Episode 163: Eulalee & Gwen (Xander)

She knew him the instant he was even nearby. “Hi Xandie,” she said up to the camera. She waved at him.

Fuck her.

Farnum gave him a look that said, You’re a moron but I’m too well-paid to say so.

Fuck Farnum.

“I miss you,” Eulalee called. “Why haven’t you come back for tea? You promised.”

Fuck the entire universe, and the cart it rolled in on. And fuck Zane, too, for putting this on him.

He ran his hand through his hair and went into the room.

“Hey,” he said.

She smiled so big it almost ate her face. “Hi. Did you bring me a good surprise today?”

What he brought, he hoped, was freedom for himself.

“For the babies,” he pressed, “or for you?”

She didn’t even bat an eye. “Xandie,” she admonished. “This is a genetics war. I just want you to win. Is that too much to give?”

So she was pregnant. Zane was right. Shit.

He pulled himself together. “Gwen and I are going to a little party today in another realm. We wanted to invite you, if you think you can behave.”

Her face – no, her whole body – lit with joy. “You’re going to take me to a party? I always behave!”

“As a friend,” he clarified. No way was he letting her usurp Gwen. “If people ask,” which they would, “we’re going to say we’re considering you for a surrogate for our children.”

That way he wouldn’t ever have to admit she’d touched him, killed him, pinned him down…

She laughed. “Do you want to see the baby she’s carrying?”

No. He wanted to see the baby when Gwen had him or her in her arms, beaming, and held the new Lavesque up for the world to see.

“Behaving,” he advised, “includes not messing with our children.”

“I would never.” Her face got serious and thoughtful. “I just want you to see.” She held one of the dolls toward him. It had turned into a little boy with dark brown hair.

His son. His and Gwen’s.

His kids, his older kids with Fiona, were all intense people. Spitfires, just like she’d been.

Gwen’s kids, he thought, would be different. Not in a bad way or a good way, but something new. Something changed.

“Isn’t he handsome?” Eulalee asked.

“He is,” Xander allowed. He wasn’t going to give her the enjoyment of having more interest in his son. That was Gwen’s baby, hers to share. “Are you coming?”

“Yes.” She set the dolls down on her bed. “Behave,” she told them while she braided her hair. She turned to Xander with a smile. “If anyone touches them your house will be gone.”

So much for good behavior. He glanced at the two-way mirror, where Farnum watched. “No one’s touching your dolls,” he promised. He put his hand in the air behind her back, almost like he was going to touch her, but he just couldn’t.

“I don’t think you’ve met Gwen, have you?” he asked. He led her out of the cell. Away from wards and anything that would protect Gwen. Eulalee wanted him, and Gwen stood in the way of that, so he’d put every ward he could think of on Gwen this morning.

“No, but she’s very pretty,” Eulalee told him. She fluttered her eyelashes dreamily.

There, they agreed on something. “I think so too.”

He led her out of the holding area of the palace, into lush carpeting and lily plants everywhere, and Gwen, who stood in a flowy summer dress with her hair pinned back in a loose but feminine style.

He hugged her. “Gwen, this is Eulalee,” he said. Like he wasn’t introducing a psycho to his wife, like they were all friends.

Gwen handled it well, with a warm smile. “Hi, Eulalee.”

Eulalee stuck one hand straight out toward Gwen and kept the other hidden behind her back. “Hello,” she said, enthusiastic.

It was creepy as fuck.

Gwen shook her hand anyway, even though it took a little twitching and most of Xander’s self-control not to stop Gwen from touching her. They had to at least seem like they trusted her, even if they didn’t.

“Are we set?” Gwen asked.

Eulalee leaned her face in close to Gwen’s, rocking a little. “He thinks you’re pretty. He isn’t lying when he tells you. I don’t like liars.”

Like he only wanted Gwen for her beauty. He wiped his hands on his thighs, wiping away his annoyance and stress.

Gwen seemed to think it was funny. She laughed up at him. “I’m so relieved that’s cleared up” she teased. “I was worried.”

He kissed her. Play along, whatever it took. “Now you can sleep tonight, right?” he teased her.

“Finally,” Gwen laughed. She reached for Xander’s hand and pulled him toward the transportation room.

“What kind of party is it?” Eulalee asked. She bounced like a little girl, almost skipping down the hall. “I think I love parties. No one invites me.”

“It’s a celebration of summer,” Xander said.

He wondered a little. All his childhood, Zane had made sure he got normal any time it was possible.

Xander got parties. He got nice things. He got a wife and kids, and then another wife when the first died.

Eulalee got a cell, and some dolls, and no trust.

“It’s in a different realm,” Gwen added. Good thought. Seasonal parties in Sylem tended to involve the Caelum and human sacrifice.

“When you’re dead, they’re all the same realm,” Eulalee told them. She did a little series of pirouettes around them, flitting around the hall like a drunk fairy.

How apt, that they were going to Elesara. She’d fit right in.

“Fortunately,” he said, too loud, “we’re all alive. Everyone at the party is too, and I think they all like it that way.”

No confusion.

“I don’t kill people, Xandie,” she promised. “Except you, that one time. I don’t like to.” She took his head in the transport room.

Gwen raised her eyebrows, and he transported them.

It was a massive relief that Eulalee let go as soon as they were in the garden at the Dragon palace. “Bye!” she called, dancing off. “I’ll be good and I’ll be back here when you’re ready.”

Probably to the second.

He frowned after her. When she disappeared into the crowd he squeezed Gwen against his side. “I hope she never asks me what I think of her. She doesn’t like liars and I don’t like dying.”

To his satisfaction, Gwen laughed. He needed her to be laughing right now, to be okay. Mostly because he fucking wasn’t and someone needed to be or feces was going to hit the fan blades.

“You’re sure bringing her was a good idea?” Gwen asked.

He laughed. “I’m sure it wasn’t.” He nodded across the garden toward the part of the palace where he knew Zero lived. “Zane thinks we need her.”

She kissed his cheek and nested their bodies side-by-side as they walked. “Try to enjoy the party, in your panic?” she teased.

She knew him too well.

“You too,” he insisted. He kissed the ridge of her cheekbone. “How are you feeling?”

“Good,” she said. “Really good. Thankfully, I have time for naps.”

All the time she needed, whatever she needed. He wanted her happy and comfortable. He knew pregnancy was miserable. Fiona had always suffered through most of hers.

“All the naps you need,” he promised. “Gwen…”

She shifted in front of him, facing him.

“I love you,” he told her. He held her hands. “And I’m sorry about this mess.”

She pressed his face between the palms of her hands. “When I married you,” she kissed him. “I expected messes.” She tugged him toward the louder part of the garden. “This is a pa7894321`rty.”

“To celebrate how fucking hot it is here?” he complained.

“And we came to celebrate how lucky we are to live somewhere cooler,” she declared, pulling him forward.

“And,” she added, “If Eulalee doesn’t come back…their problem.”

Wouldn’t that be nice.

<- Episode 162 | Episode 164 ->