Eight

Malcolm took in the center and was surprised that it was in the middle of the Glades. He saw children playing, doing homework with tutors helping them and teenagers helping run the place. There were a few adults supervising but mostly it was run by the teenagers and college students. He turned to look into blue-green eyes seeing her look at him with hard eyes determination filling them. The center was a good thing he could acknowledge that but he had spent years planning his revenge and he wasn't going to give it up now.

"You really are lost," Sophia said seeing the answer in his eyes.

"My wife was murdered here and she called for help but no one came," Malcolm told her his eyes hard trying not to waver from his mission.

"Okay so here is something for you to swallow then," she told him glaring, "Talia has warned me that if you go through with this it will be Tommy paying the price. I love your son and I will not let him pay the price but I guess you don't love him at all if you are willing to let that happen. Find your own way home."

Sophia stormed off not able to look at this man any longer. She could not believe that after seeing all of this he was willing to go through with his plan. She needed to make contingencies so that Tommy would not pay for the sins of his father. The problem was that to protect the man she loved meant exposing the truth about her time away to him and she just knew that he would hate her.

~Rogue: Origins~

Sophia stared down at the phone knowing she had to make the phone call but wishing she didn't have to. She couldn't really hate Malcolm for becoming what he had but she just wished that his son was enough to stop him. She shook her head and closed her eyes putting her head in her hands gathering the courage to call her dear friend and lose the man she loved forever.

"Rogue," Talia's smooth voice greeted.

"Talia," she said softly her voice sad.

"What has happened?" she asked knowing something was wrong.

"Malcolm refuses to save his son so I must do it instead," Sophia answered, "You owe me this much Talia."

"Is he worth the debt I owe you?" she asked.

"He's worth more than that," Sophia said plainly.

"I will come with a few I trust but he will have to swear his allegiance to Ra's as well as me," she informed her prodigy.

"I know," the blonde whispered hanging up the phone.

Sophia slammed her phone down on her table and ran a hand over her face frustrated beyond belief. She had never expected Malcolm to refuse to save his son but he had and now she had to save him herself. She couldn't imagine a life without him, she refused to and if he hated then that was fine as long as he was alive. The door opened and she put on a mask hoping that he wouldn't see through because she wasn't ready to explain yet. He came through a frown on his face and she stood up to greet him wrapping her arms around his waist and laying her head on his shoulder.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Oliver asked me to be the manager at the new nightclub but I know that it is your thing too and I guess I'm just wondering," he started to explain.

"Oliver didn't just ask because he wanted too Tommy. He knows just like I do that you are smarter than you look and I think you will be great at it. Besides just think of the perks like the fact you get to have sex with the boss in the office," Sophia said pulling away to look at him with a smirk on her face.

"There is that and what a great boss she is," he played along moving his arms to wrap around her waist and pick her up.

"Of course she is and her boyfriend is pretty amazing as well," she said wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.

"Well considering the boss chooses him out over every other guy I would say that he is pretty great," he smirked at her.

Sophia rolled her eyes pulling him into a kiss as he backs her into a wall. One of his hands moved to tangle into her blonde hair pulling on it making her gasp as he moved down her neck. He sucked a mark into her skin just below her ear before moving back up to kiss her. She tangled both her hands into his dark locks of hair gripping them tightly making him moan into her mouth nipping her lip in retribution.

"I love you," he whispered pulling away to talk them back to the bedroom.

"I love you too," she said tears stinging her eyes.

The words felt like such a promise between them that she was afraid to hope for anything more. She loved Tommy with every breath in her body but at the same time she was afraid that once he learned the truth about his father and her that he would leave her in the dust with a broken heart. Sophia decided that tonight she was going to be selfish and enjoy the time she had with the man she loved before she lost him completely.

~Rogue: Origins~

Talia stared at her father determination in her eyes because she owed a debt and she was going to repay it. Her father was a wise man and he would let her repay the debt but she knew that he was questioning this decision. She did not blame him because Malcolm Merlyn had been his pupil and the man had devised something sinister that would wreck havoc on the world.

"Are you sure that this is wise?" he asked his eyes hard.

"Yes father," she answered looking at him straight in the eye.

"Then because it is you that owes the debt it is you that must repay it but be warned my child that should Thomas Merlyn refuse to swear allegiance to the League he will face the consequences," he ordered.

"I understand," Talia nodded her head.

Talia watched her father walk away and looked down at the water knowing the healing properties. She had thought that Rogue would wait to call on the debt until she needed these healing waters but she couldn't be more wrong. She just prayed that this Thomas Merlyn was worthy of the love Rogue felt for him because it would be a shame otherwise.