Disclaimer: Laurell K. Hamilton and the Berkley Publishing Group do not authorize this author. All characters that you recognize belong to Laurell K. Hamilton except for the ones created by the people in this group. This is solely for entertainment purposes.

Rating: R just to be on the safe side

Author's Notes: This has been a long time in coming.  For those of you who have stuck with me through all of my incarnations this is just tying up some loose ends.  I do believe after all this time that this will be the final chapter in the Luna/Shang-Da era. (Not the end of this series just the end of them as a couple.  Got it?  Good!) Well without further ado...

Hard Days Night

Part Five

I was nervous and edgy and I knew exactly why.  There were only a few hours until the meeting with Richard and the others.  Part of me wanted to go in there guns blazing and just take every one of them out.  I knew I couldn't do that though the urge was VERY strong.

Taking one last look at the pair of black army pants, tight black tee shirt, and the docs sitting on the floor, I nodded.  I dressed as quickly as I could.  I needed to get the meeting over with as soon as possible.  It wasn't that I was losing my nerve just that the longer this went on the angrier I became.  I was liable to hurt one of those closest to me.  That was NOT an option.

I strapped every weapon in my small arsenal to me.  It was all locked and loaded.  Now just don't let anyone piss me off enough to draw any of them.  I snatched my keys up off the dresser, flicked the lights off and strode out of the house.

In the car I loaded Korn into the CD player.  I let their anger wash away my own as I flew down the highway to Anita's.  I was going to be about thirty minutes early.  I didn't figure they'd mind though.  At this point I think we all had a lot riding on this mess I'd created.

Shutting the engine off I leaned my head against the steering wheel and let the tears I'd been holding at bay fall.  My anger could only carry me for so long before the hurt tore through me.  In my mind questions kept circling angrily.  They were questions I had no answers to, and I wasn't sure I was in any shape to hear what the answers might be.

A gentle rap on the window jerked me upright.  I turned and glared through the glass at Noah.  He beckoned me out of the vehicle.  Slowly I opened the door and turned but made no other move to exit.  I didn't like the fact that he had seen me so exposed.

"C'mon the girls are waiting to take a look at your shoulder," he said finally.

I slid out of the seat and closed the door.  This time I didn't bother locking or setting the alarm.  If a house full of weres couldn't detect the presences of a car thief then it deserved to be stolen.  My brows pulled together.  'Fuck that,' I thought as I hit the alarm button on my key chain.  It wasn't just any truck; it was Igor!

"We need to talk," I said seriously.

"That can't be good," He commented.

"Trust me it's not going to be... for any of us."

We made our way into the house.  Cherry and Elizabeth were arguing again.  I sighed.  Just once I would like for them to get along without someone having to be injured for it to happen.  It wasn't likely to occur while I still drew breath.  I slung my bomber jacket over the back of the couch.

"We'll finish this later," Cherry finally said as she caught sight of me.  "You ready Luna," she asked with false brightness.

"Ready as I'll ever be," I responded as I took the shoulder rig and back sheath off.   Grabbing the nearest kitchen chair I turned it so that I straddled the seat and let the two take a look at my shoulder.

They carefully peeled the bandage off and made sure the wound was healing properly.  There was a small gasp and I turned sharply.  "What," I demanded.

"Well..." Elizabeth trailed off.  I could almost see her eyebrows drawn together in confusion.

I felt Anita and Micah enter the room.  The power was swelling making it hard to breathe.  "Turn it off," I managed to choke out.

There was a collective sigh of relief when the power receded.  "Luna," Micah said.  "What did you do to your shoulder?"

My brows pulled together in confusion.  "I haven't done anything except let it heal the way it's supposed to."

"Well, as of right now, its all new pink scars," Anita stated.

"Bullshit," I cried as I stood up from the chair and went for the bathroom.  Flicking on the light I snatched a hand mirror up off the counter and turned my back to the room's big mirror.  Shocked, that was the only way to describe what I was feeling.  That couldn't be right!  My fingers reached up to touch the neatly healed claw marks.

My eyes turned to scan the crowd.  "How?  Huh?  I don't understand."

Micah looked at me with kind eyes.  He reached out a hand and plucked the small mirror from my hand.  His other hand reached up to touch my shoulder and the muscles jumped spastically.  I bit my lower lip to keep from crying out.  My Nimir-Raj drew his hand back.  The muscles still jumped and twitched but not as wildly as before.

"Here let me," Noah said shoving his way to the front.  He spun me so that he could work the shoulder into compliance.  I flexed my fingers as he worked on the muscles.  They finally quit their dancing under his talented hands.

"Thank you," I said.   "Now could everyone get out of the bathroom so I'm not standing around in my bra."

"What's wrong Luna, not going to give us a free show," Zane teased.

"Zane honey, haven't you learned yet?  It ain't free.  You're paying for it one way or another."  I breezed past him as the others laughed at his bewildered expression.  I heard him asking Cherry just what I meant.   I didn't hear her response but from the sound of laughter it had been a doozy.

I put my shirt back on and thought over what had just happened.  By all accounts it shouldn't have happened.  It should have taken at least a week for my shoulder to heal.  Yet less than two days later it was well on it's way to being whole.  "Oh fuck it," I muttered as I opened the fridge and pulled out a Pepsi.

Anita along with Micah entered the room followed closely by Merle and Noah.  "Noah said that you had something you wanted to talk about," Anita explained.

"Right," I nodded my head.  I took a deep breath.  They weren't going to take this any better than Richard would when I told him.  "I've had a change of heart," their mouths dropped open and it took me a moment to realize why they were so shocked.  "No! I'm still going to whip his ass," I said vehemently.  "I'm not going for first blood."  I let that sink in.  "I'm going for last man standing."

"You can't be serious," Noah yelled.

"Are you sure that's what you want to do," Micah asked.  His expression gave nothing away, no clue as to what he really thought about what I'd said.

I scowled at him.  "Do you have any idea how much I hate when you do that," I asked him.

Micah's face lit up as if amused but it never really reached his eyes.  "Yes I do," was all he said.

Compressing my lips I turned to Anita.  She shrugged her shoulders.  "What do you want me to say," she inquired.

This time it was my turn to shrug.  "We know how Noah feels about this, but you three don't seem all that surprised."

"We?re not," Merle supplied.  "Richard had to know that the longer you thought about it the angrier you were going to get.  If he were a smart man he'd have agreed to see us last night.  Now," he gave a one-shoulder shrug.  "Now, he's got to be ready to deal with one very pissed off woman and a were to boot."

Noah crossed his arms over his chest.  He was so very not happy with the way things were turning out.  "You do know that he's not going to play fair, don't you?"  There was no mistaking who the he was.  Shang-Da.  I had already come to terms with that.

I raised one eyebrow.  "Who says I am?"  When he still didn't look convinced.  "Look Noah you can either do it my way or I'll take Caleb in as my second.  It's up to you."

He opened his mouth to respond but Micah laid a hand on his arm and he quickly shut his mouth again.  My eyes narrowed on the Nimir-Raj.  "No, let him speak.  If he's not behind me 110% then I don't want him there at all!  I have to know that he's going to have my back or this is all for nothing."

Micah turned his unusual eyes to the young leopard.  "It's your call."

"I'll do it," Noah replied sullenly.  "But I don't have to like it."

I walked up to him and laid a hand on his arm.  "I'm not asking you to like, or even agree with it, I'm just asking you to back me up," my voice dropped.  "C'mon Superman.  Please.  I wouldn't ask you to do this if I wasn't sure this is what I want."

"Fine," he said, and he sounded as tired as I felt.  His arms went around me and laid my head on his chest.  My arms wrapped themselves around his waist.  I needed him to be strong if for no other reason than because I wasn't sure *I* was strong enough to get through tomorrow night.

"We should get going," Merle said.  I nodded not moving from my spot.  "This is going to be an interesting meeting," he commented.

"What do you mean," Anita asked.

"She's going to have Noah's scent all over her.  Not just on her clothes but her skin.  That's going to make the man a might jealous.  I'm willing to bet the farm on it."

I turned to look at the other guard.  "You don't have a farm," I said.

"True," he agreed jovially.  "But if I did... I'd be a hell of a lot richer Sunday morning."

Rolling my eyes I said, "Let's go."

We all grabbed our jackets and headed out to the car.  I headed for my truck but stopped when Noah said, "We are not taking that monstrosity."

I turned annoyed eyes on him.  "Well we're not taking that broke down jalopy that you call a car."  He made a disgusted noise.  I sighed and sent my eyes heavenward.  "If it'll make you feel better I'll let Merle drive."

"Yes it would.  At least then I know we'd all get there in one piece."

Tossing the keys to the older guard who shook his head at our antics, he said, "I thought when you two broke up we'd be spared the theatrics."  I gave him the one finger salute.  Micah smiled indulgently and followed after the older man.  Noah and I brought up the rear.

As we were pulling up to a non descript café off the highway my cell phone went off.  Giving the others a sheepish smile I answered the phone.  "Bastion."

"Bastion, this is Buchanan.  I've heard through an unofficial source that our boy is to be considered *exceedingly* dangerous.  Seems his parents sent him to live with relatives here in the states because he got into too much trouble at home.   Whatever you're up to Luna, use extreme caution."

I shifted uneasily under the others' eyes.  "Got it.  Anything else," I asked hoping I didn't sound as uncomfortable as I felt.

"Yeah, don't lose tomorrow night.  I've got a hundred bucks riding on it," he deadpanned.

"You know you're not funny worth a damn," I told him.  There was laughter followed by silence.  Why didn't he ever say good-bye before disconnecting?

I put the phone back into my jacket and turned to the others.  "So are we ready?"

We headed into the restaurant.  There was a sign over the cash register that read "Business insured by Smith and Wesson."  I had to smile.  I was beginning to like this place already.

A twenty-something young woman approached us.  Her smile was light bulb bright and just as empty.  Her chatter was enough to set my teeth on edge.  On second thought I might not like this place so much after all.  She showed us to the table.

Richard, Shang-Da, Jamil, and surprisingly Jason were already present.  I guess I shouldn't have been so shocked.  This was just another way to get back at Lilli for breaking up with him.  I had no idea the boy could hold a grudge so long.  I gave a mental shrug and sat down opposite Jamil.

Noah slid into the seat next to me.  His arm draped casually over the back.  It wasn't lost on any of us what he was doing.  If I thought it would do any good I would have kicked him under the table.  Micah and Merle took their seats.  We ordered drinks and waited until the waitress walked off to begin the meeting.

"Are we all here," Richard asked.

"Would you like to take roll Mr. Zeeman," I said, doing a fair impersonation of a smitten schoolgirl.

The Ulfric turned narrowed eyes to me.  "Luna," Micah said sharply.

I noticed that Noah, Merle, and Jason seemed to be trying to smother their mirth.  "Yes," I asked, sending him a brilliant smile.

"Behave," he growled.

My eyes widened.  "Oh but I was.  Badly."  That was too much.  The guys laughed earning them sharp looks from their respective leaders.

"If we can begin," Richard started only to be interrupted by the ditzy blonde bringing our drinks.

Silence enveloped the table.  Once she had left again we got down to business.  The tension at the table was palpable, though for probably very different reasons.  Our side was nervous because they knew what I was going to do.  I'm not too sure what they had to be tense about.

Without warning Shang-Da lunged across the table straight for Noah.  The only thing that stopped him was a Browning pressed to the middle of his forehead.  "Wanna tell me what's got your panties in a bunch," I asked him.

"Why is his scent all over you," he asked, his eyes amber yellow.

I couldn't help the sneer that marred my features.  "First of all get control or we're leaving," I stopped letting him know I was deadly serious.  "Second of all what else should I smell like.  I am pard, as you are so fond of reminding me," I didn't feel bad about that last dig.

Jason and Jamil pulled the other man back across the table.  "He does have a point Luna,' Richard said.

My first instinct was to point the gun at the Ulfric.  I didn't though it did take quite a bit of effort not to.  I could feel my face thinning out losing all semblance of humanity.  Turning dead eyes to Richard I said, "Who or what I do after I've been attacked by *your* pack is no one's concern but my own.  But since it seems that we're not going to get anywhere unless you know... listen closely because I'm only going to say this once.  I took comfort in my pard.  My scent and theirs are one.  On this and *all* issues we are united."

I met and locked gazes with Richard.  We stared at each other for a long while.  I let the meaning of my words sink in.  Our eyes battled and it wasn't a fight I was going to lose.  With a snarl he snapped his head away from me.  "What do you want," he growled.

"You should be more careful about your wording Ulfric or it could come back and bite you."  He sent a heated glare my way.  "But to save time and energy.  I'll put it plainly.  The fight tomorrow night," I waited for him to nod before continuing.  "It's going to be last man standing."

"You can't be serious," Jason exclaimed.

Noah smirked at him from across the table.  "You should know by now that when it matters Luna never says anything she isn't serious about."

Richard looked from me to Shang-Da then to Micah.  "You have no problem with this?"  His tone clearly relayed his disbelief.

Micah gave an elegant one shouldered shrug.  "She is the injured party and since she called for the fight she gets to lay out the terms for it."

The wolf sank down into his chair, looking like a balloon that was slowly losing air.  Richard had been out matched from the beginning.  If this had been a chess match we'd have been declaring checkmate.  He waved his hand.  "Fine," he said tiredly.  "You have your match.  We'll see you tomorrow night at the lupanar."

Shang-Da stood so quickly that he upset the chair he had been sitting in.  "You can't mean that!"

"I can and I do.  Now sit down," there was a ring of authority to Richard's word.  He turned to us.  "Go.  Now."

I wanted to stay and watch but I knew better.  We dropped some money on the table and left as swiftly as we had arrived.  It had gone a lot better than I had expected.  Let's hope my luck continued to hold out.