Ch.14: Love is protection

:: Raziel POV ::

I've had all I could take from this fucking lot! I'm a hair's breadth away from hurting someone and frankly, at the moment, I don't care who. I just want to beat up someone!

Syrath has some explaining to do. He forgot to mention the little detail about Robin Goodfellow being Quinn's mysterious stalker. I don't know about my brother but if there's one thing I know about Puck, he's fucking dangerous!

Orion, as always, is being his cryptic and annoying self. He's taking pleasure in seeing all of us squirm. I've always known he's a sadistic bastard. And Nuri, the little shit, is not getting her face burned right now, for disrespecting my home with her stupid outburst, because I fucking need her to check Quinn.

I breathed out slowly, my eyes drifting to where Quinn quietly sat. She looks like she's about to keel over and Syrath's doing nothing except ask her stupid questions. Is she all right? Seriously? Sometimes I worry about my brother. I know he's smart, more than smart actually. But in some things Syrath could be hopelessly dumb.

Of course Quinn's not fucking all right! All this crap about her family history is stressing her out. And stress is the last thing she needs right now. I think I'm the only person who remembers and cares that she'd been sick all morning!

I mentally cursed when Quinn started to hyperventilate. I didn't wait for my brother to come to his senses and actually do something smart. I grabbed Quinn by the back of her neck and pushed her head in between her legs.

"Breathe slowly," I said. Quinn struggled to do as she's told but at least she's trying. "That's right, in and out." She did well for a few seconds before she started gasping for air again. "Don't stress..." I whispered by her ear, rubbing soothing circles on her back.

I hope I'm helping her and not making her feel worse. Quinn probably doesn't want me near her but I'm the only one who has her best interest in mind right now. Quinn had a very tough week, not to mention she almost got killed, twice. She should be fucking resting!

I don't know what's setting her off and frankly, I really don't care. I want her to feel better. All the stuff she's discovering about her dysfunctional family is not going to make her relax. This talk about the Faery Queen and her fucking consort could continue once Quinn feels better. Right now, I want to see the color back in Quinn's cheeks.

"Don't think about anything, Quinn, just breathe." I don't know what any of them are thinking, bringing her history for discussion at this particular moment. If this little story telling of theirs goes into Quinn's head, in a bad way, I'm going to be burning bodies and I've got my eyes locked on whose!

It took a while for Quinn to calm down. I made sure she was breathing normally and not on the verge of another panic attack before I straightened to glare at Syrath, Orion and Nuri.

"Who cares who her mother is?" I asked the three of them and they just stared at me like I grew a second head.

I, for one, don't fucking care who the hell she is. So what if Titania gave life to Quinn? She wasn't there when Quinn was growing up. She's certainly not here now, making her motherly presence known, even though her fucking consort is attacking her daughter. I hope, for Titania's sake, that nothing bad happens to Quinn due to Oberon's tantrum. Because if something happens to Quinn, I will be torching their palace and everyone who dwells within it!

"You," I pointed at Nuri who was standing on the side, near her father. "Tell me what's wrong with Quinn."

Syrath turned his head towards me, so fast I was afraid he'd snap his neck. He looked anxious and I could hear his heart beating a mile a minute. Oh, he thought I'd forgotten about that. From the terrified expression on his face I can tell Syrath doesn't want me to ask Nuri about it, or anyone for that matter. I ignored him of course. If Syrath won't tell me what's wrong with Quinn, I'll get Nuri to tell me.

"I know you could feel what's making her sick and you're going to tell me." I said, eyeing her like I would a prey.

Nuri is not a bad person. I actually find her pleasing, considering she's Orion and Nile's daughter. But now is not the time for niceties and I'm tired of being kept in the dark. I need to protect Quinn. That's my main objective. I want to know what's wrong with her so I can fix it and Nuri could help me.

"I want to remind you, before you think of lying or hide the truth from me, " I narrowed my eyes, feeling fire burning in my throat. "I will find out, eventually, when I do and you lied to me, not even your father will be able to stop me from tearing you apart. I suggest you tell me what I want to know and do not try to test me!"

Syrath turned to Nuri and stared at her like the fate of the world rests upon Nuri's shoulders. I know he's trying to appeal to Nuri. Silently urging her not to tell me anything. I don't know why Syrath thinks keeping secrets from me would benefit anyone. But he's not in my sights, for now. My full attention is centered on Nuri.

Come on little shit, I willed silently. What's it going to be? Are you going to tell me or do I have to beat it out of you?

Syrath continued his silent pleading. I smiled when I saw Nuri coldly shake her head at him. Finally, answers! Nuri eyed Syrath for a breath longer before turning to me.

"She's enceinte…" She answered simply.

WHAT THE FUCK!

The ground shook from under my feet. I have to take a hold of myself before I burn the island and sink it in the ocean. I menacingly advanced towards Nuri feeling the intense urge to kill her. How dare she lie to me!

Syrath made the mistake of stepping forward and getting in between me and my prey. "Raziel, calm down!" He said, putting a hand on my shoulder. I grabbed his arm and flung him on the opposite wall.

"How dare you lie to me?" I roared, breaking all the glass and windows in the house. I could feel my insides burn, smoke was swirling out of my mouth. I was about to spit fire and burn her alive!

"You could see for yourself!" Nuri yelled, holding on to a chair to keep her balance. "You don't need to be an empath to know. Touch her and you'd feel them!"

I eyed her suspiciously before breathing in deeply. I closed my eyes and blocked out everything, ruthlessly calming myself. There's only one way to find out if Nuri is telling the truth. I turned to Quinn, who was sitting on the couch, staring at me like I'm going to start a bloody massacre.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Quinn." I said gently, kneeling in front of her.

Quinn shook her head and shrunk back on the couch trying to get away from me. I bit the inside of my mouth and momentarily closed my eyes to summon patience. I scared her with my little show of temper and I deeply regret it. Quinn is visibly shaking.

"I promise, Quinn, I'm not going to hurt you." I whispered gently. It was not my intention to frighten her. "I need to know if what Nuri said is true."

There were tears in her eyes. I had to resist the urge to take her in my arms and keep her there. I'm sure Quinn wouldn't appreciate the gesture from me right at this moment. Quinn was biting her lip so hard, she was drawing blood.

"Please, Quinn." I cooed softly, taking her shaking hands in between mine. "Aren't you a little curious?"

Quinn was still eyeing me like I was a mad man out for a killing spree but she nodded mutely and sat up straighter. I looked back at Nuri. I don't know what I'm supposed to do 'to feel them' as she phrased it. Nuri looked apprehensive but bravely stepped forward and took my right hand, placing it over Quinn's flat stomach.

"Feel that?" Nuri asked. I just stared at her blankly because I couldn't feel anything. Nuri sighed irritably and pressed on my hand. "Close your eyes and don't think about anything, just feel. Try to hear them."

Why does Nuri keep saying them? But instead of arguing I did as she bid. I want to confirm, immediately. I closed my eyes and focused. Then the most wonderful thing happened, I felt them.

Yes, them!

I could feel three hearts beating in succession. The loudest and strongest was Quinn's, she was nervous and afraid. But her heartbeat, erratic though it may be, was consistent. The other two were a bit faint but they were there, beating together. Rhythmically.

"What is it?" Quinn asked in a small voice. Her face was still drained of color.

I looked up and smiled at her. I grabbed the back of her neck and crushed our lips together. Quinn didn't struggle, thank god. She even kissed me back! We pulled away for air and I touched my forehead to hers. I traced the line of her face, keeping my other hand, protectively, over her stomach.

"Raziel…" Quinn called out, her tone was confused and a bit breathless.

"I swear I'm going to protect you, Quinn." I whispered looking deep into her confused eyes. "I'm going to keep you safe. You and the babies."

:: Quinn POV ::

Raziel smiled at me and everything dissolved into nothing. Call me a fool but just having him smile at me could make me forget everything. The truth about my mother, the threat on my life, every little thing that was wrong in my life was wiped clean by that one simple gesture.

I thought I'd never see him smile like that again, not directed at me. Raziel was beaming like I was the most precious person in his life. Like I was all he ever wanted, the answer to all his prayers.

When he pulled me in and touched our lips together I didn't fight him instead I opened for him. I welcomed him in my warmth and reveled at the warmth he gave me in return. I missed him so much! I wanted to feel him more. Even for a moment, I want to have Raziel again.

"Raziel…" I breathed out his name wondering if he's in a trance. I'm afraid to find out if he's on one of his spells or not. But from the bright look in his eyes I knew Raziel was fully awake and sane. He's conscious of what he's doing. He kissed me, he really kissed me!

"I swear I'm going to protect you, Quinn." Raziel whispered looking deep into my eyes. "I'm going to keep you safe. You and the babies."

I buried my face on his shoulder and breathed in deeply. Happily. Of course he would. I have no doubt Raziel would keep me safe, me and the…

"Wait! What?" I asked, pushing away from him. "Did you say babies?"

Raziel nodded. "Yes, babies." I've never seen him this animated before and I have to say, it's quite disarming. "Two of them. I felt them, Quinn, and they are…"

I flew off the couch and started to restlessly pace the length of the living room.

"Quinn…" Syrath called to get my attention but I only held up a hand to stop him from talking. I need to think and I can't think when someone is talking over my head. I need to focus.

How could this happen? Is it even possible? Shit! What am I thinking? Of course it's possible I am pregnant. Nuri and Raziel said so! Chill! Cool it! No need to panic. So what if I'm pregnant? Babies are born everyday. Raziel and I made this life, lives, together. They're my…

I stopped, mid stride, and placed my hands protectively over my still flat stomach.

"I'm pregnant..." I said more to myself than to anyone else in the room. "I'm going to be a parent."

"We…" Raziel corrected, cautiously standing beside me. "We are going to be parents."

He was looking at me worriedly, like I would say or do something to deny his claim for the children. I would never do that, not to him and certainly not to my children. Even if things don't work out between us, I would never cut Raziel off from the children's lives. I would never deny my kids the privilege of knowing their father.

Children… I'm having twins. I'm going to be a mother! Oh god what do I know about raising a child? Absolutely nothing! I'm going to have two at the same time? What if I suck at being a mother? What if I do something I'm not supposed to? Or say something I shouldn't? What if…

All of the what ifs and questions were cut off with the feel of Raziel's warm hand covering mine. I looked up at him, startled. He gave me an encouraging smile like he could read what was on my mind. He gently squeezed my sweaty hand and whispered softly in my ear.

"It's alright," he said.

I realized I was on the verge of another panic attack before Raziel held my hand and calmed me down. I tried to answer him with a smile of my own but all I managed was a pathetic tilt on one edge of my mouth. I am seriously freaking out! Raziel was undeterred. He took my other hand and placed both back over my stomach.

"Close your eyes, Quinn." He murmured. I closed my eyes and felt him rest his forehead against mine. After a while I felt something warm emanate from where we were touching. "Do you feel that?"

Words cannot describe the feeling I had at that moment. I could feel two tiny hearts, beating in rhythm. Raziel was using his magic to help me feel the babies! I didn't realize I was crying until Raziel's hand came up to cup my cheek.

"It's you and me, Quinn. They're ours." Raziel whispered, wiping away my tears. "They're going to be alright because we're here to protect them!"