On The Edge Of Suspicion

(Part 4 of the Trinity saga © 2002)

By Princess Alexandria

Princess_alex24@hotmail.com

Reviews can be posted at:
http://pub17.ezboard.com/fgargoylesxfrm5

Day 13 Part 1– Saturday – August 9^th

The bar was very busy. Trini watched as Tony stood at the bar ordering their next round of drinks. He chatted with the brunette next to the bar and glanced over at Trini, but Trini's eyes had traveled back to the dance floor longingly.

She just smiled at Glasses when he got up to go make a phone call. Trini couldn't believe she was actually sitting at a table with five men and had been able to do that for the past few hours. When she'd gotten into the club, Tony had spotted her quickly and waved her over. At first Trini was reluctant to take that spot that Tony had cleared for her, but then she thought about the books she just bought, and the way she'd reacted when Goliath grabbed her. She did have a fear of men. She'd tried to deny it, but it was real, and she wasn't going to let it rule her anymore. That was how she ended up sitting down. She wanted to prove to herself that she could hang around men and be okay. It wasn't easy, and that just proved to Trini that she did have a problem. She kept finding herself flinching subtly at any lustful looks. They didn’t seem to notice how tense that made her, and Trini felt that was progress. She knew that she could take out any of these men in a fight, and that was something she reminded herself of whenever her nerves got a bit shot.

Trini smiled tensely at Tony while accepting another drink. She glanced over at the band while sipping it. The live band was decent, but not terrific. The bar was pretty crowded with dancers, but for some reason, no one intruded on Tony's space. The bar was a little warm, so Trini had taken off her business jacket and had it draped over her legs. The cool air on her lower back felt better. She was only wearing a half top under the jacket, so now her pale skin, and what she told Tony was a tattoo was visible. When he had told her most women get tattoos of roses, she'd just smiled and sipped at her drink. She'd had a lot of drinks in the past few hours, and felt a bit light headed.

Tony leaned in closer so that Trini would be able to hear him. "Wanna dance again sugar?"

Trini just nodded. Her skin had stopped crawling every time he touched her while dancing, and she was able to focus on the dancing rather than her partner. They'd been up and down to dance several times in the past two hours, and they were getting to the point that they actually danced well together.

Trini had enough alcohol in her system to make her a much looser dancer. She smiled flirtatiously at Tony and moved a little closer, determined to show the other dancing couples on the floor how it was done. Her first girlfriend had been the one to teach her how to dance like this. Robyn had been pure sex on the dance floor. She raised her arms above her head and swayed her hips to the music, while ignoring the appreciative glances Tony gave her body, or the way that made her half shirt ride up to just below her breast. The music had a slow seductive beat that Trini used to her every advantage.

Tony moved behind her and put his hands on her swaying hips and she obediently moved back, closer to his body. She was dancing without even thinking about it, becoming lost in the music and the singer's voice. When a brunette woman walked up to start dancing in front of Trini, Trini smirked a little and moved forward to include her in Tony and Trini's dance. The woman put one hand over Trini's shoulder and moved closer, with a seductive air about her. Trini's eyes slide shut as she lost herself in the music again, and she didn't see the smirk that the woman and Tony shared over her shoulder.

Trini felt Tony getting closer at the same time the woman in front of her moved it, sandwiching her between their bodies as they swayed. Tony's hands moved around Trini's body to rest on the woman's hips, and Trini could feel the movement of their bodies and moved in time with them.

Once the song ended the band decided they were going to take a break. Trini noticed that Tony was a little slow in backing away when the dance ended, and fought to control the irrational fear that caused. She just gave him a slightly faked smile, but the woman's voice drew Trini's attention back to her. The other people on the dance floor were abandoning it for their tables but the three of them just stood there.

"I don't live too far away." The woman smiled flirtatiously at Trini. "You two could come over to party."

Trini's eyes widened a little and her heart beat a little faster. "I don't party." Trini hissed out suddenly her mood was ruined. The woman's shocked expression forced Trini to try and calm down. She was drinking too much if she couldn't control her knee jerk reaction to that word. Her eyes softened. "I'm sorry, but I'm taken."

The woman glanced over Trini's shoulder with a confused expression on her face. "But your boyfriend said…"

Trini turned to glare at the calm face of the man behind her. "Tony is not my boyfriend." Trini's eyes flashed red as she glared down at the floor, for a moment to give her time to control that. She then marched away angrily, realizing what had happened. Tony thought if he brought a woman for Trini to play with, Trini might have sex with him. She growled as she walked, and didn't pay any attention to Tony and the woman talking on the dance floor.

Once she got back to their table, Trini grabbed her jacket and nodded at Glasses, before turning to leave. Tony was in her path. "Sugar, what's got you in such a huff?"

Trini glared at him. "We were just having fun and you had to ruin it with this game of yours."

"She was pretty. What's your problem? I thought you might like her."

Trini sneered at him. "Well, thank you so very much for being so considerate as to try and whore me out. I don't know why I'm not more grateful."

Tony held his hands out, "Chill honey. I was just doing you a favor, if you didn't want her you just had to say no. You did… It's over."

Trini sighed heavily and closed her eyes to rub her forehead. Her voice was weary when she spoke. "I don't need any more men trying to whore me out. Please… don't do that again."

Tony's smile and nod made Trini relax a little, but she was still tense. That had ruined her mood. She didn't feel like staying any longer. "I'm gonna head out."

"What? Don't bail now sweetheart. There's still several fun having hours left."

Trini gave him a weak smile. "Not for me." She started to walk around him and froze when he gently grabbed her arm.

"Whoever she is, she doesn’t deserve you." Trini turned to his suddenly serious face. He pulled a card out of his pants pocket and held it out. "You ever need to go out and have fun again, you call me."

Trini pocketed the card absently, never really intending to call, but unwilling to tell him to his face. "Bye." Trini took a few steps before Tony's voice called out to her.

"Trini…" He smiled flirtatiously. "The doors over there." He pointed in the opposite direct Trini was going.

Trini rolled her eyes. "Bathroom break first." She gave him a fake grin, "You're ruining my exit Tony." That made him laugh. Before moving on towards the dark hall in the back of the club to find the bathroom again. She'd been fine dancing, but she had to actually concentrate on walking, because she didn't want to embarrass herself by appearing drunk.

In the bathroom she stared at her reflection while putting her jacket back on. It made her hot and she would rather not wear it, but she didn't feel like carrying it either. She sighed as she took one last look. She wasn't good to drive. She was going to have to call a cab. She needed to figure out where she was going to go. Maybe she could figure it out while she walked to the car to get her stuff.

Trini stepped out of the bathroom and her heart stopped as she felt strong arms grab her and start to drag her through the dark curtains. "Be quiet!" A familiar voice hissed at her, and Trini started to relax and allowed herself to be pulled out of the hallway. Once they were hidden by the curtain Trini was released.

Trini spun around and her eyes widened when she saw they were both there. Demona was draped in a dark cloth, obviously trying to use it as a cloak, and Fox was looking through a hole in the curtain out to the dance floor. Demona tossed the cloth to the side and then glared at Trini with red eyes.

"Blue… I…" Trini started hesitantly. She wasn't ready yet. She would have preferred some time to mentally prepare before seeing her lovers.

"Quiet." Demona hissed while motioning towards the dance floor.

Trini stared at the gargoyle in shock. Her heart ached at the harsh tone.

Fox's voice was cold "He's starting to stare at the hall."

Trini watched as Demona's red glare faded. "He's going to investigate if she doesn't come out soon. We need to get out of here."

"What are you two talking about?" Trini turned to talk to Fox.

"You've been followed. I'm surprised you didn't notice him, he hardly fits in out there." Demona answered for Fox, speaking quickly and the gargoyle was obviously upset. Fox moved out of the way to allow Trini access to the small tear in the curtain. Trini looked at both of her lover's expectant faces before looking. It only took her a second to see what they were talking about. The older white haired man with a beard looked far older than any of the young crowd in this bar. He was sitting at a table alone, watching the hallway to the restrooms.

"Shit." Trini muttered under her breath, suddenly worried about how long he'd been with her. "Why can't that asshole just leave me alone?"

"Let's just get out of here." Fox's voice tore Trini's attention away from MacBeth. "Backdoor."

Trini followed them obediently to the door and noticed it was a bit mangled. Demona probably had to break it to get in. The area was littered with mops, buckets, and all sorts of other poorly balanced piles of clutter. When Fox opened the door and peeked outside rather than just marching out Trini almost bumped into her. She was a little off balance from drinking more than she should and knocked over a pile of buckets. The crash as they tumbled over made all three women tense, but it was Demona's hiss of pain as one hit her on the shin that froze them all in their tracks.

"Dammit…" Demona glared at Trini. "We need to go, he had to have felt that."

Trini felt a wave of guilt at her clumsiness causing that. They darted out of the building into the dark alley. Trini started to move for the wall, before stopping with wide eyes and turning to Fox. Her lover couldn't climb walls. She watched with a bit of surprise, and a small wave of jealousy as Fox quickly walked up behind Demona and wrapped her arms around the gargoyle before Demona started to climb the wall. Those two looked pretty comfortable with that. It took Trini a moment to shake out of her shock and she started to climb the wall as well. Demona would be the better choice, she climbed better, and Trini was a bit unstable on her feet right now, but still… Fox was Trini's mate. It should have been her responsibility.

Trini's legs swung over the edge just as she heard the back door slam open. She pulled herself away from the edge quickly, trying to keep out of sight. Demona and Fox were standing, but Trini had rolled painfully onto the gritty roof to avoid detection. She just laid there for a while, feeling like an idiot for not noticing him. She also felt violated. All she wanted was some time away from it all to relax. Some time away from the lies and problems, and one of those problems decided to trail after her and destroy her privacy. Privacy was a thing of the past for her. She should just accept that there would always be someone spying in her windows and listening to her conversations, watching her dreams. Her hands clenched as she felt the urge to scream at the unfairness of it all.

That bastard was just following her because he wanted to use her against Demona, like all the others did. Demona was right, the first thing the clan wanted when they heard that Trini knew her, was to use her against the immortal gargoyle, and MacBeth was just waiting for a chance to take Trini and use her to try and get close enough to kill her mate.

"Are you going to get up anytime soon?" Fox spoke, pulling Trini out of her thoughts.

Trini just grimaced and got up. Her clothes were a lost cause. She'd probably have to dump them.

Trini stared down at the lines on the freeway until they made her sick. Fox was driving, and other than the people on the radio, no one was talking. The sound of the wind filled the car from Trini's opened window. Demona was going to meet them at her mansion. Trini stared at the rings on her fingers and played with the one that was supposed to be Demona's.

God, her gargoyle looked so mad after she dropped Fox off on the ground so that they could go to Trini's car. Demona never said a word as she turned and climbed back up the building so that she could take off. Trini just stood in the alley and watched the blue female glide away with an ache in her heart.

"I told you it was taken care of." Fox's voice startled Trini, who had gotten used to the tense silence.

Trini sighed heavily. She never took her eyes off the rings. "I know." Trini wiped some tears from her eyes. "But… I…" She felt so confused. She didn't really know how to explain herself. She just went quiet again.

"We were worried sick when you didn't go to either home. Demona was starting to think MacBeth got you. She also ranted about how the Quarrymen might have hurt you." Fox sighed, "She was starting to scare me with all her worry. We've been looking for you for hours."

Trini's voice was quiet, almost as if she were talking to herself. "I'm sorry. I just needed some time alone."

Trini didn't see Fox glance over at her with concern. "You can have that, but you should let us know. Don't just run out like that and make us worry."

Trini just nodded and swallowed hard. This talk was making her feel like a child, but she knew she deserved it. She should have called sooner.

There was more uncomfortable silence while Trini watched the stars. "Trini, what were you doing with Dracon?"

"We were just dancing." Trini turned to look at Fox, surprised she knew Tony's name.

"No, Demona and I were there for a while, waiting for a chance to get you without MacBeth noticing. You were at his table talking to him and his friends. We say you dance with him twice, and… Demona almost came out to rip his head off the last time." Fox turned to look at Trini, "Your dancing was very sexual. It really looked like…" Fox shook her head and turned to watch the road again. "Why were you hanging out with him?"

Trini watched the road as Fox took the freeway exit. "I ran into him during dinner, and he was at the club too. I just…" Trini sighed heavily. "He was just someone to talk to. Someone to dance with."

Fox stopped at the stoplight and turned to Trini. "He was really a bad choice. He just got out of prison, his conviction was overturned." Fox's eyes burned into Trini's, "He's the local Mob Boss."

Trini felt a chuckle come to her throat unbidden. Of course. Of course he'd be a mob boss. Trini couldn't have just made friends with someone normal like an accountant or something. Now the very good service they always got made more sense. And the way even the dancing crowd kept their distance. Everyone but Trini knew who he was. The chuckle made it out, "God dammit." Trini muttered. Well, if she ever wanted to branch out with her crimes she knew where to go now. She could work her way from rape and murder to extortion and fraud. Cover all the bases. Trini glared out the window at her thoughts.

The light changed so Fox had to drive again. "Elisa put him in prison last year, but he has good lawyers." Of course he'd have something to do with Elisa too, Trini sighed heavily and rubbed her forehead. Fox seemed to focus on the drive for a block, but Trini paid little attention to the silence. She was more concerned with the upcoming talk with Demona.

"I yelled at her. I screamed at her and threw things." Trini whispered as they started to enter Demona's neighborhood. "She's gonna have to fire me. I fucked up pretty bad." Trini took a shuddering breath. "I can't control my temper. Elisa was right. I'm too violent. I could have hurt her. I could have hit my own lover, I was so mad." Trini stared down at her hands. "No wonder Elisa thought I hit you. I have that in me. I could be like that."

Trini was surprised to feel the car pull over quickly. They weren't there yet. Trini looked up and saw they were in a deserted parking lot.

Fox put the car in park and turned to stare at Trini with concern on her face. "Is that why you disappeared?" Fox just seemed to stare into Trini's soul. Trini felt the magical touch and didn’t try to disguise her disgust at herself and her regret. "You yelled and threw a pencil holder. You didn't even get close to hitting her. She told me about this."

Trini swallowed hard. "That's how it starts. It just starts with yelling and throwing… that's what momma started with." Trini reached out to caress Fox's swollen eye. "I was mad at her for hurting you, and I could have done the same thing to her." Trini sighed heavily and looked at Fox with sad eyes.

"Trini, I just don't see that in you." Fox said gently, "Maybe it's all the stress lately. I'd have a tough time being in your shoes, and I was a mercenary for years." Fox's voice got quieter. "You weren't prepared for everything that happened this summer."

Trini took a deep breath. "It doesn’t matter if I was ready or not. I wasn't exactly given the option." She started to play with her rings nervously again. "It's no excuse to treat the people I love like that. I don't like who I'm becoming. I have a problem. There's something wrong with me." Trini looked down at herself. "Both of you deserve someone much better than this."

Fox went quiet for a moment. Trini didn't have the energy to look up. She continued to spin the red band that should be Demona's on her finger. "I love you. If you think you have problems we can work through them. If you are unhappy we can try and do something." Fox reached out to force Trini to look at her. "I love you, and you don't need to be perfect for me to love you." Trini felt her eyes sting as the tears started to blur her vision. "As for Demona, if how frantically she was looking for you tonight is any indication, she loves you very much."

Trini stared down at her fingers again. She didn’t notice Fox look out the window with widening eyes and nod at the shadow on the roof of the pharmacy they'd parked in front of. "Her ring isn't coming off." Trini spoke quietly. "But I don't know if she'll take it when it does. She doesn't trust my family." Trini tugged at it again, to verify that the ring was stuck. "I don’t know why that bothers me. I can understand why she feels like that. They lied to her, and she's suffered for it." She gave a weak laugh, "And that stupid link pisses me off too. I'd love to kick his ass for following me around."

Fox's voice was a bit stern. "MacBeth isn't someone you want to mess with. He's a warrior, and has been for a long time."

Trini shuddered. "I know. He scares me. He's human, but not really. I really don't like that he's following me, because there is something so dangerous about him. I don't like that he wants to use me against her." Trini looked up at Fox again. "If he does take me, don't let her come after me. I couldn't face eternity without her."

"We never really talked about that." Fox glanced around. "About how you feel about being immortal." Trini just sighed heavily. Fox's voice got a little faster. "David wanted to be immortal. He tried several spells that didn't pan out."

"He obviously didn't think it through, because I can't see anyone choosing this." Trini tilted her head to stare at Fox. "The only reason I probably won't kill myself when you die is Demona. If I didn't have her, I wouldn't put in more than one lifetime. I'm not as strong as she is. I couldn't do it alone, and if he kills her I won't."

Fox got quiet at that. Trini just stared at the dash. "She's probably waiting for us. I've worried her… you both… enough for one day." Fox started the car again and they pulled back onto the road.

They drove for a few minutes in silence when Fox spoke. Trini could hear the forced upbeat tone in her lover's voice. "I can see why you like gliding so much now. Being held in her strong arms, close to her body."

Trini's eyes widened. "You went gliding with her?"

"We glided over the city while I tried to feel our bond. That's how we found you." Fox's smile was a little wicked. "It was my idea. I told her she owed me for the black eye, so see… it's all straightened out now." Trini just nodded at that. She strongly suspected Fox really enjoyed being able to force Demona to carry her about.

Trini could hear Demona was in the kitchen, and it sounded like she was cooking. That confused Trini. She'd fully expected the argument to start right as she came in the front door. She was a bit nervous as she followed the sounds coming from the kitchen, with Fox in tow. God, if Demona was pissed Trini would have preferred to not have Fox there to see it, but the redhead had refused to just go home. Trini had asked her twice, and after the glare that the second request got, she decided not to ask again.

Trini stepped into the kitchen and sighed. "Hi." She spoke weakly as she moved to sit at the kitchen island. Demona only glanced over at her and Fox, briefly before putting something in the oven.

"Trini." Demona's voice was a little deeper than normal. Trini could hear the disappointment in it.

"I need to go use the bathroom." Fox interrupted and left. Trini noticed the encouraging look Fox sent her way and realized that Fox probably didn’t need to go, she just decided to give them some privacy.

Demona's voice started to get a little louder once Fox left. Trini watched the gargoyle's eyes start to burn. "You were hanging all over that human! He had his hands all over you and you let him!" Demona marched over to Trini dangerously and Trini stood up quickly her heart pounding. Demona just reached into Trini's pocket and pulled out a card. "And you didn't dump it. It's still here."

"I was just dancing!" Trini stared at her mate in shock. "How can you even suggest that I would…"

"That was dancing?!" Demona yelled loudly. "That wasn't dancing! That was the most obscene thing I've ever seen on a dance floor. You were practically fucking him out there!"

Trini's jaw dropped a little, before she closed it hard and her own eyes started to burn. "I Was Just Dancing!" Trini growled out at Demona.

Demona held the card up in the air. "I should just go kill this bastard."

"Don't you fucking Dare!" Trini's voice grew even louder than Demona's. "You can't just kill anyone that spends time with me you don't like! Tony didn’t do anything wrong! We just danced!"

Demona sneered at Trini and appeared to grow even taller to Trini's eyes. "Did you like it when that vermin touched you? Is that why you are protecting him?"

"No, I didn't like it!" Trini's eyes blazed. "I wasn't planning to take him to the corner and fuck him. I wanted to go out, get away, that's all. I Don’t Do Men!" Trini shook her head in her frustration.

"That's not what it looked like!"

Trini just clamped her mouth shut and started to walk away. She couldn't win this argument with Demona and she was getting too mad. The urge to just scream and throw things was too strong. She just wanted to shake Demona and make her listen.

The grip on her arm was steel tight as Demona reached out to stop her from leaving. "Where do you think you are going?!" Demona hissed at her. "We are not done here!"

Trini grabbed Demona's wrist and pulled it off quickly so that the gargoyle wouldn't have time to get a better grip. This resulted in the gargoyle's talons cut into Trini's flesh, but she took that without even flinching at the pain. "Yes we are!"

Trini started towards the doorway again, and could hear Demona moving to grab her again. "Demona," Fox's voice had a cold edge to it. "Don't." Trini just kept moving. She needed to get away before she did something else she regretted. She could hear Demona and Fox's voice as she marched away, trying not to pay attention to it.

"This isn't any of your business Fox. This is between her and I."

Trini changed out of the ruined outfit she had on. Her hands were shaky as she did that. She just tossed them into the garbage in the bathroom, while feeling a pang of regret at the wastefulness. She then got closer to the mirror and started to wipe the blood from the cuts on her arms. These weren't Demona's fault. It was Trini that did that.

Trini was actually surprised that no one followed her up. She was tense as she waited for Demona to find that she'd locked the gargoyle out of her own bedroom. Once the cuts healed Trini finished changing into her loincloth and halter-top. The clothing did irritate her. Everything irritated her lately. She sat down heavily on the bed and stared at the locked door.

Did she go to far with that dance? Was she over compensating for her fears? Demona tended to go overboard with the jealousy, but was she right? Is that why Tony thought his attempts to get a third for them would work to get her into bed?

The knock on the door startled Trini. "Honey." Fox's voice called in before the fey tried the door and found it locked. "Let me in. I need to talk to you." Trini hadn't expected that it would be Fox that came to her this time. Demona must be too mad at her. The gargoyle probably didn't want to see her right now.

Trini got up off the bed and lumbered over to the door to unlock it. She didn't say anything as she did that, and just walked back to her post on the end of the bed. She barely looked up when Fox entered and closed the door behind her. Fox probably heard that whole argument. It made Trini want to be invisible, to just fade away. It was bad enough to argue with Demona, that hurt more than enough, she didn’t need witnesses.

"Trini?" Fox's voice sounded a bit hesitant as she moved to sit beside Trini on the bed. Trini glanced over at her with sad eyes.

Trini sighed. "She's not always like this." She didn't want Fox thinking Demona yelled at her like that all the time.

Fox looked like she didn't want to say whatever she was thinking, but she spoke anyhow. "Trini, she has a point. That dance… was a little much. Why did you do that?"

Trini looked down at her bare feet as she tried to think. "I… I just did that to prove to myself that I could." Trini glanced up at the confusion on Fox's face. Her voice became little more than a whisper. "I am afraid of men and I just want to get over it. I'm sick of flinching away, of being scared. I tried to make Goliath drop me last night when he grabbed me. I wasn't even thinking, I just wanted away. Even David makes me nervous. I didn't use to be like this."

Fox stared at Trini, but it was her heavy sigh that made Trini look back up at her. "I didn't realize it had gotten that bad. I'm so sorry." Fox reached out to take Trini's hands. "We can work on this, but you shouldn't just go out and dance like that. I would hate to see you get hurt trying to get over this." Fox leaned in and kissed Trini tenderly. "I came up to get you for a very late dinner."

Trini stared at Fox for a moment, so Fox smiled gently. "We have things we need to talk about, all three of us, but maybe we can do it in the morning. You have enough going on right now." Trini's eyebrows raised a bit at that. Fox was staying here? "So…" Fox stood up. "You coming to dinner?"

Trini didn't feel at all hungry right now. "No, you can go. I'm fine." Trini gave Fox a weak smile when the redhead looked hesitant to leave her. "I ate earlier." Trini stood up and noticed Fox's eyes travel over her body.

"I never saw you dressed like this." Fox smiled flirtatiously. "It looks very nice. Are you wearing anything underneath that?"

Trini couldn't help the small smile that Fox's hungry look brought to her face. "No, you can't wear underwear with loincloths. It would show."

Fox took a predatory step closer to Trini and ran her fingers along Trini's exposed shoulder. "Why don't you ever bring this outfit home?"

There was a small blush starting to cover Trini's cheeks. "Because this is Marie's clothes, and if anyone saw me dressing like Demona I'm sure I'd hear about it."

Fox's eyes traveled over Trini's body appreciatively. "I'm getting you another outfit like this, and screw what anyone says about who you dress like. I like it." Fox pressed her body tightly to Trini's. Her voice was getting lower and more seductive as she rubbed up against Trini. "I also really like how you dance. You are so sexy." Trini noticed her lover start to sway as if to music, while putting her arms around Trini's neck.

"Oh Fox" Trini spoke softly while moving to sway with Fox to imaginary music. Fox's lips started to trail up along Trini's neck, and Trini pulled Fox tighter to her body. "I love you." Her voice held a tiny whimper as Fox found that sensitive spot behind Trini's ear.

Fox's whisper in Trini's ear felt good. "While I would absolutely love to take you on her bed, to make you scream so she can hear it, I think it would piss her off too much." Trini whimpered as Fox pulled away from her. Fox's expression changed from seductive to just caring. "Honey, you need to come out of this room and talk to her eventually."

"I will, I just don't…"

"Don't want me around when you do?" Fox stared into Trini's eyes. "I'm tired and will be sleeping in the guest room after dinner. I'll tell you good night before I go to bed."

"Okay." Trini nodded quietly and opened the bedroom door so Fox could leave.

Fox's knock startled Trini nearly an hour later. Dinner had taken longer than Trini thought it would and Trini was laying on the bed staring at the ceiling while getting lost in her thoughts. She walked quietly downstairs after kissing Fox goodnight and leaving her lover in the guestroom. It felt so strange to have both of them nearby tonight. Something felt so off about having Fox sleeping here.

Trini stepped into the kitchen to find Demona sitting at the island drinking a glass of wine. The gargoyle looked up at Trini and seemed a little weary. It hurt Trini to realize that she was doing that to her mate. Demona set her glass down and got out of her seat.

Trini couldn't read the expression on Demona's face. "Trini. We need to talk." The voice was much calmer, with no hint that Trini would be getting yelled at. Trini's eyes widened at those words, though. Those words didn't bode well at all.

"Are you leaving me?" Trini felt the blood leave her face, and she felt sick.

That seemed to surprise Demona. The gargoyle's body seemed to lose the rigid stance. "No, I'm not." Trini let out the breath she'd been holding and sagged in relief.

"But.." Trini found herself tensing up again as she stared into the serious expression on Demona's face. "we do need to talk. I think we should start with what happened between Fox and I." Demona's voice started to contain just a hint of her anger. "Now, will you let me tell you what happened?" Trini just nodded jerkily. Demona took a deep breath and started. "I've been noticing you acting a bit strange whenever I mention Fox. It's been happening ever since we became intimate. It worried me. I kept mentioning her in little ways and watching your eyes, but they always darted away from me at those moments. That's what you do when you are ashamed, or don't want to be having a conversation. You look away."

Trini opened her mouth to protest quietly but the glint of red in Demona's eyes stopped her. "You will not interrupt me. I've waited hours for this chance to tell you what you should have listened to when I came to you. I've spent all night worried sick about you and imagining all sorts of horrible things. You will just let me talk."

"Okay." Trini spoke meekly while looking down.

"Don't do that to me. You aren't going to hide your eyes and pretend you aren't here." Demona hissed at her. Trini looked up to find the red was in full bloom in Demona's eyes. It felt like just breathing was pissing her mate off at this moment. She didn't look away to avoid a conversation. She still listened. It was just so hard to see Demona mad at her, even though she'd expected it, she didn't feel ready for it. Trini took a deep breath and looked up to give Demona what she wanted.

Demona nodded once at that, looking a bit more like her human persona in that move that Dominique did far more often than Demona. "As I was saying I suspected something was wrong. When I asked about what Fox was like when she made love to you, you became defensive and avoided my eyes more than I have ever seen you do it before. It was a simple question. It wasn't like I asked for all sorts of details, and you are my lover… I think I have some right to know."

Demona motioned to a chair, and Trini sat down. Demona sat next to her facing her. Trini had to concentrate on listening and not looking away. Her mind was spinning at how much thought Demona had put into her accusations. The gargoyle also sounded like she'd rehearsed this talk a few times.

"You once told me Fox was like an addiction you couldn't break, and at that moment you couldn't look me in the eye when you said it." Demona sighed. "I was there in the hotel when Fox and the detective came to save you. Your reaction to her magic was extreme. I thought that was what you meant, that you were ACTUALLY addicted to her magic. That coupled with what looked like shame when we talked about her made me think something was wrong."

A shadow crossed the doorway but Trini didn't notice Fox's presence just outside the room. She was deep in thought processing what Demona was saying. It did look bad that way. "Trini, Fox was a bit vague when I went to ask her about it, and then she started saying things that sounded like I was right. You are my mate. I couldn't let anyone hurt you like that again. I wanted to kill her, but she's your bond-mate. Do you have any idea how that made me feel?" Trini stared at Demona with wide eyes. She could imagine how helpless not being able to help in a situation might make her gargoyle feel. Trini's skin went a little paler and her hands moved a little as she fought with the urge to pull Demona into a hug. Demona obviously had more to say.

Demona sighed. "We fought. I hit her, and then we talked. She answered all the questions that you avoid about the bond, about what you are like with her, about how living in the same home with her other lover works. Everything that you don't talk about, that I want to know." Demona just stared back into Trini's eyes for a moment. "Now…" her voice was very commanding. "Why wasn't I able to ask you these things? Why wouldn't you just tell me?"

Trini's eyes started to trail down to her hands, where she was starting to nervously play with the rings again. Once she realized what she was doing she looked back into Demona's face. "The bond upsets you. I didn't want to point out how connected Fox and I are. I didn't want to make you feel left out because I can't have that kind of connection with you. I love you just as much as I love her, and I don't want you to feel like…"

Demona nodded softly in encouragement. "And what about your relationship with Fox. Why couldn't you just tell me what was going on between you two? Why were you so ashamed?"

Trini felt a warm blush cover her cheeks, and lost the fight to keep eye contact. "I don't talk about you with her, because I didn't think you'd appreciate it. If I wasn't going to tell her about you it just didn't seem fair to tell you about her."

Demona studied her for a moment quietly. "That isn't all of it."

Trini sighed heavily. Her voice and body were tense. She didn’t know what Fox had told Demona, if it was all the truth or just some of it. "I just need different things from her. I wasn't sure you'd understand."

"You are doing it again." Demona's voice was tinged with irritation. "You're hiding your eyes and staying vague. I already know you like it rough. That you like to beg." Trini looked up with wide eyes. Demona paused for a moment, before her voice became a little quieter. "That you like to be tied up." Trini paled instantly. "That you ask to be punished." Fox told her all that? "That's what your ashamed of isn't it?" Demona stared at Trini, and Trini dropped her eyes again.

"I didn't want you to think I was a freak." Trini took a few shuddering breaths. She really didn't want to be here right now. Trini's cheeks were flaming red as she stared at the floor.

The silence that followed wasn't very reassuring. Trini could just imagine what Demona must think of her letting Fox do that. Asking for Fox to do that. There was just something about Fox that pulled all these needs out of Trini that she couldn't explain.

"Do you actually like that, or are you doing what Fox wants?"

Trini took a deep breath. "I like it. I need her to…" She gritted her teeth to look away. She had no idea of what she was saying.

"What do you need her to do?" Demona reached out gently to redirect Trini's eyes to her and caressed the hot skin of Trini's cheeks.

"I don't know." Trini spoke quietly, every word conveying her confusion.

Demona pulled Trini into a hug and Trini rested her cheek on the gargoyle's shoulder. Trini stared at the kitchen window, as her mind seemed to stall and no thoughts got through. Demona spoke after a few moments of just holding her. "Why don't you ever ask me for those things?" Trini pulled back to look in Demona's eyes. She was surprised that Demona would even ask that. Demona stared into Trini's eyes intensely. "Are you being honest with me about what you need? Are you too scared of me to let me do that?" Trini's jaw dropped a little.

"I trust you. I trust you completely." Trini reached up to caress the gargoyle's hair. "It's just not what I need from you."

Demona just stared at Trini quietly for a little too long. It made Trini squirm a little under the intense gaze. Trini's eyes widened in shock when Demona lunged forward pressing Trini back into the wall. The gargoyle grabbed both of Trini's arms and held them to the wall so fast Trini had no chance to even realize it was happening before she was held still. Demona's eyes weren't burning red. She wasn't mad, which was what Trini was worried about. She allowed herself to relax as she stared into Demona's eyes. "If you want us to be like that we can." Trini spoke gently, "but what we have is different." Trini grimaced as she fought for words. "I don't know how to explain it."

Demona loosened her hold but didn't let go. Trini could tell by the tension in her lover's body that something was bothering her. "Trini. I want to stop doing the spell on me." Trini just stared at her, trying to make the connection to the current conversation. Demona stepped back and sighed heavily. "I was going to keep the spell going until after our mating flight, because I was worried you would have a problem with how rough I'd end up being during your moon." Demona reached out to caress Trini's hair almost absently. "You saw how I was like that first night. If you are at all afraid of me it won't work." Demona's gentle kiss had Trini leaning into it with a happy sigh. "I'd like to feel you when I fly you. I want to lose control. If you can handle it, if it won't scare you, I want to let nature take its course."

"I'm not afraid of you." Trini reached out to hug the gargoyle to her. "You can stop the spell. I didn't like you using it anyhow."

The phone interrupted the kiss that Trini was leaning in to give Demona. It was what? Trini glanced at the clock. It was after 3:30. Damn, that was probably Angela. No humans would call at this hour. Trini took her arms off of Demona's shoulders to let the gargoyle go answer the phone.

Trini went to the fridge to get a snack, and found a plate of leftovers set out just like Fox did at home. She knew which lover did that. Trini smiled as she took the plate over to the microwave. She glanced over at the gargoyle smiling and walking into the dining room to talk with her daughter. She jumped a little when she saw a hand move into view, and then turned with a pounding heart to see it was Fox.

Fox smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you." She whispered. "I just needed something to drink."

Trini pulled out a glass for Fox, which Fox filled with water. Fox glanced over at Demona who was watching them both while she talked. Trini could tell from the sly smile that started to cross Fox's lips that the woman was up to something. Fox put the glass down and leaned forward, putting her hands on the counter on each side of Trini. "Goodnight baby." Fox spoke with a seductive purr, before leaning forward and giving Trini a lingering kiss. Fox then turned and left with a gentle sway in her hips. Trini found her eyes watching her lover leave, almost mesmerized, until she shook her head to break the spell. When she glanced over at Demona she could see the lightly glowing red eyes staring right at her while the gargoyle talked to Angela.

The microwave beeped and Trini broke the tense gaze with her gargoyle to get her meal. She sat down at the kitchen island and started to eat. She ignored Demona's conversation with Angela while she ate mechanically.

"Marie?" Demona's calling out that name startled Trini a bit. She glanced over to see Demona in the doorway holding out the phone. "Angela is asking for you."

Trini took a drink of her juice and cleared her throat before she attempted Marie's deeper voice. "Okay."

"Hey Angela." Trini stood up and to take her plate to the sink, but Demona took it from her.

"I heard." Angela sounded a bit shocked. "You plan to have a joining with my mother."

Trini took a deep breath and smiled at Demona's less than casual glances over at her. "Yes. We wanted to do it soon." Trini sat back down. "Can you come?"

"Ah…" Angela's hesitation worried Trini. "I know I'll be there, and I can talk Broadway into it easily, but I really don't think I can get the whole clan."

"I would prefer it if your father wasn't there." Trini stood up and started towards the dining room. She knew her mate would probably eavesdrop, but she felt some need to make the effort. "He never did give up on getting me to find another mate. I'm happy with her."

"I think Brooklyn should also miss this joining." Angela spoke with a tinge of bitterness. Trini could hear Angela sigh heavily. "Mother has done a lot to the clan. My problem isn't who not to invite, but who to invite. I… I'm sorry Marie, but it's possible that me and Broadway will be the only ones there."

Trini thought for a moment. "Try Delilah and Lex." She couldn't tell her friend it was her own joining, but it would be nice to have Delilah there even if she had to be Marie for this. "And if Hudson can keep it from Goliath, him too. I really don’t want him ruining this for her."

Angela's voice sounded a bit surprised. "Delilah? Mother hates her. Are you sure?"

Trini's eyes traveled to Demona's and the female wasn't even pretending not to be listening in. "Yes I'm sure."

"Okay, I'll look into it and see you Sunday." Trini's eyes widened. Sunday? That was fast. "Can I speak with mother again?"

"Sure." Trini started back towards Demona with the phone.

"Oh, and Marie?" Angela sounded a little friendlier than she used to before she met Marie. "Congratulations."

"Thanks." Trini smiled before handing the phone over. She looked at Demona. "I'm going upstairs. Talk as long as you need to." She was glad she remembered not to say she was going to bed, because normal gargoyles didn't do that.

Once Trini was upstairs she glanced at the guest room door. She wanted to go to Fox, but she just shook her head and told herself that she'd just wake Fox up if she went in there. Trini found herself staring at the door quietly for a moment. It was a strange feeling to go to her and Domi's empty bed, knowing that Fox was sleeping alone.

Trini was asleep when Domi finally slipped into the bedroom and slid into bed beside her. Trini immediately cuddled up to her without even waking up.

Trini woke slowly to the feel of a gentle caress moving slowly over the tip of her ears. When she opened her eye she could see Domi laying on the bed next to her staring into her eyes with a smoky, lustful look in her eyes. "Trini?"

Trini reached out to caress Domi's hair gently before pulling her in for a kiss. Domi took control of that kiss, and pushed on Trini gently until Trini moved to lay on her back. The way that Domi roughly shoved the sheets out of the way was a surprise. Domi was normally never in a hurry with sex. Trini wasn't wearing anything, and now she could see her mate had forgone her pajamas as well. The feel of Domi's warm wet mouth on her nipple had Trini arching her back and moaning softly.

"What's gotten into you?" Trini asked a little breathlessly a Domi moved over her and gently pushed her leg between Trini's.

"I just need you. I need to hear you. You are so sexy when you moan out my name." Domi replied distractedly while leaning in to kiss Trini's neck.

When Domi grabbed Trini's hand and dragged them up above Trini's head, Trini did moan. "Domi?!" Trini looked up and saw the smug look before Domi disguised it. That was when she remembered that Fox was staying with them. Domi wanted to rub in the fact that she had Trini in her room today.

Domi leaned down and started to nibble on her ear. Trini thought about all the times that Fox had asked what Domi sounded like, what Domi was like in bed, and almost laughed at the woman on top of her thinking she could make Fox jealous. Trini smiled and decided to play Domi's game. Fox would probably enjoy it.

Of course there was one thing Fox might enjoy more. Trini smiled wickedly before kissing her lover's shoulder. She then spun them around and stared down at Domi's slightly surprised expression. Oh God… Trini leaned down and kissed her hungrily. "I want to take you." Trini growled out. Her lust was very real. She wanted Fox to hear Domi scream. It was something that she could give her Fey lover, and Domi need never know that Fox fantasized about her.

Trini trailed her kissed down Domi's neck, paying special attention to that one spot that always made Domi squirm. "Trini. I was thinking that I would…" Domi started breathlessly, but Trini took that moment to start to gently suckle on Domi's breasts. It stopped all talking. Trini soon pushed thoughts of Fox away as she focused solely on the lover laid out before her.

"Trini…" Domi panted out while gripping Trini's head and holding her where she wanted her. Trini obeyed and started to suckle on the flesh Domi offered. "Oh God… Trini… Yes…" Domi's voice grew louder, so Trini renewed her efforts to please her mate. Domi was so wet, so ready. Trini whimpered and rubbed her pelvis more firmly into the bed as she pleasured her mate. The chanting started again as Trini suckled on Domi's sex. "Trini… Please, Please baby…" Trini decided to actually give her a release this time. The first time she'd slowed down and then started again, to try and make Domi lose herself in her pleasure and forget the woman down the hall. The first time Domi had been trying to be quiet, and that wouldn't do. She wasn't being quiet anymore. Domi's voice actually achieved her gargoyle growl as she came. "TRINI!" Domi screamed and convulsed. Trini stayed with her to draw out her pleasure until the redhead collapsed bonelessly to the bed.

Trini then leaned on her elbows and drew in several breaths of air. "Domi?" Trini whimpered out while crawling up her lover's body. "Domi I need you. Oh God…"

Trini looked in the slightly crooked smile on Domi's face. "You did that on purpose, didn't you? You wouldn't let me come until I was loud enough."

Trini gave Domi a wicked grin. "That's what you wanted isn't it? For her to hear that you had me? I just changed the game a little." Trini pushed her magic out and wasn't surprised by the wave of desire she felt in Fox. Fox definitely didn't mind this game, but Domi didn’t need to know that. It would ruin it for Domi, who Trini realized was trying to assert her own claim on Trini. She leaned down to rub her body suggestively against her lover. She whispered in as seductive a voice as she could. "I'll be as loud as you want me to be, but I need you now."

When Trini stepped into the kitchen she felt a sense of déjà vu. Fox had laid out some lunch for all of them, and Domi just nodded in thank you and headed for the fridge for something to drink. Fox smirked at Trini as soon as Domi's head was in the fridge, and Trini smirked back.

"I think Demona makes you scream louder than Elisa did." Fox's grin grew wicked and Trini's jaw dropped. She turned to see Domi's back had gone rigid. What the hell was Fox doing?!

"Fox." Trini's voice held a note of warning as she glared at her bond-mate. Whatever game Fox was playing was a bad idea.

Fox gave Trini and Domi an innocent look, "What, I'm just saying it sounds like Demona's a better lover than Elisa. I remember how loudly you screamed out Elisa's name. I don't think it was quite as loud as what you just did." Trini glanced over at Domi and could see the stiffness in her stance. Domi didn't like to think of Elisa touching Trini at all. Fox was really not fighting fair at all.

Trini's eyes burned red and she just clenched her fists and shook her head in disgust. Fox's mouth had been opened to say more, but Trini glared at her until the redhead shut it again. "That was low. I…" Trini just turned around and gave an apologetic look to Domi before leaving. She didn't like Elisa being used as a weapon to hurt Domi. That was so mean spirited. Trini had never seen Fox act so badly.

Trini was at the base of the stairs before Fox caught up to her. Trini just glanced at Fox, not really wanting to talk to her right now. "Trini, I'm sorry."

Trini sighed heavily. "Dammit Fox, why did you do that? What reason could you possibly have to do that to her? To me? You know how she feels about Elisa. Do you know how scared I was she wouldn't want Elisa's cast off? Do you have any idea how scared I was that she'd be too disgusted to touch me?" Trini took a shuddering breath. "Don't ever use Elisa against her like that again."

Fox reached out and Trini flinched away from her. Trini could see Fox's shoulders slump as those arms fell back to her side. "You aren't Elisa's cast off. You shouldn't think of yourself like that."

"Well, basically that's just what you called me." Trini waved over towards the kitchen without looking that way, so she missed Domi watching this scene. "You make me sound like a whore. I really don't appreciate that."

"That's not what I was trying to do. That's not what I meant."

"No," Trini's lips thinned in anger, "You just wanted to hurt her and found it convenient. Dammit Fox, it's not like you didn't like listening, cause I know you did! There was no reason to lash out. Couldn't you just give her this one thing? All she wants is for you to understand that she's not second in my heart. That she's an equal. You couldn't just give her that?" Trini's voice cracked on that. She just spun around and continued upstairs.

Trini started to make the bed with a heavy sigh. She was starting to make a habit of hiding in the bedroom. That wasn't the best way to deal with this. Those two might come to blows again, and Trini should really make sure no one got hurt.

She opened the door to the bedroom quietly and reluctantly started down the hall. Their voices carried to her and they sounded calm, so Trini slowed down to listen as she made her way towards the stairs. From here she could see into the living room, and both women were sitting on the couch.

"We still have to deal with the clan and Elisa. Elisa is already planning to get Trini alone to talk." Fox spoke in her business tone. The same voice that she used to help plan the murders that all three of them were trying to keep hidden now.

"Maza is the main problem. It would be so much easier if we could just get rid of her." Trini's body tensed at Domi's words.

Fox sighed, and sounded a bit weary of the whole thing. "but since that isn't an option we need to come up with something else. Trini isn't doing too well right now and I really don't know how much longer she's going to be able to hold it together."

Domi's concern carried easily to Trini who was feeling a bit concerned as well. Fox didn't think she was doing okay? Did Fox think she'd betray them? "What are you talking about?"

"The lies are getting to her. She's not used to the deception and it's wearing her down. She's feeling overwhelmed. She's also got a lot of personal problems she's dealing with." Fox's voice was soft, but it stabbed at Trini's heart that she was the weak link. "Demona… she's dealing with a lot right now." Fox's voice was a little deeper and Trini watched Fox scoot just a little closer to Domi. "She called us last night, but it went straight to voice mail. She said she was out shopping. I checked the trunk." Trini's eyes widened and her hands clenched. "She has books on child abuse and rape in there. She needs help."

Domi seemed to shake as her body clenched up. "We can help her." At Fox's silent look Domi continued. "I'm not sending her to a human counselor… it was humans that did this to her!"

"Her dancing with Dracon was her attempt to deal with the rapes. She was using him to try and get over her fear of men. Do we want her to try and deal with this that way? She's just going to get hurt again. She's not making good decisions and she's not comfortable talking to us about this. She figures that you suffered so much more. That if you are okay, she should be okay and has no right to complain." Trini was fighting to keep her breathing quiet. It sounded so loud to her ears. She swallowed hard and stared at her mates. Fox reached out and took Domi's hand, and Domi let her. "I'm not qualified to help her with this, but I can get her a doctor that won't talk."

Domi's voice was bitter, "Like that last doctor you got that wouldn't talk? He was so easy to bribe. He helped me take her, gave me the drug that had worked so well on her while in his care. Is that the kind of help you want for her?!" Domi's voice got quieter as she seemed to realize that she'd gotten loud. "And who can she trust with the fact she's not human? What human isn't going to turn her in?"

Fox sighed heavily. "There is a psychiatrist that has been working with some of the Labyrinth clan and the people that live with them. She's the one that's seeing Kelly about her rape." Domi gave Fox a confused look, "Kelly is the girl that Trini found in the park." Fox added more quietly, before continuing her original thought. "That doctor has been able to keep her mouth shut and she's been with them for a while now. I think she can be trusted." There was a tense silence before Fox spoke again, since Domi wouldn’t. "She's a danger to herself. Dancing with men like Dracon, preferring to skydive into the pavement rather than let a male glide with her… it's only a matter of time before she's hurt. Demona, she needs help, but if you don't support it she won't take it. She'll suffer in silence, because even though those bastards hurt her, she thinks of that whole thing as your rape and she doesn’t feel she has the right to talk about it."

Trini had heard enough. She crawled down the hall back towards her bedroom, trying to make sure they didn't hear her. When she finally got there she curled up on the bed and cried.

Trini cleaned up and tried it again. She took a few deep breaths before leaving the room, to try and look less upset than she was. She didn't want them to know she'd heard them. She'd been feeling like she was going crazy for a while, but it hurt to have Fox agree with her.

This time she made sure that she wasn't too quiet as she walked to the stairs. She didn't want to risk hearing anything else. She did notice that Domi scooted away from Fox when Trini came into view, but pretended not to see it.

"I'll get us some drinks and we can get to work." Domi said as she got up and left for the kitchen.

Once Domi was out of the room Fox spoke quietly. "I'm sorry. I apologized to her."

Trini nodded as she sat down in a chair. "Good."

Domi came back and set the glasses on the coffee table. "We need to decide how to deal with Maza and the clan. You are about to become the center of attention now that they think you are spying on me." Domi gave Trini a half smile, "Goliath also really doesn’t like anyone taking initiative behind his back. I used to be his second, and he really doesn't care for that. He's old fashion in his beliefs, and thinks that he is the leader and needs to do it all himself." Domi's smile faded and an angry look crossed her face, "It's part of what got our clan killed." Trini was sitting too far away to reach out and comfort Domi, but Domi just shook herself out of that thought. "So he's going to want to control your investigation now. Maza's probably going to be just as bad."

"We've been talking, and have come up with a few ideas of how to deal with that." Fox reached over to grab her glass of juice. "If you appear to be cooperating more, it might take suspicion off of you." Fox smirked at Domi, "So Demona's going to have to work on her counter-espionage skills, because you are becoming a spy. This might be good practice for you, in case you ever need it in the future."

Trini turned to look at Domi and could see she was amused. "You want me to really spy?"

"Yes, at least for a while. Once the clan is convinced you are what you say you are we can calm it down." Domi's voice softened. "I'm not doing anything they should find interesting at the moment. I can afford to have a spy in my midst, but I don't want anything here. This is our safe place, and I won't lose it." Domi sighed. "I'll become suspicious and do a sweep for bugs after they've been there long enough. I'll miss one so that they can hear I'm accusing you of it, and you can worm your way out of the accusations. After that they will understand if you don't want to plant anymore bugs."

Trini gave Domi and then Fox a searching look, but it looked like this was the plan. "I guess I can do that."

"The other issue is Elisa." Fox scooted forward in her seat, bringing her closer to Trini. "She's obviously planning to get you alone and interrogate you."

Trini nodded. That was the feeling she got too. She wasn't feeling too confident in her ability to fool Elisa. The detective was so smart, and was clearly able to see through Trini pretty well.

"Trini." Fox's voice was softer. "You'll need to stick with the lies that we give you. You can't stray at all."

"Keep your answers simple. Just like you did when you first talked with the clan. You need to play this like that." Domi interjected. "Let her draw her own conclusions. Don't give her much to draw them from."

"I'm sure that Elisa wants to believe you Trini. If you just stick to the story and don't let her trick you, you should be alright." Fox was staring into Trini's eyes, and had to have seen Trini flinch at that. That was the problem. Elisa was her friend and wanted to believe in her. She hated lying to her like this, but Trini would do whatever it took to keep everyone safe. Fox got up and moved to the chair beside Trini. "Trini, you don't owe her anything in this. This is just survival, it's nothing personal." Fox took Trini's hand and Trini stared down at the hand holding hers. The ring she gave Fox was on that hand.

"I know." Trini sighed as she glanced over and noticed the concerned look on Domi's face that the redhead concealed quickly.

"This isn't even breaking the law. Maza isn't taking you into the precinct for this. She may act like a cop while she's talking to you, but this is just personal. She's just butting into something that has nothing to do with her. She doesn't even suspect you of a crime."

"Which means you don't HAVE to answer her questions. It might look suspicious, but it's better to just go quiet than to give her something to go off of." Fox added in quickly. Fox got a slightly wicked look on her face. "You could always do what we did last time to throw her off balance too."

"What did you do last time?" Domi asked, and Trini really wished she hadn't.

Fox turned to address Domi, who was still on the couch. "I invited Elisa to have sex with us." Trini watched Domi's face redden a bit. "I knew she was too inhibited to actually do it, but it flustered her enough to shut her up. She just left when I started to..."

"I'm sure that's more than enough." Trini spoke quickly through her embarrassment.

"Oh no, I want to hear all about this." Domi snapped at Trini, before giving Fox her full attention.

Trini could see the challenge in Fox's eyes, and pushed out her own magic to show her bond mate she wasn't going to listen to another hurtful jab. Fox glanced at her and nodded. She understood.

"You two are communicating aren't you?" Domi seemed to be studying them and it made Trini a bit uncomfortable. She gave Domi a weak smile.

"Well, Elisa wanted to know why I was visiting when you came to kill her." Fox jumped into the story with a strange, almost enthusiastic tone. "So when she was bothering Trini about it I walked in and told her that I wanted to find a woman to do a Menage a' Trois. She's so vanilla she'd never go for it. She practically imploded in shock."

Trini was watching Domi out of the corner of her eye while she wrung her hands nervously. She could see that Domi wasn't as amused at that as Fox was.

"Then I started making out with Trini, and she just went away." Trini glanced over at her Fey lover and could see Fox was studying Domi's every reaction. "Elisa isn't really brave enough for something like that. I knew she'd turn me down. I wasn’t setting Trini up for anything for real." The way Fox said brave made Trini's eyes widen a little in understanding. This was a disguised challenge.

Trini tensed up and then her eyes fell to her hands as she felt the ring move when she went to play with it. "Oh man." She whispered while staring at it. She stopped touching it, because if it came off and Domi didn’t want it, Trini couldn't put it back on. She curled her hand up into a fist to try and keep the ring on.

"What is it?" Fox asked and Trini turned her wide eyes to her, before glancing back at her hand. "Oh… OH…" Fox then stood up and grabbed her half full glass and stood up. "I'm going to go get some more juice." Fox glanced at the glass in front of Domi, "Do you want anymore?"

Domi was staring at Trini's hand and just nodded absently. Once Fox stepped out of the room Domi moved to take Fox's place. "It's ready to come off?"

Trini looked up at Domi a little fearfully. "Do you want it? If I take it off it won't go back on my hand." She waited tensely while Domi seemed to think about that.

"We still don’t know what they are supposed to do." Domi's words made Trini's heart sink. Her eyes traveled down to the red band on her right hand.

"No, they aren't talking. I tried a few times to get a straight answer, and I got nothing." Trini sighed heavily.

"Can I just see it?" Domi spoke gently, obviously realizing that Trini was taking this a little personally. Her voice got softer as she reached out to caress Trini's hand. "I do love you. This ring is just…"

Trini nodded. She could understand that. "If you get it even partly on, it will finish the job. Fox's won't come off her finger." She searched into Domi's eyes. "You want me to take it off?"

"Yes, take it off." Domi gave Trini a small smile.

Trini slide the ring off of her finger slowly, leaving just the one silver band on that hand. "Let's go to the mirror. I want to see something." She got up and started towards the entryway and the mirror that Domi had there. She took a deep breath and held the ring up to look through it.

It was Demona's ring. It showed her mate in her gargoyle form, clinging to a reddish brown wall of stone. The Demona in the mirror was slowly climbing up the surface. Trini moved her hand to make it possible for Domi to look into the ring. "Can you see it?"

She watched Domi's face as the woman blinked and moved a little closer. "What does this mean?"

"I don't know. Fox's had this too, but hers was different."

"What do you mean different?"

"It showed her outside at the castle, with a storm going on."

"And mine shows me climbing a cliff?" Domi looked at it again.

Trini heard Fox moving around in the kitchen putting away dishes and obviously trying to stay out of the way. When Domi reached out to take the ring and look more closely Trini felt she had to warn her again. " If you don't want it, you should make sure not to even start to put it on your finger."

Domi turned her attention to Trini. "Trini, honey… I want you, but I'm just not so sure about the ring. I'll take it, and I'll cherish it, but I won't wear it. Not until we know more about what it is." Domi went quiet for a minute and stared upstairs for a second. "Give me a second. I'll be right back."

Trini wasn't left waiting long. Domi came back down the stairs while playing with something in her hands. When Domi walked up to her Trini could see it was a necklace, a simple gold chain. Domi gave Trini a small smile and handed it over. "Can you put it on that?"

Trini took the end of the chain and was almost surprised to see that the ring let the chain through. She threaded the ring to the middle of the necklace and turned to see Domi turning her back to Trini and holding up her long red hair. "I'll wear it like this until we know more." Trini smiled and moved to gently put the necklace on her lover. The ring fell almost to Domi's cleavage. When she finished fastening the clasp the leaned down to kiss the back of Domi's exposed neck. "I love you so much." Trini whispered and pulled Domi back into her body to hug her.

Trini took a deep breath and sighed as her car got on the freeway. Fox was playing with the radio trying to find a decent channel. "Don't worry, you'll do okay." Fox reached over and squeezed Trini's knee gently. Trini just gave her a weak smile, but her mind was on the last thing that Domi had said to her before she left the mansion. Domi had told her that if she needed to talk about what happened to them in Canada, if she needed help, she should get it.

Trini was laying on her couch reading the book on rape slowly. The knock on her door startled her. Keeping the book in her hand she got up and walked towards the door. "Who is it?"

"Trini, it's me." Elisa's voice sounded pretty serious.

"Just a minute." Trini looked around a moment and noticed her bar. She opened the cupboard with glasses and slid the book inside. She took a deep breath and went to open the door. She wished that Fox were there but Elisa would continue to try until she had Trini on her own. Fox was spending the day with David and Alex, knowing that Trini was here, waiting for Elisa.

"We need to talk." Elisa's voice was all business as she came into Trini's apartment. Trini suppressed a sigh and closed the door after the bossy detective and followed her into the living room.

Trini would normally offer Elisa a drink, but since she didn't want Elisa so accidentally see the book, she did.

The detective stood in Trini's living room rather than sitting, so Trini didn’t bother sitting either. Trini could see Elisa was more than a little angry. When Elisa started to talk it was a bit louder and faster than she normally did. "Dammit Trini, what are you getting mixed up in?!"

Trini took moment to compose her thoughts. "I can handle this Elisa, and I think I can do more good working there than I can anywhere else."

Elisa's eyes conveyed her concern for Trini, and it hurt Trini that she couldn't tell Elisa she was safe and have the detective believe it. That concern was masked as the detective's eyes became more hawkish and Trini knew the interrogation was about to begin.

"Why didn't you tell me about this?"

"I didn't tell you because you might try and stop me." Trini gave Elisa a pleading look. She hated being here right now.

"Demona is dangerous. Do you even remember her kidnapping you? How can you go into work and face her every day?"

"I manage." Trini remembered what Demona said about looking away when she was ashamed or didn't want to be talking about something. She did her best to not do that with Elisa.

"You manage?" Elisa gave Trini a doubtful look. "How? How do you manage?"

"I just do." Trini sighed as she moved to sit down. This might take a while.

Trini watched Elisa pace across the floor in silence. Elisa had been questioning her about the job Domi had hired her for, and how Trini was managing to spy on such an untrusting female. Trini gave the stories that she and her lovers had created, but she could see Elisa didn't quite believe everything. Elisa didn't say anything out loud, but she'd started repeating her questions, with just slightly different wordings. Trini could tell Elisa was trying to catch her in a lie.

"Elisa, how many times are you going to ask me the same questions? Why are you treating me like a criminal?" Trini sighed heavily as she watched Elisa finally sit down. Elisa chose to sit beside Trini on the couch.

"I can't believe that Fox would just sit back and let you walk into this much danger. She came close to hitting me when I had you come on that one mission and you got hurt. I just can't believe that she'd let you anywhere near Demona, knowing what Demona will probably do to you if she finds out what you're doing."

Trini spoke quickly to defend Fox. Trini didn't want anyone blaming Fox. "I didn't give her a lot of choice in this. If Demona does kill everyone… it'll be everyone but me. I don't want to watch everyone die." Trini's voice got softer, " I don't want to lose everyone." Trini's chest felt a little tight, because that wasn't a lie.

Elisa studied Trini as she reached out and took Trini's hand. Trini looked into Elisa's eyes and could see that the detective was starting to feel the pheromones. It didn't affect humans as strongly, but Fox had told Trini that she should use any edge she had. Trini was covered in her pheromones right now, to make this interrogation as hard as possible on Elisa. She felt like a complete ass doing that, but did it anyhow. She couldn't handle a long interrogation, and decided that the pheromones might work to drive Elisa away once the detective realized she was being affected.

"Oh Trini." Elisa sighed. "Are you ever going to tell the clan about that?"

"My immortality?"

"Yeah." Elisa stared into Trini's eyes, and Trini couldn't help but look away.

"I can't see that going well." Trini took a deep breath as she thought about that. It wasn't related to any of the other secrets she couldn't afford to let go. Technically she could tell them, but she didn't really want to. "Either I'll get volunteered for all the dangerous things, and end up getting hurt all the time, or they'll start thinking…" she trailed off. Finally Elisa filled it in.

"That you are really working with Demona, because you have that in common?" Elisa seemed unaware that she was caressing Trini's arm, and Trini wished she could just pull that arm away, but she needed Elisa to realize this on her own and get embarrassed. "Goliath won't just assume that. The clan doesn't assume just because MacBeth is immortal that he's the enemy, they won't do that to you."

"Well, I don't feel comfortable telling them." Trini fought with herself. She wanted to pull her arm away, because while Fox thought this was a good tactic, she knew that Domi wouldn't care for it. She just clenched her other hand briefly and left her arm in Elisa's hands.

The caresses stopped and Trini could see out of the corner of her eye that Elisa was blushing. She had finally realized what she'd been doing. Elisa's voice started out a little nervous before it calmed down again. "I think it's starting to become relevant and you did tell me that if that happened you'd tell them."

"No, I said that I'd consider it. I didn't say that I'd do it." Trini almost snapped at Elisa.

Elisa's eyes narrowed as she stared at Trini, "And if they find out and you never told them they are going to be all the more difficult to convince you aren't Demona's pawn."

"Dammit Elisa, I can't go around telling people about this! If the wrong person finds out, I could be tortured for a very long time! I'll become nothing but a lab rat!" Demona's fears came out of Trini's mouth. They had quickly become her own after Demona had told her that she'd been experimented on like that. Trini still didn't know the details about that, but her last bout as a lab rat made it far too easy to imagine.

"You need to make an effort to fit in! Just because you say you aren't clan doesn’t mean that you aren't a part of this castle." Elisa spoke quickly with more than a hint of anger. "The clan wouldn't betray you by telling anyone about that. Why are you always so eager to think the worst of him?!"

"Because he's been an ass!" Trini snapped back. "Do you think I don't know that he's still trying to destroy what Fox and I have? I heard he tried to set me up with Marie."

"Trini." Elisa tried to soothe Trini with her voice. "He just doesn't understand yet. He will come around. I'm working on it."

"You shouldn't have to. He should just stay the hell out of it." Trini took a deep breath to try and calm down. She didn't need to yell at Elisa about this. "I'm going to marry her Elisa. She's my mate, and I'm going to marry her."

"What?" Elisa looked shocked. "But how? She's already married."

Trini sighed. "It won't be legal. Even if she weren't married it wouldn't be legal in this country, but we are going to have a wedding and pledge ourselves to each other. I proposed a few days ago." Trini looked up into Elisa's still shocked looking eyes. "I'm not telling the clan on a whole, just those that won't berate me for who I love. I don't want Goliath and Brooklyn telling me she isn't mine anymore, and I don't want them at my wedding putting me and my mate down for this. If you can come without him, you are invited… but I don't want him ruining this day for her."

"Oh my god Trini. Married?" Trini noticed that distraction worked much better than her pheromones. "When?"

"We haven't set a date yet." Trini couldn't help but get nervous with the fact that she was also getting married tomorrow night. That one she couldn't tell anyone about. She really hoped that Delilah would come. Fox was already planning to be there. "We've barely started to plan yet."

Trini had hoped that the shock would last longer than it seemed to. "So you found out about Marie?"

Trini silently berated herself for bringing that up then. It sounded like another line of question had just been opened. "Yeah." Trini didn't have lies prepared for this. She had to make it up on her own, or refuse to answer questions. God, which would be better? What would Domi and Fox want her to do now?

Trini remembered Fox's last minute advice in the car. "If Elisa is getting too close or you can't keep up, sex can be a powerful weapon. I know Demona won't like it, but she'd probably rather you got away than ignored that and got us all caught." There had been no teasing, no mischief in Fox's eyes at that moment. Trini had been upset that Fox would even suggest that, but now it was looking like a very viable solution.

Trini gave Elisa a look that seemed to startle Elisa with the sexuality in it. "Elisa," Trini blushed as she thought about what she was doing. "When Fox first brought it up, I was pretty… upset about it. But I've been thinking…"

"What?"

Trini stared into her ex-lover's eyes. "Fox is a very good lover. I love you and since you can't… with him, if you want to be with us…" Trini's cheeks were blazing red. She looked away so she didn't see the suspicious look on Elisa's face.

Trini's eyes snapped up from her hands to Elisa's face when she felt the caress on her arm start up again. She saw Elisa giving her a look that she hadn't seen in a long time from her, open desire. Elisa was supposed to run away. She wasn't supposed to look at Trini like that! "Thank you." Elisa's voice was deeper, and Trini's eyes widened a bit in shock. "I don't know how I feel about being with Fox, but…"

Trini found Elisa kissing her and her entire body tensed up before she forced herself to relax. This wasn't at all what was supposed to happen. When Elisa moved straddle Trini's lap Trini stopped breathing for a moment. This was moving too fast. She didn’t know how to stop it without ruining her cover. Trini started pushing out her magic frantically. She needed help, because she couldn't back down, and she couldn't betray Domi.

Elisa nibbled on Trini's ear a little, making Trini moan softly. Then Elisa began to whisper in Trini's ear. Trini was surprised to hear anger in the detective's voice. "I don't want you mentioning what I can or can't do with him again." Elisa pulled back to stare into Trini's slightly frightened eyes. "I'm a detective. I know how to go undercover, and how to pull off distractions like the one you just tried. You are not doing a very good job at all. I can't see how you can fool Demona with anything you say or do!"

The front door opened and Fox came in. Trini was watching Elisa's face when Fox stopped at the end of the hallway looking a bit surprised at what she found. "Well, I guess Elisa decided to take us up on the offer."

Elisa glared over at Fox while pulling away from Trini and getting up from straddling her. "Well, look at that. As soon as you're in over your head Fox shows up. She does that a lot." Elisa didn't sound at all embarrassed about being caught that close to Trini. She sounded like she'd just proved something to herself, and Trini didn't like that at all.

Once Elisa left Trini fell back on the couch and stared blankly at the slowly darkening sky. Fox moved to sit beside her, but didn’t say anything. Fox just stared at Trini while Trini tried to gather her thoughts. "I obviously am no good at using sex as a weapon." Trini took a deep breath. "It was so easy for her to turn it on me."

Trini was just sitting on her couch listening to the stereo. Fox was spending some time reading to Alexander, so Trini was trying to relax. The interrogation wasn't too bad. At least Elisa didn't have anything to use against her, Trini tried to tell herself, but she just didn't believe it. And the fact that she'd kissed Elisa again wasn't going to go over very well with Demona, even though Trini hadn't really wanted to. She was staring at the stereo blankly with a sad look on her face when the knock on the window startled her.

Trini turned quickly to see Angela staring in the window. Dammit, when where the gargoyle's going to learn to use the door! Trini opened the window wide enough for the female to come in.

"I know, I know, you want us to use the door, but I didn't want father seeing us come in here." Angela started quickly and before Trini had time to question about us… Broadway, Lex, and Delilah entered the room.

"What are you guys doing?" Trini gave Delilah a questioning glance, but the female just shrugged her shoulders. She didn’t know why they were in Trini's room.

"We needed a secure place to talk, and I figured this would work." Angela answered, obviously feeling very in charge. Trini started to get some idea then of what this might be about, but she shouldn't know.

"Well, sit down." Trini motioned to the couches and chairs.

"Angela, why are we sneaking into Trini's room?" Broadway asked once he was seated on the couch. Angela sat on the chair beside him, setting herself apart and Trini almost smiled at the serious expression on the female's face that reminded Trini of Domi in a meeting.

Angela glanced over at Trini once and sighed before starting. "Mother is getting joined tomorrow night." Trini glanced around and watched the shocked looks on the males' faces. Delilah look surprised as well, but also a bit puzzled. "She asked me if I could get at least some of the clan to witness for her."

"What?" Lex seemed a bit upset. Trini didn't even notice Angela raise her hand to stop his comment, but he went quite.

Angela gave Lex and then the other gargoyles a pleading look. "I know she hasn't been a part of this clan in a very long time, but she needs witnesses."

Delilah spoke a little hesitantly. "Why am I here? She isn't going to want me around."

"Actually." Angela smiled gently at Delilah. "You were invited specifically. Marie wants you there."

Delilah's voice became a little harsher. Trini noticed the white haired female glance at her before speaking. "She hurt Trini. Why should I go."

"How do we know this isn't a trick?" Broadway asked, while reaching out towards Angela in a silent apology for having to voice that thought.

"I believe mother. She wants the joining to be in Central Park. It's out in the open. She doesn't really seem to expect me to be able to get anyone, and she sounded a little sad about that. She just wants to give Marie a proper joining." Angela's voice became pleading. "I know none of you have a reason to do this for her, but I'm asking you to do it for me. We would have to keep this a secret until after the joining. If you decide not to come, please at least keep this quiet. Whether or not you go." Angela was looking at Broadway. "I'm going."

"I'm not letting you go alone." Broadway squeezed Angela's hand. "I'll be there."

Trini and Angela looked over at Lex and Delilah. Delilah seemed lost in thought, and Lex seemed to be waiting for Delilah to come to a decision. Trini was glad that he was looking like he'd support whatever she wanted.

Delilah turned to Trini and the question was so easy to read in her eyes. Delilah wanted Trini to tell her what to do, and while Trini wanted to tell her to go, she wasn't going to be going as Trini. That would seem odd to tell Delilah to go and not go herself. Trini sighed heavily. "You don't need to worry about what I'll think. You need to do what you want to do." Trini couldn't help but add. "But not many people were invited specifically. In fact it looks like it's just her daughters that were."

Delilah's eyes widened at being called that. "You think they invited me because…"

Angela spared Trini from answering. "Marie wanted to meet me because I was related to Demona. It's very possible that's why she wants you there."

Delilah glanced at Lex for a moment. "I'd like to go."

Lex looked over at Angela, "So it looks like we're in."

Trini felt like squirming when all eyes turned to her. Angela and Delilah wanted her to go as well. "If she wants me to go she'll invite me herself." Trini glanced around at them. "You aren't supposed to know I work for her. She probably won't invite me because of that."

"So you are playing at being a double agent?" Broadway asked and suddenly the whole conversation seemed to shift and the air got even tenser.

Trini took a deep breath. "Yes and no. She knows where I live and that I know the clan. She's working on pulling me away from the clan, so I need to seem…"

Broadway's eyes widened. "You mean that is why you fight with Goliath so much?" Trini just nodded. Part of her was amused at this idea that Domi had. It seemed to explain so much, and it gave her a reason to keep her distance from the clan. Trini needed that distance right now.

"I thought it was because of Elisa." Broadway continued and Trini tried not to grimace. She didn't think the clan knew about that. She thought he'd kept it quiet. Apparently her attempt to not look upset didn't work too well. Broadway spoke more softly. "I figured it out on my own. Angela didn't tell me."

Trini then glanced over at Lex and he didn’t look surprised either. "Delilah told me after you and Goliath had your talk."

"So pretty much everyone knows?" Trini could hear her own insecurity.

"That you have good taste?" Lex smiled gently. "Yeah, but we don't talk about it. Goliath thinks it's a secret."

Trini noticed how nice it was to have guests. They were treating her like she actually belonged. It was like the idea that she was working to protect the city cemented some friendships. They started to talk about other things. Trini was tense whenever Broadway asked a question, because he was the one most interested in her job as a spy.

"Trini, do you have anything to drink?" Broadway was glancing over at the bar longingly.

"Oh sure." Trini spoke off handedly while listening to the story about a joining that Angela had seen while on Avalon. It wasn't until Broadway was starting to open the cupboard that Trini's heart hammered in her chest. She suddenly remembered that she hadn't moved the book. It was still sitting on top of all the glasses.