Fate had been a unkind mistress to Dakota and Jade. They being ripped apart harshly from the seems by forces either of which couldn't stop. She blamed herself no matter what. The things she had done... it was the only thing she could do. Blame herself.

"Why.... why would bad people want mommy?" There was a frightened look on the six year old's face as she looked up to her mother, silent tears falling from the child's face.

"Bad people have always wanted mommy as their own, sweetie. I am powerful.... yet weak," She wiped her daughter's tears away and tucked a few wild curly strands of hair behind her daughter's ear, "Everything will be okay in the end, dear. No matter what happens... I don't give up."

Powerful.... yet weak.

That's all Jade would ever be. Weak willed. To get in the situations she did. To put herself, the people she loved, the people around her, and most importantly her daughter endanger like this. And now she was on the run, with nowhere to hide.... from him. Romax. He wanted her badly. Enough to kill anyone in his way... to have her for his own. For her daughter... for the man she loved... she couldn't go down without a fight, or at least try to hide the best she could.

With her sleeping six year old in her arms, Jade walked swiftly through westend. Knee high stiletto boots clacked against the pavement as her hurt and confused jade hues shifted every so often. She was scared. She was scared s***less. She wouldn't even try to lie about that. It was the dead of night. Creeping darkness and shadows about. Every sound made her jump. From her actions and her outfit, she looked like a tweaked out hooker. Probably not the most uncommon sight in west end.

But what made her jumpiness and the snug form fitting black vinyl lace up corset/mini skirt with laces tying up her thighs combo a not so common sight was the sleeping pajama'd six year old girl clutching onto a teddy bear in her arms. That gained more looks than her actual appearance from the few people still out. That also made her pace quicken. Jade shifted her daughter lightly over her shoulder.

A few minutes later mother and child stood before Dakota's appartment, that lower lip already trying to tremble. She thought back to the last time she passed through that door. Everything was okay. Right. Perfect. With him. The very day all the mess started she had admitted to herself that she wanted more than just fun... just the "anti-relationship". She wanted him. Funny how things go, admitting love to yourself... then having that emotion... the very memory of a person stolen from you from day to day. Honestly, she didn't know who'd she be from one day to the next. She didn't know who'd she remember or forget. But everytime she got the least bit of sanity, memory back... he gnawed his way to her. All she wanted was her baby and him. She had her baby back... now she needed to get to him.

It was late, yes, but she was hopelessly hopeful that maybe... just maybe he'd still be awake. That maybe at that moment he couldn't sleep, laying in bed worriedly thinking about her as she stood at his very doorstep. As a helpless sound slipped past her lips, she lightly leaned forward to set her forehead upon his door. Jade set her knuckles on the door and began a series of knocks.

"Da....Kota? Please be up... Please wake up.... Please be in here.... It's Ja...Jade... Please..." She tried to keep the quiver from shaking her voice and the desperation from being to strong. But at the moment, desperate was her every being.

As Jade heard Luke, she leaned back and looked at her sleeping daughter just to make sure the noise hadn't awakened her. Claira was still sleeping soundly on Jade's shoulder. She ran a hand through her daughter's wild mass of black locks as she rocked her lightly. She tensed as she heard movement, her eyes darting left to right only to calm after realizing it was coming from inside the apartment. She let out a relieved gust of air, for two reasons. One, he was there. Two, it wasn't Romax creeping from the darkness around her.

He whipped open the door and she couldn't speak... not yet. She had to take him in... as if at any moment her right mind would be gone and she'd fight to get to a evil hand awaiting her return. She didn't answer, just looked at his face... her hurt and confused jade hues studying him, his every worry or concern that had seeped into his expression and most importantly the determined look in his deep chocolatey eyes.

A hand went to touch his bare chest, skimming over the tattoo that she loved. His. The one that spelled Dakota Steele. Her lower lip finally worked up a tremble that had been threatening to break free. She didn't stop it as it started. She couldn't. Jade knew at the moment that silence wasn't golden. She needed to speak. Her silence was killing him, not knowing if she was okay or not.... if she had brought the madman with her.

She stepped forward slowly, not knowing if he would force her away or not. Jade searched his eyes with her lost jade hues before she set her cheek onto his chest, her free hand snaking around to clutch him. What she couldn't express in words, she could express in her actions. He seemed to understand as he wrapped his arms around her, a hand going up to stroke her hair. If he didn't understand the situation, he at least understood that at the very moment she was in her right mind and she was sane - with him. There was even a heavy sigh of mild relief. Not that it was over. Even he knew it was far from over.

She finally opened her mouth to speak. At first nothing but a crackled whisp of air slipped out. Jade took a gulp before starting again, "Dakota... I'm... in trouble." It was probably the understatement of the year from her, but it was the best her fretting mind could do. Crimson tears welled up and silently started to stream down her face and onto his bare skin.

He sighed. Dakota knew that much and he knew that they both were in over their heads. He nodded, more for his own benefit, then set a kiss to the top of her head, "I know, Jade baby, I know. Let's get cha two inside, hm?"

Jade nodded and they went inside. He let her go to lock the door, even double bolted it. Maybe to calm both their minds, though they both knew that the forces they were dealing with at this point would pay no heed to a simple lock or two. As Dakota locked the door, Jade moved to the couch and gently laid her sleeping daughter onto it. Claira made a small noise and clutched her teddy bear, nuzzling into the couch. Jade quickly wiped the tears from her face and grabbed the yellow blanket on the back of the couch. She covered her daughter up and leaned down to set a kiss on the girl's forehead, "Sleep tight, my little Bella." A finger lined her daughter's face, putting the six year old into a sound sleep. She was saving her from having to hear anything of the conversation about to unfold.

Jade stood straight and turned to look at Dakota, hands moving to her hips. His gaze shifted from Claira to Jade, yet said nothing. Lord knows that he had a million things to say and ask, but he didn't know what exactly to say. They stood there a brief moment, taking in each other again, before she shifted and started to pace around the room in all her glory - tight corset and mini skirt included.

Her fretting jade hues were on a downcast to the floor as she paced, stiletto boots clacking on the floor. Her hands still on her shapely hips as she started to speak once more - her tone more defined and less shakey though it held a twinge, "We have to run. We have to leave here. We have to leave before he catches up, before he notices I'm gone. I have to hide. I can't go down like this... A friend offered to let us stay on his ship out in a far off cove... We have to go somewhere.... far." She chewed on her lower lip and stilled, locking their gazes, "We have to go."

She knew it was a lot to ask of him, to go with them, but she needed to know if he was going to stand beside her - help her in her time of need or leave her like Damien did. Leave her alone. She needed to know that much.

There was a soft yet lingering kiss to Dakota's lips as she moved into the bathroom, a finger trailing down his chest until she finally closed the door behind her. In her mind, that was even a start of her gratitude towards him. It barely nicked the surface. If she could, she'd never stop thanking him.. ever.

She leaned against the door as it shut. Deep breathes. She just had to make it through the night. She'd be okay. Her daughter would be okay. Herself and Dakota would be okay. They'd all be okay. With a small thud, she banged her head against the door lightly. Jade litterally wanted to knock some sense into herself. She moved from the door, to the sink. She turned the warm water on and cupped it into her hands. A long sigh before she finally splashed the water onto her face, letting the warm water dance upon her face. After a moment, she opened her eyes to look at herself in the mirror. She even saw the hurt and confusion in her own eyes. Jade narrowed them at herself. When did she get so weak? She nodded to her reflection in the mirror. She'd get through the night. She'd get through this week.... even if the future scared her.

She dried off her face with the towel by the sink. She nodded once more to her reflection. It made her feel better. Jade stood straight, kicked out of her boots, and removed the hooker-fest of her clothing choice. Actually, it probably wasn't her choice. More than likely Romax's. After she shimmied into Dakota's big shirt, she tugged at the hem. It was a little shorter than mid-thigh... but one could expect that from her shapely form. Another sigh slipped from those crimson lips as she looked over the clothing she had stripped off. Ugh. She picked them up and tossed them into the trash bin in the bathroom. They didn't really fit, but she made sure they did. And after a few stomps, you better believe they did.

Jade pulled the bathroom door open and shut the light off behind her. She peered into the bedroom, pulling at the hem again. She knocked lightly at the doorframe and Dakota looked up, patting the empty space beside him. She nodded and made her way to the bed, laying beside him. They both turned to look at each other, Jade nuzzling into his chest. He clasped onto her hands, setting his chin on the top of her head.

As he laid there waiting for her, the thought crossed his mind that this would be the first time that he and Jade have ever shared a bed together. It was too bad that it had to be under these circumstances, when sex was the last thing on either one of their minds. As he laid eyes upon her, wearing his t-shirt, he offered her a soft smile as he whispered, "Beautiful." She laid down beside him, and they snuggled up together. As he rested his chin upon the top of her head, he spoke up first. "Talk to me, Jade. Tell me 'bout this Romax. Why does he want you?"

She cleared her throat, suddenly glad that he couldn't see her eyes... those scared eyes. She hated even the name, the slightest mention. "He's a slaver that's been after meh fer monthes. Ya remember Damien? Romax is the reason he left meh... though it was because I am weak." She shook her head lightly as her hands fidgetted in his, "I nae know why he wants meh... but he has told meh that he had never wanted anyone more..." She trailed off, shivering.

He had NEVER seen her so scared. He'd known Jade for a long time, long before they ever became romantically involved, and he had never seen her this scared. This was disturbing the hell out of him, to be honest, but his facial expression was one of compassion as he replied. "So that's the reason that son of a b**** Damien left you. He wasn't willin' to fight for you or protect you. Lemme tell you somethin', Jade. That ain't me. I'll fight like hell for you, and don't you ever let me hear you callin' yourself weak. That's the last thing you are, Jade. I'm here for you, and I'm gonna give you every breath I have to protect you, I swear to you." He meant every damn word he said to her, as his hand had begun to rub her back, trying so hard to get her to calm down. He wanted her to feel safe in his arms.

A soft smile formed on those crimson lips. At that moment she knew he was different, different from all the others. She shut her eyes and gave a soft kiss to his chest, though her hands kept fidgetting, "Thank you, Dakota." It wasn't that she was scared anymore, just nervous. She was too aware of him around her, so she spoke again, "Hina and I got into a fight over this whole thing. I... nearly killed my own sister." She shook her head, "She's fine now... though she wasn't that night. Romax came for meh in the alley way... and healed meh with 'is dark powers... He let meh feed off him..." She grit her teeth, "I can still feel him inside meh..."

He gently placed a finger over her lips as she began talking about being able to feel Romax inside her. "Shhhh, darlin'. He ain't here. Ain't nobody in this room but you n' me. Ain't nobody in this bed but you n' me. He can't do a damn thing to hurt you tonight, and as long as I'm with you, he ain't gon' do a damn thing to hurt you ever again." She'd kissed his chest, and he let a hand run through her midnight black locks, making every effort to pull her that much closer up against him. He then decided to make an attempt at getting her mind elsewhere, if only for a few minutes. "You know....I believe this is the first time that me n' you have ever been in bed together." As he'd pulled her closer towards him, both hands had slipped beneath her shirt, wanting to rub her bare back.

A small laugh fluttered from her at that, her fingertips grazing his skin. She leaned into his hands, just wanting to feel his touch, "Aye, but we have shared a couch before. Boy was that a night ta remember." A sly look creeped up at him with a light set of snickers. She was talking about the movie, of course. She gave him a small wink as another whisp of air slipped past her lips. Jade shut her eyes against him again.

"I swear......I never thought I'd find myself bein' this involved with you. I was always taken. You were always so damned beautiful, and so far above and beyond me. I've admired you for a long time, and I'm still havin' kind of a hard time believin' that me n' you really are together." All this was being said as he continued to rub her back ever so softly. He absolutely LOVED the feel of his hands upon her bare skin. "Even when we did start datin', I really didn't expect to fall for you like this. I figured we was jus' gon' have some fun, and that'd be that. But it's gone beyond that, Jade." And yeah, he was terrified of finishing his thought at the moment, so he just left it at that.

"Ain't cha glad ya got yer lil Carebear twisted around yer finger?" She tilted her head to look at him with one of the sweetest smiles her face had held in the longest of times. "Kota, we've always known that we'd be somethin' ta each other - may it've been friend's 'r even this. But I'm happier now that we're this. I've broken hearts ta stay with you." That caused a momentary frown before she smiled once more, "I guess it's my way o' tellin' ya... I... love you..." She looked down then. He could take it or leave it. She wasn't in the situation where she could tell him in a week or so, or wait til everything panned out. She had to act now because she wasn't sure what'd happen tomorrow.

Her comment about being his care bear made him laugh, and then, she said it. She absolutely blew him away with those last three words. Truth was, he'd been wanting to say it, but knowing that she knew of his reputation, he didn't want to scare her away by dropping that kind of bombshell on her. Her saying it to him was something he did NOT expect to hear, and damned if it didn't bring the most genuine of smiles to his face. "Jade...I am in love with you. I am so completely in love with you. You're my girl now, Jade. Oh my God, I do love you...." He leaned into her to finally let his lips meet hers. Passions ran high between these two, and it seemed as if opportunity was presenting itself tonight.

Jade tilted her head as he spoke, his words stunning her... but she also found humor in the way he let his feelings out in one big gust, as if he had been holding it in for quite some time. She was comforted by it, by the fact that he too had admitted it to himself before telling her. Then their lips crashed together in such a heated passion that it was the last thing on her mind to even stop a most beautiful thing. In fact, it wasn't even on her mind.

In the wonderous explosion of passion that was Jade and Dakota, things started to intertwine and deepen - he even found himself over her, starting to pull his very shirt off from her when it looked so right on her. He paused, lips painfully parting from her's as his gaze locked into her's, "Do you want this? Are you... sure?"

She didn't even have to think about it. She wanted this more than anything in the world at the moment. To make this perfect moment last forever. To be with him in this moment of time forever. But they both knew that things were about to get harder instead of better. The harsh reality of things were that they were about to be on the run - together, in hiding - together. They'd make it through.

Jade nodded sagely. The only thing she needed at the point in seemingly stilled time was him. He could make her forget everything, and she knew he would for her at the drop of the hat. He gave her one small questioning look before she reassured him by weaving her fingers through his thick hair and pulling him down to meet her lips once more. In that action, everything around them stilled.... everything else was lost. Every worry gone, any doubts gone. It was only them.

Every movement seemed destined. Every shuddered breath beautiful. It was just that, beautiful. Everything was all but a explosion of color, gorgous colors. Her pale skin against his tan flesh. His warmth to her bitter cold. Every action undyingly sweet right up to her muffled cry out and his heavy breathing. That was pure bliss to even the Gods.

She held the covers to her small form as she slept, Dakota looking over her - noting her every small moment. A amazed smiled still on his face as he tucked a sweat matted lock of hair behind her ear, even placing a small kiss to her brow.

He wrapped his arms around her as he settled in against her, "Sleep tight, love. Tomorrow begins it all."

The outfit seemed a little more outlandish in the day time then it did that night. Especially with the baby in her arms, a decked out Dakota at her side, and a badarse dog trailing them. Yea, there were stares, more so because there were people actually out at that time in the morning. Let's just say that they got the lead out... and quick.

Quickly, and do I mean quickly, they got to the Chi house. She slowly unlocked the door, jade hues shifting about. Dakota slipped in first to check the house, top to bottom, before he let her come in. About ten minutes later, he called down to let her know it was okay. Jade and Claira filed in and right up the stairs. The two quickly dashed into Claira's room, Jade yoinking things out left and right. With a wiggle of her nose, Claira's bags were packed.

Jade smooched her daughter's head as she went to moved out of the room, "Get only your favorite toys okay?"
"MmmmK! Mommy?"
"Hm?"
"Where we going?"

With a sigh, Jade leaned over her daughter, "Far away."
"Why?"
"Remember the bad men?"
"Mmmmhm."
"We're getting far away from them."
"Oh...." she paused, "Where?"
A soft smile fluttered onto Jade's face, "A pirate ship."
"Oh boy! Really, mommy?!"
"Yes, sir-re! Get yer plastic swords an' stuff!"
"Awesome!" And the six year old giggled, bouncing to her trunk o' toys.

There was another light sigh as Jade stood up and mendered out of the room. There was an odd silence in the sorority house, like no one was home... or the calm before the storm. Jade chose the latter in her mind. She gave a look to Luke, who was sitting outside Claira's room.

"Watch 'er, boy."
And the dog promptly laid on the floor.
A big grin flashed across her face, "Good boy."
"Ain't he, though?"

Jade looked up to see Dakota smiling lightly down at Luke, leaning at her doorframe. She chewed on her lower lip and nodded as she looked over him. She took a deep breath. They'd get through this.

"Come on, darlin', lets get cha packed an' changed, hm?" he motioned her into the room as he turned and went in.

She followed shortly after him, shutting the door behind them. She sighed and grabbed the closest pair of jeans and a shirt. Which was torn and frayed pair of jeans and her "The Dynamic Duo - Jade and Rhy" black tank top. Jade smiled down at the tank top, hugging it to herself as if it was Rhy, but she was thankful it wasn't. Rhy'd never let her leave. Dakota, the good sport he was, didn't say anything about the small action. Jade had a rhyme to her reasons, he had learned... though it mostly never looked like it.

She shuffled into the bathroom, shimmying right back out of the whore-fest. She wiggled her nose and it was set alight, poofing away in flames. Now that was a way to get rid of something. She slipped into her clothes and the works as she started to brush her teeth. Great, she grabbed a baggy pair of jeans. She tugged them up and called out of the bathroom.

"Kooota! Grab meh a belt, would ja?"
"Yeaaaa," he called back and moved into her closet... the huge thing it was. His brown hues widened a touch as he stood there a moment, looking at the various clothing choices before spotting the belt rack... with many belts on it, "Which oneeeee, Jadddde?!"
"Any one!"

Snagging the first of the many studded belts, he slipped out of the closet and into the bathroom, "Here, baby. I hope you ain't plainnin' on bringin' all that."
Jade wiped the last bit of toothpaste from around her mouth and gave him a tip-toed smooch, "Nae. Jus a few things from meh drawers."
His brows rose, "Ya mean there's more?" a smirk formed, "Dear lord, Jade."
"Pffft, I have been 'round fer over two hundred years, ya know," she smirked back as she looped her belt through the belt loops.

They went out of the bathroom, Jade grabbing a duffle bag. It'd hold at least two weeks worth of clothes in there if she packed tightly. She put the duffle bag onto the bed and started scuttering around her room, digging in this drawer and that as Dakota leaned on her vanity, watching her.

"Ya sure that yer 'friend' isn't sketchy?"
"He isn't. He works for some family. Trust meh, if this pans out ta be sketchy, he'll lose more than 'is damn job," Jade gave him a pointed look at that.
Dakota nodded, knowing the meaning behind that. He knew her family was tight and any betraying that surely meant death.

She flickered around, tightly pressing this and that in the bag. Comfort meets versitial. Meaning, it was okay for everyday activities and it would allow her movement when push came to shove. It rounded out to be a lot of tight fitting tank tops and loose jeans. Not too loose, falling off or anything, and not too tight to where she could think that the jeans were her skin! Dakota's brows shot up at her underwear choices.

"Butt floss?"
"Sexy butt floss, thank-a-you!"
"Won't deny it, but won't that... ride up or anything? Hinder yer fightin'?"
"Not unless Romax's evil plans suddenly change ta 'give Jade a wedgie'."

They both had to laugh at that. She zipped the bag up after throwing in a brush, tube of lipgloss, and a tube of push up eyeliner (which she totally put on, though Kota yelled at her not to). Jade pulled her hair into ponytail and turned to look at him.

"I think I got everythin'."
He looked to her cute lil toes, nails polished black, "Ya got shoes for them feet 'r ya jus like goin' barefooted?"
"Damn!" She pulled out a pair of unpacked socks and slipped them and her trusty old pair of converses, "Okay, now everythin'."
He went to say something, but stopped himself as if he didn't want to believe what he was about to say. Dakota started again, "Weapons?"

Jade nodded, pointed to her fangs, then held out her arms. Blades started to extend from her wrists, but didn't come out their full foot and a half length. His eyes widened a tad as he stood a moment in silence. It was as if his brain was trying to rewire itself on how to think of Jade. It wasn't that he thought less of her, or even that he was scared. He was far from scared, but closer to amazed. It was a funny thing how much you could learn from a person in times like these. After the moment, he nodded.

"How 'bout fer long range?"
"Gotta gun in the closet."
"Get it."

She moved to the closet and pulled out a gun case. Jade flipped it open and pulled out a twenty-two MM pistol, holding it up, "It ain't much and it ain't that powerful, but I got one helluva aim." She gave a smirk as checked the clip, snapped it back in, then flipped the safety on.

"That'll do," he nodded as she tucked in the back of her pants, pulling her thin old and faded "Jade-Zilla" hoodie on.

She looked over the room, feeling that something wasn't done. She looked over to her nightstand and saw the diary. She held a finger up to him and pulled the diary towards her. Dakota nodded as she sat and started to write. After a minute or two, Jade placed the diary back and stood.

"Ready?"
"Ready."

They both made towards the door after Jade plucked up the bag. She sighed as she gave one more glance to the room and flicked the lights off. It should've been a death sentence to her. She pulled the door shut and Claira came running out of her room at the same time. Luke looked up and sat up as Jade and Dakota met Claira in the middle of the hallway. Surprisingly, she only had her teddy bear, a barbie, and a few plastic swords - though her suitcase was magically trailing behind her.

"That's it?"
"Mmmhm. I wouldn't want to lose anything! But Georgey Billy Joe Fred Bobby The Third HAS to come!" A nod nod from the wild lock. Seemed she had found herself in a little pink sundress with her little pink ballet slippers.
"Oh he can come too!" Jade smiled lightly as Claira found herself holding onto Dakota's hand. She cast a wink to him as they all started down the stairs.

They were at the door when Jade bolted to the kitchen, "I have to write a note to the girls!" She ran, grabbed a pen and paper, and scribble something - meaningful. She tacked it onto the fridge door and bolted back to the front door.

They went out, bags and dog in toe and caught a cab. Soon, they were looking at a hidden away cove as they stepped out of the cab. The cab pulled away as they stepped out. Claira started to tug on Jade's hoodie.

"Mommy, is that the pirate ship?!"

Low and behold, there was the ship that Damon promised.

She nodded, leaning down to kiss her forehead, "Mhmm, baby. That's our pirate ship."