Not edited. I just want to say sorry for not replying to all your comments. Time seems to have it in for me lol

Lucas balled his fists as he stood over Tara watching her sleep. In many ways he felt like a creepy pervert but the need to see her, to check on her had driven him from the small office at the back of the house to see for himself that she was fine and OK.

With no other thought in his mind he ran up the stairs and into her room. The way he felt shook him so much that he almost stumbled in relief.

She was fine. Asleep. Sleeping peacefully. Here, in their home. Ellie hadn't somehow mysteriously taken her away or done something to her.

He'd talked to Simeon and within minutes his men were on high alert.

He needed something else. Some else to be more precise. His family. He felt like he was drowning and they were the only ones with the ability to keep his feet firmly planted.

This... this whole situation made him feel like a little boy lost in a raging storm with lightening strikes that struck the ground around him as they laughed at him. The closer they got the more they laughed and he was frozen. Frozen with the realisation that without being grounded to earth his time of feeling the stiking pain was becoming sooner rather than later.

He watched her. He couldn't do anything else but watch. He watched and counted the breaths she took... one, two, three, four, five.... sixty three... ninety one...

She was fine. Just asleep. Sleeping here in their home. Would she stay?

Did she realise that this is where she belonged? Here? In this house he'd always called home?

The wrenching grip that surrounded his heart was pushed aside in a feirce act of refusal to the thought that she wouldn't live here with him forever.

She belonged!

This was her home. Here. With him.

His raging thoughts ran circles over every thought he'd had for months and over and over they played a fine concerto in his mind. Almost driving him insane.

All the dreams he had for them. Every wish, want and desire replayed in his mind. He loved her more than life itself and that was his weakness but more importantly it was that which gave him his greatest strength.

No one would take her away from him. She was his and one day he hoped ahe accepted that and their lives would be filled with all the love and passion they both deserved.

To threaten his family in any way was an enemies greatest mistake. His family were everything to him and him to them.

A quick message typed out on his phone was sent and he knew he'd have to wait till morning to get a reply from any of them but he knew exactly what would happen.

He looked longingly down at her beautiful sleeping face and pushed down the need to climb into the bed and hold her close. He would do that soon. Somehow he'd talk to her and then he'd sleep knowing that she was safe, that no one would dare to disturb them as his arms held her closely.

His phone vibrated in his pocket and he snapped himself away to look at the display.

Damon. Most probably giving Anna the chance to sleep and got up to the baby.

Lifting the phone to his ear he whispered.

"Just a sec."

He forced himself to move towards the door and with one more look that should have been a glance but wasn't he made a silent oath to her that Ellie's death would be slow and painful.

He walked out and while walking down the stairs towards the kitchen he explained the whole situation to Damon.

"Shít! Where the hell is she now?"

Damon knew about Ellie from conversations they'd had years ago, not even something like the whole bitter situation with him and Ellie was secret enough to come between their brother bond.

"Living a couple of houses from where Tara was living."

"Man that bird's fúcking crazy!"

"I know brother, I know" the weariness he felt poured through his words.

"How are you holding up litlle bro?"

Lucas thought for a moment before answering.

"I'm not... Damon if anything happens to Tara..."

"It won't. Look, I'll call you back shortly. I'll call Maxon and Grayson right now."

Lucas dropped his head to the cupboard above the stove amd said the word, the only word he could think of in that moment.

"Thanks."

********

Not sure how long this actually is but I think the intensity is enough to make up for the length.

Poor Lucas.