't take any more. Still arched against him, her head feel back as she cried out, the breaking point crashing over her and her body tightened around him as she came, her fingers despertly clinging to his back as her legs tightened around his hips

His body trembling with release, Faal collapsed, rolling far enough to the side so he wouldnt hurt Lex. He lay there, one leg still betwen hers, her leg drapped over his hip, her breath hot against his shoulder. He curled his fingers through her hair as he struggled to catch his breath, suddnely fighting the urge to sob and cry his relief of having her with him... he buried his face in her hair and tried to calm his bodies shaking.

Lex turned slightly into him, nestling herself against him, still breathing hard to catch her breath, but she refused to move away from him. She lay against him, still despert for as much closeness as possible. But even as she lay there, she smiled slightly, as she began to remember little things again.

Faal felt her stir against him and rolled more onto his side, his arms wrapping around her and holding her close. "Oh Lexi... my beautiful little flame.. " he whispered softly, his voice catching on the tears that managed to escape his attempt to control them. "Never leave me, my heart... I have nothing with out you..."

Lex turned her head and leaned up slightly, kissing him softly, tenderly and deeply. The kiss held everything she had in her, everything she had to give and everything she felt. Reaching up to brush the the back of her fingers over his cheek, she whispered softly. "I love you."

Those three sweet words sounded in his ear and he was blinded by the sudden torrent of tears. Squeezing her tight against him, great heaving sobs escaped him and all his efforts to stop them lead to nothing but more sobbing cries. "Lexi...oh Lexi..."

She lay her head against his chest, smiling softly and content as more memories began floading in. "You act like you've waited a thousand years to hear those words." She said softly, as her fingers drew invible patterns on his chest.

He choked as he gasped for air betwen sobs, feeling it start to ease off at last. : I feel like I have..." he whispered hoarsely. "A part of me was afriad I'd never hear them again..." he said. "I hope you can forgive this fool for doubting your abilities..."

"I'd forgive you anything, Faal." Lex whispered softly resting her hand on his chest. "And I was afraid...for a while...i wouldn't remember myself...how much I love you. Or all the things we've endured so far...But even when I didn't remember...I knew we were meant to be this way..." She smiled softly, turning her head to look up at him. "I think it was only a matter of time before I feel in love with you again...even with out the memories..."

"but.. you do remember..?" he asked softly, his voice hopeful. Lex nodded her head against him. "Bits and pieces are coming back... a flood of bits and pieces...but I remember..." Faal sighed and tilted her head back and kissed her. "Give me a few moments to recover.. and we'll see about celebrating.." he whispered huskily, the fingers of one hand trailing over her breasts and down her stomach..