Roswell Fanatics

A.N. Hey everyone, sorry this took a little longer than I thought, but I’ve been working on the Interlude and the sequel to this fic, and I’ve been really focused on those two things. Also just as a note since I probably won’t address it later in the fic, but Liz’s Grandfather Raymond (Claudia’s husband) decided to become human about 10 years before his death. And after he passed Claudia became human to die as she had on the show.

Also this fic is starting to wind down, there are a couple more events that I want to deal with but then it’s off to the Interlude and then the sequel, followed by a possible one-parter about 20 years in the future.

No big showdown with Cole and Jeff in this chapter, it's just the transition chapter to get that point.

Chapter 11

Liz and Cole don’t move from each other’s arms for fifteen minutes, they didn’t feel the need to, being apart for a month brought out the clingy-ness in both. Neither wanted to let go of the other, so they sat there in silence. Finally Liz speaks, “What’s the real reason for my father not liking you?”

“He thinks I'm not good enough for you. Because you are the Princess of your Clan, when your father gives up his throne you’ll be the Queen.” He links his hand together around Liz’s waist, “And he feels that I'm only after your powers and position.” Cole admits.

“But you’re not.” It wasn’t a question, Liz made it a statement, she doesn’t doubt Cole’s love like her father does. She’s seen and felt that love time and time again, through their phone calls, their week together and now through the connection they share.

Cole agrees, humbled by her confidence in him, with their relationship, “You know that, I know that, but all your father sees is a Low Level demon wanting to control your powers and throne.”

After a few brief kisses Liz reluctantly tells Cole they need to go back to Michael’s apartment. He’s bound to be going insane with worry right about now. Not that she’d blame him any, if he suddenly disappeared in a fire with a demon she’d be concerned too.

“Michael? Your friend’s ex-boyfriend?” Trying to connect the name with a face. When he first shimmered into Michael’s apartment he only had eyes for Liz and had merely taken a very brief glance at everyone else.

Liz nods her response; “He and Maria are taking a break from each other, trying the just friends approach. So far it’s going pretty well, they fight a lot less which is always a plus.” Yelling, since she could remember bothered her, as a child before her grandfather passed away he and Grandma Claudia would yell at each other.

It was all foreplay for them, it was how their relationship functioned, and they had been together for almost thirty years but it never stopped bothering her. She knew they never meant the insults they threw at one another but it didn’t matter.

One afternoon Grandpa Raymond was in a particularly confrontational mood and began the day off with a healthy dose of insults toward Claudia. Just when the argument heated up Grandpa grabbed his chest, he was having a heart attack, and he died that night. Even after ten years Grandma Claudia still blamed herself for his death, and didn’t find peace till she passed away a year and a half ago.

Now that Liz was older she understood that, that was just her grandparents way. Didn’t mean she like it when her friends argued like there was no tomorrow or when there was someone yelling in the general vicinity. It bothered her so much that she would go out of her way to avoid Michael and Maria if they got into a shouting match.

Cole runs his hand along Liz’s back, “Ok, I’ll shimmer us back to Michael’s apartment but if he tries any alien stuff I'm tossing an energy ball at him.”

Liz was about to nod when what Cole said fully registered in her brain. “You just said aliens. I never told you what species Michael is, how did you know that?” Not worried that he knew just overly curious.

“Your dreams. With our child we’re more connected than we would be if we had just been mated. Because of that our dreams, thoughts, and even powers are shared. In one of your dreams that our baby brought me in on, was a big showdown at the Valenti’s before that blonde took off with your friends.” He tells her. With that he shimmers them from the desert and back into Michael’s home where all three friends were pacing around the small room.

Immediately Maria gathers her friend up in her arms. “Oh thank God you’re all right.” Maria squeezes tight.

“Ria, I can’t breathe.” Liz exaggerates.

“Sorry,” she lets go quickly, “mind telling us what’s going on and whose arm is around your waist?”

It took another thirty minutes before everyone was up to speed on the events, players, and information. By the end of the explanations they were freaked to say the least but slowly coming to terms with everything. “Liz, I'm assuming that Cole is going to stay here with you now,” at Cole’s agreement to the statement Kyle continues, “well what about your dad? You said so yourself and Cole confirmed it today that he and Jeff don’t get along at all. He thinks Cole has ulterior motives, what are you going to do about him?”

“That is the questions isn’t it?” Liz licks her lips. “Well, I know I'm not going to stop seeing Cole and I'm not going to hide it from Daddy either.” Firm on those two points that left no room for any other opinions.

“I say we get it over with.” Cole throws his two cents in. “No way am I sneaking around for another minute I had enough of that this past month.”

Curious Liz questionably stares at her lover and mate. “Besides phone calls how have you been sneaking around?” A teasing tone enters her voice.

Grinning bashfully Cole tells her, “Showers and sleeping.”

“I knew it!” She shouts, “Ever since I came back here I’ve had the constant feeling someone was in the bathroom with me watching me shower and then my bed always had a fresh indentation on the right side. After awhile I thought I was crazy…or had a horny ghost.”

“No, just a horny demon.” He nips at their entwined hands.

“Ok, let’s go to my house. I agree with Cole I want to get this over with.”

Parker Household; 11:21 a.m.

Dread settles over Liz’s mind, her father was known for his temper when it came to incidents involving her. When a boy stood her up for a date her father promised he’d take care of it, the teen boy turned up missing the next day. After she started dating Max, Jeff threatened him with bodily harm if he ever hurt his little girl, and when Pam Troy spread around the rumor that Max slept with Tess, causing Liz emotional pain. Pam ended up in the hospital for unknown reasons.

All any body knew was that when Pam came back to school she was completely paranoid and would jump at a locker slamming shut. Now that Liz knows her father’s a demon it answered so many questions about why and how certain things happened to people that were hurtful to her.

The group entered through the Crashdown's front doors, the room had been all decorated for her and her friends later tonight but there was no sign of Jeff or Nancy. Streamers, glitter, and Jeff’s favorite music, ragtime, filled the room. Although Liz loved the music too they’d be changing it…if the party even took place that is, after the showdown between Cole and her father she didn’t know how much partying would be done.

They hadn’t even made it to the middle of the restaurant when Jeff came in smiling moving along to the beat coming from the stereo. When he noticed people the smile stayed in place but once he saw Cole was in the group his grin disappeared like it was never there.

“BALTHAZAR!”

TBC

orphyfets

Thank you for the well wishes, and everyone thank you for the feedback, it makes me feel better when I read it.

Now it’s onto the note for this fic/chapter. I wrote two different versions of the first few paragraphs the one I decided on was more in tune with the story but if anyone wants to read the slightly funnier/other beginning to this chapter I’d be happy to send it to you just PM me and I’ll get it to ya. It was just something I was playing with and didn’t work out but I didn’t have the heart to recycle it. (If you want the other version written it might take a few days to get it to you because of everything that's going on.)

Finally just a reminder on Jeff’s character (someone PMed/E-mailed me about him asking if he was going to be a “bad guy”, sorry I can’t remember who it was) he’s not evil or even really the bad guy in the fic he’s just protective of his baby girl. So he can come off as mean but he’s really not evil I promise; he will have a slightly bigger role in the Interlude and sequel and will be changing somewhat.

Chapter 12

Without hesitation Jeff flings out his hand and a gust of wind flies toward Cole, he (Jeff) doesn’t seem to notice anyone else in the room but Cole. Liz’s demon lover instinctually throws out an energy ball at the gust causing it to dissipate. “Daddy, stop it!” Liz yells but her father ignores her sending another gust of wind straight toward them.

Jeff was so upset that he didn’t even consider Liz’s safety while she’s at Cole’s side. Fortunately for her Cole was away of Liz next to him and he knew he wouldn’t have enough time to throw another energy ball so he did the only thing he could do. Quickly he turns his back and faces Liz, the second his eyes connect with hers the gust crashed into his back sending both him and Liz flying across the room.

Shouts were heard from her three friends standing off to the side, they moved to help her and Cole up but she raises her hand stopping them. This was between Jeff and her and Cole, Liz refused to be responsible for another friend’s death. Logically she knew she wasn’t to blame, not really but she set Alex’s death in motion by listening to Future Max. She doesn’t regret where she has taken her journey though, that wasn’t it at all, it was that Alex had to die for her to take this path.

Above her Cole growls, his back in mild pain, his mate below him quivering with fear at the anger her father displayed. Jeff Parker was going to pay for putting that fear in her beautiful coffee eyes. Before everyone’s eyes Cole transformed to his demon counterpart his pressed suit gone in it’s place were black pants and a black shirt, his handsome face and slicked back hair became pure black with bright red streaks and his teeth elongated into sharp points.

Liz stares up at her demon…and he is her demon, her lover, her mate, and equal…he was completely different but no less desirable. His once suit covered arms were now bare, even before his transformation he had muscles but now they were larger and more pronounced. She knew she should be frightened of this change, but she couldn’t be, Cole/Balthazar would never hurt her or their baby, there wasn’t a doubt in her mind.

Lifting her hand she gently and slowly at her own pace, as if her father wasn’t on the other side of the room fuming over the recent developments, caresses his face. His skin was rough almost like a callus however it was smooth to the touch and so warm, much warmer than his human form. Balthazar stares down at his tiny goddess, not a shred of fear or nervousness crossed her face, his demon side didn’t repel her like it had Phoebe. Liz truly was different in all the good ways.

Balthazar pushes himself up and off of Liz needing to put his mind back to the matter at hand, turns and snarls at Jeff ready for a fight. In a blaze of fire an athame appears in Cole’s hand his demon taking over; his human side was trying to fight the urge to kill his mate’s father but the demon side shouted to exterminate the threat to his family. His fists clench, his muscles bulge preparing to fight. “Let’s do this Peikasha.” The words barely understandable through his grumble.

Liz watches as her father smirks at Balthazar, this wasn’t going to be pretty, she couldn’t let them fight; at best they’d severely injure each other and worst they’d kill each other, neither man/demon would give up easily. Neither would yield to the other, she crawls to her knees and rises from the floor, she couldn’t let them do this.

“It will be a pleasure to get rid of you Balthazar. I knew you had taken advantage of my darling girl, all you want is to take her throne, well you won’t get it. I’ll kill you before I let that happen.” Electricity flows through his veins coming out of his fingertips at the flick of his wrists.

“Daddy NO!” Liz yells and tries to get to Balthazar but Michael holds her back, the overwhelming need to protect his friend from the unknown strong within him. “Michael let me go, I can’t let Daddy hurt him.” Even though he was trying to hurt Cole he was still her daddy.

“You could get yourself killed in the process, stay back where you won’t be hurt.” He argues with her trying to reason with her. Michael shifts his gaze from Liz to the major knockout drag down fight happening in front of them.

Balthazar dodges the electricity and it hits a booth causing padding to fly around the area, he rolls on the floor, lifts his hand and tosses an energy ball. “If Dad kills Cole that will hurt me.” She stares back at Michael, Maria and Kyle are enraptured by what is transpiring.

The energy ball Balthazar threw barely grazed Jeff’s arm as he moved out of the way, it fried a small area on his shirt but didn’t touch his skin. Michael despite his better judgement lets Liz go she wouldn’t stop struggling against his grip he might end up hurting her by accident.

Liz rushes toward Cole and wraps her arms around his shoulders, ceasing any further movement. Jeff however doesn’t stop he sends another gust toward the couple, his powers while not extensive packed a powerful punch; Liz raises her eyes toward the commanding wind. Her eyes blacken and flames rise with fury deep in the darkness of her changed gaze.

The force that was headed towards her and Balthazar was turned back around on Jeff and he flew back and through the swinging door landing in the back room. Cole could hardly believe that Liz a demon with hardly any experience with powers and magic was in full control of those abilities when she came up against her father.

It was then and only then did Jeff finally realize that there were other people in the room besides him and Balthazar. Slowly her father stands up and glares at both her and Balthazar. “Liz what are you doing with this low-level scum. I thought you were smarter than to get involved with someone like him.”

Balthazar returns to his human form, his suit crisp and perfect, hair slicked back just the way he liked it, and glaring at her father. “Low-level scum, who’s calling who low-level?”

“Watch yourself Balthazar,” Jeff growls at the half-breed, “Elizabeth why would you lower your standards for this half-human?” He shakes his head. “I’ll tell you why, it’s all your mother’s fault, before she met me she was a good witch that had a soft heart. You must have inherited that from her side of the family.” He mumbles to himself.

“Dad,” Liz stands up and faces her father head on. “Shut up.”

Jeff stares at his daughter in shock, never in her eighteen years has she spoken to him in such a manner. “Elizabeth Parker how dare you speak to me that way. You see what he’s doing to you, never would you have said that if you hadn’t had met him.”

Liz shakes her head and stares up at the ceiling. “This isn’t Cole talking Dad, this is me. Cole is not low-level, even if he was I wouldn’t care because I love him Daddy.” Sniffling she puts her hand out to Cole needing his support and security. “And I'm not going to stand here and let you insult him.”

Clenching his jaw Jeff watches with disgust and disappointment when Balthazar rises to his feet and takes Liz’s hand holding it tight. Would he (Jeff) let Liz choose Cole, if he showed his support then maybe he could convince Liz one day that Cole was wrong, or she could come to that conclusion all on her own. Another option would be to argue with Liz till his face turned blue and still not get anywhere. His daughter’s determined expression made the choice for him.

“Fine, you don’t have my blessing, and I'm not going to go out of my way to make Cole feel welcome,” Liz is about to speak but Jeff continues before she can, “however, as long as you want to be with him I will be civil to him.”

That was as good as Liz was going to get, at least at this point, and she knew that. A small smile breaks out on her face. “Thank you Daddy.” She lets go of Cole’s hand and gives her father a tight hug. “I love you too Daddy.”

“Well, good because I love you too sweetheart.” He glares at Balthazar over Liz’s shoulder as he hugs her. This was going to be a very interesting time with Balthazar being in his life now, it wasn’t going to be easy or enjoyable for either, but both would make an effort for Liz’s sake.

TBC

A.N. Wow, this fic is really winding down, there are just a couple more chapters and it’s done. This break was something I really needed. Right now I'm working on another Liz/Cole fic (not apart of this series) so be looking for that in the next year or so, I want to finish working on this series before I post the other Liz/Cole fic. Hope you all enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 13

After the fighting and the arguing is finally behind them…at least for now, Jeff questioned Maria, Michael, and Kyle’s involvement. To which Liz explained that they saw her using her powers a couple times and also when Cole shimmered into Michael’s apartment. Dad offered to wipe their memories and for voices sounded as one shouting ‘No’.

“Trust me Daddy, they won’t tell anybody about what I am.” Liz smirks then looks up into her father’s eyes. He’s not pleased with humans knowing their family secret. “Which reminds me,” she distracts him away from her friends, “why didn’t I show signs of having powers before a month ago?” That never made much sense to her.

Jeff shrugs, “You weren’t supposed to get your powers till your…well today. There’s a ritual we were going to perform with our demon clan to bring forth your powers. Obviously you’re strong enough to bring forth the abilities on your own.” He smiles with pride at his birthday girl, who would have known his baby would be so strong.

“Is there anything else that can cause powers to manifest earlier than scheduled?” She has yet to tell Dad about her being pregnant, a part of her didn’t want to tell him till well after she gives birth but she doubted she could for long.

“Sure, a spell, very powerful emotion like anger or sadness, and pregnancy. When a demoness is pregnant and her powers are dormant those powers show themselves because of the instinct to protect her child or children.” He doesn’t even stop to wonder if Liz might be pregnant by Balthazar, that thought is too out there for him to conceive. It’s one thing to think herself in love with the low-level imbecile but actually breeding with him, his daughter isn’t that stupid.

Liz nods, so it is her baby’s doing, the baby helped her powers show themselves. “Umm, where’s Mom?” Curious as to why her mother hasn’t rushed down here wondering what all that yelling and crashing was a few minutes ago.

“She went out to get your cake.” He turns over various tables back into the standing position.

“Does Mom know that you’re a demon? I know she’s a witch…or was…”

Jeff shakes his head negatively. “No, she doesn’t know, at one point she did but not anymore. I was going to put her to sleep for your ritual. You see your mother, after she met me became a very bad witch, desperate for any and all power she could get, including yours.” He admits to her resting his hands on her shoulders. “When she started to go after you the Elders stepped in and stripped her of magic and her memories of anything magical. She can’t even perform fake magic.”

Liz bites her lower lip, how the hell was she going to explain Cole to her mother? She’s going freak at him being fifteen years older than she (Liz) is, she got upset when Liz had a crush on a brief time employee at the Crashdown, he was only twenty-one. Sensing her agitation Cole snakes his arm around her waist caressing the side of her stomach. Neither notices Jeff turning around and giving the wall a look of disgust.

“Don’t worry, everything will work out fine, nothing horrible will happen I promise you.” He’d make sure Liz has a wonderful birthday even if he has to kill everyone on the face of the Earth to do it. No matter what he would ensure her happiness.

Liz turns in his embrace pressing her body extremely close to his, he returns her loving embrace breathing in her soft scent of Ivory soap and a hint of fabric softener with the aftertaste of magic. From over his shoulder she can see young children running from place to place getting candy. With all the excitement she forgot about Halloween being today. Witches and demons, fairy princesses and GI Joe’s are running a muck over the small town.

If someone had told her two months ago that she would be in love with a half demon, pregnant with his child, and her family are demons she would have told them that was a great joke and where were the hidden camera’s. It was too crazy to even seriously consider, but then again so are aliens landing.

Maria speaks up from the Crashdown doors, “Well, if we’re going to get this place cleaned up before Liz’s party we better get started.” She claps her hands, taking Kyle and Michael’s hands leading them to the various overturned tables.

“This is unbelievable, we’re broken up but she still can make me do anything she wants.” Michael mumbles to himself catching Maria’s raised eyebrow that mimicked his own so well that it was scary.

Cautiously Michael keeps an eye on Jeff, even though he now knows the Parker’s secret; he doesn’t feel comfortable revealing his origins to Jeff. Yes, the elder Parker makes him feel like he is a part of their family; he can’t get over the idea that if he told Jeff he’d use him. Until that caution disappeared his boss would never know about his alien powers, he’s thankful that the three people who are involved with the alien abyss understand without a word passed between them.

Liz pulls away from Cole, gives him a kiss on the lips before helping her friends clean up the mess her lover and Daddy made. The second she left Cole’s side Jeff ambles up to the demon that stole his little girl’s heart. “I'm going to do everything I can to make sure you are gone in record time. There is no chance in Hell that I will let you pro-create with Liz, you’ll be gone by the end of the week.” He hisses.

Jeff knows that he promised his daughter he would give Cole a chance but he wants Cole to be well aware that he will never get his throne. The leader of the Eygon Clan has been promised to Liz, even if she doesn’t know it yet, he’d rather have a member of the Eygon Circle rule by Liz’s side than Balthazar.

Unable to help goat Jeff he smirks, “Little late…Grandpa.” Admitting right then and there that he and Liz have a child on the way, and letting Jeff know he couldn’t do a thing about it. A son, the child Liz is carrying is his son, ever since his child has had enough power he’s been connecting with him and having Liz and he share dreams. The wind picks up in the restaurant; napkins and streamers fly around the room.

“Daddy?” Liz turns; her father’s eyes are glowing a white light. Rushing in between her lover and father…again she demands to know what happened in the two minutes she stepped away. “Who said what to who and whose ass should I kick first?” Dammit can’t they just get along for today, is that too much to ask?

“You’re pregnant with this demon’s spawn? Now your child will be next in line after you. Even if you die your child gets the throne.” Jeff shakes his head. “No, no way am I letting any child of Balthazar’s take my throne.”

Tightening her jaw she nods her head, without saying a word to her father Liz grabs Cole’s hand and with a flame both are gone from the Crashdown. All that’s left in their place is a small string of smoke. “Where did they go?” Jeff runs a hand through his thinning hair, he swears he had a full head of hair before Liz was born. “Dammit Lizzie, I wasn’t done yelling at you yet!” He shouts to the ceiling.

“Apparently she thought you were.” Maria tells him. “Listen up Mr. Parker, I'm going to give you a bit of advice. Back off and butt out. Let Liz make her own choices, make her own mistakes. If you don’t treat her like an adult you’re going to lose her, if you continue to bad mouth Cole and their baby it’s very likely you’ll never see her again.” Sighing she shrugs her shoulders. “She’s stubborn like you, and she won’t bend unless you do first.”

“But she’s making a huge mistake, she doesn’t know that all Balthazar cares about is power and he’s going to use her.” Jeff finds it odd that he’s having this conversation with his daughter’s best friend but he guesses that she knows Liz pretty well and knows what she’s talking about.

“Maybe, but just from watching them, I don’t think he is after her power or your throne. However if I'm wrong, then she needs to know you’ll still be there and if you’re insulting Cole and their child it’s more likely she’ll stay with Cole even if it’s obvious she shouldn’t.” Figuring the party wouldn’t be happening today she, Michael, and Kyle leave the Crashdown.

Kyle has to go home and talk to his Dad, let him in on the latest information of the supernatural and otherworldly forces. All Michael wants to do is go back to his apartment and sleep for a couple hours, if the party is suddenly back on Maria knows where to find him. And Maria promised she’d help her Mom for about two hours with wedding plans.

TBC

A.N. This fic is winding down, at the most there are four chapters left at the least two. Hope everyone likes this chapter.

Chapter 14

Liz’s friends have left the Crashdown and Jeff is left by himself, alone with his thoughts. What Maria said earlier made sense—now that he’s has a chance to think about it. If he does continue bad mouthing Cole and their child he could lose Lizzie forever. Jeff peeks at his watch; Nancy should be coming home in about thirty minutes, which would be plenty of time to complete his plans.

With a gust of wind he disappears from the restaurant and transports himself to one of the many underground caves in Roswell. Jagged rocks, cobwebs, and dirt floor are what surround him, the demons he needs to speak with won’t be happy but this has to be done.

“Peikasha, what brings you here? Is Lakarisha ready to meet her betrothed?” Simon, short for A’Kresha’Sim’on, comes up behind him. Jeff laughs and embraces his friend from the Eygon Circle.

“No, not quite. However I must speak with you my friend, privately.” There’s no chance in Hell he’ll have this conversation in front of a hundred heavily armed guards ready and willing to kill at their King’s command.

Simon nods and he leads Jeff to his private office chambers. It’s amazing what can be done to an area underground. Many of his people preferred to stay below ground, being around a lot of humans gave them a pounding headache to their kind. Once the door is closed Simon questions Jeff’s reason for visiting this close to wedding ceremony, which had been decided to transpire a month after Lakarisha’s birthday.

“Simon you and I have been friends since we went to the Academy,” the Academy is for royalty only in the demon societies. It is where the heir’s to the thrones learnt everything they need to know about being a King or Queen. Most went when they were in the twenties very rarely did anyone under 16 years or over 35 years attend the Academy.

“Of course,” Simon motions him to take a seat. Jeff sits down and makes sure his emotions are firmly in check. Showing any kind of weakness now is not an option, sympathy for Simon would qualify as weakness.

Licking his lips he continues. “Good, and you know I’d do anything to make sure my little girl is happy.”

Narrowing his eyes Simon leans forward his arms tense across his desk. “What are you getting at Jeff? Are you saying Lakarisha won’t be happy with my son? Won’t be happy to be apart of my family?”

“That’s exactly what I'm saying. She’s met someone, and there is no question she loves him. I am not going to subject my daughter to a lifetime of heartache.” He tells his friend, his refusal to allow Liz to marry Simon’s son can very well lead to a war among the two factions.

“Heartache? My son would treat your daughter like a goddamn Queen every second of her life with him.” He snarls.

“And Belthazor will treat her like an equal, like a normal half-witch, half-demon. The last thing she’d want is to be treated like a Queen every second. When she takes over my place on the throne she will have thousands of subjects treating her like a Queen, the last thing she’d want is for her husband to treat her the same way.”

Jeff stands up and stares down at Simon. “If your son fell in love with someone would you want to keep them apart?” Granted his initial reactions to Belthazor weren’t very welcoming, he knows with every fiber of his being that Liz is happy with him.

Simon leans back in his chair. “No I wouldn’t.” He’d do everything in his power to make sure his son got whom he wanted. If he’s being honest with himself his son didn’t want to be with Jeff’s daughter. Something about not being able to tolerate a half-breed especially when the other half is witch—or third witch, which ever it is his son didn’t want it. “Fine, the wedding is off. I’ll go tell him.”

With a nod and another gust of wind Jeff leaves his friends private office. Now it’s off to see Lizzie. His instincts tell him she and Cole are at Cole’s penthouse in San Francisco. When he finds them he’s going to have to bite his tongue and grin and bare his baby girl marrying a demon whose head he’d love to see on the end of stick.

~*~*~*~

Liz paces furiously through Cole’s penthouse apartment, “Who the Hell does he think he is?” She growls to no one in particular just fuming in general. “Saying my son isn’t good enough to sit on the throne. Fine, who needs his damn throne anyway.”

“Baby, calm down,” Cole stands up from his spot on the couch, he’s been watching her pace for ten minutes. Liz hasn’t been able to stop yelling about her father, since they flamed in from Roswell. “Sweetie your father is just trying to protect you.” He can’t believe he’s actually defending Jeff Parker.

“And you, what were you thinking telling Daddy about me being pregnant? I wanted to wait till I figured out how to tell him without him exploding like he did. It’s not like we wouldn’t have the time, this child isn’t coming into this world until another eight months…”

“Not exactly. Demon pregnancies are different then humans, instead of the standard nine months it’s only five months. For the first three months your stomach will be fairly flat and then the last month the baby grows like a weed.” Cole tells her.

Liz’s eyes widen, “I'm sorry did you just say that this baby, our baby boy is going to making his debut in four months?” Her breathing picks up, how come she couldn’t have more warning; there are so many things to do. How could they do everything that needed to be completed before the baby comes?

Cole grasps her forearms; “Baby I swear to you I will do everything in my power to make sure nothing goes wrong.”

“That’s sweet Cole but you can’t promise that. As much as I’d like to believe that all would go fine it’s unrealistic. What you can promise me though is that you’ll be here for me. With Daddy being so stubborn right now—“ She shakes her head and lowers her eyes ashamed of her father’s actions. He promised he’d try and he couldn’t even last five minutes.

“Done.” He brings her close wrapping her in a hug, her arms delve under his jacket and her head rests against his chest. “After we deal with your father you deserve another vacation.” He rumbles above her, the vibrations from his chest comfort her.

“Definitely.” She chuckles burrowing deeper into him. It’s scary how much she needs him but comforting at the same time. “I love you ya know.” A part of her is worried he won’t say it back but she quickly banished that thought. Of course he loves her; he won’t be doing all that he’s doing if he didn’t.

“I love you too. More than I thought I could love anyone.” They stand in silence after their omission of love; the ‘ding’ of the elevator is the only thing that breaks their serenity.

“Who…” Liz stops her sentence as the elevator doors open and the woman she met in that very elevator a month ago, Phoebe she thinks her name is, along with two other women and a man storm in. Confused Liz switches her gaze from the charging group, not worried that they can hurt them, up to Cole. Whoa, he’s not happy.

“Trick or treat Cole. So this the new girlfriend? Kind of young for you isn’t she?” Phoebe spits out clearly not recognizing Liz from that day Cole broke up with her. She’s going to make Cole sorry for every tear he made her cry.

TBC

orphyfets
Jennifer24
pandas2001
bluebear01

Thanks for the feedback love reading it. I swear I'm a feedback whore.

Chapter 15

“Phoebe why the Hell are you here? Last time I checked we’re broken up, that means you don’t enter my home uninvited.” Cole hisses out keeping an arm around Liz. “Never took you for a woman who can’t get over an ex.”

“I am over you bastard, I'm just here to make sure you don’t take advantage of some other innocent girl.” Piper sees the girl next to Cole do a mini-eye roll, why isn’t she at the very least looking at him in a different light? Isn’t that what a person did in a situation like this?

Leo can’t take his eyes off the strange woman in Cole’s arms. There is something about her that strikes a familiar cord in him but he can’t place her. Those eyes, just a touch of coldness in them where has he seen that before? At times like this he wishes he paid more attention at the Whitelighter meetings, it’s those eyes where has he come across them?

“Phoebe…” Paige tries to tell her sister things aren’t adding up. A glance toward Piper and Leo confirm her suspicions that something isn’t quite right.

The irate woman raises her hand cutting off what Paige was going to say. Phoebe turns her gaze onto the woman burrowed into Cole’s side. “Do you know what he is? He’s an evil demon, a killer, you’re lucky he hasn’t massacred you yet.” She puffs up with pride thinking she broke some major secret, apparently she completely forgot that if a non-magical human found out about demons they were killed.

Instead of jumping back the girl stares at Phoebe with a small smirking sparkle in her eyes, then she lifts her gaze up to Cole’s. “I'm pretty sure I knew that.” She teases. “Let’s see, energy balls, a demon form, shimmering, heightened stamina…yea no real surprise there.”

“Was that all Phoebe? Or did you have something else you think my fiancée should know?” All right so maybe they haven’t officially spoken the ‘M’ word yet but their shared dreams of a bonding ceremony could be considered an engagement. When Liz doesn’t protest he knows she thinks the same thing.

“Wait, hold it. You know he’s a demon and you don’t care? Do you have like a death wish?” Paige questions, there is no doubt in her mind Cole is evil, why would a person stay with someone so evil?

“Yea, that’s pretty much it. Can you leave now please, this was a private moment and bursting in uninvited interrupted that.” Liz’s voice is light but none of the sisters feel at east, there was a veiled threat underneath that light tone.

Phoebe’s chin quivers, all she wants is for Cole to stop haunting her heart and mind, vanquishing him is the only way for her to achieve that. With a violent throw that Piper, Paige and Leo were unprepared for she aims the vanquishing potion made specifically for Belthazor at the couple. But the potion doesn’t land on Cole or even at his feet, instead it’s stopped about four inches from his body.

“What the—“ Piper can’t finish her sentence, she didn’t stop the potion, so who did?

A gust of wind blows passed everyone carrying the deadly potion into a wall far away from Cole and Liz. “Daddy?” Liz questions the wind; the air brushes passed her softly caressing her cheek. It is Daddy, what is he doing here?

Jeff materializes next to Liz so he and Cole surround the one thing they mutually love. “Daddy what are you doing here?” She asks her thought aloud.

“I'm sorry Lizzie, you and Belthazor belong together. I let my own hatred of him cloud my judgement. Maria knocked some sense into me after both of you left.” He explains all the while not taking his eyes off the three sisters and Whitelighter.

Suddenly Leo knows exactly why those are familiar; she’s the daughter of a very powerful and protective demon. He was the topic of discussion in the meeting before last, it was mentioned that he was marrying his daughter off to the son of the Eygon Circle King. According to the Elders this was a good thing because that means a terrible prophecy wouldn’t come to pass.

“Oh shit, Phoebe we gotta get outta here.” Paige has been vehemently studying the various demons in the Book of Shadows and the one standing in front of them had leapt off the page and into her memory. They had to go back to the Manor and she needs to debrief them about what they’re up against.

Leo knowing he and Paige are on the same page doesn’t wait for the sisters to say a thing he just orbs them back home. The second they land safely in the attic Phoebe yells at Leo and the new addition. “Dammit, first off what the hell are you talking about Paige, and second where do you get off orbing us out of the penthouse? We have to go back and deal with both those demons Leo.”

Leo can’t even get a word in edge wise because Paige steps forward. “Listen to me Phoebe, I’ve been studying the Book for a solid month now and this demon, the one that arrived in a gust of wind stuck in my mind. Don’t you want to know why?” Paige asks, when the hell will Phoebe listen to her, every time she has an idea either her or Piper will shoot it down because she doesn’t have enough experience with demon fighting.

“Let’s just listen Phoebe.” Piper uses her power as the oldest sister to calm Phoebe down, now understood why Prue could sometimes be on a power trip. She had the most control over her gifts and the power of being the oldest sister.

“Fine what have you got Paige?”

Seeing that Paige is going to take charge Leo stays quiet, there are times when dealing with these three when it’s best to just let things play out. In addition to that he’d like to keep his appendages, if he gets involved that might not happen, so he and his various body parts are staying out of the line of fire.

Paige stalks over to the Book of Shadows and flips toward the correct page. “That demon is named Peikasha, he is the leader of the Shapeshifter and Ticatra Faction. The thing that stuck with me was this, apparently our mother while pregnant with you Phoebe had a premonition of Belthazor and another demon called Lakarisha.”

“Not impressed yet.” Phoebe rolls her eyes sitting down on Aunt Pearl’s couch.

“Just listen dammit.” Paige hisses at her. “’Lakarisha daughter of Peikasha is to be bonded with Belthazor, their child is to become the greatest demon ever born and will bring the human race to its knees’. The girl at Cole’s penthouse called Peikasha ‘Daddy’. If I'm right than that girl is Lakarisha and it’s a very good likely hood that she’s pregnant.”

“We’re in trouble.” Piper whispers. “Mom you couldn’t have put more in there to go on could you?” She shouts at the ceiling.

~*~*~*~

“With you being in favor of our bonding does that mean her betrothed is no longer an issue?” Cole asks, he wants to know if he’s going to have to kill of member of the Eygon Royal Family.

“Betrothed? Who were you going to marry me off too?” Confusion and hurt cross her features. Why would her father just her to someone she didn’t love?

“Yes, the marriage has been called off. And you don’t have to worry about the Eygon Circle; their King is an old friend of mine. We’ve straightened everything out.”

“Good.” Cole presses a kiss to Liz’s temple.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Back the Betrothal Bus up a bit. You were just going to hand me over to some guy whose your friends son?” Liz glares at her father not pleased by this nugget of knowledge.

Jeff nervously scratches his head suddenly afraid of his daughter. “Well honey, it’s our way. It’s the way we do things, marriages are set up all the time. But the important thing to remember is that the deal is annulled and you’re free to bond with Cole.”

“What is it with people thinking they know what’s best for me? I can make my own damn decisions you know.” She fumes.

“Honey why don’t we go back to the Crashdown. We still have your party.” He changes the subject quickly. Liz glares at him one last time before nodding; she grabs Cole’s hand and flames them out of the penthouse. Jeff swallows, damn he’d hate for any of his subjects to know his own daughter could frighten him better than any spawn from Hell.

TBC

elfangel01
Jennifer24
orphyfets
Behrsgurl*87
pandas2001
bluebear01

Thanks for the wonderful feedback, it makes a crappy day so much better.

A.N. The way I'm portraying Nancy (or at least some of the stories I will be telling about her) is based in truth. Not from my Mom but from my Yiayia (Grandmother) there about 3-5 stories (depending on how you look at it) and two are true. Yiayia loves attention no matter what kind of attention and she loves chaos and causing chaos. As I was working on this chapter I got struck with 'this is how Nancy is' and I realized about half-way through that I was modeling her after my own crazy Yiayia.

Chapter 16

20 minutes later

Liz called Maria, Kyle, Michael, Jim, and Amy to come on back to the Crashdown and begin the party. She explained to her three friends that everything is civil between Cole and her Dad. As she got off the phone with Maria the back door opens, her Mom smiles at Liz carrying the birthday cake.

“Hi Mom,” Liz rushes up to her and takes the sugary confection from her. After she took it she wondered if she should have let Mom keep the cake. When she finds out about her relationship with Cole she might not do something if she’s holding the cake…or she could throw the cake at Cole. Ok taking the cake is a better idea.

“How’s my birthday girl?” Nancy kisses Liz’s cheek. She remembers when Liz was a little girl; she would follow Jeff everywhere. One Halloween she dressed up as Jeff, it was so cute, and she wore a pair of jeans and a t-shirt exactly like his then stuffed her brunette locks into a baseball cap.

Strands of her hair would peek out from the hat but she was so pleased with herself that she was dressing like Daddy. “Oh, great Mom. Umm, Mom?” A questioning tone is in her voice.

“Yes sweetie?” Nancy leans against the entryway to the kitchen of the Crashdown. She can tell it’s something big or Liz wouldn’t be twisting the dishtowel she grabbed so hard.

Liz takes a deep breath, “When I was in San Francisco I met somebody. We went out on a few dates while I was there.” No way is she telling her mother she also had hot demon sex with him, which would be far too much for her to handle.

Nancy smiles at that news. “Oh that’s fantastic honey. It’s great to see that you’re getting back on the dating horse especially after that Max Evans boy.” She’s happy for Lizzie but why bring this up now, did something happen to her and only now does she feel comfortable in coming forward.

“Well, we’ve kept in contact with each other for a month and I invited him to my party and—“

“And he stood you up didn’t he honey?” Nancy automatically assumes the worse. It’s a rarity that these silly teenage boys mean anything they say, and if Liz is ready to talk she’ll be here for her when she cries out her heart.

“Liz shakes her head negatively, “No Mom, he’s here. Daddy’s met him and while doesn’t quite like him, is ok with him being here and going out with me.” She left out a lot but that is to be expected. Can’t exactly tell Mom that Cole’s the mighty Belthazor and she’s pregnant with his baby. That wouldn’t go over too well.

“All right sweetie. What’s his name?”

Smiling Liz tells her. “His name is Cole Turner. And Mom he treats me so well, I feel so safe with him.” She tries to play up his good points before Mom realizes that she’s heard that name previously. “Cole is handsome, kind, has good job that he loves, and he’s even moving to Roswell so we can continue to date.”

“But honey what about his parents? Won’t they miss their son? And how good of a job can someone have when they’re just starting out in the world?” Nancy understands that any job to a teen is a good job but Liz needs to see reality and not throw all her ducks in one pond.

Liz sighs out shaking her head and now we get to the portion of the show when Mom gets information to help piece together this puzzle. “His parents are dead Mom, so they won’t miss him. And his job is very good, he’s an attorney.”

Mom stares at her with such pity in her eyes that Liz wants to shake her mother and scream. Her mother thinks she’s a naïve little girl that needs protecting. “Lizzie I'm sure that’s what he told you but sweetie I didn’t know you to be so gullible.”

Rolling her eyes she turns away from her mother letting out a loud frustrated growl. Liz hadn’t realized how loud it was until Cole rushes into the kitchen asking her if she is all right.

“Yea, I'm fine honey. Cole, I’d like you to meet my mother Nancy Parker.” Cole turns from her to her Mom; the woman he brushed passed without a second glance. “Mom I’d like you to meet Cole Turner, my boyfriend.” She hopes he understands why she introduced him as her boyfriend as opposed to fiancée. When he holds out his hand to Mom’s Liz knows he does.

“Mrs. Parker, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Nancy shakes Cole’s hand more because of instinct then anything else. She stares at Cole as if not quite believing this is the boy Liz is ecstatic over.

“Umm, hello. How old you? You seem far to old to be dating my daughter.” Nancy sneers out.

“He’s thirty-three Mom, Dad’s fine with it, go talk with him.” Please leave. Mom is getting on her last nerve. Liz gets that her Mom is kind of freaked out about Cole being fifteen years older than she is but so what she's eighteen now.

Reluctantly Nancy leaves the kitchen and enters the restaurant. Jeff is setting more streamers up on the ceiling and Michael, who arrived five minutes ago, is blowing up balloons. “Hi honey, when did you get back?” Jeff greets.

“You’re letting our daughter date a thirty-three year old man? Jeff what the Hell are you thinking? Liz is at a very impressionable young age. Who knows what that Cole has made her do.” Nancy fumes taking no mind of Michael inching out of the room and to the backroom where Liz and Cole have moved too.

“Whoa Parker, your Mom is getting to her breaking point.” Michael smirks.

“Why do you think I sent Mom outside to talk to Dad, he can handle her, he’s used to her tantrums.” Liz glances up at Cole. “Honey, if I become like my mother smack me really hard and telling me I'm acting like my mother. Trust me I’ll never do it again.”

“Oh she’s not that bad Liz.” Cole argues. She doesn’t seem as insane as Liz and Michael are making her out to be.

“You’ve only just met her. Trust us, she’s a lot worse than that.” Michael leans against the lockers. “First off it kills her if she’s not the center of attention, don’t be surprised if she tries to make this birthday party about her somehow.” He runs a hand through his long hair, it finally grew out after that mullet nightmare.

Michael picks at a his shirt, “She’s sane every once in a while, if you’re only around her in spurts Nancy can seem completely normal. But when you’ve lived with her or spent excessive amounts of time with her she’ll start showing that ‘I'm nuts’ part of her personality.”

“And she’s dying every week from something, ninety-nine percent of the time it’s bullshit.” Liz picks up the conversation letting Cole in on Mom’s idiosyncrasies. “Oh and don’t be surprised if she tries to hit on you, she can’t imagine why you’re with me so she’ll try to get with you.”

“She hit on me once, that was scary. Had nightmares for a month after that.” Michael shivers, he’s with Liz in having Cole know exactly what he’s going to have to deal with.

Maria, Kyle, Jim, and Amy come through the backdoor seeing Liz, Cole, and Michael chatting easily. “And as soon as Michael told me about Liz’s Mom coming onto him I couldn’t stop laughing.” Maria teases him.

Out of the blue a loud thump is heard from the restaurant, a second later Jeff enters the backroom carrying Nancy in his arms and she’s out cold. “Jim, Amy. Hi, umm Nancy fell and hit her…”

“Don’t worry Jeff, Maria and Kyle told us everything—“ Jeff’s eyes widen and Amy continues “—Nancy is prone to fainting when she doesn’t get her way.” Amy tells Jeff.

Liz shoots a wink over to Maria. Amy doesn’t even know about aliens yet, let alone a single bit about demons. She’s glad her friends though of something to tell Amy about Jeff knocking Nancy out with spell. It saves them from coming up with an excuse at the last minute that would sound an awful lot like a lie.

“That’s right. I'm going put Nancy in our bed then we can get this party going.” Jeff tells them heading upstairs to put Nancy into their room. He’s upset with her; this is their daughter’s day and all she can think about is how Liz dating Cole is going to affect her. He won’t let Nancy ruin Liz’s birthday party.

TBC

killjoy
orphyfets
Behrsgurl*87
Jennifer24: Well, so far Maria won't be getting a lecture but someone else will be grilled.
elfangel01: That's why I had Jeff knock her out before things went too far. Because I have so many stories that I can use for her and none are flattering.
bluebear01
pandas2001
Forensicschic: Yiayia is basically pronounced 'Yeah-yah'. I am almost finished with this fic. But there is still an interlude and a sequel so the story-line won't be finished for a while.

A.N. Thank you everyone for the feedback, I'm addicted to it. A couple days ago I looked back at the requirements of this challenge (which I should have been looking at much more than I have been) and I followed it for awhile but I didn’t listen when it said ‘Liz doesn’t want to/resists marrying whatever guy you wanna put her with’ (not a direct quote just paraphrasing). Sorry. Enjoy this next part.

Chapter 17

While Jeff is tending to Nancy upstairs Liz is making introductions downstairs. “Umm, Jim, Amy. I’d like you to meet Cole Turner my boyfriend.” Jim shakes the man’s hand and casts a questioning gaze over to Liz. This guy is definitely not a teenager.

“Jim Valenti, it’s nice to meet you. What do you do for a living Mr. Turner?” Although he’s not the Sheriff any longer his suspicions rise at the idea of an older man moving in on a young innocent girl.

Cole admires the strength Valenti displays, if this is the man that Liz spoke highly of in San Francisco he’s earned the right to question his motives and intentions. “I'm an attorney.”

“An attorney?” Amy joins in, “Well, can’t say lawyers are my favorite kind of people. They tend to be bottom feeders.” She smiles serenely but with a visible edge. “I'm Amy Deluca by the way.” Amy doesn’t extend her hand. Liz has become a second daughter to her and Amy refused to sit back and let someone who doesn’t deserve her get off without at least a stern talkin’ to.

Maria rolls her eyes but lets her mother do her thing. It’s best to stay off in the sidelines when she gets into ‘Mama Bear’ mode. Liz bites her lip holding back laughter while at the same time being filled with warmth that Amy is displaying motherly affection toward her and raking Cole through the coals. Although irritating it shows how much she means to Ms. Deluca.

“Many lawyers are bottom feeders. I happen to be one of the few that are slightly above bottom feeders.” Cole quips back to her. He sees what Amy is trying to do and he doesn’t mind…much. It’s nice to know Liz has a mother figure besides her own.

Slowly Amy nods her head. “Come with me young man. You and I need to have a long talk about your intentions.” She grabs his sweater sleeve and drags him out the dining area of the restaurant.

“Are you nervous?” Kyle questions Liz.

Liz uneasily shrugs a shoulder. “He’ll pass the Amy Deluca test. As long as her final impression of him is that he loves me unconditionally.” Jeff’s footsteps descend the stairs and Liz glances up at him, he briefly searches the room for Cole and Amy.

“Cole taking the test?”

“Yea. Amy dragged him out there a few seconds ago. Now all we’re waiting for is the verdict.” Sighing Liz glances up the stairs to the front door of the apartment. “Daddy? How come--. You told me Mom was a good witch before she met you. But what I don’t get is how could she be a good witch if her personality has been like that since forever?”

“Well, I sort of exaggerated when I said your mother was a good witch. She was but not to the extent of most good witches. Nancy used her magic to help people but even before she met me she had a selfish streak a mile long inside her.” Jeff explains.

“Most people are selfish in some way. Why is Mom so different?”

“She’s different because her selfish side is as prominent as it can be without her being considered evil. When she did the good deeds it balanced out her selfish personality. So after Nancy met me I pulled her too far towards the ‘evil’ side of her and boom instant bad witch.”

Kyle shakes his head after hearing all this information. “And I thought my family was weird. We’re nothing compared to your family.” That earns him a soft slap on the shoulders from both Maria and Liz. “Ow!”

~*~*~*~

“So Cole. Why are you so interested in a girl who only recently, I'm talking not even twenty-four hours ago, turned eighteen? Assuming you and Liz didn’t meet at 12:02 a.m. this morning I'm sure I can say with utmost certainty that you met her when she was a minor. Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t call the police right now?” Amy questions.

“Calling the cops on me will hurt Liz. Hurting her means I’ll have to hurt you.” Cole’s voice is as hard as steel.

Amy doesn’t even raise an eyebrow at his statement. She wants to smile but won’t yet. While exactly what she hoped to hear she can’t let Cole know that—yet. “You must know about Liz’s former boyfriend. Max Evans? He left town a few months ago with his sister and his one-night-stand? That boy never could stay away from Liz for too awful long. What are you going to do if he shows up to get his girlfriend back?”

Cole swallows, he has heard about Max. At the fair one afternoon they spoke about past boy/girl friends. At the time Liz left out the alien information and told him that Max hurt her, said she hadn’t been blameless in their split either. There were things she had done that she regrets, saying things she wished were spoken in a calmer tone or a different way.

“First off at that point Liz and I will already be married. Second I’d beat the shit out of him for hurting her. Then I go home to my wife and continue on with my life.”

At that Amy does raise an eyebrow. “But what if Liz wanted to go back to him?”

“If she wanted to go back—I’d fight for her. However if I saw that she was undeniably happy with him, I’d step aside. As painful as that would be.” There isn’t a doubt in his mind that Liz will be with him till the day that they die.

“Last question. How much do you love Liz?”

“That’s an easy yet difficult question.” Cole licks his lips. “I love her with every fiber of my being. So much that I never want to let her go. When she’s out of the room I count the seconds till she’s back in the room. I love her even with all her flaws—Hell I love her flaws, they are apart of the Liz Parker package that I wouldn’t trade for anything. But if she wasn’t happy with me, I’d give her up so she could be happy with whoever or whatever she wanted.”

A large smile breaks out on her face. “Now that’s what I like to hear. Welcome to our family.” She stands up from her stool and hugs Cole in greeting. “You’ll do just fine.” She whispers and leaves him to trail after her back into the break room where Liz is waiting.

Liz sees Amy moving toward Jim in her peripheral vision but she’s focused on Cole. Her eyes widen and her brows lift in question. Has Amy accepted him? While it wouldn’t change how she feels about Cole it’d be uncomfortable to have two people that she loves not get along.

“Piece of cake.” Cole kisses her forehead as she lets out a breath of relief.

TBC

orphyfets
elfangel01
pandas2001: Yes Max will be coming back (along w/ Isabel and Tess) but it won't be until the sequel Strange Old World.
Jennifer24
alexceasar
Forensicschic: Maria, Michael, Kyle, Jeff, and of course Cole and Liz know that Liz is pregnant. Max will be back but in the sequel. And as for death(s) you'll have to wait and see.
Luna_Seer: Max will definitely return along w/ Iz and Tess. So there will be some tension.
Zansgirl
bluebear01
Kitten
forever dreamer

A.N. Thank you everyone for the wonderful feedback. This chapter is short I'm sorry, my muse wanted to stop where it did. I swear she’s already started to pack for her vacation.

Chapter 18

30 minutes later

The party was in full swing, Maria and Kyle were dancing together, Jim and Amy were talking to Cole, getting to know him, grilling him, and asking legal advice. Behind the counter Jeff, Liz and Michael were dancing—if it could be called that. The moves resembled that of a seizure shocking their bodies into odd flailing limb movements.

Liz twirled around, bumped into Michael who caught her by the waist and both burst out laughing. Ever since Michael proclaimed himself as her older brother he’d lightened up considerably. When Max and Isabel were still on Earth he didn’t laugh, hardly smiled, if he did it was more of a smirk, and the glass was always half empty. Now he laughed, not all the time but far more than with his alien siblings.

Maria slumped down on a barstool. “Pass me some of that Hawaiian punch birthday girl.” Liz danced over to the punch bowl and poured her some. “Why thank you.”

“You are most welcome.” She tilted her head sweetly before leaning over the counter. A sigh left her mouth as she gazed at Cole. “Oh I can’t believe he’s mine Maria.”

“Don’t really think you own—maybe rent would be a better analogy.” She grinned teasing her best friend. “But I get what you’re saying.”

Liz shrugged. “I guess. It’s weird though, two months ago I wasn’t pregnant, I didn’t have a fiancée—or almost fiancée, I didn’t even know Cole, and I didn’t know about my demon heritage. Amazing how quickly life changes. Granted all these are happy developments but strange none-the-less.” She moved her drink cup back and forth between her hands.

“Well there are a few things that’ll never change.” Maria squeezed her hands in comfort. “You’ll always have me, Michael, and Kyle. You’ll always have a zit pop up at the worst possible moment, and you’ll always be the first in line for the new Sherrilyn Kenyon novel.” She finished off her punch and let out a refreshed noise. “Now I'm going back out to boogey. Care to dance birthday girl?”

“I’d be honored.”

The second Liz and Maria took the floor Cole ceased paying attention to what Jim and Amy were saying. All he saw was Liz, he couldn’t even tell she was pregnant, the shirt she was wearing covered the tiny bulge she had really well. Soon that would change though; soon no shirt would be able to hide her belly.

Mumbling a quick excuse he stood up from the booth and walked toward Liz, she was oblivious of him closing in. It wasn’t until he was behind her and his arms slid around her that she noticed. “Hmm, missed me?” She questioned.

“Always.” Maria discretely backed away from the swaying couple pulling Kyle back out on the dance floor with her.

Smiling lazily Liz turned to face him, he’s so handsome, she remembered what Maria said about him not technically being hers but she couldn’t help but think he belonged to her. Just as she belonged to him through and through. She felt it in her bones that more than their baby tied them together.

It was at that an urgent thought crept into her conscious. “Why don’t I feel weird about this? Besides a few minor freak outs I’ve been accepting everything you and Daddy have been telling me. Shouldn’t I be…I don’t know comatose with shock right now?”

“Normally you would be.” Cole simply blurted out. “The baby plays a huge role in your emotional state, the baby’s calm so you’re calm, when the baby’s upset, you’re upset. Another thing is probably because on some level you’ve known that you’re not human.”

Liz shook her head not willing to accept his last theory. “No, I’ve always thought I was human Cole. Never knew there was anything else to be.”

“Maybe you never knew but deep down something was different about you. Probably noticed it as something weird and brushed it off as an unexplained event.” He remembered when he was a young boy and he didn’t know about demons but that didn’t mean he thought he was normal. A force was lying in wait deep inside and it was waiting for its moment to make itself known.

Liz took a deep breath before lying her head on Cole’s strong chest. Was he right, did she always know on some level that being Elizabeth Parker wasn’t all she was meant to be. Yes, he was. Denying the realization wouldn’t make it any less true, it simply was and she’d have to learn to accept that.

When she didn’t speak Cole lowered his gaze watching her beneath his lids. There must have been an incident that stuck out in her mind. Nothing else could account for the expressions playing on her beautiful face. In time she’d tell him all her secrets and not so secrets, he’d be ready to listen. Cole kissed the top of her head and they continued to sway to the melody.

TBC

forever dreamer
Kitten
elfangel01
orphyfets
bluebear01
Ansleyrocks
Ellie
Forensicschic
pandas2001
Christina2984

Thank you everyone for the wonderful feedback. This is the only update this week . I was really busy last week.

A.N. This is the second to last chapter. Figured I’d make it an even 20 . If you have been enjoying this story and hate that it’s going to be gone don’t fret, for there will be an Interlude and a sequel to this fic, half the interlude is done and the sequel is already being written.

Chapter 19

10:57 p.m.

With a sigh of relief Liz shut the Crashdown doors behind her friends, the party had finally come to an end, trick or treaters had finally stopped coming by begging for candy, and it was finally time for the ceremony. She was actually looking forward to becoming a full-fledged demon, Liz bit her lower lip and snorted lightly, imagine that.

“Are you ready birthday girl?” Jeff spoke from behind her; Liz didn’t turn to look at him when she nodded. Granted the ceremony wouldn’t start till a few minutes before midnight but she still had to get ready. She stared outside watching the porch lights go out.

“Where’s Cole?” Liz asked.

“He’s getting ready, it’s customary for your mate to stand with you.” Jeff explained. It was a big step for him to call Cole his daughter’s mate; he sure wasn’t the partner he’d pick for her. “Are you alright Honey Bear?”

Liz giggled at the silly name Grandma Claudia gave her, a name that stuck around since she was a toddler. “You haven’t called me that since I was fifteen.” She finally turned around to face her father, tears of happiness flooded around her warm innocent eyes.

He hadn’t consciously stopped using the name but he realized that before she came to visit was the last time he spoke that endearment. “Well, when your Grandmother died I guess, I didn’t want you to be reminded of the pain you felt when she left. Figured if you heard the nickname you’d be upset.” Jeff admitted.

“So,” Liz pushed away from the glass doors. “Is this the normal attire for the Shapeshifter and Ticatra Clan King to wear?” Dad was donned in a long dark red robe with gold thread decorating the front and neck. She couldn’t even see his feet the robe was so long, a part of her expected him to being wearing a Halloween Merlin’s hat.

“Yes, for ceremonies such as this, it is the proper apparel.” He assured. “Now, Belthazor is upstairs waiting for you in your room, he and your servant are ready to help you dress.”

“Servant? Since when do I get a servant?” Suddenly she’s scared. Things were changing so fast, she’s normally a person that took the time to figure everything out before she made a move, but now she didn’t have that luxury.

Dad placed his hands on her upper arms and stared her straight in the eye. “I understand sweetheart. Your whole life is changing, if I could stop the world from turning and let you be a kid for a little while longer I would. Unfortunately that is not one of my gifts, all this ceremony is, is a ritual to open the door further for you to receive your gifts and to one day rule in my place.”

He’s trying his best to make it seem like this practice wasn’t a huge deal…but in actuality it was everything. If Liz didn’t go through with the ritual than she wouldn’t be accepted into their Clan as their future ruler.

“But I already have powers.” She pointed out.

“True, but once the baby is born, those powers will diminish if you don’t go through with this. In your blood you have Shapeshifter, Ticatra and Witch, all running through your veins. As you grow older your powers will increase—if you go through with the sacrament. If not, what little power you have, and believe me in comparison to what you could have it’s not much, will disappear.”

Liz whispered, “That doesn’t sound so bad, what else aren’t you telling me?” She knew there was more but Dad was worried about—her reaction? Her safety? She didn’t know, but he was worried about something, and she needed to know what it was.

Sighing Jeff nodded, he explained about not being able to rule when he gave up the throne or died. Then he told her the bad news, someone, from either a rival Circle or heaven forbid their own would kill her and whatever children she created. As long as he had heirs no one else could take the throne, if Liz and her children were dead his Clan could appoint a new leader not of his bloodline.

“Great. So what outfit do I have to wear?”

11:05 p.m.

Jeff guided her to her bedroom where Cole was already dressed in a robe similar to her fathers, only his wasn’t decorated with gold thread. Wherever this servant Dad spoke of was she didn’t know because she wasn’t in the bedroom.

Hanging on a hook beside her bathroom door was what she assumed she’d be wearing for the ceremony. She’d been expecting a long red robe but that certainly wasn’t what she was staring at. It was red, but that was where the similarities ended.

The red garment was a dress, was short but not indecent, running down the arms was deep red lace, when she touched it she knew the fabric was silk. She glanced over at her dresser resting there are four pieces of jewelry all matching her dress. Two rings, a necklace, and a pair of earrings.

“Princess, let’s get you ready.” A soft sweet voice spoke from the doorway. Liz turned to address the woman standing there but was a little taken aback by her appearance. It wasn’t her demon, which she assumed was severely toned down that shocked Liz it was her attire.

Where her dress was innocent with a dash of sexiness thrown in this dress was all sexy and no innocence. Black leather mini-skirt, making her already pale legs look that much more so, and appeared to be painted on, a bikini top with lace sleeves and a small lace strip sewn around the bottom. Desirable five-inch heels finished off the outfit, to Cole’s credit he didn’t stare overtly or even for very long. His gaze mostly remained on his mate.

The voice didn’t match the stance, which was defiant, the body which was dangerous, and outfit which was arousing, for a moment Liz thought someone else had spoken, until she spoke again using the same tone. “Shall we?” She certainly didn’t act like a servant.

Jeff smiled at Gre-Neta, he probably shouldn’t have made her his daughter’s servant now that he thought about it some more. Unfortunately he’s been so busy trying to figure out what Liz was hiding than dealing with what Liz was hiding for that month that he hadn’t had the proper time to find a suitable candidate.

Gre-Neta always held a grudge against him; they had been lovers back in his youth. She was close to three hundred at the time; her powers gave her the ability to age far slower than any other demon he’d come across. She was upset when he chose to marry a witch and start a family; even got more ticked when he wouldn’t keep her as a mistress.

Although she hated him she was the best at what she did, getting new demons ready for their rites. So he went against his better judgement, now seeing the hostility burning in her eyes he could see the mistake he made.

“All right.” Lakarisha stared down the demoness; she wasn’t about to let her servant think she was higher on the food chain. That would be suicide, she’d see an opportunity and pounce, there wasn’t a doubt in her mind.

Cole stood off to the side observing the battle of wills, he knew Liz wouldn’t back down but he wasn’t sure about the woman in front of them. While Liz was downstairs with Jeff Gre-Neta tried her damnedest to seduce him, if he wasn’t with Liz he might have been tempted, if he wasn’t concerned about the welfare of his man parts he might have been tempted. Something about her turned him away, she was gorgeous, no denying that, but she lacked the spark he found in Liz.

Jeff left the room giving the three of them privacy, which was when Lakarisha’s servant got bold. “You know when I had my ritual my father scoured the globe for gold and precious jewels for me to wear. Aren’t you insulted that Jeff didn’t do the same for you?”

“Yes well when your ritual took place people and demons alike didn’t really bathe that often, as you can see things change.” Liz spoke without missing a beat. With her nose and chin slightly raised Lakarisha spoke down to the taller demoness, “Your age is starting to show, can’t hide those wrinkles for much longer.”

From behind her in the mirror she could see the servant…she didn’t care to learn her name—form a fist. Cole didn’t have a chance to do anything before Gre-Neta went up in flames, Liz smirked, she hadn’t even needed to turn around.

“Hate it when that happens.” Lakarisha coldly spoke. As quickly as her icy demeanor arose it disappeared, “Do you think Daddy will be upset?” She lifted a brow and bit her lower lip in worry.

“No my love. I don’t think he’ll be upset. He saw the choice he made was a mistake.” Cole reassured her.

“Was she going to be important to the ceremony?”

“No, she was only supposed to get you dressed, and since she did that, there is no more need for her.” He pushed away from the wall. “Are you all right?” Worried that she may have issues with bursting someone into flames.

Liz thought about it for a few moments. “Actually, I'm ok with it.” She smiled up at him before turning towards the dresser to put on her jewelry. Although there weren’t many pieces, the pieces that were there looked very expensive. Cole helped her put on the necklace and told her which fingers the rings were meant to go on.

When she gave herself one last peek in the mirror Cole came up behind her and eased his arms around her still slim waist. “You’re beautiful.” He rested his cheek against hers as they stared at their entwined bodies.

“You don’t look so bad yourself. Are you wearing anything underneath that robe?” She flirted. He was going to be her husband and she wanted so badly to make love to him. Ever since he came to Roswell they hadn’t exactly had the time to do much in the way of bedroom activities. Or in their case—everywhere activities.

“Don’t worry, you’ll find out soon enough.”

TBC

A.N. Hey everyone final chapter. Wanted to give all my readers and reviewers a big thank you for coming along on this journey with me. Next week I’ll post the interlude and then about a month or so after the interlude is completely posted I’ll start posting the sequel. Enjoy.

Chapter 20

11:37 p.m.

For twenty minutes she and Cole stayed in her room, the held each other while he explained some of what would happen in the ceremony. He didn’t know everything because he wasn’t a Shapeshifter or Ticatra but he knew the basic rites that occurred in every demon initiation.

“You ready to go?” Cole whispered in her ear. While he’d explained some of the ceremony parts she had remained silent taking everything in.

Slowly she nodded. “Guess I don’t really have a choice. I'm already dressed up for this shindig.” Liz didn’t mean to sound nervous or unsure but that’s what she felt.

Cole turned her around. “You can still back out of this. It is completely your choice.” He would never be able to leave her or their son’s side for a moment but he’d stay glued to them if it meant keeping them forever safe.

“As much as I’d love to say let’s leave now, if I don’t do this our son and I will be helpless. My father’s people will want us and him dead—no, I can’t do that.” She was just shooting her mouth off, in the end nothing could make her turn back or run away. In her short life she’d done that enough to last her a lifetime.

“If you’re sure.”

“Completely sure. Nervous butterflies mostly.” She breathed in deep and steady. The knock on her door signaled everyone was ready and waiting. Moving out from in front of her Cole stepped to the side and held his arm out. Liz almost threaded her arm through his but he took it and placed it next to his holding her hand firmly in his—well more like holding her fingers.

“We must walk out like this.” He lifted their joined hands up and straight out making sure her hand was over his. Only couples that preformed the rites of marriage could walk with arms looped. Until that time in the company of demons her hand was to be settled over his, she being of higher ranking than he.

Together they walked to the door and with a wave of his hand the bedroom door opened. A young demoness with long silky blond hair curtsied for them. “Allow me to escort you Princess to the altar?” She kept her eyes lowered awaiting her answer.

Remembering what Cole told her she stood straighter and spoke in a clear loud voice so the people out front could hear as well. “You may continue.” It was important during their Clan’s rituals to accept the servant sent to lead you down to the altar if pleased because that servant would be with you the rest of your days. If the servant weren’t accepted he/she would be killed for upsetting the Royal. She wouldn’t have minded refusing Gre-Neta, but this girl of no more than fourteen didn’t deserve death; she seemed to be doing fine.

Smiling the young one curtsied and gestured for the Princess and her mate to follow. “Right this way Princess.” She kept her eyes lowered and didn’t look the demons in attendance in the eye. One glance and her eyes would have been gauged out.

When a servant was younger, even younger than she, they weren’t punished as severely. That would be seen as excessive, but once a servant had been in the thick of things for as long as she had very little leeway was given. The only hope a servant had of avoiding punishment was if they were friends or lovers of high-ranking members of their Clan.

Upon entering the living room Liz was surprised how many were actually there. Not necessarily at the ceremony itself but the fact that they all fit in the living room with room to spare. There were at least fifty people/demons standing and bowing as she passed. Dad stood at the end of the aisle, a short green demon with horns stood next to him holding open a book.

Once she and Cole were at the front the servant curtsied to Dad and the green demon that she assumed was like a priest. “Your Highness, Your Grace.” She backed away and sat on her knees where a pillow lay.

“Lakarisha, Belthazor. Step forward.” Liz didn’t lower her gaze. Cole told her that all Prince’s and Princesses lower their gazes showing the King or Queen were higher on the demon food chain. But that didn’t make sense, wouldn’t her father’s people, her people want a strong leader? What kind of leader lowered their gaze giving up power to someone else—even if they were below them rank wise?

Instead of the uproar she expected Dad grinned. “Princess Lakarisha you passed the test.” His eyes sparkle with pride. “No self respecting Princess lowers her eyes even if it is to their father. That fire, that spirit will serve you well in the future.”

Liz wondered if that’s how her people chose who would assume the throne when it came time. Did the Royalty that lowered and bowed to the King or Queen not get chosen and were forever looked down upon? Thankfully that wouldn’t happen to her now…if it happened at all.

The demon priest began to speak his voice a hoarse, scratchy sound that grated on her nerves. Couldn’t he pop a Halls or something? He spoke of duty, honor, responsibility, and loyalty. At Jeff’s nod Cole released her arm and stood off to the side, still on the altar but out of the way. This part Liz had to be by herself.

Dad passed a chalice around, it looked like the one that was in her dream when she was in that cave with Cole, only the designs on the cup were different. This was decorated in fine jewels that glistened in the candlelight and had an intricate design of a crown. Each demon behind her cut their hand and let a few drops of blood—which was made up of all the colors of the rainbow—into the chalice.

When it reached her father again he cut his hand and let a single drop fall before filling the rest of the chalice with a blue liquid. It looked like Kool-Aid. “My daughter, drink of your people, drink of our family, and allow the power and history to wash over you.” He handed her the chalice.

Without hesitation she drank it down to the last drop, immediately she noticed a change. She could hear the thoughts of the demons around her, their power thrust into her willing body, their long history slammed into her mind till no amount of willpower could keep her standing. For what seemed like hours she lay on the floor breathing deeply watching and feeling the secrets of her race.

Finally the images slowed till they stopped coming at all. Blinking she turned and rose off her stomach to her knees until she stood on her own. She glance at the clock, it hadn’t taken hours, it had only been a few minutes. From beside her Dad’s voice boomed out. “Now you must mark the book with your blood and the ceremony will be complete.”

Liz took the outstretched knife from his hand and sliced her palm. She placed it on the book and smeared her blood over it, once she was done the blood changed from a messy hand print to two separate “photographs” one was a picture of her human self, the other was her base demon form.

“It is done.” Jeff spoke. “When you’re twenty-one you will mark the again and all the forms you’ve managed to accomplish will be placed on the second page.”

Although she had no clue what he meant by that she nodded anyway. She’d ask him later when there weren’t so many people around. There’s a lot she had to learn, that much she knew but she was looking forward to it.

But there was one question that tickled her curiosity. “Dad? Where’s Mom?”

THE END…kinda

Next:

**Interlude** Baby and Bonding will post next week

**Sequel** Strange Old World will post a month-two months after Interlude is complete