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Lyn stood in the middle of the butcher section of the grocery store. As much as her stomach was rolling, she couldn't figure out what she wanted to get to cook for tomorrow when they had another, hopefully this time successful, family night. She had already picked up some veggies, fruits, cheeses, crackers, juice, and whatever else had been on the list to fill the house with food. There was a stretch of three weeks where Lyn had been at the store weekly buying food. Not because Lucky and Nate were eating it so quick, but because Lyn had needed more ingredients to make food. And once Dereck had come home again, at least some of the stress and worry of previous weeks had receded. It was too wonderful to have Dereck home again, but yet as much as she tried to talk to him about everything. It never seemed to go anywhere! On or the other of them got mad and shut down, which was of no help. So Maralyn had stopped even trying. She just was accepting that she had to be happy with him just being home and safe.

Yet that whole inner-tormoil wasn't helping her decide on a main course. So Lyn grabbed a porkloin, chicken breast, and ground sausage. There was a multitude of options then. Plus what she didn't use tomorrow, she could just make a meal out of it later. As she made her way to the cash register, Lyn grabbed a container of cookie dough ice cream, as well as some frozen chinese food that could be fried up quickly. Once in the checkout lane, she took out her phone as she waited,
To: D From: Lyn
Hey hon, what time you think your coming home tonight? -Lyn "

Lena shook her head quickly, and wiped at the tears that had managed to escape. She looked up at Archie.
"I can'y even stay with her. Tyson is at practice, it is my turn to pick the boys up. I hate to ask you...would you stay with her till I get back? I have to make arrangements for Ty." She leaned in close to Arcjie's ear.
"I don't want to leave her alone with Ben." She whispered. She glanced over at Ben who had been eyeballing Arcjie since they first arrived, and Archie had snapped at him. Lena was pleased to see Ben was avoiding Archie. Clearly Archie made him uncomfortable.

Archie Thompson

Archie had no problem sitting there with Cadence while Lena went out to take care of Tyson. In fact, he preferred it. Especially with the looks he was getting from Ben. He had heard enough about the man to know that he was dangerous, but so was Archie. He had a lot of people in the town who owed him favors, and a lot of connections to different people. "Aye, Darlin. Go take care of the youngster, I'll go with with Cadence." He kissed her forehead and watched her walk down the hallway before making his way into Cadie's room. She looked like s**t, but he had certainly seen worse. He took the seat right next to her bed, leaning back with a sigh.

Lena left the hospital, casting looks over her shoulder. Ben was following her and she was not happy about it. Finally when she was nearly at her car he caught up to her. He grabbed her arm, and Lena used her heavy purse to whack him right in the face.
"Get your damn hands off me!" Lena snapped and whacked him twice more with her purse.
"Whoa! Whoa!" Ben backed up.
"I just wanted to talk to you! Geez!" Lena glared at him.
"What can you possibly have to say to me?!" Ben straightened up and stared back at her.
"This was not my people Lena. I swear that. None of them would be dumb enough to go after Cadence while she was under my protection." Lena scoffed loudly.
"Your protection?! Up until a few weeks ago YOU were the one beating the hell out of her!"
"We're passionate people, things get physical before we can help ourselves." Lena was outraged by the bullshit he was trying to feed her.
"I just want you to work with me here. Let's file the necessary paperwork to keep the Angels away from her. A restraining order. Orion is behind this. I know it is tied to him." Lena raised a hand, signalling she wanted him to stop speaking.
"Now let me get this straight....you want me to file a restraining order on Cadence's behalf to keep her family and friends away from her, meanwhile you have regular access to her? You're nuts!"
"Lena, I don't want to file one against you and your tattooed freak in there. I will though. I know who he is, I know what he is. I will make sure the judge knows what kind of company you keep. Hell, for all you know he is in with the Angels and the Reapers, and he is the one who went after Cadence. Courts would be extremely concerned about little Tyson's well-being." Lena's jaw set. She couldn't believe Ben. Couldn't believe he would be dumb enough to openly threaten her this way.

Lena was momentarily speechless. The balls on this guy. She really just couldn't believe he would be so brazen to threaten her with Archie lurking about, and no doubt several Angels on their way to the hospital already. She lifted a finger and pointed it right in Ben's face.
"Stay the ******** away from my daughter you b*****d, or you won't live to see her get better. I catch you around here again, and we will have a problem. I don't need an MC to hide behind either." She turned and walked around to the driver's side of the car.
"Lena, I'm not the enemy. I have no reason to hurt her. No reason at all, but I can name someone who has a reason too. He has several reasons too. Jasper Fox. Cadie dumped him, and immediately took up with me, let the MC he was running with, and it isn't exactly a secret that he was pretty much obsessed with her for a long time." Lena had been opening her car door when he mentioned Jasper and Cadie's past. She stared at him from across the hood of the car.
"He may not like her anymore, he may regret their past relationship, he may have come to the realization that he never really loved her, and that is all fine. I know he would not do this." Lena got in her car, revved up and her car jumped forward. Ben was forced to jump back or end up under her car.

By the time Lena returned nearly an hour later she had food for Archie. She had an overnight bag packed, she was staying with her daughter regardless of what the hospital said. First thing in the morning she would go to the courthouse and see what her options were regarding restraining orders. Right now she wanted Ben far away from Cadie, and she had not decided to Orion yet. She knew in her heart he was not behind what had happened, but she also knew Ben would fight harder if he knew the Angels were granted access to Cadie.

Lena was surprised to see Titus at the hospital. He was already in Cadie's room. He had brought flowers and a few puzzle books. When he saw Lena enter the room he stood up.
"Erm....hi. I brought her flowers. I brought you some puzzle books. Help you pass the time till she is awake..." He glanced back at Cadie, then to Lena.
"If you want me to leave I will...I just...I felt like I needed to be here for her. Orion can't....someone needs to be. Killian would if he was here. Jasper...he shouldn't see her like this."
"No. Stay. I am sure she would like some company. I agree with you, Jasper shouldn't see her this way. Orion shouldn't have either." Lena went to readjust Cadie's blankets. Titus took a seat slowly.

After a few minutes Lena went to Archie's side. She brushed her lips against his lightly. Clearly she was still distracted. Her normal greeting was a lot more frisky.
"Thank you for sitting with her." She took his hand in hers and gave it a gentle tug.
"A word with you please, in the hallway." Titus started to rise again.
"I can leave..."
"No. It will only take a few seconds. You sit, talk to her. Tell her about her nephew. She likes to hear about him." Titus nodded, and took a seat closer to the bed. Her brown eyes returned to Archie.

Killian was on his mission. Technically it was Titus' mission, but Killian couldn't just sit back. He had to do something! He had to make sure Black was held accountable for his actions. Yes, he truly believed that Black was responsible for what had happened to Cadence. He didn't have the proof, but he would shortly. It it turned out by some miracle it wasn't Black, then he would personally apologize to Black in person.

The feeling in the pit of his stomach told him he was right though. He just needed the proof to show the MC. Once that happened then Black could be dealt with. Killian was consumed by the inner turmoil honestly. He wasn't in love with Cadie, viewed her as a little sister but still that twinge of attraction remained. He had felt both angry and relieved when Jasper had begun to date someone else. That officially signaled Cadie and he were through. So if in the future Killian wanted to pursue a relationship with her, well Jasper couldn't say s**t about it. He was over her, and had moved on. He had forfeited any claim to her.

Not that Killian wanted to date her. Not now, not ever he was starting to think. Each time he had popped back into town and saw Diana around town, it became more and more evident he was still attracted to her. He had never really gotten over their relationship. Shocking because he had been with many beautiful and flexible women after Diana. Even more shocking since Killian wasn't the type to believe in monogamy or love, or any of those silly girlish beliefs.

Killian did his best to steer clear of the Agent though. Diana was not the young woman he had fallen for all those years ago. She was an FBI Agent now, a Mother and he was...the same guy he had been back then. A rebel often on the wrong side of the law. He lived his life on the edge, and answered to no one. He and she were fundamentally different at their cores. Their worlds were vastly different, and no amount of lust or compromise could make a relationship between them work. That is if Diana was even interested in him. Not that he had tried to find out if she was, or even if she were single. What good would that do?

Jasper was over at Victoria's when he got the text from Grace about Cadie. His phone was on the opposite side of him than Victoria. Until that message, he had been having a lovely evening with the woman he had begun spending time with. He frowned at the message as he read it. What was Cadence doing back in the hospital? He was certainly happy Grace kept him in the loop, and the few texts he had received from Cadie herself over the last couple weeks had taken him by surprise. But he would never say that they had been unwelcome. He would always care for the girl, even when he didn't understand or approve of her choices. But he was trying to move on, since she had obviously chosen her path.

Jasper helped Victoria clean up their dishes before the two moved over to the couch for their movie night. Jasper sat on the couch, and told Victoria with a smile,"Pick whichever movie you want to night."Then he took out his phone and texted Grace and Lena quickly.To: Grace
'Thanks for letting me know. Everything ok at the house, Grace? - Jasp'
From: Jasper

To Lena
'How's Cadie? Just heard. I really hope if it's that numb nuts, control freak of her's you get on top of that. -Jasp'
From: Jasper

With the two messages sent, he placed the phone back down on the side table and turned to Victoria.

Lyn smiled as she looked down at the text from Dereck. Worried as always. Sometimes she felt bad bothering him while he was working. She knew he needed to. It was good for him to be busy. But yet she liked to check in from time to time as well. She felt things seemed to always pop up just randomly as it was.
To: D - From: Lyn
'Yea all is fine hon. Just wanted to check in. Sorry to interrupt, I'll see you later tonight.' As Lyn stepped up to her turn in line, she began loading the groceries on the belt before paying the cashier the amount needed.

Maralyn had just finished unloading the groceries into the house when her phone pinged again. Looking down a little puzzled, she was surprised to see it was Lincoln texting her. To: Linc - From: Lyn
I'm doing well. I think you need to be more careful than myself, but I will keep the warning in mind. I am off the next two days if you want to get together. In fact I think tomorrow we were going to have some friends and family over if your free for dinner. We've got lots to catch up on; exciting news to share.'With that sent, Lyn got to work getting the groceries out of the bag and put away. As she did that the red head started the rice on the stove, waiting to start the frozen bag of honey chicken. With those chores done, or mostly, Lyn took the two dogs out. Tomorrow would be the day she was taking Zeke in to be neutered. It was time. Both dogs were growing well, standing close to knee height on her small form, but of course Zeke being the male was a little taller. They were certainly going to be good pets. In a way she was glad Grace hadn't taken Stasha right away. It left Zeke someone to help him get out his energy without bothering herself all the time. Of course she would be grateful when the woman took the dog, and would hand her over without pause. But she was sure as the pups were grateful to get some extra time together. "

Di moved back out of the doorway to her daughter's room and back into the kitchen. Her green eyes stared momentarily on the box she had brought into the house from the garage all those weeks ago. However she had never done anything with it. She had saved instead inside in case more circumstances came up like they had that one week, and because she had even been too busy to worry about it. Now was the time to put those memories away though. They weren't needed to come out. Lyv had been fine.

Diana hoisted the box into her hands and walked out the back door with it to put it back in the garage. As she tried to lift it to place it back where it had been, a couple pictures floated out. After getting the box in place, she grabbed the two photos. A sad smile came to her lips at the memory they brought of her and Killian, as well as a few other friends. It had certainly been a wilder time in her life; a free-er time. Di hadn't come in contact with her old lover much in her time in town- just those first few days. She couldn't figure out if she was disappointed that she hadn't run into him more during her time in town. Those few times had certainly been enough to stir old feelings. Enough so much she had thought to tell Alyvia of him for the first time. But that would have been selfish. And since Di had found out she was pregnant, she had to grow up for it wasn't just her.

Di placed the pictures back down on a lower box. She pulled out her phone and texted Lena about Cadie. She had the woman's number from the few times they had gone back and forth during the last few weeks about Cadence.To: Lena - From: Agent Peck
Ms. Sinclaire-Caine, I'm sorry to hear about Cadence. If you need help with anything, please let me know. - Agent Peck. With one last look at the two photos, Di sighed walking out of the garage, closing the door as she went.. ,