Once they were alone Peter gave Everett a long hard glare. The boy glared back never losing eye contact. Over the years Peter had learned to tell when someone was lying. They seldom held his gaze for any length of time. Satisfied Peter asked "what happened to Don and the boy?"
"I'm not exactly sure. Adam thought Silver must have reversed time somehow..."
"Aging backwards," Peter rubbed his chin "from past experience it could very well be permanent."
"It might be," Everett sighed looking away mumbling "it might cause problems for Malachi and Kimberly."
"She'll have to adjust," Peter said giving the young man an appraising glance "will you?"
"Me sir?" Everett asked taken aback "what do I have to do with it?"
"I've see the way you look at her," Peter told him "don't try to deny it."
Sighing he turned away from the older man. He seemed to hunch in upon himself "it won't work. We're literally from different worlds."
Not one to be dissuaded Peter asked "that aside, do you like her?"
A wistful half moan and sigh escaped from Everett's lips. "If it were possible to fall in love with someone in a few short weeks she'd be the one."
"Then do something about it," Peter encouraged him "if you love her tell her."
"I can't," Everett shouted as if he wanted whatever powers that existed to hear him "I belong here. Kimberly belongs there. What good would it do for either of us to tell her how I feel?" He wiped at his eyes surprised at the moisture he found there. It had been years since he had given way to tears. Not since his parents funeral. Even then he only remembered staring stonily ahead as if he were facing a firing squad. His brother had subbed inconsolably on his shoulder while his heart broke inside him.
"You need to tell her," Peter repeated "don't give up without even trying. Believe me you'll regret it."
"It's all a mote point if we can't operate the portal," Everett told him "Lincoln was the only one who understood how to operate it. He tried to show me." He waved a dismissive hand in the air "I'm hopeless when it comes to machines."
"Maybe I can figure it out," Peter offered. He refrained from telling the boy what he was thinking. If his younger brother was able to operate the portal than he was the one this dimension needed. Everett could leave this dimension without fear of consequences but only if he wanted to.
***
Heath walked past Kimberly's bedroom. A light shone beneath the door indicating she was still awake. Knocking softly he waited for a muffled response before pushing his way in. "Sweetie what are you doing still up?" he asked coming to sit on the edge of her bed.
"Oh daddy what am I going to do?" she leaned into him crying on his shoulder.
"You miss him don't you?" Heath asked unsure which boy he referred to. Malachi and Everett were both nice young men. Only one of them held his daughter's heart.
"You know it's both of them," she said refusing to acknowledge her changing feelings.
"Is it?" he asked "it's alright if your feelings have changed..."
"How could they?" she demanded "Malachi sacrificed himself to save Gwen. It wouldn't be right for me to dump him just because I met someone else." She brought a hand to her mouth horrified at the incriminating words betraying her true feelings "Oh daddy I'm a terrible person."
"No you're not," Heath hugged her tight "some people are only meant to be in our lives for a short time. Maybe Malachi accomplished his purpose in yours..."
"At what cost daddy?" she demanded eyes swimming in tears "aren't I supposed to feel something for what he did for us?"
Pushing her hair from her face Heath asked "is gratitude enough to marry someone you no longer love?"
"I d..." she meant to say I do but the word she almost said was I don't. She didn't love him. Not the kind of love two people should have for one another who they wanted to spend forever with. She loved his purple highlights, his pointy ears she had liked to trace with her finger tips. Loved his expressive green eyes. All those things weren't enough not compared with the strong arms that held her as she cried. The clean earthy scent of the man she hand grown to trust in a few short weeks.
"You did love him," Heath finished for her sensing the turmoil she was in "I can't tell you what to do sweetheart. Only you know what you feel. Consider this before you make any decisions. Who do you see when you close your eyes at night? Who holds you tight in your dreams? Then ask yourself if it would be fair to settle for the one who you only have a sense of gratitude towards. Gratitude isn't love. Sooner or later they'll sense it too. That would be far worse than just telling him." He kissed her cheek before getting up. Walking towards the door "good night sweetheart."
"Thank you daddy," she tried to smile but it felt stiff and lifeless. She knew her father was right. There was one person that filled her mind, her thoughts and her dreams. But did he feel the same?
***
Adam stared out the window. It seemed impossible that people were going on about their lives a few feet away while he and his son were trapped. What did Silver want from them? His skin prickled at the thought of that vile creatures touch. The lingering touch of his lips on his made him nauseous when he allowed his mind to dwell upon it. "Dad" Keenan said moving to stand beside him worry bright in his eyes.
Adam could see the question in the boys eyes. The one he had hoped to save him from asking. Pulling him close Adam held him a moment against his chest like he did when he was little after he woke from a nightmare. "What's on your mind?" he asked dreading what he knew was coming next.
"Will I become like him dad?" Keenan's voice quivered "will I become just as evil as him?"
"Son don't worry about that. You don't have to become anything like him. You have a choice" Adam spoke confidently knowing his son could never do the things Silver had done. His heart ached that his son could even believe he might even hold that within him.
"What about circumstances?" Keenan persisted his voice rising "what if Silver became what he is because he had no other choice?"
Sighing Adam put his hand on the boy's shoulder holding his gaze with his own. "Son it's possible that Silver is the way he is because of circumstances. We have no idea who or what he is." He spoke slowly keeping his gaze steady, calm "he still had a choice. Whatever his circumstances were he chose to become what he is. He didn't have to exert control over Ambrogio but he did. Silver chose to do that. Ambrogio when he had a chance he choose to help us. Silver could have done the same instead he chose to take your brother. Heath chose to resist him." Looking deep into his son's eyes he chose his words carefully "I have every confidence that you'll choose the right course to take. You may have his DNA but that doesn't mean you have to become like him. It's your choice."
The door opening behind them startled both of them. Hearts beating fast they turned to find the evil apparition of the man himself entering their room. Adam put a comforting hand on the boys shoulder. Keenan inclined his head to peer into his father's eyes drawing strength and comfort from him. Briefly he wondered how his dad could be so calm in the face of what Silver wanted from him.
Silver surveyed the room a slight smile quirked the corners of his mouth. He had expected one or both to be cowering on the floor in terror of his arrival. It was refreshing to be met by someone not in total fear of him. That could be dangerous...for them he thought stifling the desire to laugh. This was going to be fun. More fun than he had initially thought possible. "Come here," he demanded smiling as both father and son remained where they were "you won't like it if I have to come to you."
Silver's voice held a hint of malice and threat in it. Adam had no doubts he meant what he said. He took a step forward shoving Keenan behind him. "What do you want?" he demanded thankful his voice came out strong, authoritative like he was issuing commands to his guards.
"I want what's mine," Silver hissed reaching across and grabbing Adam's arm pulling him towards him. He bent Adam backwards forcing a wet, harsh kiss on him.
Breathing fast Adam struggled against him "I'm not yours" he snapped between clenched teeth.
"You will be," Silver said confidently. He kept a tight grip around Adam's wrists as he pulled him towards the door.
"Dad" Keenan cried his voice high in undeniable stress.
"Son" Silver said as if testing how the word felt as it rolled off his tongue.
Eyes snapping Keenan balled his hands into fists "you're not my dad."
"I could remedy that" Silver threatened.
"Don't you hurt him," Keenan screamed running forward reaching for Adam.
"Or you'll do what?" Silver taunted laughing as the boy backed away from them.
Adam locked eyes with his son "I'll be ok. Don't worry." He hoped he sounded as confident and reassuring as he meant to sound. He could see the fear and doubt in his son's eyes as Silver pulled him through the door.
As the door closed behind them Silver backed him against the door. "Alone at last," he said grinding his hips against him, "it's been too long since I've had the pleasure."
Adam attempted to push the man from him "no" he mumbled pushing harder against the man's chest "get off me."
"Make me," Silver challenged mouth hovering over Adam's before crashing into him with a bruising, crushing, painful need.
Struggling Adam tried to push the man away. Silver's strength made Adam appear weak despite his superior Vampire strength. "Stop" he pleaded as Silver's hands groped his body.
"Why should I?" Silver asked nibbling on his earlobe
"Silver" a woman's angry voice brought a groan of dismay from Silver as he reigned in his long awaited desire.
"What do I owe the pleasure of your company?" Silver asked turning to face her.
"He's not for you," she said her voice causing the walls to vibrate with her anger.
"He had my child," Silver snarled "we are bonded. That makes him mine."
Quinn's eyes focused on Adam "is that true?" Without waiting for him to answer she bore into his mind reading his thoughts, seeing his memories. "I see" she nodded turning to Silver "he belongs to another."
"That woman" Silver spat spittle flying every where.
"Yes" Quinn calmly wiped the man's spit from her sleeves "he and his son are off limits."
"You can't tell me what I can or can't do," Silver shouted sounding like a spoiled child defying his parent.
"On the contrary" Quinn snapped "I made you."
"Than you know what I said was true. He is bonded to me." Silver reached for Adam pulling him close "he had my child. We are forever linked."
"No" Quinn shouted "he is not yours."
Whirling to face her Silver shouted "you can't undo what has been done. He is mine."
"His body may be yours" Quinn hissed back towards the angry evil creature "but his spirit is not."
"I will fix that given enough time," Silver scoffed "that is no barrier to me."
"Perhaps not," she shrugged "you may break his spirit. He may not fight you forever, few can although his is unusually strong willed. He may even give you more children." She stopped. Glared at Silver "but he will never love you."
"What do I care about love?" Silver asked laughing as if she had told him joke.
Shrugging she turned away from him as if he was of no concern to her "then you will never have what you want." With a flick of her wrist Adam vanished.
"You can't do this to me," Silver charged towards her.
"I can do whatever I want," Quinn laughed enjoying his anger and helplessness "you've played havoc with my dimension long enough" she told him "it's time you played by my rules or suffer the consequences."
"Rules? What rules?" he shouted "you aren't supposed to interfere with what happens here."
"Is that so?" she rubbed her nails along her dress polishing them "there's a difference between not interfering and actively working to fix things."
His eyes narrowed "since when do you care?"
"Since your antics woke me up," she advised him "all this time manipulation and experimentation hasn't gone unnoticed. It has to stop."
"Or what?" he challenged "you'll kill me?" The mere thought of someone daring to think they could one up him was ludicrous "don't you remember? I'm your creation. If it weren't for you I wouldn't exist."
"I haven't forgotten" her voice rose sounding like thunder "you're the reason I'm stuck here guarding this dimension."
"That's what you get for trying to help people," he smirked at her secure in the idea he was safe. No one else had the power to stop him and she was powerless to stop him.
Quinn sighed at the truth of his words. This vile evil creature was her creation. He had to be stopped before the dimension was destroyed. The Watchers would calm down once he was gone. Adam had already solved the IF problem. It was Silver who kept unbalancing things. Without further comment she vanished from Silver's presence. She had what she came for.
***
Instead of going immediately to check on her house guests she went to the rendezvous point. She melted into the warm embrace of Phoenix's arms. "How did it go?" his deep voice was soothing as his warm breath moved her hair.
Making a face she turned in his arms so as to rest her face on his chest "it went as well as could be expected."
"Meaning Silver didn't take kindly to you taking his toys," Phoenix stroked her hair enjoying the feel of her in his arms.
"His toys" she snorted indignantly "they are people not possessions."
Chuckling softly he murmured against her hair "so you do care."
"I always have," she countered stepping back "you make me want to do better."
"Good" he gave her his brilliant smile the one that never ceased to make her smile back.
Turning from him she sighed "Silver won't give up easily. I angered him by taking his bonded one from him."
"So they are bonded then?" he asked coming up behind her.
"They are at least in body. The vampire resists his bodies urgings. His heart and spirit belong to another."
"Mmm hmm" he murmured as he nuzzled her neck. His warm breath moving tendrils of hair around the nape of her neck.
"You're distracting me," she accused turning around to cup his face in her hands "what we're doing is dangerous."
"Forbidden you mean," he added inhaling her scent. He lowered his head to capture her lips with his. As they moved in rhythm with hers she moaned finding it impossible to resist him as his hands roamed across her body. "I want to make you mine," he told her pulling away from her with effort.
"I'd like nothing more" she told him looking deep into his eyes afraid he'd disappear if she didn't hold onto him "the counsel...."
"What about the counsel?" Phoenix growled "they consigned us here to endless loneliness." He gave her a crooked grin "besides wasn't it you who said they weren't watching."
She traced his arched eyebrow with her index finger. She knew what they were doing was wrong, dangerous. As much as her brain told her no the more she couldn't resist his touch.
