Jade stood over a large metal cooking bowl. She was mixing something up, alright. The human was mixing up a potion. Since she wasn't technically a 'magical' being anymore, she had to make up for it.

The smell was horrible. She had a clothes pin over her nose. Jade had brought out one of her spellbooks she bought in RhyDin a long time ago. She was looking at the 'Nexus' page. Jade was making a potion to tear through the nexus point and visit Earth.

She looked down at her blue-green smelly bubbling mix, "Hmmm, seems 'bout right." Jade made a face, strained, and funneled the mix into two glass bottles. One for coming, and one for going.

Claira dashed down the stairs and skipped into the kitchen, "Mommy! Why does that potion smell sooo bad?!" She wrapped herself around her mother's waist, "And are yoooou sure you gotta go to Shiverport tonight? Can I go toooo?"

Jade put a cork in the tops of the bottles, "Make it smell better, baby." She snickered, then a sweet smile creeped onto her face as Claira twitched her nose and the house smelled like apple cinnamon. "My little Glade," she laughed a little harder as the smell settled. "But I havta go soon, 'r Mister Eric will come here an' try an' hurt your daddy."

"Why can't I go though? I haven't seen Mister Eric in ever. But! I did talk to him when you were gone," she nodded and pouted up to her mother.

"My Claira-Bella, you jus' can't go. It'll be dangerous. I'm sure me an' Mister Eric will be havin' some words," she ruffled her daughter's long curly locks, then moved, with bowl in hand and Claira stuck to her waist, to the sink to clean out the used bowl.

"But isn't there always with you two?" Sigh, Claira nessled her face into her mother's tummy, "You're not gonna stay a long while, are you?"

"No no, baby. Jus' a few hours. Jus' ta let 'im know I'm okay," Jade said as she started to clean the metal bowl. Green smoke flowed out of the bowl and sink as she cleaned. She waved off the smoke, "Gods." Cough cough.

"I'm glad yer okay, momma. It was pooositively hooorrible without you. I missed you so much, it felt like I wasn't even right inside," she clung to her mother, holding tighter now.

"Aw, baby," she set the bowl down and crouched, level with Claira. "I promise I'll never leave you like that again," she set her hands to the sides of her daughter's face, "Never. But it had to be done. I hope you can understand that and forgive me. You are my everything." Tears welled up in her eyes as she took in her daughter for the biggest hug she'd ever given.

"I understand, mommy. You didn't wanna turn daddy into a bad thing, so you became like him," Claira hugged back, her chin finding home in the nape of Jade's neck.

"Right, but now everything's okay. Mommy's just a little different," she said as she stood, wipping what tears had fallen. So emotional, a side effect of her emotions trying to fall back into place. Jade took her daughter's hand, "Come on, let's pick out mommy's outfit."

The two found their selves in Jade's closet. Well, half was Dakota's - but most was Jade's. And oh the clothes!

"Whatcha lookin' for, momma? Dressy 'r dress-down?" Claira tilted her head at the clothes in the huge walk-in closet.

"Well, I dunno. Iffin' I go too casual, it'll disrespect Mister Eric. If I go too dressy, then all the vampires who don't know me from the old days will think I'm tryin' too hard," Jade muttered as she did the same as her daughter, only stroking her chin.

"I think you should go dressy, because it's better to please Mister Eric than care about what those other icky vampires think," Claira little head bobbed in a nod, causing her wild head of hair to bounce.

"True, but I dun wan' it to start any problems," she gave out a long sigh.

"Lookin' pretty never started any problems that couldn't be solved, momma," Claira preened up to her mother, with a pretty little smile on her face.

"Aw, baby. You're so very smart," big smile, "Now what should I wear?"

"Well, mmm, dunno," Claira moved to look through the clothes. She went to Jade's dress section. She tip-toed to finger through the selection. She pulled down several choices, with many other things to go with the selections. Claira stood back to look at the row of clothes she set out on the floor, "What 'bout these, momma?"

Jade laughed, the looked down at the choices, "Hm, they're all so pretty. You did a good job, baby."

She studied each combinatio, and one really caught her eyes. It was a crimson dress with black velvet embroidery all along the bust, and the dress was strapless. Claira set out a black lace half corset, that went from under her bust to the middle of her tummy. The dress also had a slit on the right side and would extend to her upper thigh. Jade smiled and pointed to that one, "I think I'll go with that one."

"I knew you would! An' I picked it out too 'cause I knew Mister Eric would like it too!" Claira beamed like she just did a good deed.

Jade inwardly grimaced, but smiled at her daughter none-the-less, "Thank you, baby. Now run along so I can get ready."

"Mmtay, momma. But you gotta show me as soon as you're done!" With that, she bopped out.

As Claira shut the huge closet's door, Jade turned to pick up the dress. She shimmied out of her clothes, then into the dress. She put on the corset, the put on a velvet ribbon choker that held a bow in the front. Jade found some black bangles and slipped into her favorite pair of black pumps.

Looking into her body length mirror, she sighed. She'd have to do something about her hair. It was a little dull for the dress. She fired up her express heat curling iron and began to curl her hair just enough to give it a wave and a few ringlets. She pulled out her make-up box and gave her eyes a smokey look that made her jade hues pop. A little blush and then she used her manditory crimson lipstick. She rolled her lips and popped them. Jade gave herself a smile, then turned to pull down a purse. She didn't usually carry one, but now human she needed one. She pulled a back Gucci studded purse down. Jade beamed at it. It wasn't too big and she liked that. She piled things inside, including the two potion bottles.

Then she pulled down her weapon box. Jade looked at the contents inside, and grabbed three wooden stakes, a stake sheth, and a small dager. You can never be too prepared. She put two stakes and the dager into her purse, but left one out. Jade slipped the stake into the sheth. She put the sheth on a lacy band, then pulled it up her left leg to her thigh. She smoothed her dress over it, and she looked flawless. You could tell nothing.

Jade picked up her purse and looked into the mirror. She smiled, then kicked out of the closet. "Claira! You can come out now! I'm ready!"

Jade made her way into the hallway, and Claira ran flat into her. She bounced off and fell on her tush. Claira blinked and looked up to her mother, "Oooo! I like! You look sooo pretty!"

"Thank you, baby. Now, your daddy should be home any minute. You sit tight 'til he gets home," she kneeled, ruffling her hair.

"Well, actually," she tilted her head, "He's coming up the driveway right now." Nod nod nod.

"Ohhh," her lips made a little 'o', "Well, I'll just go out the back door the. Tell him I love him an' I'll be back later." She made a sheepish face and dashed down the stairs, and out the back door. Jade stepped onto the glass and pulled out a potion bottle.

"Earth. Shiverport, Louisianna. Fangsta!" She shouted and slammed the bottle to the ground. The bottle burst and shattered. With that, there was a fizzle sound in the air, a ripple in the ground where she stood, then there was a rip in the air before her. Jade looked at the rip for a long time before she heard heavy thuds in the house coming towards the back door. Without further thought, she jumped in.

It was only a second before the door pulled open. With a blink of an eye, Eric snapped her into the office. Eric had pinned her to the wall beside the door. He was still on his cellphone, mumbling mindlessly into it as he stared at her.

Eric shut the door to the office and spoke again into the phone, "Uh huh. Yeah. I'm going to have to let you go." He allowed the phone to shut, and it fell from his hands. It clattered to the floor.

Jade blinked up at the tall blonde viking of a vampire. She hadn't realized how frightening it was to be opposed by him, until now being human. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Jade cleared her throat, "You dropped yer cellphone, Eric."

"Jadden," he said breathlessly as his hands found their way to the sides of her neck, "You live." He pulled her to him, and set his lips to her forehead. After a moment, his lips retracked but he held her to him. This went on for a few minutes.

Jade knew how important this was to him, but now she pushed against the stone wall of his chest, "Eric."

"I know, Jadden," he breathed her in one last time before putting some distance between them. He turned and motioned to the long red suede couch in the office, "Let us sit."

She nodded, and they made their way to the couch. Eric took to sitting on one end of the couch, and Jade sat on the other. As she set her purse on the floor beside where she sat, Eric moved closer to her. She let out a sigh and an eye roll to him.

"It's dangerous for you to be here," he mumbled looking over her.
"I realize this," she sighed again.
"You smell of a..." Jade cut Eric off.
"Newborn baby. I know. A vampire friend back home told me... and if she hadn't, I woulda got it from the swarm at the bar."

He blinked and looked her over, "They did not hurt you, did they?"
"They made me uncomfortable, but I'm fine. I'da been toast if Marky hadn't protected me," she bit her lower lip again.
A soft smile formed on his lips, "He is a sweet brother, isn't he?"
"Yes, I do need to visit him more often," Pause, "Oh! Speaking of Marky! You know who you need to fire? That damn new bouncer outside!"
"Oh?"
"He rough handed me, called me a slut and a fangbanger, and nearly bit me!"

His brows furrowed, then a spark lit in his icy blue eyes, "He... did... what?" His lips formed a thin line.
"Oh Eric, not that look! Please! Don't kill the man, jus' fire 'im. I'm fine, Mark got 'im fer me."
He suppressed his anger, nodded, and spoke slowly, "As you wish, Jadden. But if he had hurt you, this would not be an option. Though, he has been letting in the worst of girls."
"I told him that!"

Eric took to a great laugh then, "It amazes me that you would fight such dangers to see me. It pleases me."
"If I hadn't, ye woulda been at my house tryin' ta kill my husband."
"This is also true. He is a good man, though he looks to a bottle to handle grief."
"Then we are one in the same. Not all of us tear men limb from limb when dealing with things."
His face turned cold, then warmed up once more, "You know me too well. I only help the world by ridding living or nonliving waste, all while dealing out my own personal therapy."
"Right right, keep telling yerself that so ye can sleep at..." Pause, sigh, "In the day."

A smile creeped over him as he looked over her once more, "You look.... ravishing, Jadden."
"Oh, you like this ol' thin'? Claira picked it out before I left," A proud motherly smile washed over her.
"How is my Claira?" He leaned into the couch, lounging an arm behind her on the back of the couch.

"She's a doll. I feel horrible for leaving her like I did. And no one told her what happened while I was gone... They all said that I was here! Even though it was all over the news in RhyDin. I suppose it was for the best, but I know she knew better. She's smart, and we have that link. But she hasn't grown anymore since last year, still nine in body. Do you think I should be worried?" She looked up at him.
"No. The higher power will deem fit when she grows. Do not worry. And yes, she called me while you were gone. That's when I took visit to your husband," he gave a small frown.

She blinked up at him, "You visited him? Eric, he said you helped with everythin', but not that you visited. What did you do?!"
"It was only once. And I did what needed to be done. I do regret to inform you that I planted a nice few hits on him, but I do not regret it myself. It was the only way to get him to snap out of his booze filled grief, and to bring you back," he nodded sternly.

Jade thought about this for a moment, then gave a swat at him, "You hit my husband!" Sigh, "Thank you."
"Anytime, Jadden."
"Dun think it'll be happenin' again."
"Still, the offer is open."

She laughed, and set her head to his big chest, "Eric, if you hurt him, I'll get cha."
"Don't tempt me," she could hear his voice rumble from deep inside him.
"Dun start that bullmess on me now," the grimace was in her tone.
"Yes yes, Jadden. I'm just glad you are alive and well. It would not be the same for your presence to leave any plane of existence for good."
"You know I will now die one day."
"Do not remind me of such horrors. That day will be decades away."
"Vampire and human time is so different. It will come sooner than you think."
He moved to tip her head up to look him in the eyes by her chin, "Why do you speak of such things when you have just graced yourself back onto this world and your's?"
"I'm just preparing you, Eric. And plus, by the time I die... I'll be all old and you'da probably disowned me."
A laugh rumbled in his throat, "Never, Jadden."
"We'll see when I'm in my seventies!"

Eric let her head fall back to his chest, "I never understood why you would wish to grow... old."
"I had to, Eric. For my family."
"There are potions... spells... incantations.... I would have found one that would have worked."
"No, Eric. I wanted it naturally."
"Dying and coming back to life isn't very natural."
"Jesus did it! So can I!"

That threw them both into a laughing fit, before she cleared her throat, "No... I guess you would jus' havta understand the want to grow old with someone. To spend the rest of yer life with someone, and live life to the fullest because of them."
"I suppose I'll never understand that. Why grow old and die when you could live forever?"
"I wouldn't put Dakota through that, Eric."
"He should be proud to have you."
"He is. He tells me so every night," she giggled like a school girl.

Eric gave a huff. He'd never get over the fact that she wanted a human and not him. But he was proud of what she had become and what she had made of her life. He would always remain the same. Cold, heartless. Only warming for a raven headed jade hued woman and her mini.

"Have you spoken about the new child?" He said, with a strange look on his face.
"Yes. We will wait until my body adjusts, and so I can see how it is to be human for a while. Then we will attempt for a baby," she nodded.
"What do you want?"
"Whatever I am blessed with. I'd like a boy this time. A little Dakota.... with little green eyes," she swooned. Oh how she longed for a child.
He smiled at her and at her happiness, "When you are with child, let me know."

She nodded at this and moved to stand, "I think it mayhaps be time to take my leave. Dakota's gunna be pissed when I get home, because I ran off without tellin' 'im. I couldn't 'r he woulda made me stay home."
He gave a single nod and helped her up, "Risks is what life is made up of."
"This is true, but yer not the one goin' home to a pissed native american!" Jade gave a laugh as she picked up her purse.

She took out the potion and looked at it, "This is my exit plan."
"Just use it in here, I don't mind. I'll make Travis clean it up as his new job. Plus, it is too dangerous for you to do it outside."

She gave another nod and went to slam it on the floor, but Eric caught her wrist.
"One thing," he wrapped her up before she knew it, moved her hair, and licked her neck slowly.
"Eric!" She stomped, "Right now, stop it!"
"Just a nip?" He teased at her fret.
"No! Let go!" A black pump found place on his shiney dress shoe.
He winced, "All I wanted was a taste." Eric preened down at her.
"And ye did, now let go!"

With a laugh, he let her go. Jade gave a big huff and wiped the spit from her neck.
"That was gross, Eric," with that, she slammed the glass bottle onto the wooden floor, "1240 Appleberry Lane, RhyDin!"

The room shifted, and the floor ripppled. The air gave way and tore.
Eric gave her a long look, then motioned to the tear, "Go home, Jadden. And be safe. Remember, you may be human... but you're still Section Five's Sheriff."

"What?!" But before she should jump into the tear, or jump down Eric's throat - the nexus engulfed her. And she was gone.

But she reappeared with a poof! standing on Dakota and her bed. Dakota of course was brewing on his side of the bed. Jade blinked and looked around her.

She looked down at Kota, "Heyyy, baby."
"Jaaaade."
"I love you!"