Author: Fred
Category: Ok – don’t really have one – which is one reason I’m posting it here. Check Banner.
Rating: I’m saying NC-17 just to be safe – but maybe more of a hard R. If you want to read but prefer not to read that part then skip over Mardi Gras Night and you will be fine.

Disclaimer: The characters of "Roswell" belong to Jason Katims, Melinda Metz, WB, and UPN. They are not mine and no infringement is intended. Dragula by Rob Zombi, Erotic City by Prince, Closer by Nine Inch Nails and Black On Black by Dalbello.

Summary: Prequel to Without You. Serena has a guest for Mardi Gras and meets a few of our Roswell Krewe.

A/N: PLEASE READ!!! I know I don’t usually ask but I would really like feedback to this story. I would like to know how many people care about Serena and Alden AND if I should ever attempt NC-17 again. Please leave FB on Without You (any board), on my Author’s thread at Fanatics, send me a PM or send FB to Pooh in the comments section. Any way you do it – it will be appreciated.
Special Thanks: To Zendorox as always for her awesome job at betaing. To Pooh, BigEd, and Breathless for easing my fears. To Ella for the wonderful banner. To BigEd and Pooh for listening to my ideas about their favorite couple. To all the girls (oops better say people now) in chat – especially our Mistress Applebylicious who keeps us oversexed. And Especially to Zendorox and BelevnDreamsToo (I know there are others but they are the most vocal) because they love Serena and Alden.

HAPPY MARDI GRAS EVERYONE!!!

"We have a problem, your majesty." The man said upon entering the queen’s quarters.

The queen just glared at the insolent man.

He bowed low, showing his regret on his lack of protocol.

She nodded. "Now what problem could we have?"

"It is the new hybrid. It is defective."

"How?" She asked abruptly.

"Its human essence clouds his judgment." With the queen still looking at him with questions the man continued. "He believes he has free will, following orders is not a priority for him. He keeps demanding answers about where he has come from and why he is here. Our people do not know how to handle him."

The queen sighed. She had known this might happen. Taking the essence of a human and joining it with Antarian DNA was an undertaking in itself but added with the acceleration of time – well – there were bound to be some problems.

She looked over at the man. "I am not prepared to give him the knowledge of his past life at this time. Attempt to keep him satisfied but if we cannot, I will have to take more drastic measures. She hoped the threat was enough. She knew she could not delete the hybrid. She had seen the future and knew that it was needed for her daughter to survive.

The man nodded, bowing once again before starting to leave.

The queen stopped him. "Has anyone given him a name?"

Then man turned. "No, my queen."

The queen thought about what to call him. "Rand."

The man nodded.

Then as an afterthought, she spoke again. "Send him to Earth with my son’s heart. Even if he is unaware, he loves her. He will be a good protector."

~~~~~~~~~~

Feeling the excitement building throughout the crowd, Serena weaved herself through the partygoers on the parade route, looking for Cassandra and her new ward. She glanced up at a street sign. "Four more blocks." She thought to herself.

"Hey there pretty thing." A drunken man jumped in front of her with a large strand of beads hanging from his outstretched hand. "How about showing me your tits?"

Serena laughed. "Sorry buddy, not tonight."

The man shrugged and turned, making his way to a new conquest.

"God, it felt good to laugh." Serena mused. After the last year or so, she needed a break from it all and Mardi Gras was the perfect party to ignore her troubles. The months before began to cloud her memory but she pushed them from her mind. She needed to forget – to get away from herself.

~~~~~~~~~~

"FINE! I'll go by myself then!" Isabel yelled before slamming the phone down and hanging up on her husband.

Reaching under her bed, she pulled out her suitcase and started throwing in clothes. She couldn't believe him. They had never really had a honeymoon and now, finally with an opportunity to get away from everything, alien and not, Jesse had informed her that something unexpected had come up. That he couldn't get away.

She’d been looking forward to spending time alone with him, just the two of them, away from the alien mess that was their lives. This getaway was the chance to feel normal for a change; God knows that was something she desperately needed. After everything that had happened lately, she deserved this. If Jesse didn’t want to go, that was his problem. More determined in her resolve, she threw herself in her packing with renewed vigor.

~~~~~~~~~~

The parade was already in progress when Serena found them.

Cassandra noticed her first. "Serena darling." She greeted her with a hug. "I was worried something would hold you up."

Serena smiled questioning, "What could possibly hold her up?" she thought but didn't ask. "No everything is great!" Serena yelled over the marching band in front of them.

Serena turned to the girl standing with Cassandra. "Hi there," her smile genuine, "You must be Cassandra’s new street urchin."

Maybe she should have been annoyed with Cassandra’s friend calling her a street urchin but she couldn’t. The woman in front of her had an aura around her, the kind that drew you in. She couldn’t have been offended if she had tried. She smiled at her. "Yes. That would be me." She offered her hand. "Cassandra calls me Abigail."

Serena took Abigail’s hand, pulling her forward and kissing her on the cheek. "Abigail, huh?" She looked over at Cassandra mischievously. "Cassie here feels that everyone should have some pretentious name. Can I call you Gail?"

Gail giggled, she wasn’t really fond of Cassandra’s name for her but, when someone picks you up off the street and gives you a home, you tend to be grateful enough to indulge them a bit. "You may."

Cassandra playfully pinched Serena. "You’re going to corrupt my sweet girl. Aren’t you?

Serena grinned. "You know it!"

Serena turned her attention back to Gail, reaching for the beads around her neck. "Has someone been showing?"

Gail rolled her eyes and looked down at her chest. "Please! No one would want to see these little things." She looked up at Serena. "I just think the riders feel sorry for me."

Serena laughed at her comment. Gail, new to all this, didn't realize that she was cute as hell – just what the riders were looking for.

"SERENA!!!"

Serena heard her name coming from the float in front of them just in time to look up and get pelted by a large ball of beads. Serena reached up and caught a few, as a few small children and one feisty old lady quickly picked up the ones on the ground.

Serena rolled her eyes, as the three women laughed.

~~~~~~~~~~

Angered at Max as well as Jesse now, Isabel sat in the terminal waiting for her plane. Max had the audacity to tell her that she couldn't go but, instead of her listening to him, she had been all the more determined.

Max could play king with his new minions but there was no way that Isabel would ever take orders that way. Isabel did cut him a little slack though, it had been just over a year since he did away with Tess and gave up his son. Then they had just found out a few months ago that Liz had betrayed them.

Liz betraying them... That was something Isabel still had trouble getting her mind around. Liz had never been her favorite person but no matter how she felt about the small brunette, she had always believed that Liz loved her brother more than her own life.

It had happened though; Isabel was pretty sure about that. Actually Max was sure and that was good enough for Isabel. The loudspeaker interrupted her thoughts...

"Flight 79 boarding for New Orleans, Gate 11."

Isabel grabbed her carry on and walked towards her gate.

~~~~~~~~~~

Serena handed most of her beads to a passerby. "So where to now?"

Gail shrugged. "I'm new here – I'll just follow you."

Cassandra smiled. "Lead the way my little party girl."

Serena smiled and started walking down Canal towards Bourbon as the other two women followed suit.

~~~~~~~~~~

Serena and her friends sat at the bar, downing yet another drink while watching the partiers. "I suppose I'm not sleeping tonight."

Knowing Serena didn't mean the comment as a complaint, Cassandra smiled. "That's what you get living in the Veiux Carre."

Serena smiled back. "I know, I know."

Cassandra noticed the man first. "I think it's time for me to go."

Serena followed Cassandra's gaze and nodded before turning to Gail. "You're welcome to stay." She said to her new friend.

Tired from the day's events as well as the alcohol she had consumed, Gail shook her head.

"I will see you after Fat Tuesday." Cassandra said as she kissed Serena on the cheek. "Be careful."

"Always am." She answered, hugging both women goodbye.

Gail followed Cassandra to the exit as they passed a man. "Cassandra." He acknowledged.

Gail smiled towards the man while Cassandra literally put her nose in the air and walked by. Gail shrugged and followed her mentor out the door.

~~~~~~~~~~

Finally reaching his destination, the man picked Serena up, hugging her wildly. "Ser . . . Babe! I was hoping I would find you."

"Alden!" Serena shrieked. "What are you doing in New Orleans!?!"

Alden motioned towards the door. "It looks like – causing your friend grief."

Laughing, Serena waved her hand in dismissal. "No really – what are you doing in my city?"

Alden smiled as a bartender came over. "Abita Amber," he ordered before answering, "I just happened to be in the area, saw it was Mardi Gras and decided to stay. I needed a party, I needed to get away."

"Well, I'm glad you did." Serena smiled up at him. "You will be staying with me . . . correct?"

Alden laughed. "Do you have beer?"

~~~~~~~~~~

Rand followed his charge and her friend through the city streets to their home. The older woman had noticed him again. "How did she do that?" He asked himself. The smaller girl always seemed oblivious to him. He shrugged as he made a note to change his appearance once again.

~~~~~~~~~~

Serena stood with Alden while he waited to check out of his hotel. A young woman stood in front of them yelling at the clerk.

"What do you mean I don't have a reservation? We made it weeks ago!"

"I'm sorry ma'am. That reservation was cancelled the day before yesterday."

"Can you tell me who cancelled it!?!" She tried to keep her anger in check but her voice was rising as she said it.

The man behind the desk looked at his computer. "Yes ma'am, it was a Jesse Ramirez."

"I'm going to kill him." She said under her breath before remembering the conversation she had with Jesse yesterday. He had told her that he had cancelled it but she hadn't listened. She had been too angry. She looked up at the clerk again. "Do you have any other rooms?"

The clerk looked at her as if she had just grown two heads. "No ma'am we don't. It is Mardi Gras you know."

Finally hearing enough, Alden walked over to the woman. "Hi there." He started. "Maybe I can help."

~~~~~~~~~~

Satisfied that his responsibility was finished for the night, Rand wandered through the city streets watching the humans in their reverie. As he passed a hotel, he stopped, feeling an overwhelming desire to go in.

He entered the building following his senses to an upper floor. Walking through the hall, he spotted a leggy blonde getting ice. Almost immediately, the memories of his past life came flooding back.

~~~~~~~~~~

Alden followed Serena through the front door to Serena's house. "It never ceases to amaze me." He mumbled.

Serena grinned. She knew her home was beautiful but it still made her proud when someone commented on it. "Go take your things up. I'll go get the beer."

~~~~~~~~~~

Isabel showered and crawled into bed, grateful that she had a place to sleep. The couple she had met had been so nice, giving this room to her and then offering to show her around tomorrow. "Southern hospitality wasn't just some myth." She thought as she drifted off to sleep.

Rand sat in the lobby for hours before determining that Isabel would not be back down this night. Disappointed, he shrugged, and wandered out of the hotel into the street filled with partiers.

~~~~~~~~~~

Alden sat in front of the fireplace with Serena, filling each other in on the past year or so of their lives.

" ... then this professor told me that to achieve this level of existence I must be nude."

Serena laughed. "She didn't?"

Alden smiled but said nothing.

Serena's laughter stopped as she looked down into her beer bottle. "I haven't laughed like that since . . ."

Alden put his arm around his friend. "I know. I wanted to come to the funeral but I couldn't leave Renee."

Serena signaled her understanding.

Both were quiet for a few moments thinking about the past year or so and how they had both lost people they loved. Renee had been Alden's wife, stricken down with a rare liver disease that she had eventually succumbed. Chris was Serena's lover, a man who she had finally found some semblance of happiness with until he overdosed.

"It hasn't been a good year for either of us, has it?" He asked breaking the sad silence.

She shook her head. "I just keep thinking . . . if I would have known . . . if I would have been more understanding . . . it I would have loved him the way he needed me to . . . maybe he wouldn't have done it."

"You can't blame yourself Ser. He was messed up. He couldn't give up the drugs or the alcohol. It's not your fault."

Serena sighed. "I know . . . I know but . . .''

"But nothing." Alden raised her chin so she looked into his eyes. "It is not your fault." It was all Alden could do to keep his feelings inside. He still got angry when he thought of Chris. How could a man who loved a woman, any woman, but especially a woman like Serena, kill himself while she slept in the next room.

Wanting to change the subject before he said something he would regret, Alden smiled at Serena, "We are going to forget our pain this weekend and have a good time."

Serena nodded her agreement while forcing a smile. "Want another beer?"

"Are you really asking me that question?"

~~~~~~~~~~

The phone blared in her ear, waking her from her dreams. She opened her eyes just a bit, letting them adjust to the sunlight coming through the window, and then reached over to answer the offending device.

"Hello."

Jesse’s voice came through the receiver. "Hi." He said softly.

Still angry but wanting to work this out Isabel answered back. "Yes?"

She heard Jesse take a deep breath on the other side of the line then start. "So you went anyway?"

"I said I would. Do you have a problem with that?"

Jesse sighed. He had called to apologize not to fight. "No."

~~~~~~~~~~

Rand’s morning duties were over, he had checked on the girl already and now he stood on the same floor of the hotel he had been in the night before. He walked over to the room where Isabel was staying and started to knock.

"I love you too Jesse." He heard her say through the door.

Pain cut through Rand’s heart like a knife when he heard her declarations of love. He dropped his hand and walked away.

~~~~~~~~~~

Alden sat on the couch waiting for Serena to get ready. He would never understand women taking so long to get ready. He flipped through the channels on the TV, finally determining that TV was shit and turning it off.

He walked around the room, looking at the pictures on the wall. Serena’s taste in artwork was what most would call exquisite. But pictures of birds in a swamp weren’t really Alden’s style.

He took a photo album off the shelf and sat down. The first few pages contained pictures of Chris, God – that man angered him. He skipped a few pages finding photos of Cassandra. "I didn’t know witches would show up in pictures." He thought, smiling at himself and his joke.

He skimmed over a few pages to find a picture of Serena, her husband and himself at a bar in Europe. "We had some good times." He turned the page finding a single picture of Serena pregnant. "That’s interesting." He hadn’t known pictures of her in that condition existed. It wasn’t as if she had a devoted husband around at the time to take them.

He thought for a moment about misunderstanding and the hurt they could cause before he turned another page. He chuckled finding a picture of Serena and himself at some festival she had dragged him to. Thinking back to that day and the good time they had. It had been the last time they had been together before Serena met Chris. He laughed thinking about him trying to impress her with his knowledge on alligator dishes.

He closed the book as soon as he heard her footsteps on the stairs. He didn’t want to upset her, causing a repeat of the night before. He hurriedly put the album in its place and plopped back down on the couch. "So are you finally ready?" He asked sarcastically, looking up from his seat. But his smart-ass remarks stopped when he saw the woman before him. She truly was a beautiful creature. "Maybe it was worth the wait." He mused to himself.

Serena, thankfully unaware of his change in demeanor, picked up a throw pillow from the chair across the room and tossed it at his head. "Yes, I am finally ready."

~~~~~~~~~~

Isabel opened the door, motioning for Alden and Serena to come in. "I’m just about ready. Let me grab my ID."

Alden smiled. "I think we need some breakfast."

Serena looked down at her watch. "Breakfast?"

"Yes my darling Sera – breakfast. We can’t start drinking on an empty stomach." He said in his matter-or-fact tone."

Serena shrugged. "What do you think, Is?

Isabel smiled. It was funny that Serena would shorten her name so quickly. "I’m game for anything."

Serena sighed. "I suppose there is some place we can go that serves both breakfast and lunch."

"And beer." Alden piped in.

Serena rolled her eyes, then grinned. "And beer."

"Now that’s the spirit babe!" Alden smiled putting his arms around both women. "I have two beautiful women with me. This is going to be a good day." He said as he pushed them both out the door.

~~~~~~~~~~

Anxious by the new turn of events the queen called for one of her men.

The servant bowed low entering the queen’s quarters. "Your majesty."

The queen stood. "Our servant Rand has discovered his past. I want him brought back to Antar immediately."

Knowing better than to argue with his queen, the man replied. "Of course." He stopped there, unsure of how to proceed. Finally, he just said what he needed to say. "It will take weeks to get to him though."

"I realize that but we should have someone at my son’s camp who can detain him until we can make the necessary arrangements to get him on a ship."

The servant nodded. "Of course your majesty. Will there be anything else?"

The queen waved her hand dismissing the servant.

~~~~~~~~~~

Rand watched as Isabel, laughing, stood in front of a passing float catching throws. After hours of watching her, the need to be near her had just intensified. Finally giving in to his desires, he walked over and stood behind the group.

~~~~~~~~~~

Serena took a few steps back reaching behind her head for some beads. Instead of catching them, she plowed into the man standing behind her. "I’m so sorry." She giggled.

Rand smiled and shrugged.

Isabel looked back towards Serena and saw the man. She looked up into his eyes and started. He seemed so familiar but she couldn’t place him. "Was it his eyes or just him?" She wondered to herself. Her heart jumped when he smiled at her. She lost her cool. Instead of smiling back, she shyly turned away.

Serena got the feeling that the man didn’t really belong and didn’t want to be bothered. She apologized again before going back to her place between Alden and Isabel.

Mentally kicking herself for her reaction to the man, Isabel turned back towards the man only to find an empty street behind her.

~~~~~~~~~~

Isabel followed Serena and Alden through the streets until they stopped at a doorway that was a literal hole in the wall. She watched as Serena greeted the bouncer with a hug before he waved them through. Once inside she was greeted with corridors of black lights. Keeping the others in her sight, she walked through a long dark maze of ramps leading downward towards the music.

At the end corridors, they entered the strangest club she had ever been in. The Dungeon was certainly a fitting name for it. On one side there was a long bar followed by seats but, on the other side, iron cages stood from floor to ceiling. At the end of the room, just past what only could be a dance floor stood another cage.

Red light mixed with the black light gave the place an ominous feel. To say she was somewhat uncomfortable would have been an understatement. When Alden stopped in front of the bar, she followed suit.

"Abita amber and a shot of tequila, chilled!" Alden yelled at the bartender then looked over at Isabel.

Isabel shook her head. "Nothing for me."

While Alden waited, he watched Serena. She had already found and made her way to a table of some of her drunken friends. She laughed while she greeted each one. Alden felt a tinge of jealousy when he saw a man grab her ass as he said hello. He berated himself before rationalizing that it wasn't jealousy but his protective nature. Serena was married to one of his closest friends and even if her marriage seemed to be no more than a joke at the moment, she was still his wife and it was Alden's duty to protect her from the unruly element of Mardi Gras.

He grabbed the drinks and walked over to the group. Serena smiled as she took the shot from him and gulped it down. "Let's dance!" She yelled.

Alden put his beer on the table and followed her onto the dance floor. The music wasn't his type. Too much techno but he was no klutz, he followed Serena's moves faking a smile as he did.

Serena had her eyes closed, trying to feel the full effect of the liquor. He put his arm around her as she leaned into him. She opened her eyes and smiled seductively when she felt his touch.

"I have to get away from this woman." He thought. "Helen of Troy had nothing on her."

One of Serena's friends brought her another shot. Alden almost thanked the man as he stepped away from her letting the bearer of the drink dance with her. He walked over to the table, sitting down with his beer. He watched her dance trying to stop a feeling of long ago.

Serena finally stopped her gyrations and walked over to the table. She sat next to Alden, resting her hand on his thigh. Alden came alive with the touch but tried to cease the sensation. "She's in pain - she's just looking for comfort." When that didn't work, he tried a different approach. "She's another man's wife." He kept chanting to himself. But the chant became less meaningful when he thought about where the other man was. The other man didn't want anything to do with her and since he had left her, she had loved others.

Alden felt the buzz of the alcohol and knew he should stop but when another of Serena’s friends, near the bar, shouted and pointed at the group, he raised his bottle with the other's agreeing to one more.

The drinks appeared on the table and Serena downed her shot seconds later.

The music started to play . . .

Serena grabbed Alden’s hand, pulling him towards the dance floor once again. He wrapped his arms around her as she swayed sensually to the music.

She ran her fingers up his chest leaving a line of heat in its wake. He felt her hand slide behind his neck. Every inch of him yearned to possess her, to take her in that moment, he wanted to heal their pain, but his mind still had some semblance of control. That control allowed him to fight his need, by telling himself that a moment of lust would not heal either of their souls.

Thinking it would be safer, he released his grip on her, just a bit, letting his hand fall softly to her waist. The movement didn't cause the intended response in him. Now he could feel her hips swaying seductively to the music. He closed his eyes, willing himself to remain detached, praying the song would end, praying, until it did and another started.

Serena pulled his head down to her level, running her tongue around his ear she finally settled lower, nuzzling his neck a bit before she uttered her breathless words causing his, if not the nations downfall. "I want you."

Alden knew that was the end. His nobility, what little there was of it, could endure only so much. He entangled his hand in her hair, pulling it off her shoulders as he bent down to kiss the indentations of her neck. She purred as he felt her nipples harden against him under her thin shirt.

He straightened, looking into her lust filled eyes. He moved a hand to her mouth and brushed his thumb over her lips. She sucked the digit into her mouth and started to tease it with her tongue. Slowly, he pulled his thumb from her mouth as the last coherent thought went through his head. "I'm going to regret this tomorrow." But it was too late, desire had taken over, he was powerless to her; he gave up control and attacked her mouth with his.

She ran her tongue erotically around the inside of his mouth as she felt him harden through his jeans. She pulled him to a dark corner, near one of the cages. She reached down, running her hand over the front of his pants, frantically searching for the zipper.

He reached under her skirt and yanked her panties, tearing them away from her skin. Both free, he lifted her against one of the cage doors, setting her down on his manhood. He watched as her head reared back as she felt the initial thrust.

Serena wrapped her legs around his waist as he swayed to the rhythm of the music. She reached up and grabbed hold of the cage bars, bracing herself for what was to come. She arched her back pulling him deeper into her.

Unable to take her eyes off the couple, Isabel watched Serena and Alden thrust back and forth. It was strangely erotic observing a couple making love in the middle of a bar without any regard for the other people standing around. She pulled her eyes away for a moment, scanning the crowd. Only a few seemed to know what was going on and fewer seemed to care.

Another song began causing Isabel to turn her attention back to the couple. Someone from the cage nearest to them reached out and fondled Serena's breasts, while a woman from the dance floor came over and started running her hands over Alden's ass.

Isabel's breasts strained against her sweater as she breathed deeply, trying to calm herself. Instead, she felt the moistness below and the pain from her need that accompanied it. She crossed her legs and shifted in her seat, trying to elevate some of the erotic discomfort.

Holding Serena with one hand, Alden ran his other up her body to her neck. Pulling her towards him, he kissed her savagely.

The man in the corner watched Isabel's arousal, with his enhanced eyesight. He could see her pupils dilate and the flush that had come over her. He wanted nothing more to go over to her and ease her need, but he remembered the conversation he had overheard and knew, their time had not come. Instead, he sat studying the girl he once knew that now inhabited the body of a woman.

Isabel looked over to see the same man she had seen earlier at the parade staring at her again. She looked into those eyes that had been so familiar earlier and realized that maybe it wasn't his eyes that she had known but the kindness in them. The love they seemed to exude for her. Maybe it wasn't his eyes that were familiar at all but his soul. She couldn't seem to figure it out but she did know that him looking at her as he was, looking like he wanted to take her as Alden had taken Serena was not helping her situation.

Finally tearing her eyes from the man, she focused her attention back to Alden and Serena. She watched as Serena wrapped her arms around Alden. Shaking uncontrollably, she pulled him close for the final release. Feeling that at the very least, this moment was private for the couple, Isabel turned back to the man only to find him gone.

~~~~~~~~~~

Alden awoke, feeling Serena’s body next to his. "What the hell did I do?" He asked himself. It really wasn’t like him to regret anything, but he knew this wasn’t his average screw up. He would be kicking himself for months, if not years... well, that is if he was still alive once her husband found out.

He quietly rolled out of bed, grabbing his clothes as he passed them near the door. He pulled them on before heading down the hall towards his room. He passed by the study and stopped, walking to the desk. Grabbing a pen and a piece of paper, he sat down and began to write.

Ser -

I had to go. I’ll call you soon. I’m sorry.

Love,

A –

PS You need to tell him the truth.

He pushed her hair from her face and whispered. "I’ll never tell you how I feel Ser . . . never . . . but I do feel." He kissed her forehead softly before he turned to leave.

~~~~~~~~~~

Before boarding the plane, Isabel looked around; searching one last time for the man she had seen at the bar. When she didn’t see him, she sighed, she didn’t know why she expected to find him there but she had. "Oh well." She muttered under her breath as she turned and walked down the ramp to the plane. It had been a wonderful weekend but she felt as if she was leaving something unfinished.

She pushed the thought from her mind, excited that this plane wasn’t taking her to Roswell but to Boston. Jess and she had made up and now they planned on having a romantic week alone. She pushed her bag under her seat and sat down, closing her eyes, hoping to be well rested when she finally saw her husband.

~~~~~~~~~~

Walking through the parlor of the house, Serena pulled on her robe to answer the doorbell. There at her door stood Cassandra and Gail.

Cassandra smiled a sympathetic smile. "You’re hung over."

Serena didn’t even bother to acknowledge the statement; she just turned around, leaving the door open for her two friends to walk in.

Cassandra and Gail followed her into the kitchen. "He is gone?"

It wasn’t really a question, Serena knew that but as she poured each of them a cup of coffee, she obliged her with an answer. "I suppose so."

"Good."

Serena glared at Cassandra. "Will you ever learn to forgive?"

Cassandra shrugged a bit. "I suppose, when he is dead."

Serena hated having two friends that couldn’t stand each other. "Whatever." She said, not wanting to get into an argument. "I’m sure you didn’t come here to talk about Alden."

Cassandra shook her head. "No. Abigail and I are going to go get our Ashes at the Cathedral and then out for Oysters. We thought you might want to go."

"Ashes? You? You’re don’t believe in God."

Abigail smiled. "I’m making her. It seems to be what everyone is doing today and I wanted to go."

Serena laughed. "Good for you." She looked over at Cassandra. "Hell yeah I’m going – I gotta see this."

~~~~~~~~~~

Rand burst through the doors of the queen's inner chambers. "Were you ever going to bother telling me!?!" He demanded.

Unfazed the queen didn’t even bother to look up, "When the time came."

He wanted to strangle her but stopped himself. "Why did you take me away from her again?"

"The time will come when she will need you. That time is not now and it is not on Earth. You had to come back before you destroyed what must be."

He didn’t want to hear it anymore. "I might just yet destroy what must be." He said before starting to walk out the door.

"Rand!" She called after him.

He turned slowly and glared at her. "My name is not Rand, my name is Alex!"