“Dan, don’t blame her,”  Abyzou whispered softly, as Dan stared at the back of the lamia as she left the store, she had this numb defeated look on her, with her arms hanging limply at the sides in defeat like she had no more strength to lift them up.  There was also a slight curve to her back, one that looked slightly hunched now, like she was carrying a great weight on her back.

Needless to say Dan did not wish them a good rest of their day as they left.

The door shut with a click.  “Nix, go lock the door and turn the sign we are closed.”  he growled, and then he turned to Abyzou,  “Don’t blame her?”  he said, his voice low and cold. “That is twice now she has just barged in and tried to ruin everything, tried to ruin us.”

“I know, I really do, but she had no say in this sentencing, she is simply a deliverer of messages, the vote to have me kicked out was no ones other than the elders, they voted on it, it is cruel of them to make my own mother bring it, but she would have had no choice.”

“Had no choice?”  he shouted, “She could have stood up for you, her daughter, she could have realised that her daughter is not an idiot, instead she thinks I have turned you into a monster!”  his voice was raising louder and louder, the streaks of gold in his eyes were expanding. “I don't care what she thinks of me...”  he growled, “But if she thinks she can get away wi-”

“Dan!”  Abyzou shouted back at him, there was a hint of anger in her voice now. “It is not her fault!”

“It is her fault!”  he yelled, slamming his fist down on the counter, creating a loud bang that caused everyone in the store to jump. “Stop making excuses for her just because she is family, she is screwing you over and me as well in the process.”

“Dan,”  she said softly, tears running down her face, “She is my mother, if you can't understand that...”  she whispered, and without another word she turned around and slithered out of the shop and onto the street, her snake tail transforming into legs as she did so. “I- I need some time”

“Aby, wait.”  he called out after her, but she ignored him.  The door shut, and Nix who had been about to lock it stood in place frozen.  She looked over just in time to see Dan Kick over a chair and bury his hands in his arms.

“Dan,”  Amani said his name firmly, he looked up and over at her. “You need to go.”  she pointed at the door, “I don't care how much it hurts your pride you need to go after her and apologize, you have no idea what she is going through right now, instead of yelling at her you need to be there for her.”

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“I-”  he started to speak but Amani cut him off, pointing at the door and narrowing her eyes dangerously she repeated herself.

“You need to go.”  she growled.

Dan sighed and lifted himself up off of the counter, and without another word followed after Aby.  he stepped out into the evening air, and felt a soft breeze brush past him.  He was completely unaware of where she had gone in this dusky environment, but that was not going to stop him.

It really didn't take to long to find her, there was a little park a few blocks over, and he had guessed right that this was the direction she would go.  He found her sitting on a bench and there was some young punk just about the same age as Dan trying to hit on her…

Bad idea…

“Hey babe, common you don't want to sit out here alone do you? Its getting dark and-”  Dan grabbed him by the back of the collar and turned him around, holding the punk aloft with a single hand. “Hey what the fuck!”

“Leave before this gets ugly.”  he growled.

“Let go of me! I was here first she is my find.”

“I’m her husband.” he growled, this time deeper, angrier.

“Fine, fine, she's all yours.”  the punk grumbled something and Dan put him down, watching as he shuffled off.  With a sigh he sat on the bench, looking out over the pond he said nothing simply opting to sit near her and watch as the light of the setting sun danced over the pond’s soft waves.  

They sat there for a long time before he decided to speak, “I'm sorry,”  he said softly, his voice low and quiet, she looked over at him, her eyes red and puffy, but said nothing. “I am sorry I yelled, and I am sorry for not even trying to understand how you were feeling.”

“She is my mother Dan.”

“She is,”  he nodded.

“Do you think I don't understand? Do you think I don't know she chose her duty over me?”  tears were freely falling down her face now, each breath was ragged as she cried, tears of pain and sorrow, a deep sort of discomfort that settled in her chest like a thousand pounds. “My own mother Dan.”  he silently wrapped his arm around her and pulled her in close, not saying a word.

She wrapped her arms around him, hugging him powerfully as the tears and sobs racked her body. He could feel every shudder she had as it ran through him.  He wrapped both arms around her and pulled her in tight, placing his lips on her head he gave her a kiss and started to rock her back and forth.

“I know you only are with me because Amani asked you and and.”  

“That's not true.”  he said, stopping her, “That is not true in the slightest.”  she looked up at him, her golden eyes shining saddly in the evening light. “I love you Aby. I have told you this many times, many many times and it never gets any less true.”  he looked at her and placed a kiss in between her eyes. “What did I say?”  he asked looking deeply into her eyes.

“No matter what.”  she said, remembering the words he had spoken to her.  That was right, he had always loved her,   and she was being unfair to him, so very unfair, making him come all this way out to get her.  Softly she looked up from his chest and planted a kiss on his lips.

It was so soft and tender, Dan could almost feel the love radiating from it,  he pulled away from her, wiping the tears from her eyes and kissed her on the lips, this time however it was not a soft and tender kiss, but one with a lot of passion and fire in it.  She slid her hands all over his body as she tangled her tongue with his.

He ran his hands down her thighs wondering at the strangeness of it all when she was in her human form, it just wasn't quite right…  he slipped a hand through the slit of her dress near her thigh, and slowly worked his way up.  Pulling away she smiled and looked down at his hand lost in the folds of her dress. “Not here,”  she said, looking around, there were still some people walking around. “Let's go home, ”  she said sliding off of him, and pulling him along by the hand. “We will need the privacy for what I a going to do to you...”