Love and Mistakes Ch. 07-08

"What do we do now?" Jordan asked, running his hand over Sebastian's sleeping head. Dex sighed when he saw the gesture and saw the look in the young man's eyes; regretting that he had practically pushed his daughter into marrying Cory.

"Dad, don't go there," Netalia said softly.

Dex looked at his daughter and shook his head with a rueful smile. "You're just like your mother," he murmured with a grin. He sighed and handed Jordan a small duffel bag. "The three of you need to ..."

"Wait! Don't say anything else!" Netalia exclaimed. Dex looked at Netalia in surprise and his eyes narrowed as he read, "Cory's bugged the apartment."

"We go for breakfast, the time change is a killer," Dex said. Netalia nodded and grabbed her back pack.

"I'd better grab my books, I have class in a few hours," Jordan sighed.

~~~~~~~~~

"What do we do?" Netalia asked after their orders had been taken.

"You disappear for awhile. You can take Sebastian with you or I can keep him in Tria with your mom and the kids and I," Dex said. Netalia hesitated and glanced at Jordan who wore an equally troubled look on his face.

"We'll take Sebastian with us. He belongs with his mother," Jordan told Dex. Dex nodded; he got a good vibe from Jordan, a better one than he got from Cory; why he ignored that darker vibe, he didn't know.

"Cory's frozen my bank account. The only account I have access to is to the savings account that I opened when I had to start working," Netalia said. Dex growled. "I wanted to live a normal life," she reminded her father.

"I have a duffel bag of money in the trunk of the car. You'll take it with you," Dex told her. Netalia nodded and sighed as her father rushed them through breakfast.

Netalia buckled Sebastian into his car seat in the back of the car while Devon and Dex loaded bags of clothes and food into the trunk of the car. "I'm scared daddy," she whispered when Dex pulled her in for a hug.

"It's going to be okay kid, I promise," Dex murmured. Netalia gave a shaky laugh as her father kissed her cheek.

"Cory's going to be pissed at you Dev," Netalia warned.

"I know, but I'd rather have him pissed at me then kill you for following your heart. Especially when he's being like this," Devon said. Netalia raked her gaze over her sister in law and turned her eyes back towards Devon, a look of concern in her eyes. "We'll be fine Neta. I'm sending Aimee and Lizzie to Tria," Devon promised.

"I'll look after them as if they were my own blood," Dex promised. Devon nodded and gave his sister in law a hug.

"I'm sorry I got you into this," Netalia whispered.

"Just keep my nephew safe and don't hate me for what my brother has done," Devon told her.

Netalia gave a small smile. "I promise," she whispered. She turned as Jordan touched her shoulder.

"We should go," he murmured. Netalia nodded and gave her family one last hug before she climbed into the car.

"Now what?" Devon asked Dex as the car disappeared from sight.

"You get your brother to grant my daughter a divorce or I will kill him for even threatening to hurt my daughter," Dex said, his voice calm but deadly serious. Devon nodded as Darius pulled up with the spare town car.

"I'll do my best," Devon promised.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What the fuck did you do?" Cory shouted, swinging at his brother. Devon ducked the blow and grabbed his brother's arm.

"Cool off Core," Devon warned.

"You helped my wife run off with her boyfriend and my son!" Cory roared.

"Because you're out of control!" Devon shouted back.

"She is my wife, and she has no business being with any other man unless he is family!" Cory exclaimed.

"You're an idiot!" Devon exclaimed.

"I want my son back! I said you could take him for a visit, not leave him with that little whore!" Cory yelled.

"She is his mother Cory! She has a right to see him!"

"Fuck you!" Cory shouted. He swung at his brother again, this time his fist connected with Devon's nose. "Tell me where they are Devon, or I will fucking kill you!" Cory exclaimed, throwing punch after punch, connecting with his brother's face and chest. It took four palace guards to pull Cory off of an almost unconscious Devon. Devon's loyal guard Brett helped Devon stand.

"Get him out of here," Devon managed to say. The guards led Cory from the palace despite his screams and protests.

CHAPTER EIGHT

"Netalia, we're here," Jordan said softly. Netalia sat up and looked around. "It's just a small hunting cabin and we can only stay here for a few days, but we'll be safe. Nobody even knows I own this place," Jordan told her. Netalia nodded and yawned as she unhooked her seat belt. Netalia pulled a sleeping Sebastian from his car seat and carried him into the cabin as Jordan carried in bags. "Are you alright?" he asked as he set up the portable crib that Devon had sent.

"No," she admitted, placing Sebastian in the crib and covering him up.

"Come here," Jordan murmured, taking her hand and pulling her gently to him. He tilted her face up towards his and frowned slightly when he saw the silent tears streaming down her face. "Talk to me."

"I just don't know how all this happened. I thought Cory loved me and I loved him, I really did Jordan! I mean, I've known him since I was eleven years old and I never once would have thought him capable of violence," Netalia whispered. Jordan hugged her and sighed.

"I won't let him hurt you again Netalia, I promise. He won't hurt either of you," Jordan said.

"I'm more worried about him hurting you then me. I know he won't hurt Sebastian. He loves him," Netalia murmured.

"He can't touch me Netalia, I promise," Jordan soothed, kissing the tears away.

That night, as Netalia lay in Jordan's arms, warm and secure did she remember the flat, plastic pill container sitting in her medicine cabinet.

~~~~~~~~~~~

"How are you feeling?" Shella asked, sitting down on a bench next to Aimee. Aimee looked at Shella with a small smile as they watched Lizzie and Sam playing together in the surf.

"I'm worried about Devon. He had to kick Cory out of the palace. He'll be coming for Lizzie and me next. He'll do anything to get Netalia and Sebastian back," Aimee murmured.

"He won't get very far. Darius is the best guard there is," Shella promised Aimee.

"Excuse me ladies, Aimee, here's a letter from Devon," Dex said, joining them. Aimee took the envelope and opened it. She gasped and dropped the contents to the ground. "Aimee?" Dex asked, looking at the younger woman in concern.

"Cory arranged for your father and grandfather's murders!" Aimee exclaimed. Dex frowned, picked up the letter and read it.

"He also found out about Carter and Stacey and made it so that Netalia and Lucy to find them together," Dex said grimly. His eyes flashed with anger which turned to concern the minute Darius stepped up to them, guards closed around them and Dex turned towards the beach. "Sam, Lizzie, you kids need to come back here, right now!" Dex called. Lizzie and Sam ran to the adults, protests on their lips.

"Dex?" Shella asked.

"Not now Shel. Right now, I need for everyone to be in the panic room," Darius said gently.

"Get the rest of the kids Dare," Dex told him. Darius nodded and hurried away.

"I didn't expect you to face me yourself," Cory said in surprise when he walked into the foyer of the palace.

"You had my father killed," Dex growled.

"I apologize for that, he was a good man, a kind man, but I wanted to meet your daughter," Cory admitted.

"Why?" Dex asked.

"I saw her picture in a magazine. She looked so beautiful, innocent. I needed her," Cory answered.

"She was eleven years old!" Dex shouted.

"And now she's my wife," Cory said triumphantly.

"You killed my father just to get my daughter here?" Dex asked, his voice low but deadly.

"You wouldn't have killed to get back together with Shella?" Cory retorted.

"No, I wouldn't have! Shella loved Paul and was happy with him. It may have killed me to admit it, but if Paul was who she wanted to be with then as long as she didn't shut me out completely, as long as she allowed me to be in Netalia's life, then I was willing to live without her," Dex answered.

"You're a weaker man than I thought," Cory sneered.

"That isn't weak Cory, that's being so in love with someone that you put their happiness and their needs first," Dex corrected.

"Well, I guess I got lucky then when Paul died, because if he hadn't, you and Shella never would have gotten married and I would have gotten to not only marry your oldest daughter, but take her virginity from her!" Cory smirked. Dex saw red and advanced on Cory, intending to smash his fist into Cory's face and grinning with satisfaction when Cory's nose broke with a shattering crack. It didn't happen that way however; Cory pulled out a pistol and fired, hitting Dex in the center of his chest; the bullet struck just below Dex's heart, collapsing a lung. Cory slipped away while the guards trickled in, working desperately to save their king.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Netalia, what's wrong?" Jordan asked, hurrying from the kitchen when she cried out. Netalia stood up from the computer and ran to him, burying her face in Jordan's chest. "Lia, what is it?" Jordan asked again.

"Cory shot my dad," Netalia whispered before her knees gave out from under her. Had it not been for Jordan, Netalia would have crashed to the floor. Jordan carried Netalia carefully to the bedroom and placed her gently on the bed, returning to the living room only when Sebastian started crying.

"Is he okay?" Netalia asked from the doorway, her eyes red from crying.

"He's fine, just hungry," Jordan said, tickling the toddler, grinning when the boy giggled.

"I'll make something to eat," Netalia murmured.

"Stay here with your son, I'll make something," Jordan insisted. Netalia smiled and knelt down by her son who launched himself at her. "He's missed you," Jordan observed. Netalia's smile widened as Sebastian started pulling building blocks out of the bag on the floor.

"Something smells good," Netalia commented from the doorway. Jordan looked up and smiled.

"How's your dad?" Jordan asked.

"I don't know, there isn't another email," Netalia murmured.

"I'm sure he'll be fine, he's a strong guy," Jordan assured her, setting a plate of food on the table. "Eat," he added. Netalia watched as he walked into the living room and returned a minute later with Sebastian, smiled as Jordan carefully buckled the toddler into his high chair. Netalia sat down next to her son and took a bite of the food on the plate. "Will he eat spaghetti?" Jordan asked. Netalia nodded and grinned when her son dug into the plate of food.

"Thank you," Netalia murmured.

"For what?" Jordan asked.

"Coming with me," Netalia said.

"I love you Lia," Jordan told her, honestly. Netalia smiled slightly and sighed. They ate their meal in relative silence. "Are you tired?" Jordan asked as Netalia cleaned up the dishes. Netalia nodded. "Go on to bed, I'll clean up," he told her. Netalia smiled gratefully and walked into the bedroom.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"How is he?" Darius asked Shella softly.

"Still unconscious. The doctor says he'll live though," Shella answered. Darius smiled and gave Shella a hug.

"How are you holding up?" Darius wanted to know.

"I'm worried about Dex and about Netalia," she admitted.

"I am too. I wish Dex would have let me gone with them," Darius said.

"That would have been a dead give away," Shella sighed. Darius nodded and they both looked up as Billy walked into the hall.

"He's asking for you," Billy told Shella. She stood up quickly and walked into the room.

"Is Netalia safe?" Dex asked.

"Yes. She replied to the email I sent to tell her about you being shot and said that she and Jordan had make it to safety," Shella told him, slipping her hand into his.

"Good," Dex said, his voice raspy. Shella helped him take a sip of water from the cup on the bed side table. "I can't believe I encouraged a relationship between Netalia and Cory," Dex muttered, bitterly.

"We all make mistakes," Shella murmured.

"I just hope this one doesn't get her killed," Dex said. Shella said nothing as Dex drifted back off to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~

"Any word from your mom?" Jordan asked a few days later.

"My dad's doing okay. The bullet collapsed his lung and he nearly died, but Billy had flown in when Jason told him about what was happening with Cory and I and his plane had just landed when dad was shot. Billy's experience as an ER doc saved my dad's life," Netalia murmured. Jordan smiled gently and set a plate of pancakes down in front of her.

"Eat up babe, we have to leave before night fall," Jordan said. Netalia nodded and nibbled at her pancakes.

"Are you okay?" Jordan asked quietly as the drove away from the cabin.

"I'm okay," Netalia murmured.

"Talk to me Lia, you've been so quiet the last few days," Jordan pleaded.

"My husband is trying to kill us Jordan, it's a lot to take in," Netalia snapped. Jordan sighed and focused on driving. "I'm sorry Jordan," she murmured. He reached for her hand and squeezed it gently.

"It's okay. I won't let anything happen to you," Jordan promised her. Netalia gave a small smile and watched the scenery fly by.

When they stopped that night, Netalia pulled out the pre-paid phone Dex had given them before they had fled New York and dialed a number that she had committed to memory.

"Hello?"

"Billy, it's Netalia, do you have a minute?"

"What's up kid? Are you okay?" Billy asked.

"I left my medication in the bathroom," Netalia said.

"Oh boy."

"What do I do? We don't have anything!" Netalia wanted to know.

"Buy some latex," Billy suggested. "Or non latex if you share your mom's allergy," he added.

"But what if it's too late?" Netalia asked, clearly panicking. Billy sighed.

"Netalia, calm down, panicking won't help anything. You need to tell Jordan what's going on and hope he loves you like he says he does," Billy told her.

"How's my dad?" Netalia asked as Jordan walked into the hotel room with bags of fast food.

"He's doing better but he's trying to over do it so he can help you guys," Billy answered. "Hang on," he added.

"What's wrong?" Dex's voice came over the line, concern making his voice sound more gruff than usual.

"Nothing dad, I'm just worried about a few things," Netalia answered.

"Are you safe?" Dex asked.

"Yes daddy, I'm safe," Netalia told him.

"I'm sorry I'm going to miss your birthday," Dex murmured. Netalia sighed and tried to fight the tears she felt welling in her eyes. "It's going to be the last one I miss, I promise," Dex told her.

"It's okay dad, it's my fault anyway," Netalia whispered.

"What? Why do you say that?" Dex demanded to know.

"I should have just done what Cory asked and stayed in Liera," Netalia sniffled.

"Netalia Rosa you listen to me!" Dex exclaimed.

"Calm down dad, you'll make yourself worse," Netalia pleaded.

"Listen carefully. This mess with Cory is more my fault than anyone's. I pushed the two of you together because I believed he cared for you. I was clearly wrong." Before Netalia could say anything, she could hear her mother scolding Dex.

"What's wrong?" Netalia asked.

"Your father is trying to take over the world," Shella said dryly. Netalia giggled and Jordan grinned, relieved to hear her laughing. "Billy gave me the gist of what you called him about," Shella added.

"I'm on pins and needles," Netalia admitted.

"Are you late?" Shella asked.

"No, not yet at least," Netalia said.

"Just keep track and when you have a chance, go into the drug store, or better yet, appease your mother and stay celibate for awhile," Shella said dryly. Netalia laughed and glanced at Jordan who was feeding Sebastian carefully. "Netalia?" Shella asked.

"Yeah?"

"How is Jordan with Sebastian?" Shella wanted to know.

"More patient than Cory ever was," Netalia answered. "He's acting a lot like dad did with the terrible trio and with Paul," she added. Shella smiled, relieved. "I have to go mom, dinner's getting cold. Tell the rest of the kids that I love them, and tell dad not to over do it," Netalia said.

"I will. Take care sweetie," Shella murmured before hanging up the phone.

~~~~~~~~~~~

-months later-

Cory studied the print out in his hands and grabbed the phone when it rang. "Where is she?" Cory barked. "Very good. Thank you for your help. This is something I want to take care of on my own," he said before hanging up.

"Netalia?" Jordan called, walking into the hotel room. She looked up from the book she was reading and offered a small smile. "Feeling better?" he asked.

"Yeah, it's easier to breathe," Netalia answered, taking the proffered cup of soup. "Is Sebastian asleep?"

"He's out like a light," Jordan confirmed. He toyed with Netalia's hair as she ate the soup in between coughs.

"I can't believe I got sick like that," Netalia groaned, setting the cup on the bed side table.

"You scared the shit out of me," Jordan teased.

"I'm sorry," Netalia murmured. Jordan smiled, kissed her and held her close.

"It's okay," he murmured. She moaned as his hands did things to her body that one usually only found in a novel, cried out as he slid deep inside her.

"Jordan," she moaned, her body rising to meet his thrust for thrust. Their bodies moved as one as reality slipped away and passion took over. Each thrust had soft mewling noises coming from Netalia, turning Jordan on more and more. Netalia cried out loudly and bit down on Jordan's shoulder to keep from screaming; her orgasm spurred his on and he spewed his seed deep within her.

"I love you," Jordan whispered, kissing her gently, lovingly. They lay together, wrapped in each others arms and drifted off to sleep.

Cries from the smaller room woke Netalia suddenly and she groaned as her eyes focused on the alarm clock; 3:30 AM. "Damn it Sebastian, it's too early," she muttered, pushing herself up.

"I've got him, go back to sleep," Jordan told her, getting out of bed. He pulled his robe around him as he walked. "Hey buddy, it's awfully early for this," Jordan commented, lifting the crying boy from his bed.

"Leave my son alone," a low, menacing voice growled from the bathroom. Jordan spun around, his eyes wide as they focused on Cory and the gun in his hand.

"Mama," Sebastian whimpered.

"Sebastian, come to daddy," Cory commanded. Sebastian glanced up at Jordan, puzzled.

"Mommy's in the other room," Jordan said quietly, setting him down. Sebastian made a beeline for the other bedroom. "Netalia, get Sebastian and hide!" Jordan shouted. Netalia had heard Cory's voice and was waiting for her son, but was greeted by Sebastian's screams.

"I won't hurt our son Netalia, you know that, but if you don't come out, I'm going to kill your boyfriend here," Cory threatened.

"Cory, he hasn't done anything to you!" Netalia exclaimed, she eased into the other room.

"Netalia, I can take care of myself, you need to go, now!" Jordan said urgently.

"I'm not leaving without you or Sebastian," Netalia said firmly.

"I promised your father that I would take care of you!" Jordan exclaimed.

"Too bad you won't live to keep that promise!" Cory spat, cocking the gun and pulling the trigger.

"Cory stop!" Netalia screamed, her eyes going wide as Sebastian started back towards Jordan. Jordan dove for the small boy, grabbed him, pulled Sebastian against him and dropped to the ground as Netalia's ear piercing scream filled the small room at the same time the bullet blasted from the gun.

"Oh God, what have I done?" Cory thought, his mind going blank when he saw Jordan reaching for Sebastian. "Is my son hurt?" Cory demanded, crossing the room and turning Jordan over. Netalia reached Jordan at the same time Cory did and cried out as her legs gave out at seeing the blood that covered her lover and her son. For a moment, neither of them moved; Cory watched as Netalia carefully extracted Sebastian's body from Jordan's arms. "Neta?" Cory asked, his voice surprisingly quiet. Netalia ignored him and performed the rescue breathing that Billy had taught her while she had been pregnant. As she performed the chest compressions, blood gushed from his body and over her hands. After a few moments, Netalia stood up, shaking, her hands covered in the blood of her son. "Netalia?" Cory asked again.