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Fight to the Death Ch. 01

By: AshiraDatya



Griffin looked over at Rogue who was sitting on the couch quietly next to Logan as Beth, Mave and Parker set up the ceremonial circle to perform the spell to stop his ability to shift. Rogue was nibbling on a hang nail on her left thumb while she stared silently at the floor. Between the spell, Raven being kidnapped and Xavier's coma, Rogue was on the edge and wasn't sure how she was going to maintain her sanity; especially since she couldn't really go to her parents. The moment Raven was found and Xavier woke up, her banishment would be back in effect. Rogue wished she could talk to her mother or one of her sisters, but they were being guarded by pack security and she knew that without the presence of her father, she would not be allowed any where near her mother or sisters.

"We're ready," Beth said gently, placing a hand on Rogue's shoulder. Beth turned to Griffin who was leaning in the doorway between the living room and kitchen. "Go stand in the center of the circle Grif, but be careful not to disturb the charms," she added. Griffin set his coffee mug down on the table next to the couch and walked to the circle, stepped over the charms and sat Indian style in the middle. Logan sat down on the couch next to Rogue and squeezed her hand as Beth, Mage and Parker began their chant. Rogue growled when she saw Beth produce a small silver dagger and sliced Griffin's arm. Cole put a hand on her arm to keep her on the couch.

"It's okay Rogue. It's part of the spell," he said softly. They watched Beth hold the blade over a small pewter cup; four drops of blood fell into the potion. There was a flash of white light and Beth handed the cup to Griffin. 

"It will taste fowl, but you need to drink it all in one go or the spell won't work," Beth instructed. Griffin took the cup, took a deep breath and released it before downing the contents in one gulp. Griffin handed the cup back to Beth with a shaky hand and hoped he wouldn't be sick; the potion caused his stomach to churn. Almost instantly, he felt his body begin to change; the change was excruciating and groans of pain erupted from him and this time, it took Cole and Charles, who, on order from his father to observe the spell to keep Rogue on the couch. Beth knelt down next to Rogue, despite Cole's warning that Rogue could lunge at her for causing her mate's pain.

"Rogue, I know this is hard for you to watch. The pain will stop soon, but then Griffin will be weak. He won't have the same strength he had as were, but at the same time, you won't have to worry about needle sharp barbs anymore," Beth said gently. Rogue blushed and Cole growled, not wanting the mental image of his sister being made love to in his head. 

"Rogue," Griffin panted from inside the circle. He was pale and his body was covered in a sheen of sweat.

"It's okay to go to him," Beth murmured. She glanced at Mage. "Can you go make some tea for him?" she asked softly. Mage nodded and headed for the kitchen. Beth turned back to her sister. "Rogue, we're going to give you guys some privacy. The changes should be done soon. We'll come back to check on you then," Beth promised.

Rogue knelt down in front of Griffin and took his hands in hers. "I'm sorry it hurts," she whispered. Griffin looked up at her as the pain finally began to recede.

"I love you Rogue," Griffin told her. Rogue smiled and moaned as he kissed her gently before holding her close. Griffin nuzzled her neck as they sat there, brushed his fingertips up and down her arm.

"I'm coming in with tea, and I don't want to see any hanky panky!" Cole exclaimed, walking into the living room. Rogue looked at her brother in amusement.

"Hanky panky? Who the hell do you think you are, grandma?" Rogue asked with a small smile.

"Just an older brother who does not need or want to see his sister making out or having sex," Cole answered. He handed a mug to Griffin. "Beth said this will help with the aches," he added. Cole ruffled Rogue's hair before walking back out of the living room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Raven sat on the bed with her legs up to her chest and rocked back and forth anxiously as she glanced over at the calender her abductor had placed on the wall. Her due date was in two weeks and she did not want to have them in her cell. She didn't know if Marcus would keep his word and send them back to Xavier if she behaved. She didn't even know if Xavier was still alive after watching the video Marcus showed her of her abduction. Xavier had been hit hard enough for him to not only be knocked unconscious, but for him to stop breathing. Marcus had been so pleased with himself when he had told Raven about Xavier being in a deep coma. 

"Are you hungry?" Raven looked up to see Gore walking towards her carrying a tray. Raven shuddered, expecting it to be the same disgusting food that had been served to her every day for the last week. 

"If it's more almost completely raw and rancid beef with moldy broccoli and cheesy potatoes, then I'd rather starve," Raven told him.

"It's your lucky day," Gore said with a smirk as he set the tray on the bedside table before dropping the small brown bag he carried on the end of the bed. Raven turned to look as tantalizing smells wafted her way and was surprised to see piping hot macaroni and cheese with fresh broccoli with a butter and lemon sauce and a cup of chocolate vanilla pudding for dessert along with a tall glass of ice cold milk to wash it all down.

"How did you manage all of this?" Raven asked, her eyes wide with surprise.

"I pointed out to Marcus that killing you before he gets what he wants would not serve his plans to take your power. I also pointed out that you'd be more likely to agree to what he's asking you if you were kept healthy enough to deliver healthy children," Gore answered.

"I don't want to cooperate and I don't want my children born here!" Raven exclaimed.

"Don't let him hear you say that," Gore warned.

"Why are you helping me?" Raven asked suspiciously. Before Gore could answer, the door to the cell opened again and Marcus stepped inside.

"What is it sir?" Gore asked, turning to look at his boss.

"I have to go get some supplies before the anti-detection spell wears off. Teach the little whore what happens to people that allow abominations to fuck them," Marcus instructed. Gore grinned, an evil glint in his eye.

"Yes sir," Gore said. He turned back to Raven and gestured to the food. "Eat what you can, because you're going to need the energy," he told Raven. Marcus watched Raven take a few bites of the macaroni and cheese before Gore pulled the tray away. "That's enough for now, you can eat some more later," he added. Raven's eyes widened as Gore kicked off his sweat pants, his eight inch cock sprang free.

"No!" Raven exclaimed, trying to get away. She winced as the chains around her wrists kept her in place.

"Fight me and your brats will suffer for it," Gore warned as he pulled her up onto her knees. He watched her for a moment and stroked his cock.

"Please don't hurt me," Raven whimpered. Gore looked back over his shoulder and saw the look Marcus was giving him before he helped Raven turn around on the bed.

"Hold on to the head board," he instructed. Raven sniffled as tears streamed down her face as she did as she was told. She stiffened when she felt the head of Gore's cock pushing against the hole of her ass. He repositioned himself and Raven almost cried with relief when he pushed inside her pussy. Gore leaned down and whispered in her ear, "I'm going to try to make this as painless as possible, but you need to let him think I'm hurting you." 

"Get ... off ... of ... me!" Raven's voice was shaky but determined. She gasped as Gore began thrusting savagely into her; she winced when he hit her cervix hard.

"Hurt her more," Marcus said with an evil grin. Gore rolled his eyes slightly as he grabbed something from the bag.

"I'm sorry," Gore whispered in Raven's ear before pushing the object; a seven inch dildo into Raven's ass. She screamed as the latex pushed past the ring of muscles; without giving her time to adjust, Gore thrust the dildo in and out of her with his hand before removing his hand from the dildo, dipped into the bag again and removed some nipple clamps from the bag before clamping them onto her tender nipples making her cry out again. Raven was whimpering constantly now; every time Gore thrust into her, his body pushed the dildo further in her ass. Gore watched the observation area of the room carefully. After Marcus had been gone for several minutes and he heard a car drive away, Gore pulled out of Raven and removed the dildo before helping her turn over. "This is going to hurt a little," he warned as he carefully unhooked the clamps and removed them. Raven winced and sucked in a breath. "I'm sorry," Gore said again, pulling up his pants quickly. He tossed the toys back into his bag. "I'll come back for the tray," he added, hurrying out of the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rogue looked up in surprise when her parents walked into Cole and Beth's house. "What are you doing here?" Rogue wanted to know. 

"We're having dinner with your brother. Your mother insisted on meeting Griffin," Dominic said. Marie gave her daughter a troubled smile; she didn't like the fact that her daughter had been banished for following her heart, but she knew that they could not condone Rogue's mating without permission of the Alpha.

"It's nice to see you again Mrs. Black," Griffin said when they all sat down at the table.

"You're Tara's brother," Marie said suddenly. 

"Yes, I am," Griffin agreed, a sadness filling him. 

"She was a wonderful young lady. I'm sorry she's gone," Marie told him.

"Tara had a way about her. She was a very loving person," Dominic grudgingly agreed.

"Yes, she was," Griffin said. Rogue squeezed his hand and gave him a gentle smile.

"I don't know why I didn't put two and two together," Marie muttered. She looked up and gave Beth a smile as Beth set a plate of succulent roast beef, green beans with shallots, garlic and slivered almonds and rice pilaf in front of her. "It looks amazing as usual," Marie told her daughter. 

"Thank you," Beth murmured.

"Where are the kids?" Dominic wanted to know.

"They are with Mage and Logan for the night," Beth answered. Dominic nodded as Beth set his plate down in front of him. "Don't let it get cold," she warned as Cole set plates down in front of Rogue and Griffin. 

The conversation during dinner was tense and filled with Rogue's questions to Beth about Gambit and Beth was relieved when Dominic and Marie left. 

"What are you going to do when this is all over?" Beth asked Rogue while Cole took a phone call from Charles, who had left before dinner to go sit with Xavier.

"Go with Griffin to wherever we can find work," Rogue answered.

"I wish your father would revoke the banishment," Beth murmured.

"I do too," Rogue agreed with a sigh.

"That was draining," Griffin said with a groan after he and Rogue returned to their hotel room. He dropped down onto the bed and Rogue sat down beside him with a sigh.

"At least dinner was good," Rogue pointed out. Griffin laughed and gave Rogue a hug. "How are you feeling?" Rogue wanted to know. "Any different?"

"I don't know," Griffin admitted. "Thank you for helping me Ro. It means more to me than anyone could ever know," he murmured.

"You're my husband, how could I stand by and watch you suffer something you were never meant to suffer," Rogue's voice was soft and Griffin frowned at the guarded look in her eyes.

"What's wrong?" Griffin asked.

"Nothing," Rogue murmured.

"C'mon Rogue, you can talk to me," Griffin insisted.

"I'm just upset that my dad didn't revoke the banishment once the spell that made you seem were was removed. I want him to be able to see our children grow and prosper," Rogue said softly. 

Griffin gave a wry grin. "Our children huh?"

"I love you Grif, of course I want to have children with you. I want them as soon as possible," Rogue replied. Griffin hugged her tight.

"Just promise me that we'll wait to try until Raven is found and this whole mess is over with," Griffin said, pressed a kiss to her lips and hugged her close. Rogue smiled, reached into the small pouch on her duffel bag and held up a small packet. "What's that?" Griffin wanted to know.

"Birth control. I want your children, but not anytime soon. Especially since I don't know what will be happening with my dad," Rogue answered. Griffin kissed her again. 

"I love you Rogue. No matter what happens with your family, with your pack, I will always love you," Griffin promised.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Charles sat in a chair at Xavier's bedside in the ICU, wrapped up in a book when alarm bells went off all around him. Charles snapped to attention, pushed himself out of the chair and looked around quickly. His eyes dropped down to his brother whose already pale complexion was quickly turning blue, a quick glance at the monitor told him why; Xavier had stopped breathing. Charles was pulled away from the bedside quickly by a petite nurse with curly brown hair. Charles growled low in his throat, a warning to get away and he had to mentally yell at his wolf to calm down so that he didn't attack the young woman that was working so hard to save his brother's life. He had never felt as helpless as he had at that moment and all Charles could do was watch as the woman pushed hard on an alarm near the bed and shouted, "Code blue!"

Fight to the Death Ch. 02-03



CHAPTER TWO

"What the hell happened?" Dominic shouted as he, Cole and Marie rushed down the hallway. Charles looked up at his parents and brother and gave a sigh.

"Is Xavier alright?" Marie asked softly.

"Are you Xavier's parents?" Charles recognized the woman that walked up to them as the young woman that had pushed him away.

"That's correct. Who are you? What happened to our son?" Dominic demanded to know.

"I'm Doctor Montague. Xavier stopped breathing, we aren't sure why but we're running tests. We were able to stabilize him," she answered, patiently.

"But he'll be alright?" Dominic asked.

"He's stable, but we won't know how well he'll recover until he wakes up." Doctor Montague hesitated before saying, "The longer he stays in the coma, the less likely it will be that he recovers." She gave a look of compassion to Dominic and Marie before walking to the nurses station for a chart.

"I thought you were a nurse," Charles said from behind Doctor Montague. She turned and looked at him.

"I used to be. You look familiar. So does your brother actually," Doctor Montague said thoughtfully.

"You were one of the nurses when my sister was brought in," Griffin said from behind Charles. 

"Yes, I was," she murmured. Griffin motioned for Charles to follow him and the two men walked into the private waiting room they had been given.

"What's going on?" Charles wanted to know. 

Beth looked up excitedly. "We found Raven," she answered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Are you sure she's here?" Rogue asked softly.

"I'm sure. This is where that thug Gore said she was being held," Beth murmured.

"What about Marcus? I'd love to get my hands on that bastard!" Mage hissed.

"He's out, meeting a friend for dinner. We have at least an hour before he'll be back," Beth answered.

"Then why are Rogue and I here?" Sydney wanted to know.

"Gore doesn't know if Marcus has guards or not," Beth whispered. She looked at Mage and at Parker who both nodded. Together, the three of them began to chant and a fog swept over them, masking their presence. Rogue shivered as she and Sydney followed Beth and the others into the warehouse. 

Gore met them at the doorway of the observation area. "We have a complication," he said, his voice low, serious.

"What is it?" Mage asked. Gore stepped aside and Beth swore under her breath. 

"We have to get her out of here now." Beth turned to Rogue. "Is Griffin ready with the van?" she asked. Rogue nodded. "Good. Have him pull as close to the entrance as you can," Beth said. She turned to Parker. "I'll need your help to get her out," Beth added before she and Mage hurried down the steps. Raven looked up as they reached the last step and gave a laughing cry.

"What took you so long?" she wanted to know.

"Sorry Rave," Mage said softly as she and Beth helped Raven off of the cot.

"How long have you been in labor for?" Beth asked.

"About the last hour or so. Contractions are about twenty minutes apart, but damn they're strong," Raven gasped.

"We'll get you home," Beth promised. Parker stepped forward to help Raven move along faster while Rogue and Sydney kept a protective eye out for any possible trouble. They had to stop just at the top of the stairs as a contraction hit, Raven's knees shook and tears filled her eyes.

"Breathe," Beth coached, rubbing her cousin's back. When the contraction ended, Beth nodded to Parker. "Let's get the fuck out of here," she added. Finally, they made it to the van. Griffin pulled the side door open and he and Parker helped Raven into the car.

"I never thought I'd be glad to see you," Raven joked. Griffin laughed dryly, his eyes full or regret. 

"We can get into that later, for now, let's get out of here!" Mage said. Beth nodded and everyone else climbed into the van. Gore watched as the van sped out of sight.

"Where's Xavier?" Raven asked. She watched Mage and Beth exchange a look. "Tell me," Raven growled.

"He's in a coma," Mage said finally.

"He picked a lovely time for a nap," Raven bit out. Everyone smiled slightly at that.

"Now that Raven is free, Xavier might wake up. There's been a theory that if one's mate is captured for too long and it goes hand to hand with a head injury, like having something really heavy slammed into your head at supernatural speed, that the injured mate goes into a coma like state until the other mate is returned home," Rogue mused. 

"Call Charlie," Sydney suggested.

"He hates being called Charlie," Beth reminded her sister.

"I know. That's why I call him that," Sydney said with a grin. Rogue laughed, shook her head and pulled out her cell phone. 

"Char, it's Rogue. We've got Raven. Put the phone to Xavier's ear." Rogue waited until she heard her brother yell, "Go ahead!" before handing the phone to Raven.

"Xavier, I'm okay. A little banged up and bruised, but otherwise, I'm not hurt. You need to wake up now because the babies are coming ..." Raven moaned as her body was wracked with a labor pain. Rogue took the phone back from Raven.

"Your kids are coming now Xavier, so you'd better wake up soon or Raven will totally kick your ass," Rogue finished for Raven before hanging up the phone. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You found her!" Marie exclaimed as Griffin pulled open the side door. 

"Get a doctor," Griffin instructed, not looking at his mother.

"What's wrong?" Dominic growled.

"Nothing's wrong, she's in labor," Griffin answered as Parker eased Raven out of the van. "I've got her," Griffin said as Parker pulled away to get a wheel chair. 

"I'll go with her, you go try to wake up Xavier," Mage told Beth. Beth nodded and watched as a nurse came and wheeled her cousin away.

Beth knocked on the door to Xavier's hospital room and gave Marie an encouraging smile. "We found Raven. She's relatively unhurt but she is in labor," Beth told her softly. 

"Does she need me down there?" Marie asked.

"Probably," Beth acknowledged. Marie squeezed Xavier's hand, stood up and walked out of the room. Beth sat down in the chair her mother had vacated and gave Xavier's shoulder a gentle shove. "Wake up Xave, before you miss out on one of the most important days of your life," Beth said softly.

"I am awake," Xavier grumbled, opening his eyes slowly.

"How are you feeling?" Beth wanted to know.

"Did you really find Raven?" Xavier asked.

"I really did. And she's really in labor," Beth answered. Her eyes widened as Xavier tried to sit up. "Xave, you really shouldn't push it ..." she watched as Xavier pushed himself up and out of bed. He gripped Beth's shoulder to steady himself.

"Can you find my robe?" Xavier asked. Beth grabbed the robe his mother had optimistically placed over the back of the chair and handed it to him.

"Where are you going?" Beth wanted to know as Xavier slowly made his way towards the open door.

"I'm going to be with my wife," Xavier answered, walking out the door.

-2 days later-

"You're looking much better," Beth said, walking into Raven's hospital room. "Both of you," she added, seeing Xavier sitting in the chair by the bed.

"We're feeling better," Raven said with a smile.

"Where are the twins?" Beth wanted to know.

"Being evaluated by Doctor Lewis," Xavier answered. He pushed himself out of the chair and hugged Beth tightly. "Thank you for bringing Rave home," Xavier whispered. Beth smiled and hugged him back before pulling away, giving him a kiss on the cheek and sitting down on her cousin's bed.

"Have you thought of names yet?" Beth wanted to know.

"I want to name them after grandpa and grandma Baylor," Raven answered. Beth smiled and Xavier pressed a kiss to Raven's forehead.

"Whatever you want is fine by me," Xavier told her. 

"Isabella and Shawn," Raven stated as a nurse brought them back into the room.

"They're beautiful," Beth said with a smile.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"How could they have found her?" Marcus shouted, his face was bright red with anger.

"I don't know how. Maybe they saw you in town and followed you then waited for you to leave," Gore lied. Marcus growled and stalked over to his potions.

"If I find out you're lying," Marcus grumbled before muttering an incantation. Gore's betrayal was shown and Marcus growled loudly. "You lying son of a bitch!" he roared. Gore took a step back, but it was too late; Marcus tossed a potion at him.

"What ..." Gore's question was cut off as his body began to smoke. His screams pierced the air as he combusted. 

"Fucking traitor," Marcus spat. He grabbed a broom and swept up the ashes that used to be his assistant.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rogue stretched as her eyes fluttered open; she smiled to see Griffin watching her. "You're beautiful when you sleep," Griffin told her. Rogue smiled contently when Griffin wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. "God I love you," Griffin whispered, inhaling the scent of her citrus shampoo.

"I love you too," Rogue murmured. She moaned when Griffin kissed her hard, distracting her while he unbuttoned her blouse. "Grif," Rogue moaned when his lips left hers and closed over an exposed nipple. Griffin chuckled sending vibrations through her breast, his fingers inched down her body slowly and slid her jeans and panties down Rogue's body with one fluid motion. Rogue reached for him, but Griffin grinned and slipped between her legs; she gasped as he began to suck gently on her clit. "Don't make me wait Grif," Rogue pleaded.

"I want this to be something you'll never forget," Griffin told her before returning his attention to her clit. Rogue whimpered as she lifted her hips towards his face and dug her fingers into his hair. Rogue moaned when Griffin inserted a finger and stroked her gently while licking and sucking on her clit.

"Grif, please!" Rogue gasped, snapping her eyes closed as pleasure washed over her.

"Open your eyes," Griffin instructed, not moving his lips from her soaked pussy. It took her a moment, but Rogue opened her eyes. "Now keep them open or I stop," Griffin told her. He began his assault on her clit again and delved another finger deep inside her. Rogue's cried out loudly as she came, her muscles clamped down on Griffin's fingers. Griffin continued licking at Rogue's clit as he undid his pants and pushed them down. Rogue whimpered as he pulled away from her, just long enough to push her legs apart further and thrust into her. Rogue moaned loudly and met him eagerly thrust for thrust. Sweat dripped off of Griffin's forehead as he made love to her, slowly, gently, tenderly. 

"Harder," Rogue begged.

"No," Griffin whispered, even though he strained to hold himself back. Rogue wrapped her arms around Griffin's back and pulled him even closer to him, cried out when he began brushing against her g-spot. Griffin groaned and began thrusting harder and faster. He loved the moans and cries that came from Rogue as he drove her closer and closer to the edge.

"Grif," Rogue pleaded. Griffin chuckled, loving the feel of her writhing against him. "Griffin please," Rogue panted, digging her nails into his back. 

"Not yet," Griffin said through gritted teeth.

"Please," she whimpered. "Oh God Grif, please!" Rogue wailed. Griffin nibbled on her neck as he thrust harder and faster still. Rogue screamed as she came, Griffin let out an animalistic grunt as he came with her. Breathing hard, Griffin reluctantly pulled away from Rogue and lay down beside her.

"I love you Rogue," Griffin said, his voice raw with emotion as he pulled Rogue to him.

"I love you too," Rogue murmured, settling into his embrace. Griffin's arm was draped around her, just under her breasts and he pressed kisses onto the back of her neck.

"Never forget it," Griffin whispered as Rogue's eyes closed and she fell asleep.

-The Next Day-

"This is your fault!" Rogue shouted, storming into her parents house, and throwing an envelope at her father who sat at the table eating his breakfast.

"What's my fault?" Dominic looked annoyed at the interruption. He ate the pancake that was speared on his fork before setting it down on the plate, washed the pancake down with his coffee before pulling the letter out of the envelope.

"Rogue,

I love you, you know I do, and I know you love me too, but I know how much you love your family and how hard these last months have been. I can't stand to see you hurt by the banishment any longer. It is because of how much I love you that I'm letting you go. The divorce papers will be mailed to you as soon as I can find a place to live and a lawyer that is familiar with pack law. Please know that it kills me writing this, especially after what we shared tonight. I'd rather spend a lifetime alone and miserable than watching you grow to resent us as you miss your family more and more. I know you will probably hate me for a long time after reading this, and I understand. I love you, and I hope someday that you can be happy.

All my love,

Griffin

"It seems the boy has some sense after all," Dominic said, thoughtfully.

"I love him! I married Griffin because I love him! I willingly gave up my family for him! Why would I do that if I didn't love him?" Rogue screamed.

"Rogue, stop shouting at your father and tell me what this is all about," Marie said, walking out of the kitchen.

"This is his fault mom! If he hadn't gotten all pissy about me marrying someone that I chose, then Griffin never would have left me!" Rogue wailed, falling apart. 

"What?" Marie grabbed the letter from her husband. "I'm sorry Rogue. All I ever wanted was for you to be happy," Marie murmured, pulling her daughter in for a hug.

"I will alert the council that you will be returning to the pack," Dominic said, uneasily.

"I hate you," Rogue growled, feeling her wolf losing control.

"You will calm down now!" Marie took charge, forcing Rogue to look at her. "I know you're hurting, and I know you're angry and I don't blame you, but if you attack your father, then you'll have destroyed everything Griffin left you to preserve," Marie warned. Rogue's tears got the best of her and she sank to the floor, sobbing.

"I know this hurts now Rogue but soon ..." Dominic stopped talking when he saw the look on his wife's face. "I'll go talk to the council," he finished, walking out of the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"How are you doing?" Raven asked, holding the door open for Rogue.

"I'm numb. It's been two weeks and I feel like a huge part of me is missing," Rogue murmured.

"He's your mate," Xavier observed from his place on the couch as the girls walked into the living room.

"Why couldn't dad see that?" Rogue wanted to know.

"Because his pride won't let him," Xavier answered.

"Will it get any easier?" Rogue asked. The look in Rogue's eyes made Xavier want to strangle his father for the pain he was causing.

"I don't know Ro. I loved Tara, but she wasn't my mate. It hurt like hell when she died, but I got a second chance." Rogue smiled slightly when Xavier reached for Raven's hand as the girls sat down on the couch. One of the kids started fussing and Raven quickly disappeared into the nursery. "What?" Xavier asked, catching the look on his sister's face.

"I don't think I can do this." 

"Do what?" Xavier wanted to know. The look on Rogue's face nearly made Xavier's heart stop.

"Live without him," Rogue answered.

CHAPTER THREE

"Any word on where Marcus has disappeared to?" Mage asked, grabbing a cup of coffee and a muffin from Beth's breakfast nook.

"Nope. Parker, Cole and Xavier went back a few days after we got Rave out and said all they found was Gore's mutilated body," Beth answered.

"He's really getting on my nerves," Raven grumbled, stabbing viciously a piece of strawberry from her bowl of mixed fruit.

"How's Rogue doing?" Beth asked Raven.

"She's not doing great. She's locked herself away in her bedroom and hardly eats. She got the divorce papers yesterday," Raven answered.

"What happened then? Did Dominic act like an ass?" Mage asked, nibbling on the muffin.

"He started talking about finding a mate for Rogue. Rogue tossed the papers in the fire and stormed off to her room," Raven said.

"Dominic is so clueless for a pack leader," Mage grumbled.

"Careful Mage. People have been killed for saying less," Cole warned, walking into the room.

"You don't agree?" Mage asked.

"I didn't say that, but I'm just saying. Any disrespect shown to an alpha can be come a capital offense," Cole said.

"We can deal with Dominic's actions later, right now we need to focus on finding Marcus and stopping him," Beth said firmly.

~~~~~~~~~

"Did she send back the papers?" Griffin asked his lawyer a few weeks later.

"No. She sent this back instead." Griffin took the proffered envelope.

"Grif,

I know you think you were doing the right thing by leaving me so that the pack would welcome me back, but the truth is that I don't want to live without you. I'm staying with the pack, just because my brothers and sisters need my help. I hope you come back for me soon. I love you.

Rogue

"Damn it!" Griffin slammed his fist on the table.

"Maybe you should go back to her," his lawyer suggested.

"No, I won't be the reason Rogue loses her family all over again. I love her too much for that," Griffin said, crumbling the letter in his fist as he stormed away. He couldn't bring himself to throw the letter away and when he was safely in his car, he smoothed the letter out and stuck it in the pocket of the three ring binder. 

~~~~~~~~~

-months later-

"Rogue, are you in here?" Charles asked, knocking on his sister's door.

"Go away Charlie," Rogue grumbled. 

"No can do sis. Mom's worried about you, we all are. She sent me in with some food. Your favorite, brisket and potatoes," Charlie said, opening the door. He walked over to the bed and sat down. "C'mon Rogue, mom says you're hardly eating," he added.

"I'm not hungry," Rogue told him as she turned back towards the window.

"Do not make me get mom in here Rogue Elizabeth," Charles warned. 

"Too late," Marie's soft voice came from the doorway. She walked into the room and sat down next to Charles. "You need to eat Rogue." Marie stopped talking suddenly and sniffed the air. "Charles, I need for you to assemble your brothers and your father in the study right now," Marie told her son, her voice held an odd tone.

"Is everything okay?" Charles asked, concerned for his sister.

"Go Charles, now," Marie repeated. She waited for her son to set the tray of food on Rogue's desk before leaving the room. "Stand up Rogue Elizabeth," Marie commanded.

"I just want to sleep," Rogue protested.

"Stand up now Rogue!" Marie let a small growl escape as she stood, letting Rogue know that she meant business. With a sigh, Rogue climbed out of bed, pulling down her night shirt. At Marie's resigned sigh, Rogue looked up at her mother through tear filled eyes. 

"I know what dad would say to do about this, that's why I ..." Rogue trailed off and sighed.

"I want you to eat everything on that tray Rogue Elizabeth then I want you to go into your bathroom, take a shower, wash your face, put on some clean clothes then wait for me to come get you," Marie told Rogue.

"Dad's going to hate me!" Rogue wailed.

"Stop it Rogue. Your father won't hate you. Now, do as you are told," Marie insisted. She gave her daughter a gentle hug and walked out of the bedroom.

"What is it?" Dominic asked irritably. He'd been pulled out of a meeting with Thomas, his head of security.

"You need to track Griffin down and convince him to come back for Rogue," Marie said.

"You want me to call him back and banish Rogue so that she can be happy with some man?" Dominic asked, his anger level rising.

"Dad, Rogue has been absolutely miserable without Griffin. We haven't exactly given him much of a chance," Cole said cautiously.




Fight to the Death Ch. 02-03



"You kicked your wife out for helping him without talking to us first, how is this different?" Dominic challenged.

"I was stupid and have made amends for that. What you're doing, forcing Rogue to chose between her mate or her family, it's insane!" Cole retorted.

"You're almost at the line you never want to cross with your alpha," Dominic warned.

"Dad, Rogue isn't eating, she isn't sleeping, she just lays there," Xavier chimed in. 

"I'm surprised that you of all people are acting as champion for Rogue and Griffin's relationship," Dominic said.

"I know what he did dad, and I know why he did it. I also know that when we went in to get Raven, Griffin came up with the plan to get her out once we met Gore," Xavier said.

"She didn't get permission before she married him," Dominic reminded his sons. "Pack law states ..."

"You can chose to forgive it. You just don't want to because it means that she can't mate with Davis," Charles reminded Dominic.

"I think you need to forgive it," Marie said, bringing in a tray of tea.

"And why is that? Do you want me to look weak in front of the other alphas?" Dominic roared.

"Because Rogue needs Griffin, now more than ever," Marie told her husband.

"Rogue needs an alpha approved mate," Dominic challenged.

"The hell with an alpha approved mate, because I doubt you'll ever approve of Griffin and he's who I want and who I need," Rogue said from the doorway. Charles, Xavier and Cole looked at each other before looking at their father expectantly. There wasn't much in the way of physical changes, but they all recognized the change in her scent.

"Does Griffin know?" Xavier asked finally.

"No. Until twenty minutes ago, the only person that knew besides me was Doctor Lewis," Rogue answered. Her face was pale and her eyes were rimmed with dark circles.

"Did you eat?" Marie demanded to know.

"Yes mom, I ate," Rogue snapped.

"Rogue Elizabeth, don't you ever talk to your mother in a disrespectful tone again!" Dominic growled. He sighed and studied his daughter's face carefully. Before anything else could be said, Davis and his father Thomas walked into the study.

"I apologize for coming in uninterrupted, but I just intercepted something that Beth, Raven and Mage need to look at," Thomas said.

"Hi Rogue," Davis said, giving Rogue a small smile.

"Hi Dav," Rogue murmured. She turned back to her mother. "Mom, can I go back to bed now? I'm really tired," Rogue wanted to know.

"Go ahead. I'll be in to talk to you in a little while," Marie allowed. Rogue offered her brothers a sad smile and left the study, making a beeline for her bedroom.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"There's been a lead on Marcus," Beth told Raven.

"Where is the bastard?" Raven wanted to know.

"Mage, Parker and I are going to check it out," Beth told her.

"I'll come with you," Raven said, pushing herself out of the chair.

"Mommy!" Jenny cried from her room.

"Rain check?" Raven asked with a small smile. Beth nodded and gave her cousin a hug.

"Course," she agreed before hurrying out the door.

~~~~~~~~~

"What a dive," Mage commented.

"You're telling me," Parker agreed.

"Thanks for coming with us Park," Beth murmured.

"Any time boss," Parker said.

They walked further into the seemingly abandoned house and Beth shivered. "I can't believe Marcus would stay in a place like this," Beth said softly.

"Cole and Xavier did run him into hiding," Mage reminded her.

"True," Beth mused. Parker grabbed Beth's arm and pulled her back and Beth gave him a startled look.

"You almost fell through a hole in the floor," Parker told her.

"Thanks," Beth muttered. They quickly but thoroughly searched the rest of the house, meeting back by the front door.

"He was here recently, he must have just left. There is a microwave dinner on the kitchen table," Mage said.

"He left a good chunk of his clothes too," Beth chimed in.

"But he will be back, he forgot his keys," Parker told them.

"Then we'll wait," Beth decided.

-Hours later-

Beth and Mage exchanged glances as Marcus tiptoed back into the house. He walked right past them, heading straight into the kitchen. He dumped the uneaten microwave dinner into the trash then headed upstairs to pack the rest of his things. Beth and Mage quietly followed him, hoping that Parker was ready. Marcus whirled around when one of the girls stepped on a rickety beam.

"Parker now!" Mage shouted as Marcus began chanting. The spells battled each other, and eventually, Marcus' spell started to break through theirs; to really be effective, they needed Raven too. Beth and Mage concentrated on keeping the spell going while Parker pulled the small black gun from his pocket. He aimed it at Marcus and fired. With a roar of anger, Marcus used an energy wave to knock the three of them down before turning and fleeing the house.

"Did you hit him?" Beth asked.

"I think so. There's only one way to find out; let's go home," Parker answered.



Fight to the Death Ch. 04-05



Sorry about the delay guys, my life has been insanely crazy lately. My husband and I suspect that our son has ADHD and we've been trying to find creative ways of burning up energy before he kills us. And due to some personal issues, I haven't had a lot of energy or inspiration to write anything. Next chapter or two should be done fairly soon, things seem to finally be settling down and less stressful (I hope.)

Ashira

CHAPTER FOUR

"Rogue, do you want to talk?" Davis asked, stopping in front of her. Rogue looked up from the patch of garden she was weeding.

"About what?" Rogue wanted to know.

"About us," Davis answered.

"There is no us," Rogue reminded him. "I'm married." She looked down at the ground and willed herself not to cry.

"He left you Rogue, how much could he love you?" Davis asked gently. Rogue's head snapped up.

"How much could he love me? He left me because my father banished me for marrying him and he saw how much I loved being back with my brothers and sisters while we helped find Raven. He didn't want me to have to choose between him and my family, so he chose for me! That's how much he loves me!" Rogue exclaimed.

"Does he know?" Davis asked.

"No, but if he had, he never would have left," Rogue said softly, unable to stop the tears from falling.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

-2 months later-

"Have you found Marcus?" Cole asked.

"No. Either Parker missed when he shot him or Marcus managed to cloak the tracking device," Beth answered, rubbing her eyes. 

"You're working too hard," Cole observed worriedly.

"We need to find Marcus before he hurts anyone else," Beth reminded him, moaning as Cole began to work on her neck.

"Yeah, but you need to rest sometimes," Cole said, bending down and nibbling on Beth's neck.

"Stop that," Beth scolded with a smile.

"No," Cole growled, nibbling some more. He grumbled when his cell phone rang. "What?" Beth looked up expectantly when he hung up the phone. "Get the kids around, we need to go to the compound," Cole told her.

"What's up?" Beth asked.

"Rogue and my dad are getting into it big time," Cole answered. Beth swallowed and quickly pulled the diaper bag in order while Cole got the kids into the car.

"Rogue, you need to stop this!" Charles exclaimed, grabbing his sister as she tried to lunge at her father.

"What the hell is going on?" Cole wanted to know. He glanced at Beth who nodded for him to go ahead without her. 

"Griffin resent divorce papers this morning and dad is trying to force her to sign them and mate her off to Davis," Sydney told Cole.

"Get her under control," Dominic warned.

"You know Dad, I always thought you were fair when we were growing up, but lately, I don't know. It seems like you have an agenda and if we don't go along with it, then you bully everyone until you get your way," Cole told his father.

"Watch it Cole," Dominic warned. 

"Dominic, we need you at the gate," Thomas said.

~~~~~~~~~~~

"What is it?" Dominic asked, coming to a stop where Davis stood, keeping watch.

"I just wanted to know how Rogue was doing." Dominic stared as Griffin stepped out of the shadow. 

"Rogue is doing fine, and will mate with Davis in three weeks time," Dominic told Griffin. Davis opened his mouth to say something but stopped when he saw the look on his Alpha's face.

"As long as she's happy," Griffin said. 

"She is," Dominic said gruffly, before turning and walking away. Griffin watched his father for a moment before he turned and started for his jeep.

"Griffin, wait!" Davis exclaimed.

"You have what you want, now let me go," Griffin grumbled.

"No, please. Let me get Beth and Raven out here, you need to listen." Griffin ignored Davis and kept walking. "If you ever loved Rogue, you'll stop and listen," Davis told him. Griffin stopped and turned around.

"Meet me at the coffee shop next to Gambit in a half hour," Griffin said before getting into the jeep and driving away.

-30 minutes later-

"I'm glad to see you," Raven said, when she sat down across from Griffin.

"Really?" Griffin asked. Raven nodded.

"Rogue needs you," Raven said.

"I thought she's supposed mate with Davis," Griffin looked confused.

"Who told you that?" Beth wanted to know.

"Dominic," Griffin answered. Beth swore under her breath. "How are the kids?" Griffin asked, looking at Raven. Raven smiled and pulled out some pictures. "So big," he breathed. "So what's going on?" he wanted to know.

"Dominic lied. Rogue isn't mating with Davis, he wants her to mate with Davis. The sooner the better," Beth said, giving Raven a glance. Raven nodded and went to order some tea.

"Why would he lie? And why the sooner the better?" Griffin wanted to know.

"Rogue isn't doing well. She's hardly eating. She's eating just enough ..." Beth stopped, not sure if she should tell Griffin everything.

"Just eating enough for what?" Griffin wanted to know.

"Just eating enough to keep the baby alive," Raven said, sitting back down. She handed Griffin a cup of tea.

"The what?" Griffin's eyes were wide.

"She's pregnant Grif. She found out a few weeks after you left," Beth said gently.

"And she didn't know how to get a hold of you; you changed your cell phone number," Raven added. Griffin stood up. "Where are you going?" Raven wanted to know.

"To talk to Rogue," Griffin answered.

"You won't get onto the compound. I'll find a way to get her to my place. Meet us there in an hour," Beth told him. Griffin nodded and left.

"Where's Rogue?" Griffin asked when Beth showed up at her house alone. The look on her face is grim. "What happened?" Griffin wanted to know, an uneasy feeling settling over him.

"I don't know what happened, all I know is that Rogue is with the healer and Doctor Lewis. Cole said he'll call if something ..." Griffin waited impatiently as Beth answered the phone.  

"What happened?" Griffin asked again.

"It's bad," Beth said. She glanced at Raven who wore a look of worry that mirrored her own.

"What happened?" Griffin asked through gritted teeth.

"She got in a fight with one of the newer pack members that just moved here from another pack. He tried to claim she was his mate. Davis tried to intervene, but in the end, it took both he and Charles to break it up," Beth began.

"Is she going to be okay?" Griffin's heart was racing. Beth hesitated again. "Beth, please, I need to know," Griffin wasn't sure if he wanted to hear the answer.

"Physically, she'll be fine, but ..." Beth sighed, hating to be the one to deliver bad news. "She could lose the baby Griffin. She's hardly been eating, so she was weakened. I'm so sorry," she murmured, her eyes full of tears. Griffin stood up so hard that he knocked the chair over. "You can't go to the compound Griffin, Dominic will tear you apart," Beth warned.

"Let him," Griffin said. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

"Let me in damn it!" Griffin demanded.

"You aren't part of this pack, you have no business here," one of the guards said.

"He's with us Brian," Raven said from behind Griffin. Reluctantly, Brian allowed the three of them to drive into the compounds.

"What is he doing here?" Dominic shouted at Beth while Raven waited outside with Griffin.

"He loves Rogue. I know you're a proud man Dominic, and I know pack law dictates what happens here, and I know Rogue broke pack law when she eloped with Griffin, but for God's sake Dominic, be reasonable! He left Rogue so that she wouldn't lose her family and an hour and a half ago, he found out he was going to be a father, and ten minutes ago, he found out about Rogue's attack and that she could lose the baby." Beth stopped, took a breath and moved so Dominic could see where Griffin stood. "Look at him Dominic. He's worried, and he's worried about your daughter. Her health and happiness should be a top priority for you. I know that when they are older, if I even allow them to date, if Melissa and Marissa find someone who loves them so much that he's willing to sacrifice his happiness for theirs, then I would be proud to call that man my son," Beth said. She exchanged glances with Marie's and knew she had won over at least one of the alphas of the pack.

"Raven doesn't look scared of him," Dominic observed. He took a step back as Raven all but pushed Griffin into the house and out of the heat.

"That's because I'm not. I was for a very long time, but then I remembered that Griffin was under the influence of a spell, and that he wasn't himself. Then I saw him with Rogue and I knew that a man as caring and loving could never willingly harm another person, no matter how much pain he was in over Tara's death," Raven said. Griffin gave Raven a pained but grateful smile.

"At least let me see her, even if you won't release the banishment if I stay, at least let me know she's okay," Griffin pleaded. Pained screams came from behind Rogue's closed door, and before anyone could stop him, Griffin shot past Dominic and ran into the bedroom. Charles and the healer gaped at him in surprise. 

"It's alright, he can stay," Charles told the healer before she could call for help. Charles ushered the healer out of the bedroom and closed the door behind him.

Griffin sank down slowly onto the bed next to her and engulfed Rogue in a gentle hug. "It's going to be okay love, I'm here," he soothed, rubbing her back, shocked at how thin she was. Griffin swore he could feel each and every bone in her body.

"Gri-iffin?" Rogue asked through her sobs.

"I'm here and I'm not going anywhere," Griffin assured her. When Rogue had stopped hyperventilating and the pain began to set in, Griffin helped her ease back against the pillow.  "Beth and Raven told me you're hardly eating," Griffin said after a moment. Rogue sighed. 

"I didn't want to live without you," she whispered.

"I'm so sorry Ro. I didn't want or mean to hurt you. I thought you'd be better off with your family," Griffin's voice was low and pained.

"I tried calling you when I found out about the baby, but you'd changed your number," Rogue sniffled, a tear slipped down her cheek and Griffin kissed it away.

"I had to change it. I knew that if I didn't, that the first time you called, I'd come back for you and I didn't want to take you from your parents and your brothers and sisters," Griffin admitted. He looked her over carefully and despite her weight loss and the horrible bruising, Griffin could tell that Rogue's abdomen was slightly rounded. "How far along?" he asked finally, not knowing what else to ask or to say.

"A little over four months. I know I look slightly further along then that, but it's the weight I've lost," Rogue answered.

"How much have you lost?" Griffin wanted to know.

"Too much." Griffin looked up to see Dominic and Doctor Lewis in the doorway. "She needs to put on at least another thirty pounds and soon," Doctor Lewis added.

"Please don't make him leave me again daddy," Rogue pleaded. Griffin slipped his hand into hers and squeezed it tightly.

"I need to speak with Griffin alone," Dominic said. 

"It's okay Rogue. I'll be back," Griffin promised. He kissed her gently and followed his father to the study.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CHAPTER FIVE

"Beth, we didn't hit him! He's still gathering forces with others that he and grandma knew," Mage said as she rushed into Gambit. Beth looked up from the carrots she was dicing.

"Marcus is still after us," Mage added. Beth swore and brought her knife down so hard on the carrot that a piece went flying off the counter.

"Raven is ready to go on the hunt," Beth said slowly.

"Xavier won't like that," Mage cautioned.

"I know, but we need Raven to make the spells potent enough to stop Marcus," Beth sighed. She looked up and smiled when she saw Cole, Xavier, Raven and the children filing into the restaurant.

"Smells good sis," Xavier said. Beth smiled and slid a plate brimming with scrambled eggs, turkey bacon, turkey sausage, toast and fried potatoes in front of him.

"Will Rogue and Griffin be joining us?" Beth wanted to know. 

"Yes. They'll be here in a few moments. You might want to have the staff clear off if there are any in back, mom and dad will be joining us, as well as Thomas and the entire security force," Cole answered. Beth paled, knowing that some of the wolves in charge of security were very jumpy; everyone was a threat until proven other wise.

"And it looks like the entire council has come along," Xavier said with a groan as Beth slid a plate of food in front of Raven, Cole and Mage.

"Wonderful." Beth rolled her eyes before turning to Raven. "Can you flip off the open sign and lock the door once the council is in?" she asked.

"Sure," Raven agreed.

"I'll go give the guys in back the day off," Mage added.

"Why are we meeting here, in this establishment?" one of the newer security officers asked with a sneer?

"Welcome to Gambit ladies and gentlemen. I'm glad to see you're looking a little better Rogue. We were worried about you," Beth said with a smile. "Sit down, I'm just putting breakfast down in front of the troops. Don't worry Rogue, I won't give you or Griffin eggs," Beth added, giving her sister a wink. Rogue smiled and blushed. "How do pancakes sound?" Beth wanted to know.

"If they're yours, like heaven," Rogue answered.

"Again, why are we here in this human's restaurant?" the security officer asked again.

"Gregory, this is my daughter's restaurant. She's Cole's mate and wife," Dominic answered.

"I had forgotten that Cole mated with a human," one of the council remarked.

"It's good to see you again as well council member Alan," Beth said, not bothering to hide the sarcasm from her voice. Cole chuckled and ignored the look of annoyance Alan gave him.

"You should learn to control your mate better. That was disrespectful," Gregory scolded.

"What is the purpose for the visit of the council Dominic? You know that every time you bring the council to Gambit I lose a day's revenue," Beth reminded her father.

"I apologize for the intrusion Beth, but it couldn't be helped. We're here to discuss if we should allow Griffin to join the pack or allow him to continue with divorce precedings against Rogue," Dominic told his daughter. Beth paused at that and glanced over at Rogue who swallowed hard and paled slightly.

"I'm going to get started on your pancakes," Beth told her sister before retreating into the kitchen.

"You're a real bastard, you know that Dominic?" Mage grumbled as she returned to her seat at the bar. With a snarl, Gregory was at Mage's side, his teeth bared, shocked that this human dared to insult his Alpha.

"Don't even try it," Cole growled.

"She insulted the Alpha," Gregory reminded Cole.

"She's family," Xavier interjected, putting himself between Gregory and Mage.

"That's enough Gregory. I will let it go for now, we have more pressing business to attend to," Dominic said, giving Mage a warning look. Mage shrugged and grinned at Cole and Xavier who wore similar looks to their father.

"Why should we allow Griffin to join the pack? He kidnapped your daughter, raped her and tortured her!" one of the elders exclaimed.

"And as far as I know, a non-were has never been allowed to join the pack," Gregory chimed in.

"Um, hello asswipe? Remember me? The human daughter?" Beth waved her hand up in the air after setting down Griffin and Rogue's plates of pancakes and turkey bacon in front of them.

"Beth is a member of the pack," Marie agreed, giving her daughter a warm smile. 

"She agreed to mate with a member of the pack," Gregory argued.

"So did Griffin," Xavier pointed out.

"Without the Alpha's approval. Cole and Beth had his permission to mate," Gregory said.

"I'm going to make this really simple for you father." Dominic looked over at one of his youngest daughters, and he already knew what she was going to say. "Accept Griffin into the pack, because if you don't, I go with him, and you'll never see your grandchildren," Rogue's voice was strong and resolved.

"Rogue," Marie whispered, shaking her head. She saw Dominic clench his jaw in anger and heard the whispers of the council.

"Let the little whore go then," Gregory said dismissively. Before Beth could finish letting out her astonished gasp, Cole, Xavier and Charles flanked the younger man and growled threateningly.

"That is enough out of you young-ling," Cole growled. "It is out of respect for my mate that I haven't ripped your throat out yet," he added.

"Rogue, you were so unhappy after being banished, and I saw how happy that being with your mother and sisters and brothers made you, even if we were only back because of Raven being taken again," Griffin said softly.

"You're my family Griffin, just as much as they are," Rogue replied. Her eyes were full of tears but her voice was calm and steady. "If you leave, we leave with you," she added. 

~~~~~~~~~~

"They've been out there for a long time, what do you think they've decided?" Raven wanted to know. 

"I don't care what they've decided," Rogue said, but her voice wavered nervously. She didn't want to have to leave her mother and siblings again, but she couldn't live without Griffin either. Beth glanced at her watch again and wished Cole and Xavier would come back and tell them of the decision.

"Have you gained any of the weight that Doctor Lewis told you to gain?" Beth wanted to know, changing the subject.

"Most of it," Rogue murmured. Griffin covered her hand with his and squeezed it gently.

"It's going to be fine," Griffin told her quietly. She gave him a weak smile and toyed with the pen she had pulled off of Beth's desk. They all looked up as Parker walked into the office.

"Another council meeting?" Parker asked.

"Yeah. To see if Griffin will be allowed to join the pack," Beth answered.

"What's going on Park? Any word on Marcus?" Mage wanted to know.

"Possibly, but it can wait," Parker answered.

"They're going to be a bit longer, whatcha got?" Beth asked.

"I heard from a group of witches in Chicago. They think Marcus is in Chinatown," Parker answered. Beth glanced at Mage and Raven.

"We'll go when this is taken care of," Beth decided. Parker nodded. Everyone turned towards the door as it opened.

"It's been decided," Xavier said from the doorway. Rogue swallowed hard and glanced at Griffin before following her brother to the dining room.

"Sit down Rogue," Dominic said, his voice was low, as if he was trying to sooth her or prepare her for something.

"What was decided?" Rogue asked. She remained standing and crossed her arms over her chest.

"If Griffin can prove that he will not be able to be possessed like he was, then he can join the pack," Dominic said after a moment. It was clear by the look on his face that he wasn't happy about it, but he had no just cause to keep the boy out, especially after how Xavier had defended Griffin.

"Give us ten minutes and we'll have a potion worked up that will keep him from being possessed again," Beth promised. She glanced at Raven and Mage and the three of them set off to work.



Fight to the Death Ch. 06



I apologize about the shortness of this posting, I'll be working to write a longer post at another time, but things have been kinda crazy around here lately. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy! I look forward to and welcome all feedback, however, if you are asking a question, please don't forget to give me some way of responding to you directly; I will not post responses on the comment section anymore which means that anyone who wants an answer to a question posed will have to email or message me directly. 

Happy Reading! 





CHAPTER SIX

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Rogue asked nervously.

"It should," Beth assured her.

"And if it doesn't?" Rogue wanted to know.

"He'll be fine, just a stomach ache, and probably a headache. It'll feel a lot like he has a hangover," Mage answered.

"Just what I need," Griffin said sarcastically. Cole chuckled and patted his brother's shoulder.

"I need you to drink this all in one gulp. No pausing to catch your breath or it won't work," Beth warned him. Griffin nodded and accepted the glass of the foul smelling liquid.

"Remember, one breath," Raven cautioned as Griffin raised the glass to his lips. 

Griffin nodded again, took a deep breath and chugged the potion in one go. A look of pure disgust was on his face as he lowered the glass to the table. "Water," he muttered. Beth gave him a small glass of sugar water.

"The sugar will help," Beth told him. "Better?" Beth asked after a minute. Griffin nodded. "Good. We have to book. We'll see you guys later," she added, exchanging glances with Mage, Raven and Cole.

"Be careful," Cole ordered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"This place is making me nervous," Mage whispered.

"Quiet!" Beth, Raven and Parker hissed.

"He's been here," Beth said softly, poking at a pile of smoldering ashes in the middle of a clearing.

"He isn't here now," Parker commented. 

"Don't be so sure," Raven said, her entire body rigid as she listened to the sounds in the night. A branch snapped from somewhere behind them and Raven let out a low, almost feral growl. Parker, Mage and Beth began to chant. Raven fought the urge to shift and began to chant with them. With a roar of anger, Marcus came flying towards them and threw something at them. Beth stopped chanting as the potion hit her, sending an invisible fire dancing across her body; she screamed in agony and dropped to the ground, rolled around, desperate to put it out. Raven, Mage and Parker had managed to get out of the way of the potion.

"Parker, go after Marcus, we'll help Beth!" Mage instructed. Parker nodded and took off at a run while the two girls dropped down next to their cousin and began saying a counter curse.

"We need you to help us Beth, you need to relax and let the spell in," Raven said gently. But Beth was too deeply concentrated on the pain and couldn't hear her cousin.

"I couldn't catch him!" Parker said, breathing hard when he returned to the girls. He bent down to scoop Beth up but Raven stopped him.

"If you touch her, you'll be burned too," Raven cautioned. Parker thought quickly.

"Grab the blanket from the car," he told her. Raven dashed to the car and grabbed the thick blanket and returned quickly. Parker took the blanket, and used it to shield him as he picked up Beth carefully. Once they were in the car, Mage took off like a speeding bullet.

"What happened?" Cole demanded when they arrived back at the compound.

"Marcus that rat bastard! He tossed a fire potion on her!" Mage spat. 

"You can't touch her Cole," Parker warned as he set Beth down on the couch. Beth whimpered, her whole body shook with the pain that was wracking her body.

"What can we do?" Cole asked.

"I'm going to consult the books, but I don't think there is anything we can do except wait it out," Raven said hesitantly. 

"What do you mean wait it out?" Cole snarled. 

"It's a spell for invisible fire. It will run it's course, but I don't know how long it will take," Mage answered.

"Mama!" one of the kids cried from up stairs.

"Go to her Cole, you can't do anything here," Raven said softly. Cole nodded and headed up the stairs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Griffin lounged on the bed, Rogue asleep in his arms, a million thoughts running through his mind. He looked up when someone knocked on and opened the door; Dominic stood before him. Dominic growled softly at the sight of his daughter being held by a man, but he knew it was too late for feelings of anger and he had to smile slightly at the protective way Griffin's arms tightened around Rogue's body. "I just wanted to check on the both of you," Dominic said.

"I'm fine dad," Rogue said quietly as she woke up. She snuggled against Griffin with a sigh of contentment. Dominic nodded and gave Rogue a small smile.

"Your mother wanted me to tell you that dinner is in ten minutes," Dominic told them before he walked out. 

"You sure you're okay?" Griffin asked, rubbing his hands up and down her arms.

"I'm fine Griffin. A little tired, but I feel fine," Rogue promised him. 

"I'm sorry I left you," Griffin said. Rogue gave him a small smile.

"I understand why you did, I'm just glad you came back," Rogue murmured.

"I couldn't stay away any longer," Griffin admitted. "It was killing me. I'm sorry I changed my number and hurt you like I did. I'm surprised that you were able to forgive me like you have," he added.

"Oh don't get me wrong, you're going to be making it up to me for a long, long time, but I love you, especially for your reasoning behind what you did. Just don't ever leave me again!" Rogue told him.

"If I can help it, you're stuck with me," Griffin promised. He held her close until there was another knock on the door.

"It's Charles, dinner's done, and you're both expected to join us," he told them.

Rogue and Griffin walked into the large dining room hand in hand and Griffin swallowed nervously at the sight of the entire pack assembled. Dominic gave Rogue a gentle hug, as if he were afraid that he would break her and then shook Griffin's hand. "They are here to welcome you into the pack," Dominic told his son. Griffin breathed a sigh of relief that ended when Cole burst into the house.

"What's going on?" Rogue asked. Cole regarded his sister carefully and gave her a weak smile.

"Nothing for you to worry about sis. Dad, I need to see you, Charles and Xavier right now in the study," Cole answered. Rogue refused to budge.

"I am a part of this family Cole Marcus Black and I'm not a child," Rogue reminded her brother with a growl. "Besides, you may need my help," she added. Cole sighed but nodded.

"Very well brat, join us in the study. Grif, you might as well come too," Cole sighed.

~~~~~~~~~

"How is she?" Cole asked when he, Rogue and Griffin returned to the house he and Beth owned.

"Unconscious now. It's a good thing though, it will help her body heal from the pain," Raven answered gently.

"What can we do?" Rogue asked as Mage appeared in the doorway of the living room with a fussy Marissa.

"You can take the kids back to the compound. Beth is going to be out for a while and we'll need Cole's attention," Raven answered.

"All seven of them?" Griffin asked, eyes wide.

"If you could. Jenny won't be any trouble and the twins are pretty easy going," Raven said with a smile. Rogue smiled and nodded.

"We'll be glad to take the kids. We'll need the mini van," Rogue answered. Griffin stared at Rogue like she was crazy and had grown a second head.

"I'll help you round them up and get them in," Cole said, catching the look on Griffin's face.

"Are you insane?" Griffin asked Rogue when they got into the van and backed out of the driveway.

"No, the kids are easy. I used to watch them all the time," Rogue answered.

"But you're recovering and pregnant and ..." Griffin trailed off when he saw the look on Rogue's face.

"The quads are easy, and so is Jenny. She's such a sweet heart. I haven't watched the twins, but they don't seem to cause Raven any problems. I love watching the kids Grif," Rogue murmured.

"Are you okay to handle all of them?" Griffin asked.

"You'll help me right?" Rogue countered. Griffin sighed but nodded. "Besides, you need the practice, I'm already pretty proficient with babies," she reminded him. Griffin nodded again and had to resist the urge to roll his eyes. They rode in silence for several minutes before Rogue glanced in the rear view mirror as they coasted to a stop at a red light before looking back at Griffin. "You're okay with all of this aren't you?" Rogue asked, her voice soft, her eyes full of concern.

"With what? Babysitting?" Griffin asked, avoiding the subject.

"With having a baby. We never discussed it," Rogue clarified. Griffin sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "Be honest," she pleaded. Griffin sighed again.

"Honestly? I'm not sure." Griffin swallowed hard at the look of hurt on Rogue's face. "I love you Rogue and yes, I want children with you, it's just going to take some time for me to be ready for this." Griffin took Rogue's hand in his as the light turned green. "I'm sorry if I hurt you, that was never my intent. I do want this baby, I'm just not sure if I'm ready for it," Griffin rambled until one of Raven's twins babbled something that neither could understand, but it was cute nonetheless making them both laugh.

"They're all out," Rogue told Griffin after putting the last of the children to sleep.

"I can't believe you have a place this big when you don't live with your parents," Griffin said looking around.

"All of us have one. Dad had a house built for each of us for when we got married and started our own families," Rogue told him as she sank onto the bed next to him.

"Are you okay?" Griffin asked worriedly.

"I'm fine, just tired," Rogue answered. 

"Cole called while you were getting the kids down. Beth's still not doing well and they're calling Dr. Lewis. He wanted to know if we can keep the kids awhile longer," Griffin told her as he began rubbing her shoulders.

"What'd you tell him?" Rogue wanted to know.

"That we'd keep them as long as they needed. Xavier is going to come back for the twins and Jenny in the morning and take them to your parents to make things easier on us, but the quads were no trouble and you're right, I do need the practice," Griffin answered. Rogue gave a small smile and leaned back into Griffin.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too," Griffin murmured, kissing the back of her neck. "What's wrong?" he asked, hearing Rogue sniffle.

"Nothing," Rogue whispered.

"Don't lie to me Rogue. What's wrong?" Griffin asked again, turning her to face him. "Talk to me," he pleaded.

"I'm scared," Rogue whispered.

"Of what? You're great with those kids," Griffin wanted to know.

"I love the kids, but I get to send them home after awhile. I've never had one of my own before and you admitted to yourself you aren't sure if you're ready or not and ..." Rogue's voice trailed off as Griffin's lips covered hers. When they pulled apart, Griffin brushed his thumb over Rogue's cheek and looked at her tenderly.

"Rogue, listen to me. I love you. I never would have left you had I known you were pregnant. I'm scared too, but more for the fact that the bulk of my experience with children happened tonight! I'm not backing out on this or on you, I'm with you for the rest of our lives, however long that is. You're going to be a great mom Rogue! Our children are going to be so lucky to have you as their mother. I'm lucky to be spending my life with you; there is nothing else I would rather be doing," Griffin told her gently but firmly. Rogue sniffled again and a lone tear trailed down her cheek. Griffin reached out and wiped it away gently. "What are you thinking?" he wanted to know.

"That I love you. I'm still mad as hell but I love you," Rogue whispered. Griffin kissed her again and began undoing the small buttons of her blouse.

"I'm never going away again, I promise," Griffin said between kisses as he peeled the blouse away; lowered his lips to a hardening nipple and sucked on it gently making her gasp as heat burst through her.

"More," Rogue murmured, her voice just above a whisper. Griffin grinned against her nipple as he pulled her skirt off of her and let it drop to the floor by the bed.

"You don't want to take your time?" Griffin asked when he finally pulled away to remove his own clothing.

"We've been apart for how long?" Rogue pointed out. 

Griffin nodded. "Good point," he agreed, raised an eyebrow as she sliced her claws down his jeans, relieved that she managed not to scratch anything other than his pants and boxers; he chuckled as Rogue pulled him onto the bed with her then groaned as her lips closed around his cock. "Rogue, hon, you don't have to do that," Griffin reminded her with a groan. 

"I know," Rogue said, pulling away, caught her breath. Griffin moaned as she took him in her mouth again. He closed his eyes as her tongue swirled around him, creating a haze of ecstasy that if was a dream, he didn't want to awaken from.

"Rogue, love, you need to stop now." Griffin gently pulled her away from his cock and kissed her. 

"Was I doing it wrong?" Rogue asked, blinking innocently.

"You know for a fact that you weren't," Griffin said, his voice husky with desire for her as he pulled her in for a hug. "I don't want to hurt you or the baby," he whispered. Rogue smiled as she pulled away from him and settled back against the pillows. 

"You won't hurt me," Rogue murmured, stretched her arms out for him. Griffin muttered something about being damned before lowering himself over her. "Love me Grif," she pleaded. 

"Forever," Griffin promised as he sank his hard cock into her warmth. They moved together as one, alternating between fast and slow, hard and easy until they both teetered on the edge. 

Rogue whispered something in Griffin's ear that caused him to moan loudly before biting down on her shoulder. Rogue's eyes widened as she was thrown over the edge, her orgasm sparked his and as Griffin came inside her, Rogue bit down on Griffin's shoulder. Breathing hard, Griffin reluctantly pulled himself off of her and dropped to the bed next to her. "I love you," Griffin said, his voice hoarse. 

"I love you too," Rogue whispered sleepily as she cuddled close to him. Griffin wrapped his arms around her and held her as they drifted off to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You look overwhelmed." Griffin looked up from wiping off the dining room table and chuckled slightly.

"Yeah, just a bit. I told Rogue to go back to bed. The quads are asking for Beth. How is she?" Griffin asked Xavier.

"Still unconscious, but she's healing. Doctor Lewis said that Beth will heal faster and less painfully unconscious then she would have awake. Where are the kiddos that belong to me?" Xavier wanted to know.

"Napping," Rogue said from the bottom of the stairs.

"You should be too," Griffin reminded her. Xavier shook his head with an amused smile.

"I know you're married sis, but do you think the next time you're around me, or Cole or Charles that you could shower and lose the smell of sex? It's not something I want to think of my little sister having," Xavier teased. Rogue blushed a little as she crossed the few feet to the island where the toaster and bread sat. "How long have the kids been out for?" he wanted to know.

"About a half hour," Griffin answered. "Hungry?" he asked Xavier. Xavier nodded. "Eggs and bacon?" Griffin inquired.

"No eggs," Rogue interjected. 

"You okay?" Griffin asked.

"I'm fine. No eggs," Rogue answered. Griffin looked confused and Xavier chuckled slightly.

"You're almost past it," Xavier reminded Rogue.

"Thankfully," Rogue grumbled.

"Past it?" Griffin looked at Rogue before turning to Xavier.

"You'll figure it out. How about just some fruit and toast?" Xavier suggested.

"Perfect," Rogue said with a smile.



Fight to the Death Ch. 07



Rogue looked up as Griffin walked into the log cabin that they shared and smiled. The smile disappeared when she saw the cuts and bruises on his face and the tatters that was once his shirt. "What happened?" she demanded to know.

"Some of the younger pack members took a dislike to me," Griffin said dryly.

"Do you know their names?" Rogue asked.

"Just leave it alone Rogue," Griffin said wearily.

"It's the equivalent of treason to attack the Alpha's family," Rogue argued.

"Rogue please," Griffin nearly growled the words. Rogue placed her knitting on the couch and stood up.

"Dinner with my parents is in an hour at their house," Rogue said before leaving the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What the hell happened to you?" Cole asked.

"Someone attacked him but Grif won't say who," Rogue answered, clearly annoyed.

"If Rogue is here, mom needs help!" Xavier called from the den. Rogue slipped past her brother and Cole turned back to Griffin.

"Who?"

"The twins, Josh and Dave," Griffin answered. Cole growled.

"Those two insolent pups need to be taught a lesson. They were trying to get Rogue's attention after you left, then once her pregnancy was discovered, they threatened for kill her for letting a traitor touch her. We'll discuss this with dad, Xavier and Charles," Cole decided. He could feel the anger rolling off of Griffin. "Rogue's in the kitchen, go to the library, I'll get the others and meet you there," Cole added, knowing this meeting needed to happen NOW!

"Are you sure it was Josh and Dave?" Dominic asked.

"I'm positive. I managed to get a few punches in," Griffin answered.

"They will be reprimanded. You are a member of the Alpha's family," Dominic told Griffin.

"That won't stop this. They will always see me as someone undeserving of the Alpha's daughter," Griffin argued. Cole nodded his agreement.

"You can always be turned," Charles pointed out. Xavier shook his head.

"I've offered. Rogue said she'd unman me if I turned him," Xavier said.

"Not if the Alpha orders it," Griffin reminded his brother by marriage.

"Sure, make my daughter even angrier with me." Cole grinned at the amount of sarcasm in his father's voice. Before anything else could be said, Marie appeared in the doorway.

"Dinner gentlemen," she murmured.

~~~~~~~~~~~

"I can't believe the guys invited Griffin to their hunting and fishing trip," Rogue said as she, Beth and Raven sat on a picnic blanket, the kids playing near by.

"I think it's your dad's way of saying he's accepted Griffin into the family," Beth murmured, taking a bite of her apple. Rogue winced at the sight of her sister's arms, they were covered with burns from the potion Marcus had thrown on her nearly a month before, but they were healing.

"Griffin hates hunting," Rogue reminded Beth.

"Dominic didn't exactly give him much of a choice," Raven chimed in, fidgeting with her necklace.

"What's wrong Rave?" Beth asked her cousin.

"I'm not sure, but I have a feeling that something isn't right." Raven looked around with a frown.

"I'm not picking anything up," Beth murmured.

"It's probably just me," Raven said with a dry laugh. 

The girls finished their picnic and headed back towards the main house. As they reached the driveway, Beth cried out in alarm as something large and fast came at her. With wide eyes, Beth watched as Raven and the kids were pinned against trees. Raven and Beth glanced at each other and Beth began to chant as wolves gathered around Rogue. Raven growled loudly when a rock was slammed against Beth's head, rendering her unconscious. Rogue fought the urge to shift, knowing she could hurt her baby, but she also knew that if she didn't shift, she and the baby could both be hurt or worse. 

Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a large brown wolf jumped in front of Rogue, while four wolves that Rogue recognized as her father and brothers surrounded Beth, Raven and the kids. Cole nuzzled Beth's cheek and while he wasn't happy, her moan placated him and he joined the brown wolf as he fought off the wolves that had attacked. When the last renegade wolf was incapacitated, the brown wolf turned to Rogue and shifted back to his human form. Rogue's eyes widened and she gasped; the brown wolf was Griffin.

Back at the safety of the house, Griffin and the others quickly redressed. "What happened?" Beth asked Raven.

"We were ambushed in the driveway. How do you feel?" Raven wanted to know.

"I have the monster of all migraines," Beth answered with a groan. Shouting from Dominic's office had the three women up off of the couch in a flash, only to find Cole blocking their way.

"How are you feeling?" Cole asked.

"Like I got hit in the head with a rock," Beth said bluntly.

"The witch was trying to curse us," a young man snarled from behind Cole.

"You attacked us!" Beth shot back.

"Let them in," Dominic said from the office. Cole moved to allow Beth, Rogue and Raven into the office, shut the door behind them and growled loudly when Raven explained what had happened.

"Why did you attack my family?" Dominic asked, his voice eerily calm.

"Rogue married a traitor," one of the young men bit out.

"Griffin is not a traitor!" Rogue exclaimed. Xavier put his hand on his sister's shoulder.

"But he took Raven's mate!" the young man protested.

"You are an idiot Dave Pushkin!" Xavier exclaimed.

"My son was under a spell and he has been cleared and forgiven for his crimes," Dominic stated.

"You are clouded by your desire for Rogue's happiness," Josh Pushkin grumbled.

"As a father, yes, I desire my daughter's happiness. As your Alpha, I turned to the council for a vote. The council decided that Griffin was not to blame for his crimes against the pack and was allowed to join as a full member of the pack with full benefits AND immunity from what he did while under his spell," Dominic answered.

"I don't accept that! Rogue deserves to die for taking up with that traitor!" Josh bellowed. The men in the room growled loudly, but Josh refused to back down.

"We should rip them both to shreds," Charles growled.

"Give them a trial," Griffin said after a moment.

"A trial?" Dominic asked.

"Pack law allows them to have a trial in front of the entire pack, does it not?" Griffin asked.

"It does," Dominic answered slowly.

"So put them up in front of the entire pack. Let the pack see for themselves what happens if they behave like cowards and sneak up on three unsuspecting women with their children," Griffin said. Cole smiled, his new brother was not a stupid man, he would prove to be a great asset to the pack.

"Did they hurt you Rogue? Raven?" Dominic asked, turning to his daughters.

"No," the girls murmured. They glanced at Beth who had an evil gleam in her eyes.

"Put the bastards on trial. I would relish helping to devise their punishments," Beth said. Rogue grinned in spite of her anger.

"Your trial will begin when I can get the council assembled. In the mean time, Cole, Xavier, escort the prisoners to the holding cells." Dominic turned to Josh and Dave. "Beth will prepare your meals. Breakfasts by seven, lunch by noon and dinner by seven. I hope you haven't pissed her off more than it appears you have," Dominic told them. 

He waited for them to be escorted from his office before turning back to Rogue. "I know you're going to yell at me for turning Griffin, and I don't care. Griffin was unable to take care of you and protect you the way you needed to be protected. Today's events are evidence of that. It was and order that you not be told about it until the change was finished. That was the reasoning behind the week long fishing trip we took and made Griffin come along for; we wanted him to finish the changing process before he returned to the compound," Dominic told Rogue. With that, Dominic left the office, Beth and Raven followed quickly behind him.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Rogue wanted to know.

"You didn't want me to become an animal." Griffin's answer stung.

"I didn't want you to feel obligated," Rogue corrected.

"I wanted to. I hated knowing that we had such a disadvantage from the rest of the pack," Griffin told her.

"Beth has stayed human," Rogue pointed out.

"Beth is a witch," Griffin reminded her. Griffin studied Rogue for a moment. "Are you angry?" he asked.

"How could I be angry with you for making such a huge sacrifice?" Rogue whispered.

"It wasn't a sacrifice," Griffin told her, leaned over and kissed her tenderly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Griffin shifted nervously from one foot to the other as he watched the members of the council climb up on the dais and take their seats. Cole had told him how close the vote to accept him had been and Griffin was worried that the council would side with Josh and Dave, but the reassuring smiles on the faces of Rogue's mother and brothers lessened the knot in the pit of his stomach. Rogue slipped her hand into his and led him to their seats, then she placed his hand on her growing abdomen where their child was doing somersaults. Griffin smiled, leaned over and kissed her gently. "I love you," Griffin said when he pulled back.

"I love you too." Rogue's voice was soft, her words were for him alone.

"Don't make me separate you two," Cole threatened teasingly.

"The damage has been done Cole," Rogue reminded her brother as Beth and Raven made their way over. "Where are the kids?" Rogue wanted to know.

"Jenny and the twins are with Jimmy's parents and Mage is watching the quads," Raven answered. Rogue frowned at the way Raven's voice faltered when she said Jimmy's name.

"They're ready to start," Xavier said, walking over to his family.

Rogue held Griffin's hand tightly as Dominic began his opening statement, loosening her grip only when she and Raven were asked to tell their side of the story. The two girls made their way to the pro-offered chairs. The council listened politely as Rogue and Raven told everyone what had happened. When they were done, the council invoked their right to ask questions.

"Raven, we understand why Rogue was unable to shift, but why didn't you?" the head of the council wanted to know.

"The children were frightened by the wolves and they would have been more scared if I shifted," Raven answered.

"Your children and Beth's children will be able to shift," another council member reminded Raven.

"My oldest daughter won't." The council began talking loudly amongst themselves, shocked that Dominic would allow a single mother to mate with his son.

Dominic stood up. "Raven was engaged to a human before she mated with Xavier. Her fiancee was killed helping us protect Beth while she was pregnant with her children," Dominic announced.

"She's a whore and does not deserve to be in the pack! She and Rogue should both be cast out!" Dave Pushkin foolishly shouted.

"You dare to be disrespectful of the Alpha and his family in the presence of the entire council?!" Dave's father flushed; it was his own father who had spoken, the outrage David Pushkin Senior felt was felt by many in the pack. The head of the council turned to Dave and to Josh.

"Did you attack Beth, Raven and Rogue Black?" he asked. The boys nodded. "Why?"

"Rogue allowed that rapist to not only touch her, but to mate with her! She is a traitor to her family! She was banished by the Alpha, her own father for mating with the bastard! He only lifted the banishment temporarily when Raven was kidnapped! If not for that, the banishment would have been permanent!" Josh exclaimed. The men on the council exchanged looks.

"Dominic, may we please use your library to discuss the events and testimony of today?" the head of the council asked. Dominic nodded, led the council into the house and then returned to his family.

"I'm sorry daddy for causing all of this trouble," Rogue whispered. Dominic gave his daughter a gentle hug.

"It isn't your fault Rogue. I lost my head when you married Griffin." Dominic's voice was low, the regret he felt was all over his face. 

"Look at them!" Griffin exclaimed, looking over at Dave and Josh. The smug looks they wore made him angry. He just hoped the council didn't side with the two young men.

Griffin took Rogue's hand in his when the council returned to the field where Dominic's pack had gathered. "We have discussed the events that had brought us together." The head of the council looked at Griffin and Rogue then turned his attention to Josh and Dave. "We the council have decided that the unprovoked attack on the women of the Black pack, it was uncalled for. To make matters worse, the attack was on the Alpha's own family! Dave and Josh Pushkin, you are guilty of treason! Your punishment will be decided by Griffin and Cole," the head of the council announced.

Griffin and Cole talked quickly. "We choose to fight," Cole began.

"If Dave and Josh win, they stay in the pack, if they lose, they are banished," Griffin added. 



Fight to the Death Ch. 08



Sorry it's taken so long to update this story, my life has been really crazy and I just haven't been able to do anything with this one until recently. I hope you like it, and yes, this story is almost done.

Thanks for waiting and reading!

Ashira

*

"Griffin, are you crazy?" Rogue asked, pulling him aside.

"I need to be able to keep you safe, and until those yahoos realize that I'm not going anywhere. They won't be able to take me," Griffin promised.

"Promise me you'll stay safe and that you'll be careful," Rogue whispered, looked up when Cole and Beth walked over. "Both of you," she added.

"Don't worry sis, we've got this," Cole assured his sister.

"You'd better," Rogue said grumpily. She watched as her husband, her mate and her brother walked to where Dave and Josh stood with the council members and their father.

"Remember what we taught you," Cole told Griffin as they came to a stop beside their adversaries.

"I will. I fully intend to go home to Rogue tonight," Griffin replied.

"Good, just keep it down, will you?" Cole asked with a grin. Griffin laughed, relieved that Cole wasn't angry with him for being with one of his sisters. Xavier walked up to his brothers.

"Keep your head down and remember what you're fighting for," Xavier told Griffin. Griffin nodded and watched as Xavier walked away.

"You're going down outsider!" Josh shouted from where he stood.

"Shut up you moron!" his father hissed. "You've shamed the family!"

Rogue and Beth huddled together, Raven and Marie stood behind them. "Mom, I'm sorry for this mess," Rogue said quietly.

"It isn't your fault Rogue, you love who you love. God has made Griffin your mate for a reason," Marie told her daughter, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Your father looks livid," she added, glancing at her husband. 

"Yeah, he does," Rogue agreed.

"Doctor Lewis is here and she brought some help," Charles said, walking over to the small group. 

"It's good to see you again, I'm Doctor Montague," the newcomer said.

"I hope we don't need your services," Marie murmured, after giving both doctors a welcoming smile.

"Me too," Doctor Montague agreed, glancing at Charles. She couldn't place it, but there was something about him. Rogue breathed a sigh of relief when Xavier came to a stop next to her and secured an arm around her waist.

"It's going to be okay kid," Xavier promised as the fight was started.

Rogue let out a small scream as Griffin went down hard and Xavier grabbed her arm to keep her in place. "If you go into the fray, he'll lose," Xavier reminded his sister.

"They're hurting him Xave," Rogue whispered. Raven and Beth slid their hands in to Rogue's and looked at each other

"Get up Griffin. Think about what he tried to do to Rogue," Cole said from his own fight with Dave. 

"I told you you're going down outsider. And when you're dead, I'm going to rip the bastard from Rogue's body and fuck her traitorous thoughts right out of her head," Josh sneered. Dominic growled from his spot on the dais as he heard Josh's claims, but pack law prohibited him from intervening. Griffin saw red and as Josh shifted back into his wolf and lunged for Griffin, Griffin shifted and pushed his muzzle into Josh's throat, ripped it open before shifting back to his human form.

"You won't ever lay your hands on my wife ever again," Griffin growled, watched as Josh's life slipped away. He looked at his brother as Cole quickly dispatched Dave, not killing the younger wolf, but severely injuring him.

"The fight is over! Dave and Josh have been defeated. Josh will be buried outside of pack land and Dave will be banished!" Dominic announced. Cole and Griffin grabbed the robes that awaited them but before they could take a step, Rogue had run over to them and launched herself at Griffin.

"Easy Rogue," Griffin said with a groan. Rogue pulled away from Griffin and gasped when her hands were covered in blood.

"You're hurt," she whispered.

"He took a pretty good chunk out," Griffin admitted, his face pale.

"C'mon Grif, let's get you checked out," Cole said, helping his sister escort Griffin to where Doctors Lewis and Montague were waiting.

"How are you feeling?" Rogue asked Griffin later that night. She studied him carefully, her mind kept flashing back to seeing his stomach torn open after the fight.

"Better. Especially knowing that you're safe," Griffin answered, nuzzling her neck. Rogue smiled and sighed in content as Griffin wrapped his arms around her. 

"I love you," Rogue whispered, smiled when the baby moved within her.

"I love you too. Both of you," Griffin said, kissed her before moving to plant a kiss on her expanded abdomen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Doctor Montague, wait, please!" Charles exclaimed.

"What is it?" Doctor Montague asked.

"I was just wondering if you wanted to have dinner with me tonight," Charles said, his heart pounding.

"It's been a long day," Doctor Montague reminded him.

"So lets go have some dinner, some wine and just relax," Charles suggested.

"Do you think you could get us in to Gambit?" Doctor Montague wanted to know. Charles grinned, knowing just how packed the restaurant could be at seven thirty on a Friday evening.

"I can guarantee it," Charles promised.

"How did you manage this?" Doctor Montague asked when they had been seated at an intimate table by the fire place.

"My sister owns it. So, what is your first name?" Charles wanted to know. 

She laughed. "Maura. I'm Maura Montague," she told him. Charles smiled, lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Maura," Charles said, his voice husky. "So, how did you get interested in medicine?" he wanted to know.

"My father was a doctor and he worked with refugees in Rwanda," Maura answered. "I really admired that he helped those strangers and wanted to follow in his footsteps," she added.

"That's amazing. How did you get involved with were medicine?" Charles asked.

"I met Doctor Lewis at a seminar a year ago and we hit it off, she's been mentoring me ever since," Maura told him.

"Doctor Lewis is pretty amazing, if it weren't for her, Beth wouldn't be here," Charles said.

"Yeah, I like working with her," Maura agreed.

"What's the matter?" Charles asked as Maura nibbled at her apple crisp.

"There's something about you, I'm drawn to you, but I don't understand why," Maura said with a small frown. Charles smiled, reached across the table and took her hand.

"I know what it is," he began.

"What is it?" Maura wanted to know.

"You're my mate," Charles answered.

"What?" Maura gasped.

"My mate. I sensed it first when Xavier was in his coma, but things have been to chaotic with Rogue's situation for me to talk to you," Charles told her.

"What does that mean?" Maura asked.

"According to pack law, you would be my wife and the mother of my children," Charles told her.

"But I'm not were!" Maura reminded him, her eyes wide with surprise. Charles said nothing as Parker walked up to the table.

"Charles, if you see Beth tonight, tell her I think I might have something to report on Marcus," Parker said. Charles nodded.

"Will do Park. We're ready for the bill," Charles agreed.

"It's on the house, Beth's orders. Cole's parents and siblings get to eat for free," Parker said before he walked away.

~~~~~~~~~~~

"Charles, your house is beautiful," Maura said, looking around in awe.

"Thank you. I let my sister Sydney decorate it," Charles commented as he showed her around. "This is my room," he added, stepping aside for Maura to come inside. The room was sparsely decorated with bamboo hardwood floors and the walls were painted with a sage green paint that reminded Maura of spring. The bed, dresser and bed side table were all hand made mahogany pieces.

"It's stunning," Maura breathed. 

Charles studied Maura for a moment before turning her towards him. "I'm going to kiss you Maura, but the problem is, I may not be able to stop," Charles told her. Before Maura could say anything else, Charles lowered his lips to hers, his hands cupped her face. Maura arched against him and kissed him back, moaned as his hands slid down her neck and cupped her breasts through her shirt.

"Charles, I ..." Maura's protests were said in whispers.

"What's wrong?" Charles asked, his voice husky.

"I don't do this sort of thing," she admitted. Charles sat up and moved away from her. "I want to, but I don't have sex on the first date," Maura added.

"This is more than sex. My wolf has claimed you as my mate. If we have sex, I won't be able to hold back," Charles told her.

"I don't want to be a wolf," Maura said.

"You don't have to be," Charles assured her. Before Maura could say anything else, the phone rang and Charles growled. "What?" he all but barked.

"It's Cole. We need everyone back at the compound now." With that, Cole hung up the phone.

"What's wrong?" Maura asked.

"I don't know, I'm wanted at the compound." Charles stood up and smoothed out his shirt. "You should come with me, you may be needed," he added. Maura nodded and stood up, followed him out of the house.

"You ruined a perfectly good evening," Charles grumbled when they walked into his parents house. Cole glanced at Maura and grinned knowingly.

"Sorry Charles, but it's important." Cole fell silent as Beth and Raven walked into the hall.

"We think we found Marcus but he's gathering an army. It's going to take all of us to beat him," Beth said.

"Is there something I should know about?" Dominic asked, looking between Charles and Maura.

"Maura's my mate," Charles told his father, glancing back at her. Beth smiled and hugged her brother.

"I'm happy for you Charlie," she said softly. Charles growled at the nickname but the smile never left his face.

"I'm afraid that I'm going to have to ask you to put your mating off for at least a few days," Dominic said.

"A few days," Charles agreed.

"Good. I need all of the men in the pack to meet with Beth, Rogue and Raven in the library," Dominic announced. Charles glanced at Maura before following his brother, father and sisters to the library.

"You can wait in the den with the rest of us," Rogue said quietly from the doorway.

"How are you feeling?" Maura asked as she followed the younger girl into the den. 

"I'm feeling pretty good. I only have a few more months left," Rogue answered.

"How come Raven and Beth got to go into the meeting?" Sydney asked, whining.

"Beth and Raven are there because this is their meeting. This is ultimately their fight, but they need the help of the pack to stop this maniac," Marie told her daughter, giving her a warning look.

"I want to join the battle," Sydney said.

"No Syd, you're too young," Marie argued.

"I'm twenty four years old! I am not too young! I know how to fight!" Sydney snapped.

"I'm going to need your help Syd. Once Griffin is healed enough, he'll be joining Cole and the others in the battle," Rogue said softly. Sydney opened her mouth to protest again but sighed and sank back into the couch cushion she was sitting on.

"How many times has the pack gone to war?" Maura wanted to know. 

"A fair few," Marie said, giving the young doctor a kind smile.

"You'll be privy to those once the mating is complete," Rogue told her.

~~~~~~~~~~

"How are you really feeling?" Maura asked Rogue when she'd gotten the girl alone.

"I'm exhausted and I'm worried," Rogue answered. 

"You're looking a little worn for the wear. Do you want me to check you out?" Maura wanted to know.

"No, I'm okay, nothing sleep won't fix. It's been a long day," Rogue said with a laugh.

"Well, let me know if you want me to check you," Maura told Rogue.

"I will," Rogue murmured as Griffin walked out of the den. "What's going on?" she wanted to know.

"They're leaving in the morning. Your father has instructed me to take you back to the house and lock you up until this is over," Griffin answered.

"I'm not about to roll over and play dead," Rogue snapped, the stress of the day finally getting to her.

"Go home and take care of your baby," Marie said to Rogue, her voice firm but gentle.

"Griffin," Rogue whispered. He sighed, pulled her away and hugged her close.

"I'll be alright Rogue. I'll come home to you and to the baby, I promise," Griffin said softly, brushed his thumb against her cheek before kissing her gently. "Now, you'll go home and stay where it's safe, or I'll take your father's advice and lock you in the basement," he added.

"Just be careful," Rogue pleaded.

"I promise I will be," Griffin told her. He kissed her again and turned as he heard Dominic, Cole and Xavier walk into the room.

"We need to go now," Beth said quietly from behind him, her eyes were full of sympathy when she looked at her sister.

"All of you be careful," Marie instructed as her family turned to leave.

"We will. Look after the pack Marie," Dominic said, giving his wife a tender look.

"Don't worry about the pack Dominic, worry about your own hide," Marie told him. She put her arm around Rogue and Sydney while they watched Dominic, Cole, Xavier, Charles, Raven, Beth, Mage, and several other of the pack warriors leave the compound to face the unknown.



Fight to the Death Ch. 09



"The kids are really wound up tonight," Sydney observed as she helped Rogue with their nieces and nephews. Rogue nodded silently as she put Jenny down for a nap. Isabella and Shawn went down fast," Sydney added.

"And Melissa, and Joey are still up. Marissa and Gage are mostly asleep, but fussy," Parker said, walking into the room. Rogue looked up in surprise to see him there. "Beth and Cole didn't want you here without a Magik here," Parker told Rogue, seeing the question in her eyes.

"Magik?" Maura asked walking into the room with a blood pressure cuff.

"Another term for witch," Parker answered. "Syd, I need your help in the kitchen," he added. Sydney left the nursery quickly and followed Parker down to Beth and Cole's reading room.

"I thought I'd never get you alone," Parker said with a groan as Sydney closed the door behind them.

"Well, now you do," Sydney said with a smile. She watched as Parker muttered an incantation before he pulled her in for a kiss.

"I don't think I can wait long," he warned. Sydney chuckled and took a step back.

"Who says you have to?" she asked coyly as she pulled her dress down in one swift tug. Parker groaned at the sight of Sydney standing there in only her jet black thong and quickly dispatched with his own clothing. As his boxers came off and his cock came free, Sydney licked her lips in anticipation. 

"Are you sure?" Parker asked as he slipped his fingers in the waistband of her thong.

"I'm sure," Sydney agreed. He pulled the panties down her legs, moaned at the sight of her breasts bouncing as she stepped out of the thong. 

"You're stunning," Parker groaned as he pushed her down on the sofa that Beth kept in the reading room. Sydney whimpered as his lips closed over her clit, her hips lifted towards his face. He pushed them back against the couch and held them there until she was writhing on the sofa and his face was drenched with her juices. Sydney wanted to howl in protest when Parker pulled away from her just seconds before her orgasm. Her eyes widened when she felt the hardness of his cock push against the tender folds of her pussy.

"Last chance, are you sure?" Parker asked, praying she wanted this as much as he did.

"I'm sure," Sydney whispered. She moaned and gasped when he pushed inside her, felt the slight pain as her hymen gave way. Parker swore under his breath and stopped.

"Why didn't you say something?" Parker asked. He began to pull away from her but Sydney wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him back.

"Don't stop Parker, please," she whispered, her honey colored eyes were dark with her desire. She ignored the twinge of discomfort as they began thrusting together, hard and fast, their desires too strong for them to take it slow. Parker closed his eyes and gave a guttural groan at the way her body gripped his cock, he wouldn't take long, especially with the way she was panting and whimpering. He chanted something softly and Sydney came with an ear piercing scream, her nails dug into his shoulders as his seed burst within her. Parker's eyes shot open when he realized what he'd done and he pulled away from her quickly and chanted softly, hoped it wasn't too late for the spell to work.

"What are you doing?" Sydney asked.

"Trying to ensure you don't get pregnant," Parker said, placing his hand over her stomach. "I should have used a condom, but I forgot, but this spell works most of the time," he added. Sydney said nothing, just watched and waited. Finally, Parker stood up and began pulling on his clothing as there was a knock at the door.

"Hey guys, you need to call Marie, I'm worried about Rogue," Maura's voice called from the other side.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Beth, are you sure you guys can do this?" Cole asked as Mage, Beth and Raven huddled together.

"We have to," Beth answered, glancing at her cousins. Raven and Mage wore equally worried looks on their faces.

"We'll help you." The girls whirled around quickly and breathed sighs of relief when they saw who had appeared behind them.

"Who are you?" Xavier growled.

"Calm down Xave. This is Abby, Allie and Aria, three sister Magiks who are more powerful than we are. Marcus isn't just a threat to us now, he's a threat to the entire Magik community," Raven said gently, giving her friends a welcome smile.

"We'll help you," Aria repeated. 

"Form a circle, this ends tonight," Beth said. She glanced at Cole. "Be careful and come back to us," she added.

The pack watched as the six witches formed a circle, they could see the energy swirling around them, an angry shout caught their attention. "You think you can fight me?" Marcus roared.

"We know we can!" Beth exclaimed. The six witches began to chant and Beth hoped the pack would be able to hold off Marcus' allies.

"You'll have to do better than that!" Marcus said with an evil laugh as he sent a shock wave of energy their way. Beth tightened her grip on Raven and Mage's hands, and through the magic, she could feel Abby, Allie and Aria tighten their grips as well; their chanting grew louder and Marcus' spell bounced off of them. He shouted his anger and sent a more powerful spell across the field, this time to the weres. Cole and Xavier glanced at each other, hoping the charms they were wearing would hold; if they didn't, both men knew that none of them would last long. The charms held and Marcus' anger intensified. As his anger grew, his powers and magic became even more unstable. 

"We can do this!" Beth shouted. The other girls nodded and from somewhere deep within them, the six of them began chanting a spell that surprised them all; it was an old spell, one that they shouldn't even have known and were not ready for. The buried their surprise and let the power of the incantation engulf them and they used that energy and focused it, sent his hurling towards Marcus and the few dark wizards he had on his side.

A series of low, angry growls caught Beth's attention and it took all she had to keep from stepping out of the circle, away from the magic to go to him as one of Marcus' spells hit Cole head on, sending him flying through the air. Beth used her anger and a sent a surge of power through the group and smiled in satisfaction as it knocked Marcus back several paces. Her satisfaction didn't last long as Marcus and his allies sent a powerful spell towards them. Beth heard someone scream as Mage and Raven were thrown from the circle. 

"Stay in the circle!" Aria commanded as Beth started to go to her cousins, a look of compassion in her eyes. The four of them chanted a counter curse as Griffin moved to check on the girls while Charles helped Cole to his feet. 

"Let's end this!" Dominic shouted, and with a roar, he gave the command to charge Marcus.

"No!" Raven shouted as Griffin helped her to stand. She staggered against him as a wave of dizziness overtook her. She and Mage watched helplessly as Dominic and several other wolves were blocked and pushed back. Dominic attempted to stand but was unable to and as consciousness left him, he could hear Marcus' evil laughter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What is going on here?" Marie wanted to know as she walked into the kitchen. Sydney avoided her mother's inquiring gaze as she concentrated on pouring water into the tea kettle while Parker chopped potatoes.

"Nothing," Sydney murmured, looked up when Maura and Rogue walked into the kitchen.

"It smells great Park," Rogue commented.

"Thanks," Parker said with a small smile as he dumped the potatoes in the skillet of olive oil, garlic and rosemary. 

"Something is going on in here and I demand to know what it is," Marie said, putting her hands on her hips.

"We're just making something to eat mom, trying to keep busy," Sydney told her mother.

"There's more to it then that," Marie observed.

"Can we discuss it later mom?" Sydney asked, glanced over at Parker who had an unreadable expression on his face.

"What have you done?" Marie wanted to know, looking back and forth between Parker and Sydney.

"Nothing, yet," Sydney answered.

"I love your daughter," Parker said at the same time. Marie's eyes narrowed.

"Have you mated?" Marie demanded to know.

"No, mom, we haven't," Sydney said with a sigh.

"Good, because I think your father has a mate in mind for you," Marie told her.

"Mom no!" Sydney gasped.

"No bickering," Maura said as she walked into the kitchen.

"What's wrong?" Sydney asked, picking up a weird vibe from the young doctor.

"Rogue's blood pressure is very high, and she's very stressed. She's worried about Griffin and the rest of the family at the battle and if her blood pressure doesn't go down, she and the baby could be in trouble," Maura answered.

"We'll discuss this later," Marie said, giving Parker and Sydney a look of annoyance.

"Food's done, I'll take the first plate to Rogue," Parker said, scooping some potatoes onto a plate. He used tongs to pick up a perfectly seasoned chicken breast and a pile of broccoli drizzled with melted butter. "Help yourself," he added, squeezing Sydney's hand before leaving the kitchen.

"Rogue?" Parker asked, knocking on the bedroom door.

"Go away," Rogue grumbled, not turning away from the window.

"You will sit down at this desk and you will eat the food on this plate," Parker instructed.

"I'm not hungry," Rogue said.

"Think about the baby Rogue," Parker retorted. Rogue sighed but walked over to the desk and couldn't contain the sigh of pleasure when she took the first bite of the chicken. Parker smiled and murmured something under his breath, too softly for Rogue to hear and backed out of the room.

"Rogue's blood pressure shouldn't be an issue much longer," Parker said, and explained about the spell.

"Good, that will help," Maura said with a smile.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"We're weakening him!" Abby shouted. 

"Thank God," Beth thought as she refocused her energy. The girls sent a final wave of energy behind the spell and finally, with a bellow of anger, Marcus and his allies were defeated and were at the mercy of the pack. 

"Raven!" Xavier shouted as he ran to where Griffin was standing guard.

"She's okay," Griffin said as his brother and law reached them. 

"Where's Beth?" Cole asked as he and the rest of the family reached them.

"She should be in the circle with Abby, Allie and Aria," Raven answered.

"They need the healer," Griffin said quietly. "Just a few sprains," he added, seeing the look on Xavier's face.

"And cuts," Mage added. Cole winced when he saw the gashes on her face, gave her a gentle hug then hurried to the circle to find his mate.

"Beth, are you hurt?" Cole demanded to know, dropped to his knees in front of Beth as she sat on the ground, weary and bleeding.

"A little, nothing that won't heal," Beth answered. "The others are worse," she added.

"It's just where we were located in the circle," Aria told her friend. "We'll be fine," she added. She looked at her sisters and the three of them said an incantation; their bruises and cuts faded away.

"Dad's bringing Marcus back to the pack for judgment," Charles said as he came to a stop in front of his brother and sister.

"He'll die for his evil deeds," Beth said, her voice was l and angry.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You'll never rid the world of evil," Marcus cackled. Beth, Mage and Raven looked at each other and resisted the urge to shiver. 

"That may be true, but we will rid the world of you," Beth said finally, fighting the nausea that was rising within her. She clasped hands with Raven and Mage and they began the incantation; Marcus's eyes widened and struggled against his bonds; it was a futile effort and he screamed as Parker held a jar up at Beth's signal.

"What's happening?" Charles asked Cole softly. Cole could just shrug and watch in awe as the girls' power was fully revealed.

"We've captured his evil in this jar so that we can destroy it safely," Parker murmured as he stepped away from the circle.

"Now what?" Sydney asked, glad Parker hadn't brought the jar away from the safety of the circle.

"He'll be burned alive," Parker answered, slid his hand into Sydney's.

"Seriously?" Cole asked, looking at his friend in surprise.

"How do you think it got started? The Magik community has always policed itself, and the only way to deal with wizards or witches that have gone bad is to remove their souls from their bodies, which, from what I'm told is a very painful thing then to burn the body of the witch or wizard to prevent the soul, should it not be disposed of properly, from re-inhabiting the body," Parker murmured, sounding, almost like a text book.

"Has ..." Sydney trailed off as Parker shushed her as the cousins finished the spell.

"You have stolen a lot from us Marcus, and we can not and will not abide it. You have performed acts of true evil, breaking the code of the Magiks. Your punishment is to have your soul stripped and for you to be burned," Mage said, her voice calm and unwavering.

"There will be three forms of fire; the first will be invisible fire," Beth added and performed the incantation. Marcus's screams of pain filled the air.

"The second will be your clothes," Raven said, setting a match to the loose fit pants Marcus was wearing. 

"The final will be a full fledged burning," Mage finished, lighting the wood that surrounded Marcus. The three girls stepped away from the fire and watched, arm in arm as the man that had killed their family and tried to kill them was turned to ash.

"What will you do with his soul? I don't want that evil on pack land much longer," Dominic demanded to know.

"Parker, you're up," Beth called wearily. Parker nodded and stepped away from Sydney.

"Go rest with your family boss," Parker instructed. Beth nodded and stepped back to be with Cole who wrapped a blanket around her shoulders, watched as Parker performed the spell that would destroy Marcus's soul forever.

"Is it over?" Marie wanted to know.

"As far as Marcus is concerned, yes," Raven answered, rubbing her arms. Raven, Mage and Beth hugged each other.

"Good, we all need some rest." Dominic patted both of his daughters on the shoulder. "You will all stay at the compound tonight," he added. They no sooner got back to the main house when Griffin burst from the house.

"Where's Doctor Lewis? Rogue's in labor!" he exclaimed.

"I'll get Maura," Charles said, turning towards his jeep. He drove the three minutes to his cabin where he knew Maura was resting. When they returned to the main house, Griffin was pacing nervously with Dominic and Cole.

"Is Doctor Lewis on her way?" Maura asked, stepping out into the hall way.

"Yes. What's wrong?" Griffin wanted to know.

"Rogue's been under more stress than she should have been during her pregnancy and has preeclampsia. I need to deliver the baby or we'll lose them both," Maura said urgently.