Title: Cleaning Up the Aftermath

Series: The Book of Love (some references and slight cross-over with 'Within Me Series')

Author: Scarlet

Rated: NC-17 – graphic sexual situation

Summary: Chaos thinks its time to settle of few things that have been bothering her.

~*~

Stepping out of the shower, she still couldn’t stop thinking about all that had happened last night. What did he mean? Did he even know they were there? She didn’t think so or at least he didn’t act like he was aware of their presence, anyway…

But what if he did? Was it an apology for acting the way he did when she told him?

And this morning he had slid a CD of the song under her door before she and the others were up.

What did it all mean? Could he possibly still love her like Tis had claimed the other day?

And what about Grim? Did he too not hate her or moreover actually still love her too?

Her mind raced trying to figure everything out as she quickly dressed. If nothing else she needed some alone time on the beach to meditate. Maybe that would help clear her thoughts a little.

Not only had Marcus surprised her by showing up at the club to sing while all of them were there, but the fact that her relationship with Bear had taken a new step last night after all of them returned back to the Bahamas House had her totally and utterly confused.

Pulling her wet hair up into a high pony tail she checked herself in the mirror one last time before stepping out into the bedroom. Pausing, she stopped to watch her love- eternity and her… she wasn’t sure what she should call Bear any more.

Was he too a lover? She really had never considered him an actual brother but some how lover didn’t seem quite right…or at least not yet, anyway.

Her family member… yeah, that would work for now. She’d figure everything else out later, she told herself.

A soft sigh fell from Vamps’s lips, drawing her attention to her fully. She was so beautiful she thought as she watched her dark angel cuddle more into Bear’s embrace as he automatically pulled her closer.

She watched Eternity as she seemed to feel behind her as if she was looking for her.

Moving to the bed she kneeled on it close to the edge and leaned over to kiss her lover. "I’m right here, baby," she whispered. "Go back to sleep, I’m just going to go meditate with Dee for a few. Bear’s still here."

The little demon nodded, not fully awake and muttering something that sounded like "Hurry back," before her eyes closed completely once again.

"I will, baby… love you," Cae added just before she closed the door.

Making her way down the stairs and into the kitchen, she was very relieved to find that someone had made a pot of coffee already this morning.

"Thank the Gods," she whispered as she busied herself making a cup. Then she thought it might be a good idea to make one for Dee as well, seeing as how she was sure her sister fae would need at least one cup after all the partying she’s done last night.

With a little chuckle, remembering how funny she was last night, she picked up both mugs and made her way up to see just how she was faring this morning.

Knocking softly on the door, she waited and after a moment Sully opened the door just a crack. "How’s she doing this morning?" the dark haired fae asked.

Opening the door a little farther, he turned to look back at the bed. There Scarlet was, fast asleep with Luc spooned around her. "Bett’r th’n she w’s a few ‘ours ‘go, wick’d."

She nodding as a tiny laugh escaped her lips. "Yeah, I’m not surprised. She was trashed last night. Oh well," she added handing the blond bot a mug. "Here. This is for her. If she wakes up soon, can you tell her that I’m going to the beach to for our normal meditation session?"

"‘course, pet. ‘S no’ a prollem."

"Thanks. Oh and tell her that it’ll help her rid some of the toxins from her system, which I think she’ll need by the look of it."

"Y’ go’s ‘t, Cae."

Turning to head down to the beach she sipped her coffee.

"She’s still toasted, ‘ey?" Marcus said, startling her.

Stopping dead in the hall her feet froze in place for a moment as she tried to think of a way out of talking to him... She’d been trying her best to avoid this man ever since she’d told him.

She still wasn’t sure she was ready to face him, but right at that point she didn’t think she had a choice, really. The only relief she could grab at was the fact that he wasn’t all growl-y like he’d been. In fact he sounded almost normal this morning.

Taking a step towards the wall, she turned to see him. "Yeah, she got pretty wasted last night at the club."

"Ah, an’ ‘ows th’ rest of ya ‘oldin’ up?"

He seemed all too calm for her liking but she proceeded to act as normal as she could.

Leaning back against the wall, she shrugged a little. "Well, most of us weren’t too bad. Only Dee and Eternity drank really heavily and she’s still sleeping it off, Vamps I mean… well, so is Dee but you already know that," she added babbling a bit.

She groaned inwardly at that. She hated to babble. Normally she only did that when she was nervous… and she was nervous. More so than she thought she would be.

"Didn’t know she spent the night. Knew most of Precious’s family stayed last night but I’s didn’t see ‘er."

"Oh," she said making a little ‘O’ shape with her mouth.

Quickly recovering she added, "Ummm… that’s because she stayed in my room with Bear and me," she blushed. "We sorta…." She trailed off, blushing even more.

Nodding, he decided to change the subject. "Right then. So ya went ta a club? Which one?"

"Oasis." She said softly, still blushing. When he just stared at her and didn’t say anything more, she went on. "I listened to the CD this morning… think I like it better when you sing it though…" she told him, gnawing on her bottom lip and waiting for a reaction.

He blinked, staring at her for a few moments When his voice came, it cracked a bit. "Ya… ya was there?"

She nodded. "Yeah, we were… in the dark corner off to the right of the stage," she informed him.

Taking a deep breath, she finally asked. "Can we talk, I mean really talk… not just yell at one another? I think there a few things we need to discuss."

Marcus nodded. "Think we need ta too, Sparky."

Looking around the hall, she knew this was not the place for it. She pondered where to go. The living room was way too busy this time of day with all the others around, and that held true for most of the downstairs as well… along with outside by the pool within an hour or so.

"Umm… my room’s kinda occupied at the moment, so maybe the beach, or your room?" she suggested.

"Mine’ll do," he said, making his way back down the hall. She followed in silence, trying to think of everything she wanted and needed to say to him.

Once he closed the door, he turned back to her as she busied herself with finding the items on top of his dresser fascinating.

"I’m sorry." She whispered, running her hand over the box she’d given him- the one that held the key to his birthday present last year. The plainly wrapped blue box didn’t hold much interest, really; she just was surprised to see he still had it.

"I’m sorry for ever hurting you, Marcus. I didn’t mean to, really… I just… I just didn’t think about how you’d react when I said yes. That’s all I really wanted to do- to say yes, I would marry Eternity. I love her so much… but I love you too... more than you know…"

Sighing, he walked over to the dresser as well and turned her to look at him. "I... sorry, luv. Sorry I got all... angry an' sad." Nodding, he cupped her cheek. "Ya luvs 'er, Sparky. Ya did what ya felt was right. An'... we's not promised each other anythin', 'ave we?"

Sighing, he continued. "Just... felt like ya didn't want ta care fer me anymore. Like I was goin' ta lose ya AN' 'er," the dark haired clone admitted, giving a sheepish shrug.

Chaos cupped his face between her hands and made him look at her. "Did I say that you were going to lose me? Or did I tell you that I loved you and still wanted to have you in my life that night? Hummm?"

He shrugged, "Felt like it, luv... an' maybe I didn't listen ta ya too close after th' bomb dropped on my 'eart." He blushed slightly, embarrassed that he really hadn’t listened to much of what she was saying after he’d heard she was marrying Vamps.

Sighing, Cae leaned forward and kissed him softly on the lip., "I love you... and I don't want to leave you or get rid of you in any way... and Eternity is fine with that. She's got her own mates as well as other loves... we have a very open relationship in that respect, baby."

Nodding, he frowned a little. "Yer still goin' ta be somethin' ta 'er that ya'll never be ta me an' Glarey, though. Might take th' both of us a li'l while ta get used ta that. Just so ya knows, luv," he added, giving her a kiss back to take some of the sting out of the last statement.

The dark haired fae nodded, knowing everything wouldn’t be over in a blink of an eye, but she still wanted to know she was on somewhat solid ground with him. She still feared that he didn’t want her. "Yeah I know... and I understand if you don't want me any more... just know I still love you; that I'm still IN love with you..."

Frowning, he looked at her like she was daft. "Me not want ya, Sparky? Bloody 'ell! Does I LOOK like a stunnin'ly moronic git ta ya?" Marcus growled, his voice rising in pitch at how totally ridiculous a statement that was.

Her temper flared a little as she let her hand drop away. "Well! Isn't it YOU who just said it's going to take time and all that crap? For Christ sakes Marcus! I've told you now what? Three or four time that I LOVE YOU and WANT you. Something SPECIAL with YOU and you seem to throw it back in my face that I'm with her!"

"YES I'm with a WOMAN!! Get over it! I even LOVE HER... so accept that or not, I don't care."

He growled louder. "Coul' care less if it's a bloke or a chit, luv! Ya knows that!"

Huffing, she moved away from him. "RIGHTTTT.... Keep telling yourself that!"

"Seems ta me YER th' one what can't get over th' fact that ya luvs 'er!"

She turned around to glare at him, her eyes wild. "WHAT?"

"'s YA what keeps bringin' it up! That she's a chit, I means, an' ya knows it!

I just wants ya ta be 'appy, ya daft bird!" Frowning, he added, "Want ME ta be 'appy too."

"An' I's NOT when ya an' me's all fightin'!" he growled again.

She growled back at him. "Well, neither am I… I hate it when we fight and that's all we seem to be doing."

"I knew I should have never listened to Tis or the rest of them. I should have just stayed away..." she grumped, feeling the tears well up as she turned to run out the door. "I knew you didn't ever really love me in the first place."

Growling again, he reached out and stopped her from leaving, pulling her back and pressing her close to his chest. "Ya wouldn't be able ta make me so mad if I didn't luv ya so much!”

Snorting she tried to pull away again, but his arms just tightened around her even more. He was not letting her run away this time. No, that’s all she seemed to be doing lately when it came to them and their relationship.

"Bloody 'ell, pet. 'ow's we goin' ta make up if ya tries ta run off every time I says somethin' ya don't like, 'ey?" He sighed, holding her closer, his chin resting on the top of her head.

She sniffled, trying to stop the tears that were falling. "We won't. But it's breaking me in half every time we fight. I... I just can't take it. It all seems too familiar and I just can't take it... I just can't do it again..." She whispered. "I can't... I really can't."

"Sparky... 's what we do. We fights, we makes up... we's got too strong of personalities ta get along alla th' time." The dark haired Spike said, frowning down at her. "Doesn't mean we don't luv each other, does it?" he added, stroking her hair gently.

Shaking her head, she replied solemnly, "No..."

Cae’s voice dropped to a whisper and the panic crept in as she continued, "But... I can't fight like this with you... not like this… Never like this..."

Shaking his head, he brushed a stray hair from her face. "Sparky... th' worse we fight, th' more we luvs each other. 'ow else could we piss each other off so much? An' 'urt each other th' way we's been doin' these last few days," he grumped, leaving the rest unspoken.

She sighed, knowing he didn’t completely understand why she was getting so upset over this fight and not any of the others. Normally she didn’t mind it that they fought and bickered at one another… normally it was fun… and the make- up sex was great, but this time… this time things were a bit too close for comfort for her.

"You don't get it. I CAN'T EVER feel like this again! No… I can't. It’s bringing up too many bad memories..."

Shaking head, he pulled her even closer. "Luv... that's what new memories is fer. Ta make th' old ones 'urt less."

"We's goin' ta fight, luv," he continued. "Whether we's together or not. Ya knows that. Question is... are ya goin' ta let fear rule ya or is ya goin' ta make th' effort ta work things out when we do?"

She sighed, knowing on some level he was right. She was letting fear rule here… she was letting past mistrust and wrongs cloud her judgment. She knew deep down inside that he would never really hurt her… "Why can't we just be good again?"

"Why does it have to feel like all that crap that went down with Donavan again... why can't you just be holding me and loving me..." she whispered, burying her head against his shoulder and squeezing her eyes together tightly, trying to stop the tears.

He smiled a little, tightening his hold on her. "But I AM 'oldin' ya, Sparky... an' I definitely luvs ya. We's just goin' through a rough patch, 'ere. An' when ya runs off an' 'ides from me...? Makes it worse, luv. Gives th' impression that ya don't care fer me atall."

Swallowing hard, he frowned deeply. He too was hurting from all the fighting, and her running away hadn’t helped his own fear that she didn’t want him much, either. "'s not a good feelin', that," he confessed.

"LUVS ya, pet! Don't want ta 'urt ya, but I's don't want ta BE 'urt, either," he continued, holding her to him tightly.

"I would do anything not to hurt you, baby... I love you too much..." Cae sighed against the crock of his neck as she clung to him.

Pulling back to look her in the eye, Marcus frowned. "Then stop runnin' away at th' first sign of trouble, a'right, luv? Can't work things out all by m'self, can I?" he said, arching his brow as a little half-grin spread across his face.

"No... But all this fighting and breaking one another’s hearts... it's too close to what happened with me and Donavan, and well... with him here it hurts even more."

The dark haired clone growled at the mere mention of her ex, "Don't get me started on th' git."

He hated him for all the stuff he’d done to her, but he really hated him when the guy decided it was his right and duty to move in to their home, all in the name of protecting his Rose and Sparky.

Then he chuckled a little, remembering what the big fae prat had looked like earlier that morning. "Th' purple git."

"See why this it bothering me so much, now? Why I want to run away from it?" she sighed again.

All of this was just too much for her to take… love was supposed to be easy right? Or that’s what she’d hoped anyways, but instead it was harder than anything she could ever imagine.

Cupping Cae’s face, he shook his head. "Don't, luv. I's not 'im, Sparky. An' yer not th' same chit ya was when alla that 'appened. Ya needs ta stop thinkin' I's goin' ta be just like that soddin' prat. B'cause I's not. Not ever."

"I know... but it hurt just the same. The rejection. The way you left me just lying there..."

Heaving a sigh, Marcus thought for a minute, trying to find the best way to put all the feelings he’d had that night into words.

"Needed ta vent, luv. An' ya wasn't in any state fer me ta do it at ya. That an'... seemed ya needed a bit of time fer yerself. Didn't want ta..." he sighed again, trailing off. "Figgered ya was upset enough."

"I's sorry if ya thought that meant I didn't luv ya. Nothin' could be further from th' truth, a'right, luv.?" He kissed her hair softly. "Promise ya that, I does." The dark haired clone nodded sincerely.

"Okay," she answered as her voice cracked a bit. "And I did think you didn't love me... and I couldn't handle that. I just told you that I loved you and here you were...and it just felt..." shutting her eyes tight, "wrong..." she whispered.

"Yah, luv... ya told me. An' what I 'eard was ‘Luvs ya, but I wants ta be with 'er ferever... sorry, mate’. Know that's not what ya meant, but... in th' 'eat of th' moment, that's what I 'eard, Sparky." He sighed.

"An' it took a few days, luv, bu'... I's 'appy ta 'ave whatever part of yer 'eart ya can spare me. That's what I realized an' that's why I was singin' last night... an' that's why th' CD under yer door." Marcus blushed. He could be such a poncy bloke sometimes and that was a side of him he hated to let be seen.

"But I want you to always be in my life, baby... always. You are something so special to me; don't you get that?"

"I's not yer ex, Sparky. Not ever goin' ta treat ya th' way 'e did, a'right?"

"I know. I really do." Cae nodded, kissing him softly as her arms tightened around his waist.

"An' yer special ta me, luv. Yer in my 'eart an' that's a rare thing." He nodded slowly, kissing her back as he held her still closer, a small purr rumbling in his chest.

"And someday I'd like something special, too... maybe not marriage or even Mating, cuz I know how Tis feels about that, but maybe someday something like Sully and Dee have? Maybe... that is if you still want me when we're ready."

"Think I'd want ya if ya was three feet tall an' covered in warts, Sparky. Ya shine from th' inside out. Bloody well captivatin', that is." Marcus chuckled. "Missed seein' that th' last li'l while," he added, kissing her cheek softly.

Chaos nodded. "And I've missed seeing you... it felt like a piece of me was missing..." she confessed, running her hand over his chiseled features. "It's like you have a piece of me that no one else can fill... it's always felt like that. Kinda a yin and yang sorta thing."

He laughed, watching her as she tried to explain what they were to one another. In truth, he really wasn’t sure himself, or not for putting into words, but he knew that he wasn’t about to let it end either. That was one of the things he’d come to a conclusion about.

"Somethin' like that, pet... but ya can't keep runnin' off every time we 'as a fight, a'right? Luvs ya. Luvs makin' up with ya, too." He smirked, waggling his brows playfully.

She laughed, seeing his more playful side appear once again. This was the side of him that she enjoyed the most.

"Okay… I won't run off, but promise me we won't fight like that again… I just can’t take that kind of fighting. But I have to say I love the making up too… Very, very much," she added, running her hand down the side of his face and neck then back up before kissing him deeply.

"Just don't ever tell me yer marryin' Glarey... or soddin' Bear, luv, an' I promise I's goin' ta try ta listen better. Ta 'ear what yer sayin' an' not what I THINK ya are." He chuckled briefly before a slight frown marred his face.

"That's th' best I's can do," he told her before returning the kiss with all the pent up passion of the last few days. His hands pressed hard on her back, his fingers digging in slightly as he pressed them closer.

She nodded, knowing that was all she could ask for. "I won't... can't see me marrying either of them, baby," she murmured before returning to kissing him as her hand caressed him all over his hard, muscular body through his clothes.

All she could think about now was how much she wanted to feel his bare skin. It had been far, far too long since she’s been this close to him and just the thought of it and his scent was driving her mad with need.

"Think we's both a bit anxious ta... make up, Sparky. So we’s going ta do it right ‘ere, or are we’s goin’ ta at least try ta make it over ta the bed, luv? " Marcus chuckled.

She laughed, nibbling at his jaw. "I don't care... anywhere? Everywhere... all I know is, I want you. Want to feel you again, baby... please?"

Chuckling again, Marcus smirked a bit. "No... no beggin', Sparky. That comes later." He grinned that sexy grin of his and used his arms around her to lift her against him, letting her feel how very much he wanted her, too. Laughing, she wrapped her legs around his waist, grinding against him as he attempted to make it the longest few feet he’d ever seen in his life to the bed without falling.

Marcus laughed, taking another painful step, his entire body raging for her. "Ya don't want ta be ravished right 'ere and now, ya'll stop that, luv." She giggled, all too pleased that he was having just as much of a problem as she was.

Stopping her wiggling, she sighed dramatically, "If I have to…" then Cae started kissing his neck once again. With a groan, he staggered the last step to toss her onto the bed.

All either of them could thing about was how ever much they both needed one another at that point.

Jumping onto the mattress beside her, Marcus rolled over her and thrust his tongue hard into her mouth while his shape pressed her into the bed. She kissed him back with feverish abandon while her hands were once again all over him, this time trying desperately to find his pale skin.

Breaking the kiss for a moment he lifted up a bit to let her pull the stretchy shirt he was wearing over his head. Staring down into her eyes, he growled softly, "Skin ta skin, luv... nothin' else will do."

Nodding, Cae impatiently undid his pants and pushed then off with her feet, "Yeah... now," she agreed, already starting on her own clothes now that his were off. Marcus helped, pulling her shirt back from her shoulders and starting on her bra while she worked on her shorts. It seemed like forever until they were both naked.

Dropping his lips to one tight, erect nipple, the tip of his tongue circled the tense bud as he pressed against her, his knees spreading her legs until he could rest his turgid length against her heat. His lips traveled slowly, crossing to the other small bud and taking it into the warm wetness of his mouth, delivering the same sweet torture as she arched up against him moaning.

"Oh Gods… Marcus…" was all she could manage, tangling her fingers in his long dark locks as her legs wrapped around his legs wantonly, begging him to stop the endless torment.

His hips moved sharply, rubbing his cock harder against her, feeling her wetness spreading over him, head to root. Growling loudly, unable to stand it any more, he pulled back enough to slip into her. His thick, seeping tip spread her open to allow the rest of his pulsating shaft entry. "Bloody... 'ell, Sparky...." he gasped, burying himself to the hilt.

Chaos closed her eyes as she arched off the bed, moaning at how very good and right he felt. Clamping her legs around his waist tighter, she met him thrust for thrust, digging her nails into his shoulders. "Oh goddess... you feel so good." She panted.

Growling, he shook his head wildly, "Ya feels better, luv..."

He dropped his head forward into the crook of her neck, his breath shaky and labored as he tried to hold on, grinding harder against the small nub of sensitive nerves at the apex of her core. Shifting wildly under him, she met his every hard, pounding thrust. Her fingers dug deeper into his flesh as she started to shudder around his pulsing shaft.

Marcus closed his eyes, moving his hips faster and gave that extra little push against her clit as he filled her repeatedly. "Luvs... ya... Sparky..." he growled again, his face shifting as he felt his sac drawing up tight against his body as she cried out at his words.

"Love you... love you so much, Marcus...." she managed as her world exploded in to a million pieces and her nails dug in even more. Marcus growled even more, smelling the small tinge of blood from where her nails have pierced his skin.

His body tensed, back arching hard against her as he felt himself swell even more before bursting, filling her to overflowing with every formerly frustrated drop of his essence and she cried out again, feeling him course deep within her, filling her like he never had before.

After a moment, he collapsed on top of her, only his shaky elbows holding him off her slightly. His breathing was hard against her neck and his tongue laved her damp skin lightly. "Bloody fuckin' 'ell, Cae... we needs ta fight more if this 's 'ow we's goin' ta make up." He chuckled, still trying to catch his breath.

She nodded repeatedly, panting as she tried to find her voice. "Yeah... but no... no more really horrible ones," She agreed, slowly stroking his cheek. "Okay?"

Swallowing hard he nodded, moving to her side and pulling her against him. "No more."

Smiling at her, he continued. "Luvs ya, Sparky. Can't tell ya 'ow much."

Curling into him and his embrace, she murmured, "Mmm... I can tell now…."

"But I still love you more," she giggled, yawning.

The clone snorted. "Yer fallin' asleep, 's what ya are, luv..." he murmured as one hand rubbed lightly across her back and he too closed his eyes, purring contentedly.

Cae nodded, snuggling a little closer, "Mm...humm... and maybe I can finally sleep for the first time since we..." she yawned mid sentence. "Fought," she finished, her eyes closing completely.

All thoughts of meditation and everything else were forgotten for the time being as she finally found peaceful slumber for the first time in over a week.

Marcus held her closer and purred more as he slipped into slumber, content himself with her in his arms.