Light, Water, Muses, Book 6: Rainbows
an excerpt

++ Dace ++

Still can't believe I volunteered to bodyguard Darya's sister while she picks up their parents. I've heard bits and pieces of the horror stories from Karen and Dare when I'd been here in February, even more when Karen and Emily visited for my birthday. Davie filled me in on even more of her family's history while we drove to the airport, and set up shop in one of the bars. Their father is a real piece of work, in that 'my way or the highway' attitude that rarely ends in positive ways. At least when my idiot mother had pulled her crap, I'd just left, not willing to deal with the torture any more. Remembering the filthy bastard, only heartbeats away from raping me right there in my own bed, before I went animal and attacked him, still makes me grind my teeth. Davie has cringed at my stories, and tells me that I should pass them on to Dare at a better time. Might make her feel better, or at least give her some perspective.

The memories of her face as Davie announced we were picking up the parentals lingers with me, like a sharp smell. It was like someone slammed a manhole cover over that vibrant, sometimes bubbly personality. From snatches of commentary and the look on the other Colorado crew's faces, I'm guessing that it was a typical reaction.

Poppa Farazell better watch his step.

"Please promise me you'll be on your best behavior, Dace," Davie asks, half serious and half wry, as we head toward the baggage claim. "I can tell you want to hurt him, but he's still our father despite everything."

"That's why Karen sent me, instead of coming herself," I reply evenly, keeping the cat on a short leash. "Believe me; I've dealt with worse and weirder, but your old man better not fuck with family." My tone is placid and calm, but there is no mistaking the hot steel simmering beneath. Then I shrug it off, toning down the intensity, studying Davie's handsome face. "How long have you been running interference? And why would you do it if he's so against how you and your sister live your lives?" It isn't intended to sound harsh, and I can sense that she understands that.

"I'm the oldest," is her initial quick response, but she digs deeper, gaze turning inward. "And Father's expectations of me were never as high as they were for his little princess." I quirk a brow, surprised at the lack of malice in her tone. Sibling rivalries can be deadly, I'd seen it happen as a cop, and have always been glad to be an only child. "Dare had him wrapped around her little finger from an early age. It really hurt him when she came out to him. He wanted us to have the American Dream, you know? Yaya Adelphi taught us so many things before she died, even passed on the secrets of the family gifts. Emily has them, probably the twins too, but you know that already."

"So the whole family has the gift? Even your father?" Now I'm more curious than annoyed.

"No, Father doesn't have the gift. Yaya said that the gift only passes on to the women in the family, that the men don't understand it. When she passed away, he forbade us to continue any of the things she'd taught us, including speaking Greek at home."

Quirking a brow, I nod slowly. "And what about your mother? Didn't she have a say in your upbringing?"

Davie chuckled softly. "Momma's the reason I still have any kind of relationship with my father. She did what she could to help us girls, but Father's pretty stubborn, to put it lightly. She ran as much interference as she could, and we actually got away with a lot. He just wasn't happy that we weren't living up to his expectations, especially Darya." She smiles self-consciously. "You have to understand, Dace. I'm used to my father's stance on things, to not living up to his expectations. Darya's not. In a lot of ways, she's still that insecure little Daddy's girl, looking for his approval."

Oh yeah, I can totally see that in Darya. It makes total sense. The conversation is abruptly over as I recognize a slight change in Davie's posture, and turn to see a couple coming towards us. They're a good-looking pair in their late fifties, early sixties. Silently, I study them, feeling the mantle of Leonacouer settle over me like my comfortable play jacket.

Let the games begin.

"Davie, it's so good to see you again," the woman enthuses warmly, and they hug good and tight. Score one for mom.

"Hello, Momma," Davie replies. "How was your flight?"

"It was fine. But where's your sister?"

"She's back at the house, with the kids. Hello, Father." Even without the earlier explanations, I would have gotten the tension in the family by her tone and body language. I watch the man closely as he stiffly accepts Davie's embrace, his eyes cast off into the distance. "Father, Momma, this is Dace Bogart, Darya's sister-in-law. Dace, these are my parents, David and Brigid Farazell."

I offer a hand, flashing my disarmingly charming smile. "Pleased to meet you both. I can see where your daughters get their good looks."

"It's nice to meet you. I didn't realize Darya had a sister-in-law," David replies, eyes traveling the length of my body as if sizing me up. "I was under the impression her… partner didn't have any siblings."

"We're family by choice, not by blood," I try not to growl, swallowing my distaste for his lack of understanding. A deeper breath calms me, because I can smell the fear on him, buried under decades of discomfort and rigid control. It not just fear of me, is my best guess, as his nervous gaze flickers from me to Davie and back and forth. Bet he's spooked about seeing Dare after all this time. Good, he should be. That heart fear makes him more human to me, makes me hope he might be salvageable after all. So I pull out my best 'good cop' smile and catch his eyes. Pausing, I hold the restless gaze until I have all his focus, my power of personality washing over him. "You'll like Karen. She's the best kind of person. She's saved my life more times than I can thank her for. Besides, your granddaughter loves her immensely, idolizes her. And we all know that kids are the greatest judges of character, since they don't have any of those nasty prejudices we adults seem to learn along the way."

David blinks at my reply, and I know he understands me as he warily returns my smile. "Well, I'm anxious to meet my grandchildren and this woman that has made my daughter's life complete." And, with that, he turns to get their luggage, his wife following him after firing me a long, curious look. Damn, but she looks familiar…

It takes Davie's gaze a moment to swing from following them to staring at me. "Damn, Dace, I knew you were good, but that was… Thank you."

Hooking my thumbs in my pockets, I simply smile at her.

The trip back to the homestead is relatively quiet, Davie filling in her parents on some of the recent events. I can see the faint grimaces cross David's face whenever anything involving Janet is mentioned. It's obvious he has issues with the petite doctor, but I know that already. If only he knew just what a woman she's turned into. She is no longer was the teenager Darya came out with any more than Darya is that same young girl.

Walking into the house, I can hear Tiny's booming laughter and smile ferally. Oh, Poppa Farazell will be scared shitless if he does anything now. The Four Suits have painstakingly rebuilt their relationships in the aftermath of Chicago. Karen and her family will be well protected if need be. Tiny and Karen are probably the tightest of the four of us original aces, outside of me and the redhead I suppose, and Tiny certainly won't stand for his womenfolk being abused in any way, shape, or form. I follow his laughter and nearly fall over with my own at the sight before me. There stands Tiny in a classic bodybuilder's pose, with Cubby and Fawn straddling either bicep, laughing delightedly, and Emily standing on his feet with a grip on the man's belt loops as she stares up at them. The twins are stretching up to reach the ceiling.

"Unca Teal'c doesn't let us touch the ceiling," Cubby crows delightedly as he slaps at the surface.

Fawn's delighted giggling suddenly stops, eyes darting to stare beyond me, and her face turns serious. "Em'ly, your grampa and gramma are here."

Well that stops every discussion in the room.