What Price Pleasure
Anita and Tam Finally Talk

BY: Cassy

Disclaimer: This was originally done in IM with Nuyourican. I had to change a few details from the original form to make it fit where I wanted it in the story line.

"You mean that other than the day you had that dream, that was the only time you've talked with JC recently? Wow!" Lyza exclaimed to her friend.

Tamara answered glumly, "Yeah, but other than giving the baby a name to look forward to, we didn't really *talk* talk. We're gonna have to eventually, though...and I'll need to talk to Anita...and most likely Richard as well. This effects them after all, whether they think so or not." She sighed, resting her chin on her folded arms on the table. "I like Richard...most of the time. Don't know why, but sometimes I get the feeling that he thinks I'm just a whore...I still remember his reaction when I finally gave in to Asher's advances."

Lyza gave Tam's arm a light squeeze. "Well, there was a time when he couldn't talk, never mind the fact that he has many other faults," she consoled. "I talked to Anita yesterday, though, and she said that she and JC are not really talking, much less seeing each other, at the moment. She says she just needs some space and time. And last time I talked with JC, he was just torn and confused. So at least you are not alone," the vamp-kitty finished with a weak laugh.

Tamara knew her friend was trying to make her feel better, but hearing of Jean's mental state over this child just made her feel guilty. "Do you know where Anita is now?" she asked, not bothering to lift her head.

"She said she had two appointments at the office today, but she should be done with them by now. So I am not sure where she is at the moment," Lyza answered.

"Damien, can you sense her? I want to talk to her before the hormones shift again," Tam asked the ancient Viking.

Damien gave her a slight look of surprise before recovering himself. "She is at Richard's," he replied.

Caleb lifted his head out of the book he'd been engrossed in with raised eyebrows. "Now there is someone I would not have expected her to be with," he commented.

"I can see it," Lyza shrugged. When her "boys" looked at her in surprise, she added, "What? I can."

"Shit...I'll have to use normal travel to get there," Tam grumbled. "He wouldn't let Crystal install one of her portals at his house...can't imagine why," she added with an innocent smile. She knew exactly WHY. She was carrying the child of the reason why.

Lyza laughed, "Did you ask? I am sure she put one in the vicinity."

"Come to think of it...I think she DID hide one in the woods behind his place," Tam said thoughtfully.

"I wouldn't put it past her," the vamp-kitty giggled.

Tamara walked over to the portal entrance at Lyza's apartment and concentrated on Richard's house and surroundings. She was rewarded with a foggy view of his back porch seen through trees. Anita and Richard were visible talking, although no sound passed through the portal. "Well, here goes nothing," she murmured, then stepped through. She approached the yard with caution. It was pretty much a given that Richard had scented her by now, but Anita didn't like getting sneaked up on by ANYONE. Tamara didn't want to get shot for spooking her.

Richard caught the glimmer of a portal being used a few yards into the woods behind his house. He made a mental note to strangle Crystal. The LAST thing he wanted was for Jean-Claude to have a means of invading his privacy whenever he pleased. If the vampire needed to discuss triumverate business with him, he could damn well use the phone. The Ulfric kept his marks shielded for the same reason.

He recognized the scent of the new arrival and figured he better warn Anita before she shot first and questioned later. "Tamara," he said, moments before Asher's human servant cleared the trees to approach the porch.

Tam climbed the steps and nodded hello. "Sorry to pop in unannounced, "she apologized. "But I need to talk to you, Anita...and you too, Richard." She chewed on her bottom lip, unsure of how to begin.

Richard looked over at Anita, who sat with her arms crossed looking a little uncomfortable, and nodded. He then turned back towards the newcomer, shrugged and gestured to one of the porch chairs. "Care for something to drink?" he asked politely.

"Thanks, but no," Tam sighed. "I guess I'm just trying for a little damage control here...I'm sure you know about my pregnancy by now, Ulfric...it's weakened two previously powerful triumverates, by dividing everyone against themselves." She stared at her hands for a moment, then continued, "None of us can really afford that; too many lives are at stake...I will NOT give up this child, but we have to figure out a way to work around this...."

Anita stared at this woman that HER master and lover had sired a child on, and was at a loss for something to say. Part of her wanted to be furious at Asher's servant, and another part wanted to reach out and comfort her...and a small, secret part was sadly jealous of her.

Richard sensed his third's confusion. "I do know about the pregnancy, Tamara," he spoke, almost to just fill the silence. "I don't think everyone is against each other. This is just a curve ball that no one expected, so it will take time to get used to the fact. Everyone knows that you are keeping the child. so you trying to do damage control is not necessary. You're just going to have to let this run it's course."

'Easy for HIM to say,' Tam snorted mentally. 'He's not the one carrying this baby.' She figured she better give them a heads up on the most recent threat. "You two need to work things out with Jean-Claude soon, though...Belle has already launched an attack due to this...if she or any of the Council scent weakness or division in YOUR camp...."

"That won't be a problem," Anita interrupted, scowling. She had opted for her old standby...get pissed. "OUR triumverate has survived years longer than yours, and there has always been and always will be a division between the three o us. THAT is not a concern of yours. I have no idea what attack you are referring to and either way...."

"Anita," Richard placed his hand over hers, stopping her rant. Looking at Tam, he said, "Jean-Claude told me about the dream, and I'm sorry about that. I think...."

Anita was even more pissed. Both because she didn't see the connection Tamara was trying to make to them, and because Richard and Jean had been talking together without her. Didn't matter that she wasn't talking to Jean by her own choice. "You had a dream? then what the hell does that have to do with us? Seems more like an attack on you than it does on us," she fumed.

Tamara felt a little of her own bitchiness rise to the fore. She had to struggle with herself to keep from snapping back at the smaller woman. "Belle took Jean-Claude's form in the dream...at least he had HER eyes in it," she tried to explain. "She was trying to get me to kill the baby...said if *I* didn't, she *would*...just thought you should have a heads up in case she tried any of her tricks with you." Tam stood and turned to leave. Over her shoulder, she added, "For what it's worth, Anita, I will NOT be returning to Jean-Claude's bed if I can help it at all...or to Asher's...he and Gigs deserve a chance at happiness together, and I'm just an obstacle to that, the way I see it...I really wish this baby were Derik's. Just as Jean wishes that it was you instead of me that was bearing his child." She walked back towards the portal.

Anita stood as the other woman walked away. "Tamara." When Tam stopped, she walked over to her. "I'm...sorry. I know this is not your fault, and I have no right taking it out on you," she apologized. "I have no desire for kids...not with my life...though I obviously can't say the same about Jean-Claude. He's the one that wronged me, not you, and I should not take that anger out on you. I will talk to Jean-Claude, because you are right, we need to come to some mutual agreement. Thank you...and again I am sorry."

Relief flooded Tamara that maybe the St. Louis triumverate at least could heal from this unexpected blow. "Maybe you can get him straightened out, then. He' hasn't been around much when I'm awake, but Gigs said he's been lurking at Asher's a lot lately...being pesky...into EVERYTHING...I think she's getting more than a little annoyed," she said with a lopsided grin. Mentally, the image of Gigs bellowing that her son WOULD NOT be wearing peek-a-boo onsies nearly sent her into a seizure of uncontrolled giggles.

Anita attempted a smile. "Honestly, I have nothing to say to him right now...though I will see what I can do." She looked over her shoulder at Richard. He raised his eyebrows, but said nothing. Sighing, she continued, "I know this is a rather bad time to teach him a lesson, but this will let him see what his deception does to me. I am not saying that things will go back to the way they were, but I know I WILL at least have to work with and see him. So I will work through my issues as fast as possible...for all our sakes."

It wasn't quite what Tamara had hoped for, but it was a start. "Thanks Anita," she said, then stepped back through the portal. It shimmered and winked out behind her.