I stand at the window of the Dal, the rain tapping an endless tattoo on the stained glass. As if it's mocking me. My brow furrows. Bo is always telling me I'm too harsh on myself, but this has to be a sign, doesn't it? Karma, of sorts. This is what I get for deciding on today, of all days. For deciding on this place. On this girl…

Thin fingers brush the crook of my arm and I'm startled for a second. But only a second – as I realize who is here I relax instantly.

That's got to be a good sign.

"You're going to have to cut down on this emo-staring out the window, you know," she says, a hint of amusement in her sarcastic cadence. "You're worrying Tamsin, she thinks you're going to run out on me."

I hold back a snort of laughter. "It's weird how close you're getting to her, you know."

I feel a slight pressure on my hipbone, and I turn around to face the young girl before me. Like always, the first thing that rivets me is her eyes. Heavy black makeup, in contrast with a sea of clear blue. The next thing I see is her smirk. "We've got an understanding. Someone's got to balance out the happy-go-lucky around here with some bad-ass 'tude."

I smile. "I'm not badass enough for you?"

To her credit, she doesn't even roll her eyes. "Oh Doc, you are the most badass of them all. Really, Tams and I are just barely keeping up with you."

"Uh huh," I say, with some amusement. And then I finally take my gaze off of her face, and see what she's wearing. "Oh," I say, my voice faint all of a sudden. "Oh, wow."

Deep red has always been her colour – she is wearing an elaborate corset, black and ruby studded, accentuating her trim waist. Ribbon ties line her ribs, and a graceful silk train turns into a beautiful dress that hugs her slim thighs down to her knees, pulling it all together. As I manage to pull my eyes back to her face, a see a satisfied smile on her lips. "Already speechless and I haven't even done my hair," she chirps happily. "Man, I clean up nice."

Before I can heartily agree, I gasp, covering my eyes with my hand and spinning back around to face the window. "I can't see you yet!" I exclaim. "Ugh, that's worse luck than the rain!"

On top of the beautiful girl's amused chuckle, I hear another sound – the click-clack of heels across the floor of the pub. "Kenzi," says the new voice, "Stop scaring her, she's needlessly nervous enough already."

My eyes still squeezed shut, I feel rather than see Kenzi's emphatic gesture, protesting her innocence. "I didn't do anything!" she insists. Then she giggles. "You're right though, she is freaking fo-shiz."

Bo's laugh echoes strangely in the empty bar. "I can see that."

"I'm not freaking," I grumble. "I'm just… I don't know."

"Uh huh," says Bo, obviously very amused. "Kenz, do you mind occupying Tamsin for a while? She's going nuts down there with no one but Dyson to amuse her." Then she laughs shortly. "Plus to be frank, you and that outfit are making Lauren's anxiety level even higher than it is already."

Kenzi giggles again, and I feel soft lips kiss my shoulder, quickly and tenderly. "I kinda knew that, I will admit," she says softly, almost so only I can hear her. And then her footsteps trot off towards the back room. "Hasta la later, ladies," her exuberant voice bids us adieu.

I hear a door close, and then I feel it's finally safe to open my eyes. As I set down my hand and breathe a sigh of slow relief, Bo laughs again. I turn around to plead my case. "You know it's very bad luck! You can never be too careful."

The succubus stands before me, smiling indulgently. Although it's been at least a year since her change has completed, her appearance still catches me a little off guard every time I see her. Her hair is longer, straighter and somehow more luxurious – if you look closely, you can see a blue sheen as she turns in the light. Her eyes are clearer, and the dark brown they had always been has faded, becoming a truly unique blend of light brown and sapphire blue. Her skin is paler, but it doesn't look unhealthy. As with everything Bo, it becomes her perfectly. I swear she's a bit taller, too.

And the power – it exudes from her every pore. Amidst her subtle air of sexuality is an overriding, crackling electricity that fills any room she's in. No matter who you are or what you do – this woman could kick your ass to the curb and back.

Now though, she just shakes her head at me. "I never took you for the superstitious type," she chides. "Can't you just override the world with the power of test tubes and hair flips?"

I laugh at that. "Maybe before, I could." Then I smile. "I've had a bit of a perspective change in the past few years."

Bo smiles too, knowing. "Kenzi is an amazing girl for perspective."

"Kenzi is an amazing girl," I reply, softly.

Bo nods at that, agreeing. She cocks her head to the side and steps closer to me, grasping my forearm gently. "And she loves you." There's silence for a moment as she ponders, gazing into my eyes the way she does. Somehow Bo can always tell exactly what I'm thinking. "What's got you so riled up, Doctor?" she asks me after a second. "I know it's not just the rain." She raises an eyebrow, her eyes inquisitive. "Or the corset."

After an acknowledging smile, I sigh. I should have known she'd see right through me. "It's embarrassing," I say, finally.

"Even better," she jokes. Then she squeezes my arm a bit. "I'm all ears," she says earnestly.

I wonder briefly where to start, but then decide that I've never really been one for subtlety, anyway. "I'm worried… I'm worried about you." I see Bo's brow furrow and try and elaborate quickly. "I just feel like… this day. What if I'm making a huge mistake? I'm starting to not be able to believe what I asked you to do for me." I cringe slightly. "It's just – the history. Our history."

I don't know if I'm expecting her to laugh and tell me I'm overreacting or what, but she doesn't. Her expression is serious, and she looks down toward her feet. "Oh Lauren," she says softly. When she looks back up at me, I try to read her expression, but come to a loss. Her voice is quiet as she speaks again. "You know there was a time when I thought this day would go a whole lot differently."

My heart does a painful little back flip. Standing here with Bo, my mind travels back in time. To all the moments we shared, many of them right here in this bar. Years and years ago, when she first walked into my lab and I told her what she was. When I felt her power for the very first time. "We've come a long way from that," I say softly.

She nods again, her face still lined with seriousness. "We have," she agrees. Her brown-blue eyes blaze. "And as the years have gone by – as I've changed, as you and Kenzi both have… I've been more and more grateful every day that this is the way everything turned out." She's already very close to me, but she takes a step closer. "I'm happy with my life now. And I know you two are as well."

I can feel it coming. "But?" I barely whisper.

She doesn't answer me with words. She answers me with a kiss.

It's – surreal. I haven't kissed Bo for years. It seems like ages. But I can remember what our kisses were like, and this is similar, despite her change. She was always powerful, even in the beginning. That was always in her kiss, always present. It certainly is now. Her lips move against mine, and she's gentle, but I can feel her holding back. Out of her caring, out of not wanting to cause me pain, not wanting to hurt me.

I don't know what I'm thinking. I'm kissing Bo. Bo. This woman was my obsession for so long, and then my lover, and then the woman I thought I'd be with for the rest of my life. She moves closer to me in my arms. I feel my body push towards her, every cell in me wanting to be closer. It's a natural physical reaction, one that's always been there. My human body responds to the body of a succubus. She is the ultimate object of lust for my species. It's in my DNA, I understand that. But there's something… there's something I just can't put my finger on.

When I kiss Kenzi, it's obviously not like this. Kenzi is human. She is soft, warm, gentle – but not because she has to be. Because she is. She's not strong in the same forceful way – she has a strength of spirit. When I kiss her, it's like I can feel her soul reach out and touch mine. My mind wrestles with it. Why am I thinking of Kenzi? Why can I not stop thinking of Kenzi…

It's a sudden realization. It hits me over the head. Bo's lips move softly against mine one more time, and then – I know. Something that I've known inside for a very long time, but never been able to truly comprehend until now. Kissing Bo is wrong. This feels wrong.

I gasp against Bo's mouth, and she immediately pulls back. As I see her open her eyes, they're not glowing blue. They're just intense, searching my face. "Lauren?" Her voice is hesitant.

"We're not right!" I exclaim – but my voice is more of a breathless gasp. "We…" I run a hand through my hair and I see Bo's face register my words. She smiles softly. "We were never right, were we?"

Bo's expression is knowing. "Oh Lauren, I loved you. I still do. That's never going to change." She takes a step back, and we're only touching from her hand loosely clinging to mine. "But no," she shakes her head, and she smiles sadly. "I don't think we were ever really right. We loved each other, and for the time we were together, that was enough. More than enough. But there's someone out there for you who fits you in every way." Now her smile is a little happier. "And you know what? I'm overjoyed to be the one who helped you find her."

A tear runs down my cheek. Oh great. "I'm crying," I say, unnecessarily. "Wow. I'm sorry."

Bo laughs. "Don't apologize, silly." She lifts a hand, and wipes my tear away. "I should be the one saying sorry…" She looks a little sheepish now. "I shouldn't have kissed you, that was super inappropriate. I just couldn't think of any other way to help you see – "

"How incredibly wrong we are for each other?" I complete, my laugh sounding funny through my tears. "God, after all this time…"

She laughs too. "Well, yeah." Her supernatural eyes meet mine. "But you know what? I think maybe it's a good thing we had something for a while. Because that love that grew for you – I'm still holding on to that." As she continues to speak, her voice strengthens, and I can see a strong, true smile form on her beautiful face. "And with that love, and the love I have for Kenzi…" Her smile is exuberant. It glows with power, and joy. "I will be there for you. I will be there for you both for the rest of your lives."

I can't say anything. Her words cut into my heart, warming it. All I can do is grab her and hold her close. "Thank you," I whisper into her hair. Her hug is warm.

"Always," she says simply. And then after a moment, she pulls back, holding me by my shoulders and gazing into my face. For a moment, we share a look of true companionship. Then she sighs. "Vex is going to kill me," she explains after a moment, and I realize she's looking at the inevitable mascara lines running down my cheeks. "Okay Doctor – make up room, stat."

xxx

Although it had rained all through the morning, in the early afternoon the clouds parted. The sun shone through the stained glass windows of the Dal, and the light twinkled playfully along the mahogany bar where the guests gathered. In his stiff suit, the wise and beloved Ash nudged the man standing next to him. "Look at it dance," he whispered, nodding toward the sparkling light on the bar. "Suits Kenz."

Dyson nodded and smiled. "It's perfect," he agreed, his gravelly baritone quiet.

The guests weren't seated. It wasn't the way anyone wanted to do things – it didn't suit the bar, didn't suit the occasion. Didn't suit the two women who everyone was gathered to celebrate. However, some traditions were kept.

Whatever quiet chatter faded completely as the sound of the organ started. It was a familiar song. The cadence moved along at a perfect pace. And everyone looked to the back of the Dal, which had just been bathed in light.

Standing there was Trick, behind a wooden altar. To his left – Kenzi, radiant and fierce, but soft and glowing at the same time. Her thin face was lit up with excitement. At her side stood Tamsin, looking aloof as always, but if you looked closely (or just knew her really well), you could see a genuine happiness in her patented half smile. A happiness that had grown exponentially in the past few years. One might even blame a certain succubus for that.

The organ continued to play, and the creak of the basement door was heard. The guests turned their heads, and a collective sigh of wonder crept throughout the room.

Lauren was radiant. There was no other word to describe it. In a traditional white gown, she strode down the Dal's makeshift aisle with a strong, but graceful air. From the moment she walked in the room, all she looked at was Kenzi. It could be argued though, that Kenzi was really all she'd seen for years.

Holding Lauren's right arm and beaming with pride was – well, a less than traditional choice.

As they reached the altar, Lauren and her escort stopped. And Bo whispered quietly to the woman she had been honoured to give away at her wedding. "Take good care of her."

Lauren tore her gaze away from her beautiful bride for a second to give Bo a warm, genuine smile of thanks. "I will."

Bo squeezed Lauren's arm, and as she walked back to the bar to stand between Dyson and Hale, she snuck a quick peek over her shoulder to see the two human women she loved the most join hands in front of the wooden altar. And then she heard Trick begin to speak.

"We are gathered here today…"