Unraveling by Kelley

"Hello to you too. Quinn is sleeping. Please come in." He entered her sparse apartment, his eyes darting around the room, searching for his daughter. Hearing her laugh, he turned to find her smiling at him, eyes sparkling. "Don't worry, she's in the bedroom. This way." She took his hand in hers and led him to the small room. He closed his eyes and savored the feeling of her hand. They stopped beside a small bassinet.

He was afraid to move, afraid to breath, afraid that it would all disappear if he did. She bent and picked up their daughter, placing her in his arms. The site of Quinn, the feel of her, her sweet smell, mesmerized him. He found his way to the rocking chair, drinking her in. Her armor cracked a little watching him with Quinn. His fingertips trailed down her little cheeks, causing her to stir in his arms. Quinn's little fingers wrapped around his, her intense green eyes gazing into his. She shut the door behind her, leaving father and daughter alone.

He found her standing on the balcony, staring into the darkness, tension coming off of her in waves. She jumped as he slid his arms around her waist. "Didn't you feel me coming?" he asked, amazed that he had frightened her.

"Can you hear them?" She was close to panic, her eyes bright with fear. He closed his eyes and listened. The voices were everywhere, whispering, plotting. She was too powerful, she would expose them, she had to be destroyed before she destroyed them all, the child, the child, the child........ "I need you to promise me something. Promise me you'll protect her. Promise me she'll know who I am." Her voice was choked as she struggled for control.

"No" she hissed. "You have to protect Quinn. It's me they want, not her or you. She will not grow up in fear and on the run. If I'm with you we all are in danger."

Her arms tightened around his waist as her lips grazed his. "Make love to me Kevin" she whispered "I want to remember this time. I need a memory to take with me."

He took her under the stars on the balcony. No inch of her skin was untouched by his lips. Her legs wrapped around his waist as he slid into her. Their passionate cries filled the night air as her calm reserve finally broke. He sucked on the soft skin of her neck, biting into her as he came. Her teeth found his neck as she shuddered with pleasure, his blood flowing freely into her.

They held each other long into the night, neither wanted to waste a minute of the little time they had together. Not a word was spoken for there were no words to express what they were feeling. The voices were still present, far away but gaining strength. They were still wrapped in each other's arms when Quinn awoke at daybreak, her hungry cries stirring them.

She went to her daughter, lifting her to her breast, feeding her for the final time. She memorized every feature, every curve, every nuance. She bathed and dressed Quinn, rubbing lotion into her soft skin, the scent imprinted into her memory. Wrapping her in a blanket, she placed her in Kevin's arms. "I love you both. Don't ever forget that."

"I made sure the day she was born. She will be stronger than both of us." She smiled at her sleeping daughter, smoothing Quinn's dark hair with her fingers.

She stood in the room, listening to his footsteps walking away, feeling her heart break as each one took them farther away from her. When he reached the street, she closed his connection to her, the danger to him was too great. He blew her a kiss and stepped into the waiting car, speeding down the street to safety.

Once again she was alone. Once again she was an outcast, different from the rest of her kind. Once again she was threatened by those who wanted to hurt her. This time, however, she would fight back.