where is the edge }{ jesse + kids

[DANNA DEVILLE]

It's the rule that you live by and die for
It's the one thing you can't deny

Last year, her children's first year at Hogwarts since leaving Durmstrang, Danna hadn't even made it to Hogwarts Express. Not when Corban decided he wanted to transfigure Carlton into a cockroach. As Cynthia had been with them at the time, Danna had her bring them while she took the younger children home. Poor Carlton had been sick afterwards, so she left him in the care of the others while she resumed work. While it had been hellish having Carlton recover from the incident (he was still terrified of cockroaches), she had been immensely proud that her fifteen year old son was capable of that advanced level of Transfiguration. As it was, she kept a close eye on them all as they traveled, even as they arrived at the station.

Courtney stayed by her side, pale blue eyes inherited from Danna's mother looking around cautiously. Perhaps she sensed her mother's tension, no matter how hard Danna tried to hide it. Ever since waking up, she had the strangest feeling about this whole thing. She remained alert, and so did Courtney. The twins, Constantine and Cornelius, raced to the train with a quickly shouted good-bye! Caleb bounded excitedly around, chattering away at his hopes of being in Slytherin, as it was his first year. As his father had been in Hufflepuff, Danna wasn't so sure. Hopefully Deville genes would be stronger in his personality than it had been in his very Abbott appearance. Carlton, Cressida, and Cooper were all too young to board the train and looked around sullenly.

Mafalda Prewett was in seventh year now. The Prewetts were a good pureblood family. Danna looked around the girl, hoping to find a father or an uncle or something. Cooper was four now. She should have already had another child, but had suffered two miscarriages in the past few years. Such a shame, too. The Averys and Crouches were good, respectable families. Maybe if she could find this "Dark Lord" character...He was a half-blood according to recent rumors, but a powerful wizard. If she could contact Johan or Rabastan again she could arrange a meeting, perhaps. Surely a powerful wizard would crave an heir, even if he did have hopes for immortality.

"Mother? Is everything alright?" Courtney asked quietly.

"Peachy," Danna replied shortly. "Remember what we talked about, darling. You're the school sweetheart. Warm up to the Death Eater kids, warm up to the Order kids. You're practically a badger in snake's clothing, yes?"

"I know, Mom, I know," she laughed. "So sweet they'll have cavities by the Welcoming Feast. I did good last year, didn't I?"

"Well enough," she replied, still scanning the crowd. "You'll want to make prefect by fifth year, so you'll have to be little Miss Perfect. There is no room for error.

"And find my next sibling's father?" she asked with a grin.

Danna smirked. "Of course. Corban, you need to be the ideal prefect. No bullying, you'll want to make Head Boy by seventh year. It doesn't matter that NEWTS are a year away, keep your grades up. Be intimidating, though. Mysterious. Good enough to stay in the good graces of the teachers, but not so slack as to be disrespected by the masses. It's a hard balance, but you have to walk it. Also, the two of you need to keep a close eye on your siblings. If I get another owl about the twins I will not only turn them into flobberworms, you will be, too. Make sure Caleb keeps with the right crowds. He takes more after his father than I anticipated."

"Hi, Corban," said a breathless, awed voice.

Danna turned in the direction of the feminine tone, everything within her freezing as she came face to face with the daughter she hadn't seen in fourteen years.

Cassandra? If she was here, then...Green eyes flickered up, heart speeding wildly from its frozen state as she laid eyes on him.

[JESSE MERCER]

I remember don't lie to me
You couldn't see that it was not that way

For four years now, Jesse had made the trip to King's Cross station. The rules were very clear from the beginning: no horseplay, no wandering off, no drawing attention. They were to be in and out, on a flight back home within a couple of hours. His children knew the drill by now. They hardly even talked until they got back home. Even six-year-old Jadis was quiet.

Jesse held her hand as he walked behind the other three, keeping them plainly and perfectly in his sight. To call him paranoid might be an understatement. Jesse had done a pretty good job of hiding himself and his little family from any detection by his enemies. He and Cassandra were who they were really after, but the others could prove valuable bait. Xavier, Viola, and Jadis needed to be closely watched as well.

Cassandra and Xavier pulled their rolling suitcases along behind them, while Viola looked on with envy, carrying another of Cassie's bags. She wanted to attend Hogwarts so badly, but Jesse was unsure how many more years he would be able to keep this up. Nothing out of the ordinary had happened so far on these little excursions to Platform 9 and 3/4's, but it was still pretty risky to show up at the same spot each year. Personally, Jesse was thinking that this might be Xavier's first and last year at Hogwarts, and Cassie's last as well. He didn't know how well they would take to that, but they would get over it. And it was better safe than sorry.

Jesse muttered some last minute instructions to Xavier about not standing out, gathering information, essentially doing what he was supposed to do and keeping his ears and eyes open. He was a student, and a spy, and little more. His son nodded, fighting the restlessness inside him. He'd heard all of this a million times on the way here, but Jesse was cautious and Xavier understood why. It had been hammered into him since he could understand language. But now that he was here, he just wanted to go.

Cassie barely muttered anything before dashing off, which was precisely what she was not supposed to do, and Jesse was busy with Xavier, making sure for the third time he had remembered to pack everything, before he realized she was gone. She was beside him not sixty seconds ago, but Jesse still felt his heart clench horribly tight in his chest. Cassie was the most valuable out of all of them, not only to the forces working against him, but to Jesse himself. She was all he had left of Danna. His eyes were frantic as he searched for her, thanking Merlin under his breath when he found her talking to a boy a few feet away. This must be the "boyfriend" she had spoken vaguely about, and Jesse grit his teeth furiously. No idiot child was an excuse for his daughter to break one of three crucial rules, and he was about to call her out, public and everything, before he laid eyes on the young man.

Jesse's heart stopped, and he swallowed hard, dragging his gaze up to meet a beautifully familiar pair of emerald green eyes.

Swear I never gave up on you

[DANNA DEVILLE]

It's the rule that you live by and die for
It's the one thing you can't deny

"M-Mom?" Courtney said carefully, eyeing Cassandra then Jesse distrustfully.

"MUM!" shouted two boys in unison, sharing the same English accent that neither really used. Sighing heavily, Danna spun around to face Constantine and Cornelius who were dragging a limp Caleb towards her. "We were just practicing and he got in the way, we swear we didn't..."

"Shut up," she muttered impatiently, a wave of her wand reviving the eleven year old. "Leave your brother alone, and stop talking like that. You're not English."

"We're in Scotland," Constantine tried to correct her.

"Hogwarts is in Scotland, you dimwit," she huffed. "King's Cross Station is in London." Quickly she turned back towards Jesse, hoping he hadn't walked off or that he had been some hallucination. But there he was, surrounded by children. Danna wrinkled her nose. Surely they couldn't be his. Nasty little buggers they were.

Engaged to be married, Danna and Jesse had separated two months before the wedding. It was dangerous in Amsterdam, the people all fighting them with their weak army of weak numbers. Her daughter Caroline had been killed, as had her sons Curtis and Cyrus. For safety's sake they had to part, each taking a twin. Danna had chosen Corban, as she had a strong preference for her sons leaving Jesse to take Cassandra. It was a long time before she realized that pain and emptiness she suffered was because of Jesse. Even today she cringed at the thought that she was in love with him. True as it was, it was hard for someone like her to admit. The only other man she had truly loved had been Paul Vulcan, and their relationship had never panned out as she had hoped. She didn't even know if he was alive.

She missed him every day and she hated herself for it. Love was weak. Sparing him any thought was a waste of valuable time. But there he was, always on her mind and in her heart whether she fully welcomed him there or not.

The biggest reason for their parting had been to keep the twins safe. And what was he off doing? Not looking after Cassandra, who had sneaked away to come drool over her own twin brother, but had apparently been busy screwing every hag he came across. Ugly, rotten, useless children who were probably all Squibs, she thought bitterly. She tried hard not to label one of her many emotions as envy or hurt. She was a Deville. No one should affect her like that.

Danna herself had born several more children. But that was what she did. She was breeding an army! She had doubled the lives lost. Or the important ones. The lives of her children. She didn't think any of the newer ones were quite as impressive as the older ones, but they would do. With Deville blood in them, they could be molded into proper soldiers. Even if it took a bit more time. Hogwarts, at least, was supposed to be the best Wizarding school in the world. Hopefully a few years here would straighten them all out.

Trying hard not to glare at Jesse and his spawn, she instead turned towards her daughter. The adoration in her eyes, shining right at Corban was mildly disturbing. Not because he was her brother, but that any of her children would wear that look and at anyone but her was strange. That salacious smile of her left no doubts in her mind as to what she wanted. Critically her green eyes looked the girl up and down. Pretty compared to most, but she wasn't quite up to par with the likes of Cynthia or Cathryn yet. There was hope for her, at least. And that dopey look on her face. Danna rolled her eyes.

"You two honestly haven't figured out that you're twins yet?" Danna scoffed. They were hardly identical, but surely they had noticed some similarities. Perhaps they were things only parents truly saw. "Come," she barked at her children, marching towards Jesse. She wanted to be angry with him, or feel nothing at all. The warmth spreading through her body, that excited tingle, were more than irritating and unwelcome. He was nothing more than a sperm donor to help rebuild her army, she told herself. She certainly didn't miss him. She didn't want to kiss him or wrap herself around him or anything else of that nature. Damn it all to hell, if she could survive ripping out her heart and carving it up she would have done it already.

"Corban, don't be rude. Say hello to your father. You haven't seen him in fourteen years," she said, forcing a smile. Whatever magnetism that once existed between them had never left. The pull to draw closer to him was powerful, but she restrained herself. The constant fight against her urges had been ongoing nearly her entire life. She was the master of this game. Slowly she looked him up and down, breathing in deeply, and inconspicuously as she could, making sure it was him. There were some things even glamours and Polyjuice potion couldn't change. From his scent to his posture, there was no mistaking Jesse Mercer.

Nodding towards Courtney who stood to her right, she addressed him for the first time in fourteen long years. "This one's yours. Courtney Blake Mercer. Dear, this is your father. The others aren't." She waved to them carelessly. She might not have introduced them at all, if she wasn't proud of some of their fathers. Some of them had very good blood. "Constantine Black, Cornelius Bones, Caleb Abbott, Carlton McKinnon, Cressida Krum, and Cooper Lestrange." Each of the younger children nodded as their names were spoken, staring at Jesse and the children around him with great interest and mistrust. "I, ah, see you've lowered your standards a bit, darling."

Her smile was frozen in place, as cold and sweet as ice cream. Mentally she berated herself. While she presented herself far calmer than most, to her mind she was showing a great lapse in her beloved control. Was she as obvious as she felt she was? She certainly hoped not. Danna would wring his neck if she thought it would spare her reputation, though the ache in her heart promised it would come with a price.

"Wait, what?" Cassie demanded when Danna finally stopped talking. Twins? She thought she could never be more interested in Corban than she already was, but if he was her brother...Well...She grinned, seeming to look at him in a whole new light. Before she got all caught up in her new fantasies, she turned to her father to confirmation. "Daddy?"

[JESSE MERCER]

I remember don't lie to me
You couldn't see that it was not that way

Jesse felt as though he'd somehow entered a dream from a perfectly conscious state. Had he been hit on the head and abducted? The air smelled too smokey, and he could feel Jadis squeezing his hand too tightly. And blinking didn't erase the sight before him. Danna was here. He had found her again without even trying.

Jesse was speechless, which was just fine, because Danna always had something to say. She was surrounded by children, and Jesse figured she wasn't babysitting. Besides, most were blonde. It seemed they had both been up to their old tricks. With great difficulty he dragged his eyes away from Danna to look at Cassie, who was practically drooling over none other than Corban Deville. His son, his pride and joy, and he was growing up to be a very fine young man indeed. Not that he could possibly be anything else under Danna's guidance.

Corban blinked as Danna announced that he and Cassie were twins, then ordered him to greet his father. "Hello," he said quietly, glancing only momentarily up at Jesse. He'd practically had to rip details about his father out of Danna, but as insatiably curious as he'd been, that was on the back burner for now. His girlfriend was his twin sister, and a mischievous grin of twisted delight spread over his face as he looked at her in this new light.

Jesse's dark eyes jerked back to Danna when she sighed at the twins, telling them how they were related. Merlin, he had missed her. He'd grown quiet and humorless without her, something that had taken him a long time to accept. He had known on the night they had decided to split that he would miss her more than anything, but he hadn't been prepared for just how it would affect him. He had anticipated a bit of heartache, even if he didn't love her, which had been his understanding at the time. But he definitely hadn't been prepared for the endless trade-off's between dry numbness and achy loneliness. Danna had been more than his leader. She'd been the closest person to him, his best friend, and he was in love with her. It had taken splitting up for him to realize.

That was the real reason that Cassandra was the most prized thing in the world to Jesse, far more valuable than all of the gold at Gringott's. She was half him, and half Danna, and she was perfect. Jesse had cultivated her carefully, taking everything that was Deville and encouraging it as much as he possibly could, and he was beyond proud with who his daughter was today. Definitely Deville, definitely Mercer, and definitely something else that could only be Cassie.

His other three were trophies of a few one night stands, whom he had stolen right out of their cribs at the age of two. He always kept an eye on any women he'd slept with, once he started sleeping around. It hadn't been easy for Jesse; it wasn't as though he even wanted it. But he needed more people on his side, and this was the only way he could think of that provided one hundred percent mutual trust. When he was sure a child was his, he abducted them in the night and moved to a new location. Each one was more trained than raised, almost militarily. From the beginning, Jesse had been a leader first and a father second, with Cassie the only exception, though he did his best not to baby her.

He couldn't even find himself to be surprised when Danna brought forward the oldest child besides Corban, a young girl with pale blue eyes, beautiful as they came. She was Courtney, and she was his. Jesse let his eyes wander over her, taking in every little detail. He and Danna hadn't had much time to fool around in the late days before their separation, save for that night... there was no doubt Courtney was a product of their passionate goodbye.

Danna introduced him to each of her new children, and Jesse swallowed against the irritating anger in his chest. He knew the feeling all too well, just as he knew it was entirely foolish. Danna needed to rebuild her army, something Jesse had taken to doing himself. He hadn't borne quite as many children as Danna, but then again, he wasn't her. Of course she would have more children, though she was eyeing his with the same expression Jesse wore as he looked over all of hers, save for Corban and Courtney.

"Line up," he ordered, and even little Jadis quickly hopped up beside her sister as the three stood facing the Deville family. "Xavier Dunwall, Viola Morales, and Jadis Sedgewick," he introduced, eyes boring into the back of Viola's head, and she did quit fidgeting.

Danna mentioned that he had lowered his standards, something that, coming from anyone else, would have offended Jesse greatly. Instead, the corner of his mouth twitched up ever so slightly, so much so that no one who didn't know him as well as Danna did would even notice. "I couldn't very well raise them, now could I?" he replied, already hearing a hint of his old playful teasing coming back into his voice. Oh, the effect she had on him... It had never waned, and Jesse doubted it ever would. Right now he wanted nothing more than to send all of the kids to Hogwarts, even the little ones, so he could be alone with Danna in his arms. They literally ached to hold her, and Jesse shrugged a shoulder in a vain attempt to counter the sensation. He couldn't tear himself away from her captivating eyes, even when Cassie asked him for confirmation.

Jesse just nodded, still holding Danna's gaze. "Say hello to your mother, Cassie. Danna Deville."

Swear I never gave up on you

[DANNA DEVILLE]

It's the rule that you live by and die for
It's the one thing you can't deny

Jesse's children were lined up for inspection. Two girls and a boy, Xavier, Viola, and Jadis. At least they had taken their mother's names rather than his. In her biased opinion, they were all ugly and weak. Blinking, she tried to force herself to look at them as she would any potential soldiers. "Hmm," she replied, not taking her eyes from them, corners of her lips curving up. In all reality, they weren't terrible. No matter their maternity, Jesse was still their father. "There might be hope for them once they go through proper training," she sniffed, placing her hands on her hips. "Though, really, Jesse, I expected more from you. I had six children after Courtney and lost two fetuses. Shouldn't it be easier for a man to reproduce?" she asked, finally turning her eyes back to him. It didn't matter that she loved him...Really, that was the entire reason for all of this. He could never know. Her pride would never survive it. Maybe getting so miffed by meeting his children was more of a sign than she wanted to give of her feelings, but she had always been a bit of a hard ass. It made sense, right? "If you were going to do it, you should have done it right."

Cassie was less interested in her handful of siblings, and more interested in learning whether or not this was true. Could this really be her mother? After looking to her father, she looked back to the young blond. She looked a bit young to be her mother, considering she physically appeared to be Cassie's age. Her daddy had always been willing to tell her about Danna, though. She frequently used age potions, and it was unlikely anyone had seen her looking any older than this ever. Cassie hoped to do the same thing as she aged. What good was there in looking like an old maid?

At her question, Jesse assured her that this was her mother. She grinned broadly, eagerly taking in the image of her mother. "Hi," she said eagerly. How could she have questioned it, anyway? Danna was gorgeous, easily the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. Of course it was Danna Deville! "Daddy was right. You are glorious. Goddess-like. Perfect," she sighed dreamily.

Unable to stop herself, Danna grinned, green eyes darting from Cassie to Jesse. "You do pick them well, darling," she said, turning to her son.

Cassie's gaze followed happily to Corban. Last year, she swore she was the luckiest girl in the world to even be in his presence, let alone be accepted as his girlfriend! And now he was her brother! He was spectacular. A god. The most perfect being she had ever set eyes upon. "Brother," she whispered reverently, reaching out to rub her hands across his chest, looking him up and down, all over. Dear God, she loved him. There was a nagging feeling in the back of her mind, driving her to want to say more, but her body pushing her to throw herself around him, kissing him deeply.

Courtney eyed them distastefully. Didn't this sister of hers have any self respect? Shaking her head, she turned her blue eyes back to her father. Father! Unlike Jesse, Danna worked hard at saying as little about their fathers as possible. All of them, but was most tight-lipped about Jesse Mercer. It was hard to decide how she felt about this. She had never really expected to ever meet him, least of all a day like today.

"Uhh...Hi," Courtney said awkwardly, almost immediately regretting speaking at all.

"Go on, get on the train now," Danna ordered, looking around. "Shoo. If you miss the train I'm not going all the way there to bring you. Go!"

"Uh, bye, then," Courtney said, still looking at her father and half siblings. The worst possible timing for this sort of thing, really. She was just now meeting her father for the first time, and she had to go? She did her best to linger, turning towards the train, but still keeping her eyes on them, moving as slowly as she could get away with.

Cornelius and Constantine bounded back towards the train while Caleb jogged after them. The younger three tried sneaking off after them, causing their mother to glower. "Carlton, Cressida, Cooper, you are not dumb. Over here, now."

Pouting, the three rushed back to her side. Danna kept her glower on them for a moment, making sure they wouldn't try to be brave and sneak off, before turning back to Jesse. They had never really planned much on when or how they would reunite, nor what they would do if they ran into each other at any time. The Dark Lord was still in full power, there were still many Deville enemies all around the world...What she did know was that she wasn't willing to let Jesse leave again. Not just yet. If ever.

"Lunch? You can bring your progeny," she said distastefully. "Zoola always makes more food than necessary, especially when the kids are gone."

Without waiting for a response, she led her children back into the main part of the station. It was such a hassle having to drive, but she couldn't Apparate with three children, no broom would hold all four of them, and Cooper and Cressida were too young to properly Floo. She had to admit, she did enjoy driving sometimes, but it was days like these she wanted to get home as quickly as possible.

[JESSE MERCER]

I remember don't lie to me
You couldn't see that it was not that way

Jesse couldn't help but to feel proud as his three children passed Danna's inspection. They would need "proper" training, of course, but Jesse was more than confident they were already quite capable. Perhaps Cassie was by far his favorite, but the other three were still his children. Maybe they weren't Danna's, as well, but he still loved them in his own way. And he had put more than a bit of effort into making them the strongest man and women that they could be. They made him proud as they stood tall under Danna's searing gaze, Viola only fidgeting a little bit. Jadis only got distracted once, by another child whose rat had escaped and ran right by her, its owner in hot pursuit. But her attention faltered only for a second, and all three were deemed decent potential soldiers.

Danna reprimanded him for not making more, something that Jesse found a bit ironic, though she did have a point. And he had his reasons, but he kept his mouth shut. She would view them as excuses, and those never went far with Danna. Besides, now that they were together again, Jesse was sure he would have no trouble reproducing. That thought threatened to make his lips curve upward, but Jesse quickly turned his attention to something else.

Cassie made him the proudest of all; of course, she had the best parentage out of his children. She gazed upon her mother with such pure awe and adoration, and Jesse could feel his chest literally swell with pride as she praised Danna perfectly, recounting things Jesse had told her about her mother. It brought a satisfied smile to Danna's face, and Jesse's pride tripled, feeling his heart beat excitedly for a moment. He couldn't help but grin at Danna's words, watching with satisfaction while Cassie and Corban reunited.

Corban, for one, was ecstatic to find out that Cassie was his twin sister. It just made everything so much hotter in his opinion. He hadn't known much about his father, but going by the few details Danna had provided about Jesse, as well as the male company his mother kept after him, Corban figured his father wasn't anyone to brush off. And him and Cassie having the same great parents was just too awesome. She was already amazing at being sexy and smart and, most of all, worshiping him like a god. Corban grinned as she moved her hands over his chest, calling him "brother" and lunging up to kiss him. He caught her easily and kissed her back for everyone to see. Like he gave a shit what anyone thought.

Jesse, meanwhile, was looking over Courtney, the daughter Danna had said was his. She had her mother's perfectly golden hair, set off by a pair of pale blue eyes, which must have been inherited from another relative. She was beautiful, and Jesse couldn't take his eyes off of her. Another daughter, perfectly him, and perfectly Danna. He fought the urge to pull her close to him and hold her tight; instead the love in his eyes was nearly overpowered by the pride he felt as he looked at her. He did grin in response when she greeted him, but too soon it was time to get on the train. He watched her, as well as the twins and Xavier as they boarded, and soon they were all set to go.

Jesse was left with just his two youngest girls, while Danna took her youngest three and mentioned them all having lunch. It was more of an order than an invitation, and then Jesse did grin, nodding as she went off to her car. He had a plane to catch, but that didn't matter anymore, and he still had the rental car.

"Come on," he said to his girls, and Viola took Jadis' hand to walk in front of him. "Change of plans."

Swear I never gave up on you

[DANNA DEVILLE]

It's the rule that you live by and die for
It's the one thing you can't deny

It wasn't a very long drive from King's Cross to her home. London was a big place with a lot of people which made it perfect, not only for hiding, but for the woman who had grown up in big cities. The kids chattered curiously in the backseat, asking many a question about Jesse and their siblings. Danna easily ignored them all, not giving the faintest hint that she heard a word they said at all. Instead she put in her Sublime CD, singing along to "Santeria" under her breath.

She couldn't get home fast enough. Jesse wasn't far behind her, she could see that. It was hard to talk quite so openly at King's Cross. Her reputation wasn't as well known in Britain as it was in America or in a few other European countries, but one could never really know. The reason she hadn't lasted long in Bulgaria (only two and a half years) was to avoid the notoriety as best she could, for the time being. She even had to leave her beloved France after only a few years just before her experience in Bulgaria. That didn't mean she was safe, though. There could be spies anywhere, or transfer students or their families from areas where her name was well known. There was more time, more space, and more privacy to work this out in her own home.

Finally she pulled into the circular driveway of the large, Tudor-styled manor. Cooper immediately hopped out of the car to head towards the founatin in the center of the circle as he always did, followed closely by Cressida and Carlton, but Danna snapped her fingers and they changed direction, jogging ahead of her to the front door. She only spared a glance to be sure Jesse had followed before turning back to her home, forcing her legs to move at a leisurely pace rather than the impatient stalk they urged her to follow. She was not excited and it would not show.

"Ooh, welcome home, Mistress!" Zoola the house elf squeaked, bouncing from foot to foot as they entered. "Lunch is ready when you is being hungry."

"We'll eat now. We have company, Zoola. Make sure they're taken care of," she said without stopping, walking straight into the dining room. Just seconds before she sat at the head of the table, food and plates and everything appeared at the snap of Zoola's fingers. Wearing rather petulant looks, though dutifully silent, her youngest three took their seats, curiously watching the doorway for their guests while Danna ignored them, instead idly watching the two drunken maidens in a nearby portrait flirt as she poured herself a glass of wine. She didn't bother glancing at any of them when she felt them enter, instead choosing to examine her neatly cut and painted nails with the pearly pink tips. She took a sip of her wine, urging her heart to slow back down to normal. Her mind was racing with possibilities, not sure what to do or say at first. Perhaps she would brag about her new children more, about the mostly stellar sperm donors she had bedded over the years, about her hopes of seducing others. Maybe Lucius Malfoy, the other Lestrange brother, Monsieur Delacour, or even the Dark Lord. She wanted to hurt him to spare her own pride, though she wasn't sure these more personal means would even work. It wasn't as though he loved her.

But why wouldn't he? asked a voice in her head. Better men have fallen to your feet before. And no man you could love would ever reject you.

But it was easier to think than it was to believe.

"Tell me, what have you been doing these past fourteen years? Other than screwing every ugly hag in every pub you got trashed in," she asked coolly, finally letting her eyes settle on the man.

[JESSE MERCER]

I remember don't lie to me
You couldn't see that it was not that way

"When we get to the house, you will respect Danna as you respect me. If she or I tell you to do something, you do it without asking questions. There will be time for that later, so I want you to be quiet while we talk, unless you are spoken to. And Jadis, try to chew with your mouth closed."

"Yes, Dad," his girls replied in unison, each looking out of their backseat windows. Jadis was mainly watching the city go by with interest, while Viola was glaring, her chin in her hand. She knew who Danna Deville was, but she wasn't tripping over her feet to meet her. She was impressed with the stories her father had told about the woman, and it wasn't as though she wasn't curious. She just wasn't a fan of being bossed around. By her father was one thing, and she knew better than to go against him. But by someone who she'd never even met?

Jesse took his eyes from the rearview mirror and returned them to Danna's car in front of him. Viola would get over whatever was troubling her, and he was pretty sure he didn't have too bad of an idea on what it was. Danna would make both her and Jadis into excellent soldiers, as well as Xavier when he returned. And his children would not disobey him or embarrass him at this luncheon, he had every confidence of that. They were young still, with learning to do, and today, they would learn.

Once they pulled up to the large house, Danna's children bolted out of the car first, followed by their mother to the front door. Jesse got out with his two daughters as well, taking the hand of his youngest and touching his fingers to Viola's back. It was a tiny gesture of comfort, but she did sigh and seemed to calm down a bit.

"Welcome, welcome!" the house elf greeted as they came through the front door, scurrying from each one of them to another, taking coats and shoes. Jesse assumed that this could only be Zoola. "The Mistress is waiting in the dining room, lunch is being served!" she announced excitedly, pushing Jadis, who was barely taller than the elf herself, towards a large archway. Jesse and Viola followed, and he sat himself at the foot of the table. Jadis took the seat next to him, and Viola next to her, and they waited patiently for the okay from their father to begin eating.

Jesse forced himself to keep his eyes on anything but Danna, very aware of his beating heart in his chest. It had become quite apparent within the first day after they were separated that he was in love with her, and it made him feel more than foolish. To love her was one thing, but to be in love with her was a problem. The two of them had had many conversations about how weak love was, each holding nearly the same philosophy on the matter. It made you do stupid things, you were slave to your emotions, it brought down the greatest of wizards and Muggles alike. It was worse than any disease Jesse had studied, and now he was infected. He only hoped the symptoms didn't show too much. Danna needed to know that he had stayed on the ball in their time apart, raising their daughter, as well as others, and doing his best to singlehandedly fight the enemy.

That was her first question, in fact, the ice evident in her tone as she demanded to know what he had been doing with himself in their time apart. Jesse sighed and sat back in his chair, confused as to how she could be angry with him already; they had left on good enough terms and he had barely said a word to her so far. His "unfaithfulness" was one thing, but she was surrounded by more children than he was. Besides, it was obvious the engagement was off when they had said goodbye for what was probably the last time.

"I've been raising our daughter, firstly," he replied to her questioning, wishing Cassie was still here for Danna to see. He'd only been with both of them for a few short minutes, and most of that time he was too shocked to really enjoy it. He was sick and tired of having his girls apart, especially now that he had found Danna again. "As well as Xavier, and Viola and Jadis here. I planned to raise them to fight. It's a bit difficult striking from the shadows by myself," he continued, "but I've managed. You probably know that Ichabod Crowles was killed twelve years ago, and Murray MacMillan three years after that. The Burke twins, Walter and Edgar, are dead too." Jesse listed off the names of those he had killed. With Crowles, the horcrux expert, he had just been in the right place at the right time. MacMillan, a head of wizarding security for the enemy, was much more difficult, as was cutting off the endless gold supply that the Burke nobility provided. There was much work left to do, but Jesse had managed to do his part, as well as raise a few extra soldiers and rebuild some of the family's wealth, working as a healer and black market potions vendor.

Swear I never gave up on you

[DANNA DEVILLE]

It's the rule that you live by and die for
It's the one thing you can't deny

Danna nodded slowly as Jesse replied that he had been raising Cassie, then onto his accomplishments all these years, killing a handful of their many enemies. More her enemies than anything else, truly. She had to admit, it was easier being in Britain during these times when the Dark Lord had risen again. More feared him than anyone else, though she soothed her wounded pride by reminding herself that she had never been aiming for his notoriety, not yet. She was clearly more powerful than he, even if no one else knew so. And having all of the attention on him kept most of the focus from her.

"As I've yet to see how well of a job you've done with the girl, we can worry about that later," she remarked sharply. "Did you get any good information out of them before slaughtering them?" Was she looking for a fight? Looking for a reason to scream at him? It was probable. To keep her cool she swallowed half her glass of wine before continuing.

"We've lived in Japan, Egypt, Spain, Germany, Canada, France, and Bulgaria before moving to England," she explained. "I've been rebuilding my army with suitable candidates. Not only birthing them, no, but recruiting where I could. I've been in contact with everyone at least once. Christian and Cynthia visit frequently to give their reports. Locke Ryker and his wife, Afton, are rooming with the Longbottoms in St. Mungo's now. Balthazar Krendler and Jorgen Fawley are dead. Vespasian Prince is on ou...my side now, you know. Endymion Echolls and Jaegar Jones are in the basement. I also heard that the Selwyn family lives around here. They might make good allies. And probably half a dozen less important names that have been killed or tortured. But, you know, I always was a busy woman and always did keep my priorities straight. I also opened a headquarters for Deville Industries here in London."

"I buzzed Endy!" Cooper exclaimed proudly.

"You electrocuted him, stupid," Cressida muttered darkly.

"Yes, he's Rabastan Lestrange's son," Danna said haughtily. "He's had a sadistic streak since birth. Gave the healer a black eye by kicking her in the face."

"My father's Viktor Krum," Cressida announced loudly.

"Yes, dear, we know. Dim-witted Quidditch legend who was nevertheless an animal in bed," Danna grinned fondly. "Thus far she's proven to have more brains than her father, though I'm hoping she's inherited his power. Dumb he might be, but he's very strong."

"I'm a McKinnon," Carlton said simply. That was probably all that needed to be said. The McKinnons had been a very well known Wizarding family that was nearly extinct during the First Wizarding War. It was lucky indeed she had managed to find Mitchum McKinnon hiding in Canada.

"I was thinking of working on the Malfoys next," Danna mentioned conversationally, finishing off the last swig of wine. "Lucius is a tad weak-willed, but he does have that brilliant mind for business and a keen eye for more powerful wizards he might bow down to. Not to mention he is incredibly good-looking. You might come along and impregnate Narcissa, perhaps? She's a bit vapid, losing her grace and beauty in her older age, but it is Black blood. And who wouldn't want a child belonging to the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black? Trojours Pur!" Here she refilled her glass. "That is why I have my Constantine, after all. He's Sirius Black's, you know. Or you might even kidnap and rape dear Andromeda? I would suggest Bellatrix, she is the most useful of the Black sisters, but she is the Dark Lord's whore."

She paused here, taking a long sip of wine to regain her control. Was she the only one to hear the bitterness in her voice? Cooper and Cressida were, clearly, oblivious, but Carlton was giving her such a shrewd look that bothered her. A sharp glare caused him to turn away, picking a drumstick off of a nearby plate.

"We have been working on a potion to allow same-sex pregnancy," she carried on. "That would open a whole new world of possibilities. Unless you have, ah, problems," she said pointedly. "Three in fourteen years? Honestly, I expected more."

Liar, the voice in her head sneered. You expected none at all.

"Maybe he missed you, Mommy!" Cooper laughed as he stabbed his chicken repeatedly with a spoon.

"Maybe they cas...cas...errr..." Cressida said.

"Castrated," Carlton filled in. "Though not everyone has an easy time as mother becoming pregnant. Any number of reasons could have contributed to this outcome. Maybe they had abortions or miscarriages. Maybe they were unable to conceive. Maybe he's impotent. Maybe some of them weren't real women...

Carlton carried on with his theories while Danna snorted, raising her brow at Jesse.

[JESSE MERCER]

I remember don't lie to me
You couldn't see that it was not that way

"She picked out Corban, didn't she?" Jesse pointed out when Danna reminded him that she hadn't seen hardly anything from Cassie thus far. At this point, Jesse just accepted that Danna was not in a very pleasant mood. Be it from the discovery of his three children, or just that she hadn't seen him in so long and felt the need to remind him who was boss, it was what it was. He nodded to his girls that they could start eating, and he filled his plate with the various courses available from the luxurious spread, clicking his tongue at Jadis when she reached for a third roll. She retracted her hand and turned her attention to her nearly-full plate. Jesse couldn't really blame her. He knew his children had never seen luxury like this. Jesse was far, very far, from being poor or even middle-class, but he found it easier to hide in small spaces, and besides, they conserved his wealth. His family had always had enough, but not much more.

He began eating while Danna boasted about her own conquests, listening carefully. She'd accomplished quite a lot in the fourteen years they were apart, and Jesse wasn't the least bit surprised. Danna was beyond efficient. He was glad to hear that Christian and Cynthia were still very much alive, as well as the conversion of Vespasian Prince. Deville Industries was now in place in London, as well.

Her children had plenty to say as well, the youngest happily bragging that he had electrocuted Endymion Echolls, making Jadis giggle. The others, Cressida and Carlton, bragged that they were descendants of Viktor Krum and the prestigious McKinnon family. Danna said she had planned on harvesting Malfoy blood next, or Black blood, and Jesse nodded quietly as she suggested how they should go about it. "If you wish, I could impregnate either Narcissa or Andromeda. Perhaps capturing and raping Bellatrix would be of use later on. Her blood is still good, even if she herself is corrupted," he mused conversationally, biting back a sigh as Danna implied that he might not be able to reproduce very well at all. Her children went on with it, and Viola's fork shook in her hand until Carlton suggested that Jesse was unable to have children.

"My father is not impotent," she growled quietly. "He had me, my sisters, and my brother just fine." Jesse cleared his throat, and Viola didn't go any further, instead taking a vicious bite out of a piece of meat. Her anger would be useful, but only if she learned to control it.

"I've been otherwise occupied," he explained in response to Danna's questioning expression, "raising the ones I have the right way, as well as working with various potions and poisons. In Serbia and Brazil I practiced as a healer, which gave me the opportunity to take out Crowles when he came for treatment. I've cultivated other poisons and their antidotes as well, from those causing madness to infertility to organ decay. The rest of my free time was spent researching the leads I did receive before I killed our enemies, such as to the whereabouts of the Rodericks and Coolridges. Both would make solid allies, and I have friends from each family. One lead revealed that Astrid Pyralis was operating in Cairo, recruiting for the enemy as well, and I was planning on heading there once I knew precisely when and how I would strike. We were going to leave sometime before Christmas. Right now we're stationed in Sicily, where I sell my potions in the black market as I did in Cuba and Australia," he finished, sitting back and meeting Danna's gaze.

"But I can assure you that I've acquired no problems with reproduction. I can impregnate you or whoever you want me to, whenever you wish," he said, making no efforts to hide the dark desire in his eyes as he really let them wander over Danna for the first time in fourteen years. To hell with the children and to hell with his plans for the rest of the day. Everything would change now anyway, and he was hungry for her, like a man who hadn't eaten at all in the last decade and a half. He could feel that familiar electricity between them, energized as ever, all the way across the table. Jesse wanted nothing more than to close the distance.

Swear I never gave up on you

[DANNA DEVILLE]

It's the rule that you live by and die for
It's the one thing you can't deny

Danna rolled her eyes when Jesse mentioned that Cassie had picked out Corban. "He's my son. He can draw in anyone or anything with his good looks and his charm. It doesn't say all that much about the girl that she likes him." Though like was a bit of an understatement. Danna had hardly spoken to the girl, had only been around her for a few minutes, and it was already very clear that the girl was madly in love with her brother. What might say something was Corban agreeing to be with her, but even then it could have been for numerous reasons, none of which having anything to do with any good Jesse might have done with her.

It was hard not to snort when Jesse mentioned capturing and raping Bellatrix Lestrange. "No offense, but I doubt you could touch her," she drawled. "If the Dark Lord has anything others might fear, it is two of his Death Eaters, his very favorites. Severus Snape and, wait for it...Bellatrix Lestrange. She is gifted. I admire her power and her sadism, though I won't for the life of me ever understand throwing it at the feet of that vile creature who calls himself the Dark Lord. No, I'm sure you'd be better off with the others."

Carlton blinked in surprise when Viola snapped at him. "I didn't mean any offense. There's nothing wrong with impotence. There are plenty more important ways to measure a man or woman than their ability to have sex. I, myself, would gladly be impotent if it meant conserving talent in other areas."

"You say that now. You haven't reached puberty yet, dear," Danna said calmly, reaching out to ruffle his strawberry blond hair.

Jesse went on to describe other accomplishments, which might have pleased her under any other conditions. Right now she was too furious, stewing in her rage as she listened. This was a bad idea.

Then he mentioned the possibility of impregnating her. Danna swallowed as she met his dark gaze, in no way mistaking that glint she found there. Her body tingled with anticipation, but she shoved all of her desire away from her, struggling against it as it came back stronger than ever. She wanted him. It had been so long, and no one else could fill that void in her life. The only other person she had felt this way for had been Paul and she despised them both for doing this to her. She was a Deville! She was never supposed to fall in love, let alone twice, with two different men.

"Why would I do that? I've birthed three of your spawn already," she remarked darkly, wishing she could tear her eyes from him, but finding it hard to do so. The only other person she had given more children to had been Paul, and one of theirs, Cyrus, was dead. Danna shook the thoughts away. This had nothing to do with it. She already knew how Mercer children came out. There were other, better possibilities out there for her to try. Why waste nearly a year carrying another one of his?

Carlton cleared his throat, looking to Jesse's girls. "When you're done, we can give you a tour of the manor. Mother has the best garden in all of Europe, you know."

"There's a maze, too! I wanted to put a dragon in it, but my mommy said no," Cooper said with a pout.

"Keeping dragons is against the law, dummy," Cressida muttered.

"Not that I haven't tried," Danna muttered. "I had about five, but I had to send them along to Christian and Cynthia in Saudi Arabia. It's legal there, at least."

[JESSE MERCER]

I remember don't lie to me
You couldn't see that it was not that way

Jesse just nodded as Danna rolled her eyes at him, spitting that Cassie picking out Corban said more about her son than his twin sister. "True. Perhaps you'll just have to wait and see for yourself, then. She might send you an owl once the Feast is over. She seemed quite enamored with you, too," he said, winking and taking another bite as Danna went on about how foolish it would be to try and take Bellatrix Lestrange.

"Not now, of course. Just before the Dark Lord falls, is what I meant. It could be fun to put her in her place that way, and you said yourself she could be the most useful of the three sisters. I just meant that if a child were to come of it, it would be worth considering. Until then, if you wish for me to breed the other two, I'd be on my way."

What he really wanted to do was to get Danna pregnant again. Fucking her until they had another soldier on the way seemed like a very good idea to him, but Danna didn't seem to think so. Though they'd definitely had very good times with it before, Jesse couldn't help recalling with a small grin. He just shrugged. "Three is a good number. Four is better. Maybe five," he continued, feeling that old playful teasing trying to creep back into his tone. His eyes, though they twinkled briefly, were mainly comprised of his hunger for her. Merlin, he would give anything to touch her again, and he wasn't thinking at all about food or children or past conquests anymore. Danna captivated him completely, and Jesse had missed being under her spell for far too long.

"Oh please, Daddy, can we?!" Jadis asked excitedly when Carlton offered a tour. She wanted to see everything, especially if they had a dragon! But they didn't, it seemed, and her face fell a bit. She'd always wanted to see a real live dragon. It had been all she'd ever talked about since Jesse had bought her a little book about them.

"You can go," Jesse said to his girls, his swirling dark eyes never leaving Danna's as they jumped up from the table. All he cared about was being alone with her again.

Swear I never gave up on you

[DANNA DEVILLE]

It's the rule that you live by and die for
It's the one thing you can't deny

Most parents, when essentially abandoning their children, might fear what that child would think of them once reunited. The thought had never really occurred to Danna, but it didn't seem to matter. Cassie adored her, anyway. She only hummed quietly, not having much of a response either when the subject of Bellatrix Lestrange came up. She would be good blood, though Danna was unsure how well anyone besides herself would manage to do anything to her. Really, by this point, it was hard for her to talk at all without wanting to scream at him. When he brought up more children, she could only smirk when he mentioned that four or five were just as good as three. Merlin, how she wanted to! Corban and Courtney had turned out just fine. Not up to the standards of say Christian or Cynthia, but any of her children would have hell trying to live up to those expectations.

Carlton eventually invited Viola and Jadis out to tour the house, one of the girls eagerly wanting to go. The boy nodded, stood, then half dragged his siblings out of their chairs. Cressida and Cooper were too young to understand that Carlton was trying to give their mother and the stranger time to talk alone, so they complained and fought the whole way. Luckily Carlton had far more patience and calmness than Danna possessed. They were some of the better qualities Mitchum had given his son.

When the children were out of sight, Danna stood, walking determinedly towards Jesse. The back door opened and slammed shut as she shoved the dishes off of the table in front of him, hopping up onto the edge, placing her feet on the chair on either side of his legs. "You should let me know before you leave again. It might be safe to keep contact now, as long as you don't go anywhere we've already been. I'll be able to send along aid, if you ever need any. I don't doubt your abilities, but it's always good to have contacts. If you think it wise, you and your progeny can stay here until you leave. I'll need someone to babysit while I go on my dates, after all."

Leave him with no doubts that she didn't want or need him. That was key.

"You shouldn't be afraid to get out a bit yourself," she whispered, using the arm of the chair to slide one heel off, moving her bare foot up his thigh, firmly massaging his crotch. "You didn't have any deficiencies the last I checked. You should be fine. Meanwhile I," she said, pulling off her shirt then kicking off her other shoe, "have a date with Forsyth Frost to prepare for, if you'll pardon me." She slid off of the table right into his lap, grinding her hips into his as she lowered her feet to the floor. Kiss him! her mind hissed, so she leaned in close, lips nearly brushing his. But with renewed strength, gripping the arm of the chair tightly, she smirked. "It was great catching up with you."

So she stood up, looking down at him, well aware of her current state of undress, wanting to peel the rest of them off, to have her way with him. But she was better than that. She would not lose control. Not to him, not to anyone.

[JESSE MERCER]

I remember don't lie to me
You couldn't see that it was not that way

The children couldn't get out of the room fast enough, and Viola seemed to understand that her father wanted to be alone with Danna, whether or not she had her own opinions about the situation. So she helped Carlton bring the fussy young Cressida and Cooper along, ensuring they were all well on their way. For Jesse's part, he could feel a stirring below his belt the moment Danna stood to walk towards him. He undressed her with his eyes the whole way, his searing gaze running over every inch of her perfect body. It had been many, many years too long since he'd had the chance to worship her the way she deserved, and now that he had found her again, he had no intentions of letting go anytime soon.

Dishes crashed to the floor as Danna pushed them off of the table, sitting on top of it and placing her feet on either side of Jesse's legs. His hands came up on their own accord, sliding up her thighs and running his fingers along the insides of them on the way back down. Her skin was so perfect under his hands, and that touch he had been craving shot heat and electricity searing through his body. He was more than certain that she could feel his arousal pressed against her foot, and he shifted his hips forward, wanting her to feel it, wanting to remind her that all it took was a look from her to have him ready. She pulled off her shirt, as well, and Jesse's eyes feasted hungrily on her generous cleavage and flat, toned stomach while she told him about her plans for the evening.

He was urging her into his lap just as she slid off the table, landing squarely on top of him and grinding her hips into his, and the thrill raced through every inch of Jesse's body. He had to fight back a gasp or a moan, his lips only millimeters from Danna's, brushing teasingly. She was going out, though, and she stood up, smirking very proudly at him. She knew exactly what she did to him, and Jesse had no intentions of taking her advice on getting out himself.

"Actually, I'd planned on staying in," he husked, his voice having dropped at least two octaves in his arousal. He stood up behind her, resting his hands on either one of her hips, and dropping his lips to her neck to press a lingering kiss."I had a few other things to discuss with you, in fact," he murmured against her skin, dragging the tip of his nose up along the side of her neck to her ear, tongue darting out to flick the lobe once.

Swear I never gave up on you

[DANNA DEVILLE]

It's the rule that you live by and die for
It's the one thing you can't deny

Danna knew exactly what he wanted. It was the same thing all men wanted. Jesse followed her, claiming he had planned on staying in as he touched her hips, mouth pressing to her neck. Green eyes fluttered shut, body beginning to betray her as it melted back into him. She shivered as his tongue flicked against the lobe of her ear, but she fought valiantly to remain strong.

"And what would that be?" she asked, sliding smoothly away from him, heading towards the staircase. She had nearly forgotten her date with Forsyth Frost, but now she was very glad she remembered. Going out on dates and fucking as many men as possible seemed to be the perfect solution to her problem. "I'm afraid you'll have to talk fast while I get ready."

Halfway up the stairs she pushed her skirt down her legs, kicking it off of her feet. Now she was wearing only her lacy pink bra and panties. It was a good thing the kids were outside. She was no prude, but not all of her children were lascivious sluts. Leaving the bedroom door wide open, she walked to her closet, flicking various outfits aside, plucking a few hangers with skimpy little dresses she liked. She would tease him, play with him, but she wasn't about to give him anything. Not as worked up as she was.