A/N:  I don't have much to say here, Little Bees. I hope you enjoy this chapter and please leave your love and feedback in the comments! Thanks so much for reading! 

Language Key:

Sesto [Sehs-toh] - Little one (male)

Elaeti [Ee-lay-tee] - Daughter

-------------------------------

Darius and I walked into a great sitting room where Vienne and Shane were sitting around the fireplace talking with Lana. Knox and Jaden were resting quietly in their arms and I smiled. With all the ruckus going on in this house, those two haven't been phased by anything.

 I'm not sure Knox and Jaden are just fire and earth masters. Those babies are far too calm not to be kues. Darius chuckled as we neared them.

You might be right, they haven't cried once today! I laughed as Vienne looked up at us.

"Jaz! You came!" She smiled rocking Knox's sleeping form in her arms. 

"Of course, I promised I would." I smiled sitting next to her. 

"Are...are you ready for this?" She asked as I ran my fingers through Knox's curly brown locks. 

"Yes, as ready as I'll ever be. Don't worry Vi. You'll be safe in the vault." 

"I'm more worried about you, Jaz." She sighed and I shook my head. 

"I'll be fine, this is what I'm meant to do. Darius won't let anything happen to me." I smiled. 

"But what if Sol..." She whispered tears welling in her eyes. I put my hand over hers shaking my head.

"Don't worry about that, whatever happens, you, Shane and the boys will be safe." 

"But..." She said her lip trembling and I really need her to stop, I know she's scared but I need her to stop crying. 

"Hey, li'kaeta," Darius said softly, placing his warm hand over ours, "They don't call me the Asarak Rotelinjo for nothing. Let me worry about protecting Jazmine. I promise you, I won't let Sol take her from me, from us. " He said as tears spilled over her cheeks squeezing our hands.

Thank you, ma'taeto." She whispered as Knox began to squirm in her arms, his eyes fluttered open and his golden gaze pierced Darius with a determined stare. His tiny hand smacked on top of his and he let out a loud coo, like a small battle cry. 

"Well said, li'kue." Darius chuckled as Knox gurgled, smacking his hand again and nuzzled into Vienne's chest his eyes drifting closed. 

"Well Knox is convinced by that." I laughed wiping my tears as Shane stared at us in disbelief.

"I'd say so, he's never made a sound like that." He breathed as Lana laughed next to him.

"Mm, all four of my sons cooed like that whenever they saw their father in his armor." She mused a smile spreading across her lips.

"You've got a li'kue on your hands. I wouldn't be surprised if this one is too." She smiled looking down at a sleeping Jaden in her arms. 

"Does that mean they'll have to fight de'mujos too? That the parasite won't end?" Vienne asked and I laughed shaking my head at her.

"Vienne, come on. Even I know kues weren't born because of de'mujos. My father was the first kue, he was a Mercatijan warrior for a good portion of his life before my mother was killed," I said taking her hands, seeing the worry creep into her eyes again, "Knox and Jaden being kues doesn't mean the parasite can't be cured. I will cure it for them, Vienne. This is my purpose and I won't let the parasite consume them. You'll never have to worry they might turn on you. I won't let that happen." I said squeezing her hands tight trying to sooth her fears.

Jaden erupted in a loud coo, his tiny balled fist raising in the air nearly knocking Lana in her jaw as his sea green eyes fell on me. I laughed nodding to my nephew. My goodness they really are aware that they're kues, I can see it in his eyes.

"Alright, sesto, we hear your little battle cry." Lana laughed tucking his arm back into his blanket. Shane and Vienne looked at each other and laughed. They laughed so hard tears rolled down their cheeks. 

Oh dear God, they've finally lost it. They are both having a mental breakdown right here, right now on the eve of Sol attacking the compound. This cannot be happening right now.

"I'm- I'm sorry, I just...Shane and I have no idea what the fuck we're doing right now." Vienne laughed as Shane nodded.

"How the hell are we going to raise two kues! We both vomited half way through your damn challenge Jazmine. We can't do this," Shane breathed,"I mean we're fucked anyway right? There's no way anyone can beat Sol." Shane said fisting his hands through his brown hair, his eyes wide staring at the floor in complete shock.

Yep. They've lost it. 

Darius, this is not good. We don't need this right now. I said squeezing his hand. I don't even know how to handle this, I've never raised children I have no idea how to comfort them!

Don't worry, litani. My mother can handle this. Darius smiled kissing the top of my head. I watched as Lana's cheerful brown eyes hardened on Shane and Vienne. She stood from her chair with Jaden still tucked in the crook of her arm. Her power hummed over her skin, standing defiant and proud like the Rekeseau Matriarch she is.

"You will raise your sons here. They are the reason Gaia brought you to us. And never think that you aren't strong enough to teach them what they need to know," She said her voice calm, but firm enough that it made Shane and Vienne gawk and listen to each word she spoke.

"As far as 'making it out of this'?" She said as licks of fire sparked around her and a flame burned in her brown depths. I gripped Darius' hand my heart pounding in my chest at the look in her eyes. Sweet Jesus Lana is fierce. 

Yes she is, just like *all* the Rekeseau dejainas. He smirked and I bit my cheeks to stop from laughing. I do not look that deadly. Darius' rumble of laughter filled my head at that thought.

The fuck you dont. You're *terrifying* when you're angry. He laughed and I pinched his side only making him laugh even harder filling my fucking head with the contaigious sound. 

"You two better listen well," Lana growled,"I will have none of that negative bullshit in my house. Jack and I didn't raise our sons to lose against de'mujos. This family has protected the Mercatija for centuries. The Rekeseaus will never be defeated by Sol." She finished and a roar of cheers erupted behind us causing me to jump in my seat as the room filled with Rekeseaus. 

"Why does your family do that?!" I laughed holding on to Darius as he chuckled.

"We get hyped up when mom gives her pep talks, li'kaeta!" Damon laughed reaching over the back of the sofa to ruffle my hair but Darius caught his wrist.

"Don't touch her hair, li'taeto." He growled and I beamed, I never realised Darius noticed that about me and what an odd thing to notice now.

"Oh sorry Jaz." He blushed as Amerie slapped him upside his head.

"You know better than that, I don't let anyone touch my hair but you, idome!" She said, slapping his head again.

"Ow, litani! Alright! I'm sorry! I got excited, woman!" Damon said blocking her smacks against him and I heard Vienne burst out laughing next to me and it wasn't a hysterical laugh, it was a genuine feel good laugh.

"Are you alright now, Vienne?" I asked as she nodded wiping her tears. Shane coming to her side to take her hand.

"Yeah, Lana has a way with words. I-I felt her faith in every one of you." Shane sighed kissing Vienne's hand.

"Yeah we're going to be fine, Jaz. I'm sorry we freaked out." She sighed shaking her head.

Litani, it's time for them to go into the vault. Darius said and my heart clenched in my chest. I thought I would be able to handle this, I know they need to go into the vault, but what if I never see them again.

You will, Jazmine. You will see them again, I'll make sure of it.

I took a deep breath and stood looking at Vienne and Shane a sad smile tugging at my lips, "You have to go in the vault now." I said as they looked at each other and nodded standing up beside me.

I looked around the room watching as Damon and Adonis hugged and kissed Amerie and Samaria. Jack was holding Lana whispering something into her ear and she grinned nodding her head. Byron and Meilyn were holding each other tight but I could tell they were arguing. Probably about her having to stay in the vault. 

It's for her own protection and someone needs to be inside who has the ability to fight, I know she wants to be on the battlefield with me, but I'm glad she won't be. One less person I'm putting in danger the better.

"We're ready." Shane and Vienne nodded to us.

The vault door closed with a solitary click and a spin of the lock that echoed up the stone walls of the compound. I took a deep breath trying to calm my nerves and the tears threatening to roll down my cheeks. I didn't think it would be this hard to leave them in there. I know they're going to be safe but this feels like I'm saying goodbye forever.

I clenched my eyes shut, angrily wiping my tears and choking back the sob rising in my chest. Darius slowly slid his hand to my waist pulling my to his chest, his other hand sliding to to base of my neck.

"Jazmine..." He cooed kissing my head.

"I know, I'm fine." I mumbled into his chest and he chuckled softly.

"I know you are, litani, but everything this going to be fine, this is not goodbye forever." He whispered kissing my ear. I sighed lifting my head to look at him and I gasped his face blurring out of focus.

Sol's crimson eyes bore into mine, his mouth curling into a blood drenched grin. 

I found you elaeti. His deep voice grumbled in my mind.

I hissed my fangs elongating in my mouth, my nails digging into Darius' arms as his face came into focus again.

"What's wrong Jaz? What did you see?" Darius asked his eyes full of worry as he gripped my shoulders.

"He's here."