S9: Chapter 19: There’s No Place Like Home Pt. 1 – Awakening

**Author’s note: I’d like to take a moment and thank each and every one of you that have continued to stick by me and read along to the many adventures of Drake and Zoe.

As some of you may know, I am currently working on several stories at once (–last count was 8–) and sometimes an update for one runs a little longer than scheduled (and don’t get me started on game issues). I want to apologize to those of you who have had to wait but I want you to know that your continued support is what keeps me going! Desired is my baby and coming up on its 1 Year Anniversary in November!

For those of you that have followed from the beginning: Thank you very much for your comments and for reading the jumbled mess that comes out of my head! I can only imagine the strain some chapters may have caused to not only your eyes but your head as well because I often can’t tell if I’m making sense.

For new readers: I know it may have been overwhelming to go through nine seasons of writing, especially when some updates seemed to take hours to read and I don’t do synopses, but I want to say thank you for the effort and time you took to read and Welcome!**

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Jade and Jasmine were teleported back home with no recollection of the previous events. Jade stepped towards the lobby door of the penthouse she shared with Bastian and he rushed out to greet her.

She smiled at him and he pulled her into his arms. “Merci! Zhat smile was what I was looking for.” He held her close and kissed her deep before dropping to his knees.

“Jade I’m sorry about everyzhing. I have been out of my head zhe past few nights trying to zhink about what it is I can do to beg for your forgiveness. I want you to know zhat I AM zhe man zhat has won your heart and I promise to never hurt it again if you just give me anozher chance Mon Amour.”

“Bastian…”

“Before you make your decision, I’d like to show you somezhing.” He took her hand and led her to the car before driving off towards the mountains. It was a road they’d seen plenty of times on the way back from visiting Drake and Zoe and she knew it well. The homes on the street were all gorgeous and built to last and she’d marvelled at the architectural beauty and scenic views they provided.

“Where are we going?”

“You shall see soon.”

He pulled up to a two story mellow suburbia and helped her from the car. “What are we doing here Basti?”

He simply smiled and escorted her inside. “Take a look around and tell me what you zhink.”

“Why?”

“Humor me Love, please.”

She looked over the empty space of the living room, kitchen, dining room and hall. She ran up the stairs to the bedrooms and noticed an available area for an office, study or library before heading out back. Bastian joined her on the porch as she took in the view and let out a small sigh.

“I was zhinking perhaps a sunflower garden against zhe back wall would look nice, Non?”

She turned to him, her eyes wide with excitement. “You mean…?”

“Oui, zhis is all for you.”

“BASTIAN!” she said throwing her arms around his neck and gripping him tight. “What about the penthouse?”

“Zhat was more of a bachelor zhing. Somezhing I stayed in when I zhought it was just me. I figured if I am to have you zhen I should provide you wizh a real home, somezhing you can stretch your legs in.”

She pulled away again and twirled once inside the living room area and turned to him with a smile. “This is all for me? Us? You bought this house?”

“Oui, Mon Amour. Do you like it?”

“I love it! I can’t wait to start decorating!”

“Well you have full access to whatever you need. Spare no expense Love.”

“Jade,” he started, pacing the small area in the empty room. “Have you ever given any zhought to uh…to us?”

“What do you mean?” she asked glancing around the home still in as much shock and awe as outside before turning to look at him.

“Well, I am a vampire and you are human. I love you and I hope you love me as much.” As he continued, Jade could see his nerves really starting to get the best of him and she giggled.

“Is there something you wanted to ask me Bastian?”

“Oui, zhere is,” he took her hand and led her to the fireplace and had her take a seat. “Being a vampire is different. Zhere are really great benefits in it but zhere are also zhe bad parts. Zhe bloodlust, zhe pain of zhe sun and zhe pain of having to watch your loved ones grow old and die.”

“And the good parts?”

“Well,” he said kneeling in front of her. “You can move faster, heal quicker; eat whatever it is you’d like and never gain weight. Stay young forever, have strengzh and stamina for days.”

“You forgot the part about turning into a bat and flying where you want,” she giggled. “So is this the part where you tell me you can’t live without me?” she asked moving closer towards him.

“Non,” Bastian answered quickly. “I would never tell you zhat.”

Jade lowered her head and sighed and Bastian smirked at her obvious disappointment. He placed his fingertips gently on her chin, raising her eyes back to his. “I would never tell you zhat because I would never want you to zhink zhat whezher I live or die depends only on your love zhat is too much pressure to hold and it might cause you stress. While it is true, you do hold my life in your hands and I would die for you, never will I make you feel obligated to remain wizh me just to keep me ‘breazhing’ if you are unhappy.”

She smiled and jumped into his arms again knocking him to the ground. “I would never ask zhat you become a vampire wizhout knowing everyzhing and I don’t want you to do it just because you zhink it is what I want. I will love you young, old, wrinkled or not you will always be my beautiful Jade.”

“Do you know what you’re asking me?”

“Oui, I do. I know it’s a tough decision and I don’t expect you to answer right…”

“I want it,” she smiled. “I want my forever with you.”

He pulled her into an embrace; his lips softly caressed hers as his arms tightened around her back. He pulled back and looked at her, “All zhat I ask for is a week’s time. I want you to zhink about everyzhing you are giving up and what zhis decision really means before I turn you.”

She looked past him towards the door and got lost in thought. He nudged her and drew her closer. “What’s zhe matter?”

“I don’t know. I just feel like there’s something I should be doing right now.”

“Well whatever it is, it can wait until morning,” he growled against her neck as he carried her to their bedroom.

Drake found Jasmine snoring in her bedroom the next morning and he stood staring and unsure of where she came from and why he hadn’t heard her come in.

He rushed upstairs to find his bed empty and panic began setting it. Instead of waiting for her to awaken, he jolted Jasmine from her sleep. She looked at him curiously before turning over with a yawn.

“Good morning Drake. Is breakfast ready?”

“Where’s Zoe?”

“What do you mean?”

“Zoe, my wife; you, Jade and she went together to try and resolve that magic issue. You’re back and she’s not do you know where she is?”

Jasmine stood from her bed and scratched her head. “Magic issue? Zoe isn’t here? Drake I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Jasmine do you not remember where you just came from? What you just did?”

She shrugged and sank back onto her bed. “I can feel you’re worried Drake but I honestly don’t know why.”

“Jade…,” he said rushing for the phone.

He quickly punched in her number and waited for an answer. “Come on, come on pick up.”

…“Bonjour…!”

“Bastian, Bastian, put Jade on the phone is she there?”

…“Oui, but she is asleep…”

“WAKE HER UP! This is important!” He could hear Bastian moving towards Jade and rousing her from her sleep.

…“Round three…?” she giggled.

…“Non, Drake is on zhe line for you, Mon Amour…” he kissed her and unwrapped her arms before handing her the cell.

…“Drake…?”

“Jade, where’s Zoe?”

…“What do you mean…?”

“Jade, you and Jasmine were with her last night, the both of you are home but she’s no where around. Tell me you remember please.”

…“No Drake, I don’t know what you mean. I haven’t seen Zoe since…I can’t remember…”

…“What do mean Amour…?” he heard Bastian in the background. “You were wizh her for two days. You went to anozher realm avec elle, excuse, wizh her…” he took the phone back and spoke to Drake. “We’ll be right zhere…”

Less than ten minutes later Bastian and Jade were in the living room watching Drake pace back and forth. “And now you don’t remember and neither does Jasmine,” he finished and held his arms against his chest.

“Where is Jazz?”

“School. Jade that’s not the issue here, where is my wife?”

“I don’t know Drake. I can’t remember anything. I think I can try casting a memory spell and restore what was lost. But Drake I don’t know if that will help as far as where she is now.”

“Just…anything Jade, please.”

They went out to the magic room and Jade immediately began casting to regain her lost thoughts:

“Moments lost and time unsure
a Witch’s calls for recollection procure
explore the space in my memory banks
restore what’s lost and fill in the blanks.”

A small white light formed around Jade as the spell took effect and instantly she remembered what she had done the previous day.

“I need a crystal, an orb or a mirror. I can try and find her.”

“What happened?”

“The Nymphs. They cast something and sent her into another portal. They must have erased our memories so that we couldn’t save her and they could maintain the magic balance.”

“And banishing Zoe does that how?”

“Well it was a lot of bad magics that her good magics could even out. Where ever they sent her must be doing just that.”

Drake cleared one of the reagents table and moved a large orb in front of Jade. She took a seat and immediately went to work.

I stretched and felt my body respond, though aching, I felt better than I had the previous morning. I smiled as my husband’s arm reached around me. Safe in my own bed, I thought as I turned to face him.

“Morning Zoe,” Vincent smiled at me.

“Good morning handsome.” His lips met mine in a passionate kiss and I could feel his arousal pressing against my leg. “Careful with that thing,” I sighed.

“Careful? That’s not how you like it though Beautiful.”

“Where are the kids?”

“Jade and Raevynn are at school, CJ is in his crib still snoring soundly. We have time you know.”

“You wouldn’t let me refuse even if I wanted to!” I smiled.

He pulled me into his arms and kissed me again before removing my clothes and slowly pushing himself between my legs.

“I see her!” Jade shouted as the crystal ball began producing images for her.

“Is she ok? Where is she?” Drake asked stepping behind Jade. He frowned as he watched Vincent kiss her and the way she kissed him back. “What is this?” he asked pushing closer.

“She’s trapped in another realm, Drake. An alternate universe from what I can tell.”

“Well get her out, Jade.”

“It’s not that easy Drake. Things like this have varying ways of working. If she were sent there by a wizard or cursed by a witch only their magics can bring her out! I have no idea how to undo what the Nymphs did or even if it works the same way. We have to find that out before we can figure out how to get her back!”

He paced the room, rage building quickly in him as he thought about everything she was doing. Her laughter and sounds of intimacy burned into him.

“Turn that off!” Drake yelled watching Vincent’s hands explore his wife.

“I…,” Jade started.

“TURN IT OFF!”

“Drake I can’t! There is a chance that if I stop the connection now I won’t be able to find her again. I have to maintain this.”

He glared at the orb, his eyes showing how deep the hellfire still burned inside of him. “Fine! Call me when this is over!” he said yanking open the door and slamming it behind him.

“Zhis is not going to go well,” Bastian said stepping behind Jade.

“And it’s only the start. Do me a favor, call Vincent and have him come over.”

“What good will zhat do?”

She shrugged. “He may be able to help.”

He nodded. “I’ll take care of it once I put Raevynn down for her nap.” He kissed her cheek and slipped from the room.

The bell rang and Drake walked to the door.

“Hey!” Vincent smiled. Before another word was uttered Drake’s fist smashed into his face splitting his lip. “What the fuck?” he yelled sucking on the blood and glaring at him. “What the fuck is up with your eyes?”

Drake walked to the living room and continued pacing.

“Drake, what the hell did you hit me for?”

“Why are you here?”

“Bastian called and asked me to come over. He said something about Zo being lost and that I could help. Why the fuck did you hit me?”

“Jade’s in the magic room,” he replied instead.

Vincent exited to the magic room and found Jade on the couch and Bastian sitting beside her.

“Vincent,” she smiled standing up. “Thank you for coming.”

“Yeah, of course. You said there’s something up with Zo? Where is she? And can someone explain to me why I was asked over to help and got a right fist to the face?”

Jade pointed to the crystal ball. “Zoe is trapped.”

He stepped closer. “Whoa! Is that me?” Vincent asked peeking into the ball.

“It’s you in another realm. Zoe’s in an extended plane. Right now she thinks you’re her husband.”

“That’s not me…this isn’t some future event?” he sighed watching his alternate self. He listened to the way she said his name and swallowed hard. “I see why Drake hit me.” He turned to face her, stepping back from the crystal. “Turn this off, Jade.”

“I can’t.”

“That’s not me! That…how do we get her out of there?”

“I’m working on that.”

He exited the room looking for Drake and found him in the front yard.

“Get the fuck away from me,” he said without turning around.

“Drake that wasn’t me. I’m every bit as pissed about what that thing…”

“Not you? She thinks it is and you know why? Because after everything that I went through for her and everything that I asked you for, you refused to back away from her. You confused her to the point that she…” his hands began heating up and his eyes grew brighter with rage.

“Drake I love her, I know what I feel may have caused issues in your marriage and I’m sorry about that. I’ve tried everything I could to be just her friend, EVERYTHING! Nothing worked Drake and I’m sorry I can’t get over her. The thought of losing her…but that’s not me in there. I wouldn’t…”

“You wouldn’t what? Take advantage of her the second you got the chance?”

He dropped his head and sighed.

“Right.”

“You have every right to hate me, I can’t ask you to forgive me or understand Drake. But this isn’t the issue right now. Zo’s in trouble and she needs you.”

“Yeah she needs me and you need to get the fuck out of here. Excuse me, I better get back to MY wife!” he said pushing by him and returning to Jade.

Vincent spent an hour pleasuring me, his body making mine tingle all over.

CJ started crying over the baby monitor and he moved quicker to finish. “I love you Zoe,” he whispered against my neck.

“I love you too, Vinny.” I smiled as I watched him pull up from the bed and throw on a pair of pants.

“Stay there, I’ll bring you breakfast.” He walked to Christopher’s room to check on him and gave him a bottle before returning with a pack for me. He sat Chris on the floor and hopped onto the edge of the bed. “So is there anything in particular you want to do today?”

“Not really. Though it doesn’t matter what we do as long as it’s together,” I said pulling his lips back to mine again.

“I love the way you think, Doll.”

Chris fell asleep again and he laid him between us on the bed.

We waited for the bus to drop Rae home and decided after dinner to head to the park with the kids.

“Daddy!” Raevynn said running up and throwing her arms around Vincent.

“Hey Angel,” he smiled hugging her tight. “How was school dollface?”

“Fun! I got to meet a new student and he told me my eyes were pretty.”

Vincent frowned hearing that. “Next time a boy tells you that, you have my permission to turn him into a frog.”

“Vinny! Don’t teach your little girl that!” I scolded him. “Her eyes ARE pretty and you shouldn’t approve magic usage for that purpose.”

Rae giggled and squeezed his nose. “I thought it was nice Daddy!”

“Well ‘nice’ leads to trouble and I’m not letting some little boy…”

“Raevynn honey why don’t you take Christopher into the play room and play peek-a-boo and Mommy will make you a snack.”

“Ok,” she said bouncing merrily out of the room.

“She’s only 6 Vinny. She’s nowhere near ‘trouble’ right now and it’s ok for her to make friends; even if they are boys! Lighten up Honey; she’ll still be your little girl.”

Drake became angrier watching the scene play out cringing every time he heard his little girl call his friend “Daddy”. “I’m going to fucking murder those Nymphs myself! How much longer Jade?”

“I’m working as fast as I can Drake. You have to remember though Zoe is the coven leader, all the source magic runs through her. I’ll need her help in order to get her out of there.”

“How do you plan on doing that?”

“Projections; I’m working on sending holographic images to her that will hopefully tell her what she needs to do.”

“But zhat might hurt you in zhe process?” Bastian asked watching her work as he sat behind her.

“It might but at this point it’s our only choice.”

“Hey Drake,” I smiled as he approached with Vanessa in his arms. I scooped her up and gave her a kiss. “Who is looking more like their Daddy every day?” she giggled and I walked her inside to Chris’s room.

“Thank you for this,” Drake said behind me. “She seems despondent sometimes I figured she was lonely.”

“Well Drake you know you can bring her here anytime you want. I love having her around and I know Chris does too.”

“Does that mean I can come over when I feel sad? Will that get me some cuddle time too?” he asked pulling me into his arms.

“Drake!” I smiled. “You know better, Vincent would kill you.”

“What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him,” his lips pressed amorously to mine and I kissed him back. His hands tightened around my waist and pulled me closer to his chest. He moaned against my mouth and I ran my fingers through his hair.

My hands ran down his chest and I pushed him back. “I hate when you do that, Drake.”

“Yeah, you didn’t seem to enjoy that at all,” he smirked brushing his hand across my cheek. “I love you Zo, I can’t help myself sometimes.”

“I know and it’s not good. I’m married to Vincent and I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize my family.”

He squeezed me tighter and looked at me. “I know Zo I’m trying.”

I pulled away and turned back to Chris’s room and poked my head in the door to make sure they were alright.

“Ready?” Jade asked as she prepared to send Drake forward into the realm. She focused on him as her hands remained over the orb. Concentrating on projecting him, she called for Zoe in hopes that she would be able to hear and see him.

Drake fell back to the ground with a loud thud. He rubbed his back as he stood and looked at her.

“What happened? You said the hologram would work!”

“I said it might work, Drake. I don’t think she can cast magic in there. Just give me a minute and I’ll try something else. Rather than focusing on contacting her for help, I’ll take the full magics myself.”

“Jade…”

“Drake, I can do this. Just make sure you sound convincing!” Once again she stared forward. This time instead of looking for Zoe she pushed Drake through as if she were seeing a vision and made him appear to her.

“Zoe?” I heard Drake call me. I turned and saw him standing in the bedroom.

“Drake? What are you doing in here? I thought you left. You look different. You cut your hair? Are you ok? You said you’d never…”

“Zoe please just listen, you’re in trouble and the people you’re with are not real. You need to find a way out.”

“What? What are you talking about? And why are you calling me that? You never call me by my full first name!”

“Zoe?” Vincent called as he stepped into the bedroom. “Who are you talking to?”

“You don’t see him?”

“See who?”

“Don’t tell him about me, Zoe, please, just trust me.”

“Nothing Vinny. Uh, where’s CJ?”

“I was about to give him a bath and then take him and Rae out for ice cream. I came to see if you were up to join us, you seemed so out of it last night I didn’t know if you wanted to just rest.”

“Oh, yeah, um, I think I’d like to nap for a little longer.”

“Well ok baby, I’ll be home as soon as I can,” he stepped forward and gave me a kiss. “I love you Zoe.”

“I love you too Vinny,” I smiled.

“You sure you’re ok?”

“Yeah, just a little tired is all. Go on have fun. Give CJ and Rae kisses for me.”

Drake waited until Vincent left the room before approaching me again.

“What are you? Why can’t Vincent see you?”

“Because I’m not here for him. Zoe Baby you’re trapped in another realm right now, everything you see and hear; everything you think you know isn’t real.”

“What? I don’t understand Drake. Did Sarah put you up to this? Is she still mad at me because of everything with Vanessa? Because I only did what I thought was best!”

“No Baby, this was something that happened by the Nymphs. You’re memories have been completely reversed. Zoe, I gave you that necklace you’re wearing back when we were dating. Vincent is your friend, I’m your husband and we have two children Christopher and Raevynn. This life you’re living isn’t right. I just need you to remember.”

I rubbed the charm around my neck and tried to think back to when I got it. “I’m sorry, I don’t get it. Vincent and I…”

“Forget Vincent!”

“He’s my husband! And if anyone can help me with this then…”

“I’M YOUR FUCKING HUSBAND ZOE!” he started blinking and then he was gone.

“No, no what was that? Get me back in there, Jade.”

“I can’t Drake I’m sorry. I need to rest a bit.”

“No! FUCK! I didn’t mean to yell at her like that. How long before you can project me again?”

“I don’t know maybe another hour or two.”

“An hour! Anything can happen between now and then Jade!”

“Let her rest Drake, please. I understand your frustrations but we cannot risk Jade’s healzh over it,” Bastian stood as Drake began pacing again. “She is doing her best for you.”

“FUCK!” he screamed again before exiting the room.

“I should talk to him,” Jade said standing.

“No, let him vent. He needs time alone right now, you need to rest.” He kissed her forehead and tried to comfort her.

“If Drake can’t get through to Zoe, maybe Vincent can since she thinks he’s her husband right now.”

“Do not worry about zhat right now. Just try and regain your strengzh and you can try again in a little while.”

“No. I think we should try again right now. Drake’s right, we can’t let her remain there for too long. I’ll be fine Basti I promise.”

Vincent sat listening to the two go back and forth before finally standing and putting his hand up. “Please! We have to do something. If Jade says she can do it, let her try,” Vincent said watching her step back towards the orb.

“You’d let my Lady suffer just to get back at me I’m sure but I’d razher she not kill herself to make the attempt.”

“I couldn’t care less about what you did, which by the way didn’t work as you’d planned! I care about Jade and I don’t want her to hurt herself for anyone! I trust she knows her body and knows what she can do and I’m determined to see her through it!” he exited to retrieve Drake and came back shortly.

Jade and Drake tried again, contacting Zoe and getting her to listen. As reluctant as she was, she agreed to head to the woods where they directed her. Her curiosity getting the better of her and the need to know once and for all what was happening.

“You’re wife is cheating on you,” the voice said over the phone. “She’s been lying to you all day and she’ll continue to do so unless you get to the bottom of it.”

“Who is this?” Vincent asked angrily. “Zoe would never do that.”

“A concerned friend, and trust me; I’ve seen her on several occasions speaking with your friend in private. In fact I know in about the next ten minutes she’s leaving the house to meet him. It’ll be in your best interests to stop her from doing so; unless of course you want to lose her forever.”

The line disconnected and Vincent stared at it in disbelief.

“Honey,” I smiled walking into the room. “I’m going for a walk. I’ll be back in about an hour.” I turned towards the door and grabbed my coat.

“Zoe wait, I’ll come with you.”

“No, it’s ok. I’d rather just have a little alone time if that’s ok.”

“Alone time Zoe? Why don’t we watch something together instead?” he shut the door and placed my coat back on the hanger and led me to the living room.

We sat on the couch for few hours watching a couple shows. He laughed sporadically at some funny moments on screen all the while watching me intently.

I glanced at the clock on the wall and stood and stretched. “I’m gonna go now,” I sighed heading towards the door.

“Zoe!”

“Vinny, please I need this. Why do you keep trying to stop me from leaving the house? Is there something out there you don’t want me to see?”

“No, of course not, I just…where are you going?”

“I don’t know. To the park maybe? I just want to stretch my legs for a bit, enjoy the cool night air.”

“And you’re sure I can’t come with you?”

“I just want some time for reflection. So much has been jumbled around my head I just need a little space to clear it out, that’s all.” I smiled and stepped closer to him. “I won’t be long, I promise.” I kissed him and he held me tight as though he were afraid to let go. Finally his grip loosened and I slipped from his arms.

“I love you, Zoe.”

“And I love you, Vinny.”

I walked out the door and headed towards the area Drake told me about.

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