Pawned Virtue - #wattys2015 BK4 TPBS - Completed 1st draft

-40-

Not edited.

"You have a date with Lucas?"

Keiran was looking at her like she'd suddenly grown horns on her head, wore a hooded cape and carried a sythe.

"Yes."

"As in your husband Lucas?"

"Yes."

"He asked?"

"Yes."

"You actually accepted?"

"Yes."

"And he was the one who brought you home earlier?"

"Yes."

"There was no fighting or screaming or threats of an apocolypse?"

"No."

"When is this date?"

"Tomorrow."

"Are you sure?"

And there was the big question.

"No."

"But you're going to try anyway?"

"Yes."

"Is this really what you want?"

"I don't know."

"Do you love him?"

That question was one that Keiran had asked many times before. The answer had always been a resounding no.

"Maybe."

"You've decided to give him a chance?"

"I guess."

"Tara" he scolded "it's either yes or no."

"Then... yes."

Keiran jumped up on her bed and started to bounce.

"It's about damn time!"

Tara giggled as she watched him in amusement.

"Oh shit!" Keiran stopped his bouncing suddenly and lept from the bed. "What are you going to wear?"

Tara started to pale. She loved Keiran, she really did, but he was the epitomy of colour match, style and sexy. If he thought something looked like crap then you could believe that it actually did and when it was a special occassion his claws came out and he was even fussier than normal.

She gulped.

He moved quickly to her closet before shoving things around.

"Where's he taking you?"

"I don't know. I didn't ask."

He stopped and looked at her as his mouth dropped.

"How could you not ask? Don't you know how important it is to wear the right thing? Oh my God Tara! Have you learnt nothing from my teachings?"

He started to pace the room. She felt like she was at a tennis match with long lobs going back and forth as she watched him.

"It's just..."

Keiran stopped and snarled "Don't you dare say it's just a date or that it's just Lucas! This is your very first official date girl so there's no it's just" he threw his hands up into the air "Thank God I'm here or you'd probably wear your boy clothes!"

Tara started to laugh while Keiran looked on in horror.

"It's ok Ke. I'm sure it won't be that special." Inside she could hardly contain the flutters of nerves and excitement.

Keiran dropped to his knees in a dramatic show of disappointment before looking upwards.

"Where did I go wrong Lord?"

Looking back at Tara his eyes sparkled as he got up and crossed to where she was sitting on the windwo seat.

"So. Come on. Tell me. How did he ask you?"

"Uh... he just... asked?"

"Say what? Girl you better not be fooling with me. Where were you? What exactly did he say? Was there romance? Did he declare his love for you? Did he.."

Tara took Keiran's hands in her own.

"Ke... breathe. He asked me in the car before I got out to come inside..."

"What did he say?"

"He just asked if I'd like to have dinner with him tomorrow."

"And you said yes? Of course you did! You're going on a date!" He rolled his eyes at his own stupidity as Tara giggled yet again at him.

"What else did he say? Did he tell you he loved you?"

"No he never said he loved me Ke and I don't expect him to."

"What?! Why not?" Keiran looked mortally wounded.

"He doesn't love me Ke and I'd prefer he didn't lie about something like that."

Keiran slumped back and looked at her in shock.

"Tara, Lucas loves you more than you realise" she shook her head "yes he does Tara. If I didn't believe that I wouldn't tell you he does. It's obvious. Very obvious. We can all see it."

Again she shook her head.

"No Ke. I know he cares..."

"He more than cares Tara. He loves you and stop shaking your head at me young lady. I know love when I see it and that sexy man of yours is glowing with it."

"I don't know Ke. What if..."

"Tara we can live our lives on what if's or we can grab what we have and love like never before."

Tara looked at him with tears in her eyes. She understood where his words were coming from. A mother who considered him an abomination because of his sexuality almost had him walking away from Jace and living a lie. In the end it was she who left while his father Peter stood by his son with pride.

"I can... try."

Keiran nodded a firm nod and with a grin he stood up.

"Now go to bed silly girl. We're going shopping in the morning."

Tara gulped.

**********

I loves Keiran!