The Way to Eden

Justin arrived home with a sense of relief. He was glad to be rid of his burden and was satisfied with the result. He'd taken Henry to an old military friend's office after he'd secured him at the hotel. Kieran, his friend, had assured Justin that Henry wouldn't be able to escape this time, and Justin believed him. Back in their days of duty, both had saved each other's lives numerous times and they felt more like brothers than friends. Kieran was the only one from Justin's past who knew about his new family and what they meant to him. He wouldn't let Justin down. Henry would likely spend the rest of his days in solitary confinement under an assumed name in a maximum-security military prison and probably under constant sedation. He would threaten Tara and Todd no longer.

He'd gone back to the hotel to make sure Shannon and Jolene were okay and that they knew the danger had passed. Shannon looked heavily relieved as well. No doubt he was anxious to get Tara back on the road with him to start their family. (Justin secretly agreed with the young man and couldn't wait to hold his first grandchild either.) Jolene seemed delighted as well. She was already begging Shannon to take her to meet one of his co-workers. Justin smiled and shook his head at his son-in-law as he left. Shannon was probably equally happy to know he could take Jolene home for good at the end of the week.

Justin pushed open the front door lightly and walked into his house to greet his mate. He hadn't had a chance to speak with Sven for two days and he was anxious to be with him. He heard voices emanating from the kitchen and headed in that direction. When he entered he forebodingly took in the scene before him. Eden sat in agitation on Jeff's lap with Tara sitting next to them on a cell phone that wasn't hers. Todd and Nora stood near Sven against the far wall. Jeff and Tara exchanged calculating looks that couldn't bode well. Sven's face remained impassive to all but his love. Justin knew that look well. The blonde man was in full protective mode. Justin immediately walked over to Sven, angling past Todd and Nora, who toom the cue and stepped away to give them some privacy.

"What has happened?" Justin whispered quietly as he hugged his blonde love.

"Serpentina has become a problem," Sven answered, wrapping his arms around his mate's waist.

"Who is Serpentina?"

"I will explain later," Sven said after brushing his lips against Justin's briefly. It never failed to amaze Justin how that spark of electricity never diminished in the time since they'd first met. He nodded and stood back to listen to Tara's end of the conversation.

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A sister? Original Sin had a sister? Oh, this was too much. Serpentina couldn't believe her luck. She sat back in Sergei's chair and pondered the possibilities, wondering briefly how much the sister knew of Sin's activities.

"S-s-s-she never told me s-s-s-she had a s-s-s-sis-s-ster," she purred into the phone dramatically. "How come?"

"She doesn't like when I get involved in her affairs," the Texan accented woman shot back. "But since she's hurt, she's got no choice now. I'll ask you one more time, who are you?"

"I am one of her coworkers-s-s-s-s-s," Serpentina smiled. "Do you know what s-s-s-she does-s-s-s-s."

"I have a vague idea," the woman growled. "And I don't like it. What are you doing threatening her?"

"S-s-s-she hurt MY s-s-s-sis-s-s-ter," Serpentina hissed. "What do you s-s- s-sugges-s-s-st I do? Let it go?"

"From what I understand about your profession, that was bound to happen," the angry woman replied. "Sin's letting it go on her end."

"S-s-s-she does-s-s-sn't have that right," Serpentina said. "Have YOU ever been in a fight?"

"If you're asking if I've ever fought in your arena before, no I haven't," she returned. "But I ain't no stranger to conflict. What's it to you?"

"I've told her I have one of her boyfriends-s-s-s' friends-s-s-s in captivity."

"What!?!?!"

"You heard me right," the snakelike woman purred again, savoring the distress she was generating today. This would be a most enjoyable plan. The woman never fought before and Sin couldn't fight. Sin would feel what it was like to watch someone she cared about become permanently injured. It would be a most satisfying fight, Serpentina decided, pushing down the small niggling remnants of her conscience. She waited patiently for the new twist in her plan to unfold.

"Let me get this straight," the woman said once she'd recovered her voice. "You kidnapped some poor person to get my injured sister back to the ring?"

"Precis-s-s-sely."

"But she can't fight."

"But you can."

"I told you I ain't never fought in your arena!"

"Too bad for your s-s-s-sis-s-ster's-s-s boyfriend and his-s-s-s friend then."

There was another stretch of silence, but Serpentina didn't mind. She had all the time in the world to enjoy this and sat back to wait.

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Tara smiled smugly on her end. She caught Jeff's eye and nodded. Eden didn't look very happy about all of this, but Tara knew she wouldn't try to talk her out of this. Their alliance was too new and Eden still felt vulnerable. Tara felt a little guilty about manipulating the younger woman with it, but she had to keep her out of danger while she got Shane back. She also knew Jeff would likely get into trouble trying to protect Eden if she decided to interfere. She hated taking the problem out of Eden's hands but she knew the other woman couldn't win in her present condition and someone had to handle Serpentina.

She looked across the room and locked eyes with her father. He watched with an identically impassive expression as her "mom" did. She knew they also hated the predicament, but that she'd taken the only logical step. Now all she had to do was figure out how she would tell Shannon. Cringing inwardly at the thought, Tara turned back to the conversation.

"So you're saying it's him or me?" she pretended to sound anxious.

"Yes-s-s-s and no," Serpentina replied. "Yes-s-s-s I will . . . hurt him. No, I will not give up on S-s-s-sin."

"But if I agree to the fight, you'll leave her alone?"

"I will acc-s-sept the fight as-s-s-s-s her payment."

"When do I have to decide by?" Tara asked, knowing she'd get no time from the fighter. She just wanted her to think she was afraid to face her.

"Now or never, my friend," Serpentina answered. "I want to avenge my s-s-s- sis-s-s-ster's-s-s injuries-s-s-s and will do s-s-s-so either way."

Tara pretended to hesitate again. She could almost feel Serpentina's excitement through the phone. While she knew what Eden, as Original Sin, had done was wrong, she also acknowledged that every fighter knew the odds they faced in Sergei's arena and Boa was no different. Serpentina was taking her rage to extremes by involving innocent bystanders and that couldn't be tolerated.

"When and where do I have to go?" Tara finally sighed, giving Eden a nudge to put up a fuss.

"You can't DO that!" Eden called from her seat, half grudgingly, half meaningfully. Tara could see the younger woman wasn't in complete agreement yet.

"I s-s-s-see your s-s-s-sis-s-ster objects-s-s-s," Serpentina all but laughed into the phone. "You have to be here by Friday night. Bring her along. S-s-s-she will tell you where the arena is-s-s-s-s. I will forgo the flaming cage match and make it a regular bout, due to your inexperienc-s-s- se."

"Thank you," Tara said dryly.

"We will be the main event and will go on by 10:30," Serpentina went on. "Don't be late, my s-s-s-sweet. I will be waiting in the ring for you."

"I guess it's a date," Tara replied.

"That it is-s-s-s-s," Serpentina hissed. "S-s-s-see you then."

Tara heard a click and hung up Eden's phone.

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Eden sat back dejectedly against Jeff's chest. She was feeling all sorts of unease over this and lots of guilt, too. She knew Tara, as Rio, was a great fighter and wasn't worried about Serpentina getting the better of her. She was scared that Samuel would kill the smaller woman instead. She was so lost in her thoughts she didn't notice the dark haired man come over to her until he was squatting down front of her.

"You look very upset, Eden," he said matter-of-factly.

"You know my name?"

He merely nodded and held his hand out to her. "We need to talk, you and I . . . and Sven."

Eden looked nervously at the proffered hand and back up to his piercing brown eyes. Then she looked over his shoulder at Sven.

"It is all right, Eden," Sven said soothingly. "We do need to talk and you will not be harmed."

Eden swallowed and turned to look at Tara uncertainly. She felt Jeff tense, though he did nothing to stop the two men from taking her.

"It's okay, Eed," Tara smiled. "I told you Sven adopted you. That means Justin did, too."

"But . . ."

"They aren't him," the small redhead said gently. "Trust them. You have to trust someone."

Eden looked at her for a long time before turning back to Justin and slowly taking his hand. He helped her up and Sven moved to her other side. Justin looked back at Tara for a moment.

"Do not think we will not discuss this new development fully when I am through."

Tara grinned cheekily back at him. "Wouldn't dream of it, Dad."

"And call your husband," he grunted over his shoulder as he'd turned back to Eden and helped her to the next room.

When they got to the next room he gestured to a couch where Sven had already settled himself. Eden stood nearly as tall as he. She blushed and looked down as she sat. Samuel had always hated for her to make direct eye contact whenever he decided to "have a talk" with her. Justin sat on her other side, gently raised her chin and looked at her. "Never fear me," he said softly. "I will not harm you."

She stared at him in silence, unsure of what to do. She didn't think he would harm her, but Samuel had fooled her on several occasions when she was growing up and she found it difficult to believe the two men she now sat with.

"I will not," he said again. "I am your father now."

Eden trembled a bit but said nothing.

"I told you she was hurt very badly," Sven said quietly from behind her.

"I can see that now," Justin sighed. He looked behind her at Sven then back to her face again. "I know you have no reason to believe us, but we mean what we say. We had to convince the other two as well."

"Tara seems like she belongs here," Eden finally said.

"She does," Sven said.

Eden turned to look into his gentle eyes. "I don't."

"Why do you say that?" Justin asked softly and Eden turned back to him.

"You know what I am," she said sadly. "You know what I've been conditioned to do."

"I know what you were," he replied. "My other daughter was the same. It made no difference then, or now."

"He's coming for me," she said feeling the tears slip down her cheeks. "He's coming and she's going to walk right into his path."

"You are talking about your trainer again, are you not, my dear?" Justin asked. Eden merely nodded.

"He will never have you again," he said with a note of steel lacing his words. "And he will never take either of my other children."

"But he's so determined," she sniffed.

"But he is not half as determined as we are," he replied.

"And he will not take you from us," Sven confirmed.

Eden let the tears fall as Justin gathered her into his arms. She didn't know if she could trust in his last words, but she knew she could trust in his conviction. Sven held her from behind and she reveled in the feeling of safety for a while.

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"'Ow ya gonna 'xplain this ta Shan?" Jeff asked Tara as she toyed with her cell phone. He knew his best friend was going to throw a fit when he heard what was going on.

"I'm not sure," she said sadly.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"Don't be," she grinned. "I probably would have done this anyway."

"Yeah, but Shannon's not going to absolve him that easily," Todd broke in, gesturing to Jeff.

"True," Jeff confirmed.

"It's not like he has a choice now," Nora pointed out. "Tara had to do something to get Shane back. Eden isn't able to fight."

"Since when do you defend my sister," Todd asked with a smile.

"I'm just saying," Nora grunted. "Something had to be done."

"Yeah, but . . ."

"Quit picking on her," Tara interrupted her brother.

"YOU'RE defending HER now?" Todd squeaked.

"Ya neva kno' 'ow alliances are made, huh, buddy?" Jeff laughed.

"Yeah," Nora stuck her tongue out at the big redheaded man and walked away smirking.

Todd locked eyes with Jeff and smiled again. This trip has proved interesting so far, Jeff thought. Those two were definitely making progress. Jeff turned back to Tara who shrugged and sighed, then dialed her cell phone. He felt for her. This would be one very painful phone call.