Gwen
Gwen slowly walked over to the door and opened it, after she'd heard knocking. She figured that now was as good a time as any to start letting people know she wasn't dead anymore.
"Gwen," her father said, smiling slightly.
Gwen took a step back, silently processing what she was seeing.
"But you..."
"I know."
"Gwen, darling," her mother cut in.
"Can we come in?"
Gwen nodded numbly and allowed her parents access inside.
James and Kathryn Raiden stepped into the house, looking around and glancing at each other.
Gwen led them into the kitchen, and they sat at the table, while Gwen busied herself with making tea.
"You must be wondering what we're doing here."
"Well, yeah. Seeing as you are meant to be dead," Gwen replied, half sarcastically.
"We could say the same for you... but you see, when the institution was attacked, and the alumni were being slaughtered, we felt it would be best to go into hiding," James explained.
"So you faked your f*cking deaths?"
"Yes," Kathryn replied.
"And Gwen, language."
"Sorry."
Gwen looked at the tea cup, then back at her mother.
"Actually, no, I'm not sorry. You haven't been my parents for so long now... in fact, you've never really been my parents, so tell me, why now? Why do you care enough to come and tell me now?"
"We felt it was time to right our wrongs."
Mordred
"Gwen, have you seen my bike keys?" Mordred asked as he pulled a shirt over his head and walked through into the kitchen.
"Fao nicked them and I..."
He saw Gwen's parents when he pulled the shirt down past his eyes.
"You bastards."
He raised his hand and a gleaming sword smacked hiltfirst into his palm. He closed his fingers around it and 'ported to stand behind Gwen's parents, putting the edge against their throats.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't just kill you now for what you did to my wife."
Gwen
Gwen made a move to stop him, then gave up.
"We did what we had to," Kathryn said quietly.
"What, turn me in to be experimented on? How is that what you had to do?"
"You were killing people, Gwen, and we wanted to know what was wrong with you."
Mordred
Mordred's eyes gleamed gold and his canine teeth started to lengthen.
"Not good enough. Talk faster, or I'm going to have to clean up the kitchen. And blood's a real bitch to get out of wood."
Gwen
"We were afraid - " James started.
"And what about me?" Gwen demanded.
"I was seven and you..."
"There was no other choice. If we'd stayed in Wisconsin with you, you would've been killed."
"I was nearly killed anyway!"
Mordred
"Can I kill 'em, cariad?" Mordred asked Gwen.
"Quick or slow? Or should I just dump 'em somewhere nasty? Antartica? The Sahara? New Jersey?"
Gwen
"I just..."
"Gwen, we love you, we really do," Kathryn said.
"Please just go," Gwen said, looking away.
"I don't have anything to say to either of you."
Mordred
"If you loved her, you wouldn't have done what you did," Mordred snarled.
"You f*cking incompetents. You make me sick."
Gwen
"We did what we had to, what do you know about her?" James snapped.
"What do you know of her life? Nothing."
Gwen looked at her father.
"He knows enough."
Mordred
"I have been inside her mind," Mordred said in a low, growling voice.
"I know her from the inside out. I've watched as you left her. I've watched as you laughed, and smiled. I've watched you push her away. I've heard her cry because her parents didn't love her. I've brought her back from the edge of sanity because of what you did to her, and let be done to your child. I know more then you."
Gwen
"But can you understand?" James asked, a cruel smile on his lips.
"And after all is said and done, will she help you to understand?"
Gwen closed her eyes for a moment.
"Just... just go."
"Gwen, we want to make amends, please," Kathryn pleaded.
Mordred
"You might," Mordred said softly to the woman.
"He doesn't."
Mordred tore into the man's mind.
"Speak the truth now, so they can hear."
Gwen
Gwen held her hand up.
"Don't, I don't...."
Kathryn looked alarmed and started to pull James away.
"We'll go."
Mordred
Mordred raised his free hand, teeth bared.
"I want them to hear it."
He *twisted* his hand and clenched his fingers.
Gwen
"Ah!" James yelled.
"Fine... we're here to send you back."
Gwen stared at her father, open mouthed.
"To where?"
"The new institute."
Mordred
"One word, cariad," Mordred murmured, walking over to her and nipping at her neck.
"And I eat his mind from the inside out. You were scared of her? You should be f*cking terrified of me, little man."
Gwen
"Scared of her? No, we were disgusted. Disgusted at the dirty mutant freak that she is," James said angrily.
Gwen closed her eyes, backing up slightly.
Mordred
"You die now," Mordred decided.
He flipped the sword in his hand and threw it at James's leg, hitting and sticking in the bone with a horrible crunch.
Gwen
James pulled it out, not without swearing and wincing, then Kathryn and he scampered.
Gwen held Mordred back.
"Don't... just let them go."
Mordred
"They hurt you, I want to kill them," Mordred said, rubbing the side of his face along her neck.
"Please, cariad."
Gwen
"No, they won't be back."
Gwen turned and kissed him.
"Please, for me?"
Mordred
"They ever, ever come back, or contact you in anyway and I'll kill them," Mordred said bluntly.
"That's as far as I will go, cariad."
Gwen
Gwen nodded and sighed slightly.
"Dom and those know I'm alive again. Billy was quite surprised to get a phone call from me. Which is fair really."
Mordred
"Yeah," Mordred said.
"Seeing as they went to your funeral and all. Um...are we gonna tell other people, ever?"
Gwen
"Yeah... we should start."
Gwen put her head on his shoulder briefly.
Mordred
Mordred leaned the sword against his leg, point on the floor and put his arm around her waist.
"I do love you, you know. It's why I get so angry about what they did to you."
Gwen
"I love you too."
Gwen kissed him gently.
"Why don't we go visit the mansion?"
Mordred
"Why not?" Mordred said.
"Dem's not living there anymore, she's moved into the London apartment for good, I think. But her mum's giving her shite, so she might move again. Scotland, so she can be closer for the play...are you going to be in that still?"
Gwen
"I guess so."
Gwen shrugged slightly.
"If Dom and Bill still want me, that is."
Mordred
"Those guys would do anything for you," Mordred said, hugging her.
"If they haven't recast, which I bet they haven't they'll have been so devastated, they'll want you back."
Gwen
"Yeah, well I am pretty lovable."
Gwen smirked slightly, then kissed him.
"So, mansion?"
Mordred
"Alright. Want to round up the kids?" Mordred said.
Gwen
Gwen nodded and headed upstairs to get the kids.
"Fao? Eavie, Bry, we're going to the mansion."
Faolan
"Yeah!" Faolan exclaimed.
"I want to see Kanika."
Gwen
Gwen smiled and went to get Eavan and Bryant ready, before heading back downstairs with them, to Mordred.
Mordred, Faolan & Kanika
Mordred teleported everyone to the mansion.
"FAO!" Kanika squealed and leapt at him.
The two siblings hugged, shifted and raced off.
"Dear god, what have we released onto the mansion?" Mordred asked.
Gwen
"Oh no!" Gwen said dramatically.
She let the squirming twins onto the ground, where they immediately raced off to play the XBOX.
"So, where shall we start? Oh, I know, I'll rattle chains and pretend I'm a ghost..."
Mordred & Logan
"Yeah, you're nice," Mordred said dryly.
"Maybe you should talk to Bobby first?"
Logan came around the corner and his nostrils widened, turning to look at Gwen.
"You're not dead. Interesting. You smelt very dead."
Gwen
"I'm full of surprises," Gwen said softly.
"But hello."
Logan & Mordred
"Staying? Or sticking around to be a pain in the ass for one day?" Logan asked bluntly.
"She's back properly," Mordred said, words holding just a hint of a growl.
Faith and Gwen
"Take no notice of Logan, he didn't get much sleep," Faith said, appearing behind him.
"Whoa, hey Gwen."
"Hey," Gwen replied.
"Welcome back. And hey, get in contact with Chuckles and them. They own Wolfram and Hart."
Mordred & Logan
"Bloody hell..." Mordred said softly, then shook his head.
Logan turned and kissed Faith, hand sliding down to cup her ass.
"Hey, darlin'."
Faith and Gwen
Faith grinned and kissed Logan back.
"When did they get together?" Gwen asked softly.
Mordred & Logan
"I didn't know they were," Mordred said honestly.
Logan turned and glared.
"Standin' right here and can hear you. We just did, after patrolling one night."
Faith and Gwen
"Hey, bad mood king, shut up," Faith said, before reaching up to kiss him to help shut him up.
Gwen shrugged slightly.
"Come on, let's go find the ice kid."
Logan & Mordred
"Somewhere with blondie, I think," Logan supplied helpfully, then turned back to kissing Faith.
"Thanks..." MOrdred said slowly, and led Gwen away.
Faith, Gwen and Bobby
Faith grinned then kissed Logan back, before leading him to their room.
Gwen held onto Mordred's hand as they rounded a corner to see Bobby.
"I might go and see Hank in a sec," Bobby said to Octavian, then paused at the sight in front of him.
"Uh... Gwen?"
Octavian & Mordred
"I told you it was her and Mordred we saw that day," Octavian said.
"And thanks for keeping your friends informed."
"She didn't want anyone to know," Mordred said simply.
Gwen and Bobby
"Why not?" Bobby asked quietly.
Gwen shrugged.
"I didn't know if I'd be going again," she said, flicking hair out of her eyes.
"Dude, you got a tattoo!" he exclaimed.
Mordred & Octavian
"Very cool, isn't it?" Mordred said.
"Ha, I got one too," Octavian said.
"Well, a new one."
Gwen and Bobby
Gwen smiled slightly.
"So, besides that, what else is new?"
"I think the biggest news is still you coming back to life," Bobby said.
"Bek got a record deal and she's doing promos right now, so Jono's back to being all mopey without her."
Octavian & Mordred
"And vengefully bitter," Octavian said, nodding.
"His music is bitter, bitter."
"Makes sense," Mordred murmured.
"Oh, and there's a new person at the mansion," Octavian said.
"He's Kurt's sort of adopted cousin."
Gwen and Bobby
Gwen nodded slightly.
"How's Dem?"
Bobby scratched his head.
Octavian
"She moved back to England, London to be precise," Octavian said cheerfully.
"but Mother dearest is trying to marry her off."
Gwen
"That's never good," Gwen replied.
She leaned against Mordred.
Mordred & Octavian
Mordred put his arm around her waist.
"She's not precisely happy about it either," Octavian said.
"She's being what Mater would term 'troublesome'. I've been a very bad influence on her."
Bobby and Gwen
"Being troublesome is fun," Bobby said.
"At least, it was."
Gwen rolled her eyes.
"How is Julie?"
"She's good!" Bobby said, bouncing slightly.
Octavian & Mordred
"She's *very* good," Octavian said.
Mordred rolled his eyes.
Gwen and Bobby
"She can't be as good as me," Gwen commented.
"I wouldn't know, now would I?" Bobby said.
"Yeah, and it's staying that way."
MOrdred & Octavian
"Better," Mordred growled, showing his teeth.
"Actually, it's about equal but Gwen has this thing she does when she-gah!"
Mordred's hand shot out and grabbed Octavian by the throat, shoving him up against a wall. His toes were only just barely touching the floor and he gagged for breath.
"That's my *wife*, you're talking about, Octavian," MOrdred snarled.
Gwen and Bobby
Gwen smirked.
"Bet you can't do that for Julie, Bobby. You're not as strong as Mordred. Or hot. Or sexy. And you probably don't have as big a penis."
Bobby pouted.
"Dude, why does everyone pick on me?"
Mordred & Octavian
Mordred dropped Octavian, and the smaller teen fell to the ground, kneeling and one hand to his throat. He hacked, throat sore and lungs burning. Mordred kissed Gwen slowly.
"I don't know, Bobby. Maybe because you make yourself a target?" Mordred suggested.
Gwen and Bobby
Gwen smiled and kissed Mordred back.
"Bah, I hate both of you," Bobby said.
Mordred & Octavian
"Good," Mordred said.
He kissed Gwen again, sliding his hands down to her hips. Octavian tried to breathe properly again.
Bobby and Gwen
Bobby bent down and looked at Tav.
"Dude, you ok?"
Gwen smiled and kissed his neck.
"Come on, let's go see Dr McCoy."
Octavian & Mordred
"I'll be fine," Octavian said hoarsely, breathing shallowly.
His throat felt like it was on fire.
"Alright," Mordred agreed.
He 'ported them both to the labs.
"Dr McCoy?"
Bobby and Gwen
"Do you need to see Rubber Hanky?" Bobby asked.
Gwen looked around, and noted some of Bobby's possessions in the medlabs.
"Dr McCoy?"
Octavian, Mordred & Hank
"No..."
Octavian got to his feet and swayed slightly, voice still hoarse and cracked sounding.
"See? I'm standing, I'm fine."
"Hank?" Mordred called out.
"Coming!" Hank's voice came from his office and he appeared shortly after that.
He stared at Gwen, took off his glasses, polished them, then put them back on. She hadn't disappeared.
"My stars and garters,..."
Bobby and Gwen
"Come on, we'll go get a drink from the caf," Bobby said, leading the smaller teen.
Gwen smiled slightly.
"Surprise?"
Octavian, Mordred & Hank
"He's...changed, is putting it mildly," Octavian said, one hand going to his throat where blue bruises were forming.
"H-how, wh-what?" Hank stammered.
"Magic," Mordred said helpfully.
Bobby and Gwen
"Yeah," Bobby said.
"But so has she. She's... a lot more withdrawn, which is understandable, I guess."
Gwen nodded.
"Don't worry Hank, I'm not even sure, I just woke up in my... in the casket."
Octavian & Hank
"Mmm..." Octavian said noncommitedly.
He leant up and kissed Bobby deeply.
"Oh my," Hank said softly.
Bobby and Gwen
Bobby kissed him back, then pushed him into the caf.
"Ok, drink. Damn, I left my hoodie with Hank. I'll go get that... oh wait, Hanky and I are going into town tonight, so it's ok. I'm going to the medlabs anyway."
Gwen nodded.
"Yeah, it was not so pleasant. And I need to talk to you a bit later too, Hank. I want to know if I'm going to be around, or if I'm going to just leave again."
Octavian & Hank
Octavian nodded slightly, going to get hismelf a drink of water.
"I see."
"I'll do my best," Hank said.
"Do you...wish to do it now?"
Bobby and Gwen
Bobby nodded and sat down at a table.
"Yeah, but nowit's gonna smell all hospital like."
"Yeah, if you're not too busy," Gwen said.
She really didn't want to do this in front of Mordred though.
Octavian, Mordred & Hank
"Aww, diddums," Octavian said, coughed hard, and then drank more of his water.
"I'll leave you to it then," Mordred said.
He kissed her and then ;'ported out.
"Ahh...please sit here, Gwen while I just prepare..." Hank siad softly, gesturing at a bed.
Bobby and Gwen
Bobby patted Octavian's back gently.
"Why's he so weird now?"
Gwen sat down and took her jacket off.
"There's something else I wanted to talk to you about... since I got back... I've been having nightmares and I find... I bruise and get hurt a lot more easily."
Octavian & Hank
"I don't know," Octavian said softly.
"We've grown a lot apart. Some of it is my doing...I know."
"Hmm..." Hank said thoughtfully.
Bobby and Gwen
"And some of it is hers," Bobby said.
Gwen nodded.
"I don't think I've slept a full night since I got back... which was the beginning of March."
Octavian & Hank
Octavian hesitated, then nodded, looking miserable.
"Very much so."
He thought about what had happened in Scotland and sighed.
"Hmm..."
Hank looked at her for a few moments.
"Would you be agreeable to spending a night in the lab, so I can moniter your sleeping patterns?"
Bobby and Gwen
"It'll be ok, at least, it'll get ok again," Bobby said soothingly.
Gwen nodded.
"Yeah, sure..."
Octavian & Hank
"I very much doubt it," Octavian said quietly.
"Yes, well, shall we get on with your physical exam?" Hank suggested.
Bobby and Gwen
"Maybe you should talk to him," Bobby said.
"And her."
Gwen nodded.
"Prod away, Dr McCoy."
Octavian & Hank
Octavian shook his head.
"It's very much something which should be shoved in a closet and left to die. Never to be talked about again."
Hank proceeded to administer the physical exam.
Bobby and Gwen
Bobby sighed slightly.
"Anyway, I have to go see Hank, coz if Gwen's gone down there, I'll guess tonight is off. So I need my hoodie."
Gwen looked around slowly.
"So... I'll hazard a guess and say Bobby spends a fair bit of time here with you?"
Octavian & Hank
"Ok," Octavian said softly.
"I'm just going to drink my water and hope my voice resumes its normal sexy state."
Hank looked around and nodded slightly, looking vaguely embarrassed.
"He decided I spent too much time by myself in the medlabs and that I needed a friend."
Bobby and Gwen
"I'd still love you, even if it didn't," Bobby said, kissing his forehead.
"Besides, this husky voice is kinda sexy too."
He saluted and headed out of the caf.
Gwen smiled faintly.
"No, I think it's nice of him. And it's good, you shouldn't be alone."
Octavian & Hank
Octavian folded his arms on the table and dropped his head onto them. Oh god, that hurt. Hearing Bobby say that, and not really mean it...when he was head over heels, desperately in love with him.
Hank smiled slightly.
"Apparently, he thought the same."
Gwen and Bobby
Gwen laughed.
"But it is nice."
Bobby walked into the medlabs.
"What's nice? My face? Oh I know. Hey Hank."
Hank
"Hello, Bobby," Hank said.
"And what brings you down here?"
Bobby and Gwen
"Just looking for my hoodie."
Bobby spotted it neatly folded and hanging over a chair.
"You found it and folded it, didn't you?" he said to Hank.
Gwen grinned slightly.
Hank
Hank coughed slightly.
"Yes."
Bobby
Bobby chuckled.
"What would I do without you? Anyway, I'm guessing tonight's twinkie run is off?"
Hank
"Yes," Hank said.
"My duties as a doctor come first..."
Bobby
"Nah, it's cool. Hey, wait..."
Bobby paused and waggled his finger at Hank.
"You're not pulling an all nighter, are ya?"
Hank
"I'm conducting a sleep study on Gwen at her own request, so yes," Hank said with dignity.
"Why?"
Bobby
"Dude, that's not good for you. I'll stay down here and keep ya company."
Bobby nodded.
Hank
"Bobby, unlike you I do not have school," Hank pointed out.
"You need sleep. I can go without occasionally."
Bobby
"Hmm, maybe."
Bobby put his hoodie on.
"If you're sure..."
Hank
"Very sure," Hank said gently.
"But thank you for offering."
Bobby and Gwen
"Ok, but I'll be down here tomorrow after class is over."
Bobby waved and head upstairs.
Gwen smiled.
"He means well."
Hank, Octavian & Nikolai
"I know he does," Hank said.
He smiled slightly.
"Sie wissen, sollten Sie auf, mich zu springen stoppen," Octavian said softly as Nikolai cuddled up to him. (You know, you should stop jumping on me)
"Aw, nicht lieben Sie mich?" Nikolai pouted at him. (Don't you love me?)
Bobby and Gwen
Bobby decided to go to his room and play some PS2, which he still hadn't managed to get Hank onto yet.
Gwen smiled.
"Anyway, is there anything urgent that you can see? These cuts," she said, lifting the back of her shirt.
"They aren't going away."
Hank
Hank studied them carefully.
"Have you put anything on them? How did you get them?"
Gwen
"When I... I had to break through the casket, and I grazed myself climbing out."
Gwen shrugged.
"Mordred put antiseptic on them but... they haven't seemed to heal at all."
Hank
Hank hmm'd thoughtfully.
"I'll put some ointment on it I have, and give you a course of antibiotics to take."
He went off to do his doctor thing.
Gwen
Gwen let her shirt slide down her back again.
Hmm, she'd have to tell Mordred she was staying overnight.
Hank
Hank gave her the ointment and the antibiotics, telling her what she had to do with both of them.
"I'll see you back here around 9 or 8?" Hank said.
Gwen
Gwen nodded.
"Thanks Hank."
She headed off to find Mordred.
Hank
Hank sighed slightly, and started to analyse what he had discovered about Gwen. He really hoped he could help her.
Gwen
Gwen found Mordred and smiled slightly.
"Hey you."
Mordred
"Hey," Mordred said softly.
He reached up and pulled her down into his lap.
"So, what did the doc say?"
Gwen
"He wants me to stay overnight for observation."
Gwen kissed him gently.
"Just as a precaution. So I guess we'll be spending the night at the mansion? Oh, I mean, you can go home if you want though."
Mordred
"Nah, I'll stay," Mordred said.
"Kids'll probably want to stay too."
Gwen
Gwen nodded and kissed him again.
"Feels so strange to be here again, don't you think? It's been so long since we lived here."
Mordred
"Yeah," Mordred said.
"And a lot of things have happened."
Gwen
"I love you."
Gwen kissed his neck.
"And I can't believe you put up with me."
Mordred
"Just because I love you," Mordred said.
He kissed her again.
Gwen
"Guess I'm very lucky then."
Gwen smiled and leant her forehead against his briefly.
MOrdred
"I'm the lucky one," Mordred said softly.
He smiled at her.
Gwen
"No, I am," Gwen argued playfully.
She kissed his nose.
Mordred
"Mmmhmm..." Mordred said.
He kissed her properly.
Gwen
Gwen kissed him back gently.
"Let's get married... again."
Mordred
"Come again?" Mordred asked, looking at her.
"Why?"
Gwen
"Well, because technically in this country, we're not married."
Gwen kissed him gently.
"And well, I kinda like being your wife."
Mordred
Mordred smiled slightly.
"Then that's what we'll do. And we'll actually invite people. Or do you want to elope again?"
Gwen
"That was kinda fun... but I don't know, invite people. Maybe have Bek and Jono sing at the reception. Spend an obscene amount of money on it."
Gwen kissed him gently.
Mordred
"Ah."
Mordred smiled.
"You can't exactly wear white though."
Gwen
Gwen looked mock offended.
"And who's fault is that?"
Mordred
"Gunn's," Mordred said promptly.
"Obviously. And you corrupted me."
Gwen
"Me, corrupt you?"
Gwen shook her head.
"Dude, no way! Man, I'm talking like Bobby."
Mordred
"You're older, you led me into sin," Mordred said.
"And I was just an innocent country boy."
Gwen
Gwen stood up off his lap.
"So didn't, you corrupted me with the licking out and such."
She flashed him briefly, then ran.
Mordred
Mordred just 'ported to stand in front of her and caught her as she smacked into him.
"You're the one that tripped me."
Gwen
Gwen shocked him and ran off again, laughing.
"Didn't!"
MOrdred
Mordred repeated his former tactics.
"Did so."
Gwen
"Didn't. I'm very innocent."
Gwen kissed him and sparked into his mouth.
Mordred
"Evil," Mordred told her firmly, then kissed her again.
Gwen
"You're one to talk."
Gwen licked over his Claim mark.
Mordred
"Watch me talk," Mordred told her.
"I am not evil, I am corrupted by your wicked feminine wiles. And black lace knickers. All your fault."
Gwen
Gwen grinned.
"Well, I can stop corrupting you, if you want."
Mordred
"No, you see, you've corrupted me so much that sounds like a bad idea," Mordred said, smiling slightly.
He raised an eyebrow at her.
Gwen
"I could corrupt you some more, if you want."
Gwen bent down and licked across his neck, before biting hard.
Mordred
Mordred shuddered slightly.
"Sounds like a good idea to me."
Gwen
Gwen bit down again, drawing blood.
"Of course, if you think I'm too bad of an influence..."
Mordred
MOrdred growled.
"Didn't say *I* thought it was a bad thing..."
Gwen
Gwen kissed him deeply, letting him taste his own blood on his lips.
"Mmmm, good then."
Mordred
Mordred licked along her lips.
"So, what was this talk of corrupting me?"
Gwen
"Ok, yeah, I'm a bad influence."
Gwen grinned.
"Anyway, I don't have to be back here until 9 or 10, so wanna go home for a bit?"
Mordred, Kanika & Faolan
"Alright," Mordred said.
"Kids can stay here and be supervised."
He 'ported them home.
"C'mon, Fao," Kanika whispered.
Faolan rolled his eyes slightly as he followed his sister.
"What are we doing, exactly?"
"I want you to do to Bobby what Bek does to him," Kanika said.
"He says a lot of interesting swears. It's funny too."
Faolan sighed as they halted outside Bobby's room. He concentrated and turned Bobby's arousal off, and then they both ran away to a safe distance to watch and listen.
Bobby
Bobby looked down in surprise.
"Huh? Bek's not even here..."
He grumbled a few swear words, then decided to pass the time by actually doing his homework.
Faolan & Kanika
"I thought you said he exploded," Faolan said, looking at Kanika.
She pouted.
"He usually does. C'mon, let's go steal chocolate from Jubes."